Charlotte Rae
Known for Acting · 95 credits
- Born
- 1926-04-22
- Died
- 2018-08-05
- Place of birth
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Also known as
- Charlotte Rae Lubotsky
Biography
Charlotte Rae Lubotsky (April 22, 1926 – August 5, 2018) was an American actress and singer. On screen, Rae was best known for her portrayal of Edna Garrett in the sitcoms Diff'rent Strokes and its spin-off, The Facts of Life.
She was born to Russian Jewish immigrants Esther (née Ottenstein), who was a childhood friend of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, and Meyer Lubotsky, a retail tire business owner. She was one of three sisters, along with Miriam and the late Beverly (December 21, 1921 – June 2, 1998).
She graduated from Shorewood High School in 1944. For the first ten years or so of her life, Rae's family lived in Milwaukee, then moved to Shorewood, Wisconsin. She did radio work and was with the Wauwatosa Children's Theatre. At 16, she was an apprentice with the Port Players, a professional theater company that came for the summer to Milwaukee, with several established actors such as Morton DaCosta, who would eventually direct The Music Man on Broadway.
Rae attended Northwestern University, although she did not complete her studies, where she met Cloris Leachman, who many years later succeeded Rae on The Facts of Life for the show's last two seasons. At Northwestern she met several unknown stars and producers, including Agnes Nixon, Charlton Heston, Paul Lynde, Gerald Freedman, Claude Akins and songwriter Sheldon Harnick. When a radio personality told her that her last name wouldn't do, she dropped it, to her father's chagrin. She moved to New York City in 1948, where she performed in the theater and nightclubs. During her early years in New York, she worked at the Village Vanguard (alongside up-and-coming talents such as singer Richard Dyer-Bennet) and at the posh Blue Angel, home to budding talents Barbra Streisand, Mike Nichols and Elaine May. She moved to Los Angeles in 1974.
Known For
TV Shows (55)
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Nettie Harper
The Love Boat
1977
as Ellen van Bowe
ER
1994
as Roxanne Gaines
The King of Queens
1998
as Betty
Great Performances
1971
as Madame Aigreville
Pretty Little Liars
2010
as Bead Boutique Owner
Diagnosis: Murder
1993
as Estelle
Strong Medicine
2000
as Maude
Love, American Style
1969
St. Elsewhere
1982
as Proud Mary
The Facts of Life
1979
as Edna Garrett
The Philco Television Playhouse
1948
Barney Miller
1975
as Mrs. Rebecca Sobel
Intimate Portrait
1993
as Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
All in the Family
1971
as Lillian Henderson
The Defenders
1961
as Mrs. Abeles
The United States Steel Hour
1953
Life
2007
as Mary Ford
The Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self
The Partridge Family
1970
as Dr. Beecher
McMillan & Wife
1971
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
1957
as Self
Good Times
1974
Family
1976
The Wonderful World of Disney
1997
Girl Meets World
2014
as Gammy Hart
227
1985
101 Dalmatians Series
1997
as Nanny (voice)
Hello, Larry
1979
as Edna Garrett
NET Playhouse
1966
as Terentievna
The Secret World of Alex Mack
1994
Temperatures Rising
1972
as Mrs. Moscowitz
Thunder in Paradise
1994
Flying High
1978
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
Can't Hurry Love
1995
as Helen
The Brothers Flub
1999
as Tarara Boomdeeyay (voice)
The Paul Lynde Show
1972
as Charlotte
Appointment with Adventure
1955
All's Fair
1976
Play of the Week
1959
The Great Debate
2009
WonderWorks
1984
as Mary Tom Chism
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
The DuPont Show of the Week
1961
as Mona Brinkman
Diff'rent Strokes
1978
as Edna Garrett
Szysznyk
1977
Sisters
1991
Hot l Baltimore
1975
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
1994
as Adrienne
The Rich Little Show
1976
Way Out
1961
Beane's of Boston
1979
as Mae Slocombe
Baby Talk
1991
Movies (40)
You Don't Mess with the Zohan
2008
as Mrs. Greenhouse
Nowhere
1997
as Fortune Teller
Tom and Jerry: The Movie
1992
as Aunt Figg (voice)
Hair
1979
as Lady in Pink
Ricki and the Flash
2015
as Oma
Night of 100 Stars II
1985
as Self
Night of 100 Stars
1982
as Self
In Fashion
1974
as Madame Aigreville
Sidewinder 1
1977
as Mrs. Holt
Pinocchio
1968
as Rosa Whale
The Tangerine Bear: Home in Time for Christmas!
2000
as Mrs. Caruthers (voice)
The Hot Rock
1972
as Ma Murch
The Worst Witch
1986
as Miss Cackle / Agatha
Bananas
1971
as Mrs. Ruth Mellish
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
1985
Christmas Cottage
2008
as Vesta
Rabbit Test
1978
as Cousin Claire
Words by Heart
1985
as Mary Tom Chism
101 Dalmatians Christmas
1998
as Nanny
Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa
2000
as Self
Thunder in Paradise
1993
as Lola Miller
A Different Approach
1978
Another Woman's Husband
2000
as Stella
Hello Down There
1969
as Myrtle Ruth
Jenny
1970
as Bella Star
Noah's Ark
1986
as Noah's Wife / Additional Voices (voice)
The Facts of Life Reunion
2001
as Mrs. Edna Garrett
The Love Song of Barney Kempinski
1968
as Woman in Window
Our Town
1977
as Mrs. Soames
Queen of the Stardust Ballroom
1975
as Helen
The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal
1979
as Bessie
She's The Best Thing in It
2015
as Self
The Journey of the Fifth Horse
1966
as Terentievna
"Waiting for Godot" Intercut with “Krazy Kat”
1958
as Krazy Kat
The Facts of Life Goes to Paris
1982
as Edna Garrett
Beane's of Boston
1979
as Mae Slocombe
Save the Dog!
1988
The World of Sholom Aleichem
1959
as The Angel Rochele
The Huffless, Puffless, Dragon
1964
Love Sick Love
2012
as Edna
About Charlotte Rae
Charlotte Rae Lubotsky (April 22, 1926 – August 5, 2018) was an American actress and singer. On screen, Rae was best known for her portrayal of Edna Garrett in the sitcoms Diff'rent Strokes and its spin-off, The Facts of Life. She was born to Russian Jewish immigrants Esther (née Ottenstein), who was a childhood friend of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, and Meyer Lubotsky, a retail tire business owner. She was one of three sisters, along with Miriam and the late Beverly (December 21, 1921 – June 2, 1998). She graduated from Shorewood High S… With 95 credits spanning from 1948 to 2015, Charlotte Rae has appeared in 40 films and 55 TV shows.
Fans searching for Charlotte Rae movies, Charlotte Rae filmography, or the latest projects starring Charlotte Rae can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Charlotte Rae Movies
- You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008) — as Mrs. Greenhouse
- Nowhere (1997) — as Fortune Teller
- Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992) — as Aunt Figg (voice)
- Hair (1979) — as Lady in Pink
- Ricki and the Flash (2015) — as Oma
Where to Watch Charlotte Rae Films
Most Charlotte Rae movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Charlotte Rae, check our movies catalogue and browse page.