‘Facts of Life’ and ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ star Charlotte Rae dies at 92

Tributes are pouring in from the entertainment world following the death of TV actress Charlotte Rae.

Rae’s representatives confirmed to EW that the star – known for her portrayal of house mother Mrs Garrett on hit sitcom The Facts of Life – passed away on Sunday in her Los Angeles home. She was 92.

The Diff’rent Strokes actress had been diagnosed with bone cancer last April, just seven years after successfully battling pancreatic cancer.

During her first cancer battle, the actress went through gruelling chemotherapy and lost all her hair, but ended up beating the cancer. Remarkably, she kept it a secret. She later said she was prepared to fight cancer again after being diagnosed a second time. 

“I love life. I’ve had a wonderful one already … I’ve had a great life, but I have so many wonderful things happening,” she said last year. “I’d like to choose life. I’m grateful for the life I’ve already had.”

Friends and fans have already taken to social media to pay their respects to the fallen star, including Mindy Cohn, who played one of Rae’s students on The Facts of Life.

“It’s with a heavy heart and lots of tears (but a smile as I think of her) that I now move through the world without this incredible force of a woman being in it,” Cohn said on Instagram. “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. As I send sympathies to Larry and the rest of the family, I wish you the happiest of homecomings.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmHwPaLAfYR/?taken-by=mindycohn

Her nephew, Dennis Guten, also shared a photo of the actress on his Twitter page, explaining that he would miss her “tons”.

https://twitter.com/gushin/status/1026287547272634369

Fans also shared their memories of the star.

One person wrote: “RIP Charlotte Rae, 92, sitcom den mother, nonpareil comic actor and singer, recipient of and kindly respondent to my very first fan letter.”

RIP Charlotte Rae, 92, sitcom den mother, nonpareil comic actor and singer, recipient of and kindly respondent to my very first fan letter pic.twitter.com/w6hJCRRSts

— Adam Feldman (@FeldmanAdam) August 6, 2018

Another said: “RIP Charlotte Rae. Famous for Mrs Garrett but my fave role is as the lady having a GREAT time when Treat Williams crashes the fancy party in ‘Hair.’ What a tremendous gal!”

RIP Charlotte Rae. Famous for Mrs Garrett but my fave role is as the lady having a GREAT time when Treat Williams crashes the fancy party in "Hair." What a tremendous gal! pic.twitter.com/r0wHq7HBbp

— Dani (@VivianBloom) August 6, 2018

A third added: “I was just thinking about Charlotte Rae the other day when they announced the Facts of Life reboot and how hard it’s going to be to replace her memorable Mrs. Garrett. RIP.”

Rae was no stranger to TV shows and movies, appearing in everything from ER to Sisters and The King of Queens to Pretty Little Liars.

What is your favourite memory of Charlotte Rae? Do you have a message for her family?