The Facts of Life premiered in 1979 and quickly became a beloved sitcom across American households. The comedy was a spinoff of Diff'rent Strokes and starred Charlotte Rae, Mindy Cohn, and Lisa Whelchel.
The Facts of Life legacy is storied. It was spun off into three television movies – The Facts of Life Goes to Paris, The Facts of Life Down Under, and The Facts of Life Reunion – and cemented many of its actors as stars.
So, nearly 50 years after it premiered, where is The Facts of Life cast today?
© Getty ImagesCharlotte Rae then and now, pictured decades apart in a striking side-by-side portrait comparison.
Charlotte Rae as Edna Garrett
Charlotte Rae starred as the housekeeper Edna Garrett in Diff'rent Strokes before leading The Facts of Life in 1979. The spinoff followed her character as she becomes a housemother at an all-girls boarding school in New York. In 1982, Charlotte earned an Emmy nomination for her work. She was a main cast member on the show for seven seasons before transitioning to a guest star in season eight.
After The Facts of Life wrapped, Charlotte went on to star in dozens of TV movies and films, including Nowhere (1997), Love Sick Love (2012), and Ricki and the Flash (2015). In 2018, Charlotte passed away from bone cancer when she was 92.
© Getty ImagesMindy Cohn, then and now, from her school days to a recent convention appearance.
Mindy Cohn as Natalie Green
When she was just 13, Mindy Cohn starred as an impressionable student on The Facts of Life. She was discovered after producers of the show visited her real life high school, Westlake School in California. Mindy starred in all nine seasons of the show and in the 2001 reunion movie.
But, after finding success as a voice actor, Mindy, 60, decided to step away from Hollywood. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and didn't share the news publicly until 2017. After revealing the news, Mindy appeared in several films and TV shows, including in Palm Royale with Kristin Wiig.
© Getty ImagesKim Fields then and now, from her early TV years to a recent red carpet appearance.
Kim Fields as Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey
Kim Fields' character on The Facts of Life came with a catchphrase. Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey often said: "We're in troouu-ble!" making her a fan favorite. The actress starred on the sitcom until 1988.
After earning a degree in telecommunications, Kim continued acting and appeared in shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Living Single. The 57-year-old actress ventured into directing too, working with Tyler Perry and Nickelodeon. Outside of work, Kim married her husband Christopher Morgan in 2007. The couple have two children together, sons Sebastian and Quincy.
© Getty ImagesLisa Whelchel then and now, from her 1980s heyday to a recent portrait decades later.
Lisa Whelchel as Blair Warner
Lisa Whelchel portrayed the spoiled rich girl Blair Warner on The Facts of Life. But, her role on the sitcom wasn't her first in Hollywood. Before joining the comedy, Lisa was a Mouseketeer on The New Mickey Mouse club until 1978.
After The Facts of Life wrapped, Lisa, 63, competed in Survivor: Philippines, and came in second place. She acted in several rom-coms, like Falling for Christmas (2016). The actress is a mom-of-three with her ex-husband, Steven Cauble.
© Getty ImagesNancy McKeon, then and now: from her early years in the spotlight to a poised, modern portrait.
Nancy McKeon as Joanna Marie "Jo" Polniaczek
Nancy McKeon joined The Facts of Life during its second season as Joanna Marie "Jo" Polniaczek, a student from the Bronx who immediately clashed with Lisa's Blair. She starred on the show until its final season in 1988 and has continued acting ever since.
Outside of acting, Nancy, 60, married Marc Andrus in 2003. The couple share two daughters together. While she is still acting, and was recently in an off-Broadway production of Pen Pals, Nancy keeps her life private.
