Overview

Charlotte Rae (born Charlotte Rae Lubotsky; April 22, 1926 – August 5, 2018) was an American actress, comedian, singer, and dancer. Her career spanned six decades, during which she made significant contributions to television, film, and theater. Rae was best known for her portrayal of Edna Garrett in the sitcoms *Diff’rent Strokes* and its spin-off, *The Facts of Life*, where she starred from 1979 to 1986. She received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy in 1982 for her role in *The Facts of Life*. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Russian Jewish immigrant parents, Rae’s mother was a childhood friend of Golda Meir. She began her career as a stage actress and transitioned to television, appearing in numerous shows before landing her iconic role as Mrs. Garrett. She also voiced characters in animated series and appeared in films, showcasing her versatility as a performer. Charlotte Rae passed away on August 5, 2018, in Los Angeles, California, leaving behind a legacy as a beloved entertainer.
Here is detailed information about Charlotte Rae’s net worth and career. ## What Is Charlotte Rae’s Net Worth? Charlotte Rae had a net worth of $4 million at the time of her death in 2018. She accumulated her wealth through a multifaceted career as an actress, comedian, singer, and dancer. ## Early Life and Career Beginnings Charlotte Rae Lubotsky was born on April 22, 1926, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her parents, Esther (née Ottenstein) and Meyer Lubotsky, were Russian Jewish immigrants. Her father owned a retail tire business. She was the second of three sisters. For the first ten years of her life, Rae’s family lived in an apartment built for them above her father’s Milwaukee tire store. In 1936, her parents purchased a home for the family in nearby Shorewood, Wisconsin. Rae’s career included a variety of roles on stage and screen. She earned two Tony Award nominations for her performances in “Pickwick” and “Morning, Noon and Night”. ## Television Career: Diff’rent Strokes and The Facts of Life Rae gained widespread recognition for her role as Edna Garrett. She first appeared as the Drummond’s housekeeper on *Diff’rent Strokes* from 1978 to 1984. She then transitioned to *The Facts of Life*, a spin-off where she starred from 1979 to 1986, playing the same character but now as a housemother at Eastland School. Rae appeared in 155 episodes of *The Facts of Life*. In an *Entertainment Weekly* interview, Rae mentioned she left *The Facts of Life* because her character’s role diminished, even though producers offered her millions to stay. She felt the girls seemed self-sufficient and her part wasn’t needed as much. ## Other Television Roles Before her iconic role as Edna Garrett, Charlotte Rae starred as Sylvia Schnauser in the TV series *Car 54, Where Are You?* from 1961 to 1963. She also appeared on *Sesame Street* as Molly the Mail Lady from 1971 to 1972 and as Mrs. Bellotti in *Hot L Baltimore* in 1975. Later, from 1977 to 1998, she voiced the role of Nanny in the animated series *101 Dalmatians: The Series*. She made guest appearances in episodes of *Baby Talk*, *Murder, She Wrote*, and *St. Elsewhere* before voicing Adrienne in *The Itsy Bitsy Spider*. Additional television credits include appearances in *Way Out*, *The Defenders*, *Temperatures Rising*, *The Love Boat*, *The Partridge Family*, *Love, American Style*, *McMillan & Wife*, *Barney Miller*, *Phyllis*, *227*, *Diagnosis: Murder*, *All in the Family*, and *Good Times*. ## Film Career Rae’s film career included roles in movies such as *Hello Down There*, *Jenny*, *Bananas*, *The Hot Rock*, *Rabbit Test*, *Hair*, *Nowhere*, *You Don’t Mess With the Zohan*, and *Love Sick Love*. ## Awards and Nominations Charlotte Rae received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy in 1982 for *The Facts of Life*. She also earned an Emmy nomination for her supporting role in the 1975 drama *Queen of the Stardust Ballroom*. ## Additional Ventures Charlotte Rae released her autobiography, “The Facts of My Life,” in November 2015, adding to her income through book sales. ## Personal Life and Death Charlotte Rae was married to composer John Strauss from 1951 to 1976, and they had two children together. John Strauss later came out as bisexual. Charlotte Rae passed away on August 5, 2018, at the age of 92 at her home in Los Angeles after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

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