Charlotte Rae dies: Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life stars pay tribute to "Mrs. Garrett"

Variety

Rae died Sunday afternoon at age 92 after a battle with cancer, two days after a Facts of Life reboot was reported to be in the works. Rae played Mrs. Garrett from 1978 to 1986 on Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life. Her housekeeper character on Diff'rent Strokes proved to be so popular that after 1 1/2 seasons, she left to star in the spinoff The Facts of Life as the house mother at an all-girls' boarding school. The Facts of Life stars were quick to pay tribute on Sunday night. "You all already know my heart is heavy yet.... sorry, no words at the moment just love and tears... and yeah, smiles," tweeted Kim Fields. "she was my champion, a teacher, a proud example of the tenacity and perseverance needed to live an actor’s life," added Mindy Cohn. "i love you char. i will continue to make you proud." Meanwhile, Diff'rent Strokes' Todd Bridges tweeted: "Different Strokes would not have been the same without you #CharlotteRae. You were loved by everyone on our show and you were loved by everyone on the facts of life will miss you 'My heart is full of Pain" Rest in peace my friend."

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