ILOSM family we have sad news today, Charlotte Rae Lubotsky a.k.a. “Mrs. Garrett” (or “Mrs. G” as “Jo” lovingly called her on the show) has passed away at age 92. Most of us, Old Schoolers, remember “Mrs. Garrett” as the quirky, kind-hearted house-mother at the boarding school where “Tootie” (Kim Fields), “Natalie” (Mindy Cohn, “Jo” (Nancy McKoen), and “Blair (Lisa Whelchel) lived.
Here is what Associated Press reported about the details of Charlotte’s passing:
Charlotte Rae…died at her Los Angeles home Sunday with her family at her side, said her publicist, Harlan Boll. A cause of death was not immediately available, but Rae was diagnosed last year with bone cancer after beating pancreatic cancer, Boll said. […] In addition to son Larry, she is survived by sister Miriam Guten and three grandchildren.
“Mrs. Garrett” first made her entrance into primetime TV on the classic sitcom, “Diff’rent Strokes,” as the housekeeper for “Willis'” (Todd Bridges) and “Arnold’s” (Gary Coleman) adoptive ‘family.’ In fact, it was Charlotte Rae, who in 1978 (after just one season on “Diff’rent Strokes”) pitched the “Mrs. Garrett” spin-off idea to the network’s producers. Then, lo and behold, the long-running “Facts Of Life” sitcom was bred.
Co-Stars Pay Touching Tribute
As soon as news began to spread, that “Mrs. Garrett” had taken her final breathe, both her “Facts of Life” and “Diff’rent Strokes” fam’ paid homage to her on social media.
Kim Fields posted tributes on Twitter and Instagram, writing:
“You all already know my heart is heavy yet…. sorry, no words at the moment just love and tears… and yeah, smiles…. #charlotterae #ripcharlotterae”
https://twitter.com/KimVFields/status/1026296973542998016
“This ‘see you later’ is so hard…”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmJPDo_HzAU/
Mindy Cohn a.k.a. “Natalie” wrote:
“She was my champion, a teacher, a proud example of the tenacity and perseverance needed to live as a creative, along with your talent and gifts. i love you char.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmHwPaLAfYR/
Todd Bridges wrote:
“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.”
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 pic.twitter.com/8FbterNz3S
— Todd Bridges (@ToddBridges) August 6, 2018
“Mrs. Garrett’s” 2017 Statement After Diagnosis
Via EW: “I found out I have bone cancer,” she said in a statement. “About seven years ago, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer — which is a miracle that they found it because usually, it’s too late. My mother, sister, and my uncle died of pancreatic cancer. After six months of chemotherapy, I was cancer-free. I lost my hair, but I had beautiful wigs. Nobody ever knew. So now, at the age of 91, I have to make up my mind. I’m not in any pain right now. I’m feeling so terrific and so glad to be above ground. Now I have to figure out whether I want to go have treatment again or opt for life. … I love life. I’ve had a wonderful one already … I’ve had a great life, but I have so many wonderful things happening. I’d like to choose life. I’m grateful for the life I’ve already had.”
“Mrs. Garrett’s” Personal Life Struggles
On the show, Mrs. Garrett gave her girls life lessons about serious topics, including AIDS, rape, dating, etc. and in real life, Charlotte Rae was continuing to offer lessons to the world, by using the pains, triumphs and challenges of her own life. In her memoir, “The Facts of My Life,” Charlottte disclosed that she was once an alcoholic but had 44 years of sobriety and that her husband had revealed to her he was bisexual, which was devastating for her. However nothing was more devastating for Charlotte, than when her autistic son, Andy, passed away at age 44 in 1999.
When she was 91, Charlotte Rae gave one last life lesson:
Via EW: “At 91, every day is a birthday. [In my book] I want to tell everybody to celebrate every day, to savor the day and be good to yourself, love yourself, and then you can be good to others and be of service to others.”
May Charlotte Rae Lubotsky now rest peacefully with her beloved son.
