Charlotte Rae

Charlotte Rae was one of America's best known character actresses, particularly in television sitcom, The Facts of Life, but began her career in musical theater. She was born Charlotte Rae Lubotsky in the city of Milwaukee. Her father was a Russian Jewish immigrant who owned a retail tire business. She was a small girl, felt herself plain and awkward, and found that in performing she could feel popular and accepted. She began doing children's theater and community radio, and became serious about theater as a career. Her supportive parents sent her to Northwestern University ...