The final episode of the NBC sitcom Facts of Life, a spin-off of Diff’rent Strokes, aired nearly 30 years ago. It’s no surprise that Facts of Life won numerous honors after nine seasons and 209 episodes. Yes, we enjoyed the show from 1979 to 1988, but we’d like to go back in time and see how they’re doing. Keep reading to find out where all the stars are now.
Charlotte Rae
Coming up first is none other than the legendary Mrs. Garrett. Did you know Rae was nominated for an Emmy for her performance? After thirty years, Rae had accumulated more than 91 credits to her name. Perhaps you caught a glimpse of her in Adam Sandler’s You Don’t Mess With The Zohan? She recently appeared in Ricki and the Flash. Unfortunately, she succumbed to cancer in December 2016.
Charlotte Rae
Lisa Whelchel
Who could forget Blair’s shenanigans? When Lisa started portraying Blair, she was only 14 years old. Lisa took a break from performing once she finished with her character. Blair Warner was then brought back in 2001 for The Wonderful World of Disney. When she returned, no one was talking about rumors of cosmetic surgery. Her appearance was almost comparable to that of her previous character!
Lisa Whelchel
Kim Fields
Kim Fields, who played Dorothy Ramsey, aka Tootie, is next on the list. Fortunately, following the concert, viewers were able to experience her on-screen talents. Her resume includes more than 50 projects! She’s probably most remembered for her role in Living the Dream, in addition to Facts of Life. She also spent a season as a member of the cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Kim Fields
Mindy Cohn
Mindy Cohn landed her role as Natalie Green while a student attending a production meeting because she was promised free lunch. What a riot! She’s appeared in a lot of films after the show ended. She is well known for her role as Velma in the Scooby Doo series, which she played from 2002 to 2015.
Mindy Cohn
Molly Ringwald
We all know what Molly Ringwald did once she left her role as Molly Parker! You may have forgotten that this 80s icon debuted on both Diff’rent Strokes and Facts of Life. She had a long and illustrious career, from The Breakfast Club to Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles. Not to mention her recent appearances in The Secret Life Of The American Teenager and, even more recently, Riverdale.
Molly Ringwald
George Clooney
Perhaps you were unaware of George Burnett’s 17-episode tenure with Clooney. It’s difficult to deny that he’s become the cast’s most successful member. No cosmetic surgery nor facelift is required for this iconic icon to appear so suave and natural. From ER, to Ocean’s Eleven, to O Brother, Where Art Thou?, he’s enjoyed a string of hits. Oh, and in 2014, he married the gorgeous Amal.
George Clooney
Cloris Leachman
What hasn’t Cloris Leachman appeared in? Beverly, Edna’s sister, joins the series in 1986. Her professional life has spanned more than 70 years! She’s appeared in Young Frankenstein, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Spanglish, to mention a few. She was the oldest Dancing with the Stars contestant ever. Oh, and she hosted Bob Saget’s Comedy Central Roast. Is it possible for her to get any cooler?
Cloris Leachman
John Lawlor
For John Lawlor, things did not go as planned. After one season as Steven Bradley, his character was written off. After that, he had minor appearances in television movies and shows. He never quite made it big, though. In 2011, he did appear in an episode of Breaking Bad.
John Lawlor
Mackenzie Astin
Andy Moffett, played by Mackenzie Astin, was a favorite of ours. Unfortunately, Astin was only in the role of Andy for three years. Since then, you may be aware of Astin’s remarkable career in film and television. He has appeared in films such as The Magicians and Scandal. He is now working on numerous films that will be released soon.
Mackenzie Astin
Nancy McKeon
Of course, Nancy McKeon’s portrayal of tomboy Jo Polniaczek is legendary. She was almost cast in the iconic show Friends after that. Monica was auditioned by both McKeon and Courtney Cox, but Cox was cast. McKeon stated that she had no animosity towards Cox. After that, she played the mother of Demi Lovato’s character on Disney’s Sonny with a Chance. McKeon then continued to act until his retirement in 2011.
Nancy McKeon
Julie Anne Haddock
Julie Ann played Cindy Webster for the first two seasons before reappearing in a few episodes in the following two seasons. Unfortunately, NBC said that the show’s vision had changed, and her role had to be deleted. After this part, Haddock chose to stop acting. She now enjoys spending time with her family and attending church. She lives in California and devotes her time to charitable activities.
Julie Anne Haddock
Sherrie Austin
Austin, who played Pippa in the show, is up next. She abruptly changed her mind after the show, much to everyone’s astonishment. Austin has since decided to pursue a career in music. If you like country music, you should listen to her five country albums!
Sherrie Austin
Geri Jewell
Geri Jewell was the first person with a visible impairment to have a regular part on prime time television when she starred on Facts of Life. She was also the first person with cerebral palsy to star in a television show. She became well-known after that for her role as Jewel on HBO’s Deadwood.
Geri Jewell
Alex Rocco
Rocco could do it all between Facts of Life and The Godfather. Sadly, this star passed away in 2015 at the age of 79. Aside from the roles mentioned, he also contributed his voice to a variety of projects due to his distinctive gravelly voice.
Alex Rocco
Roger Perry
How quickly time has passed! Roger Perry, who played Charles Parker in the film, is now in his eighties. In recent years, he has reduced his workload. However, he has a total of 94 credits in his career! He was in the film Wreckage, which was released recently.
Roger Perry
Jami Gertz
Gertz achieved success in Hollywood after portraying Boots St. Claire on Facts of Life. You may recall her from Britney Spears’ parts in The Lost Boys, Twister, and Crossroads. She went on to appear in a few episodes after that. She is well known for her recurrent role on HBO’s Entourage and her current role as Debbie Weaver on ABC’s The Neighbors.
Jami Gertz
Marj Dusay
Her performance as Monica Warner was outstanding. Dusay is perhaps most known for her role as Pamela Capwell Conrad in Santa Barbara. She starred in Guiding Light from 2003 to 2009, just before retiring.
Marj Dusay
Jenny O’Hara
Jenny O’Hara played Miss Emily Mahoney in the first season. Mrs. Garrett’s sidekick, Mahoney, was entertaining in her own right. Jenny, on the other hand, has built a reputation for herself in Hollywood since then. She’s been in shows including The King of Queens, The Mindy Project, and Transparent, among others.
Jenny O’Hara
Ryan Cassidy
Ryan Cassidy is the eldest of the Cassidy brothers. David Cassidy, a well-known actor, is his brother. Returning to Ryan, who portrayed Kevin Metcalf for five episodes in 1985. He changed his mind after the events of Facts of Life. He has worked in the art department for a number of television episodes, including The Secret Life of Alex Mack, The King of Queens, JAG, and Good Luck Charlie. He appeared to have returned to on-screen acting recently, portraying several tragic roles.
Ryan Cassidy
Juliette Lewis
Lewis was unknown prior to the release of Facts of Life. Things certainly changed for her after she took on the role of Terry Rankin! This actress is best known for her Oscar-nominated performance in Martin Scorsese’s version of Cape Fear, although she has also appeared in a number of other films. Oh, and she’s a musician, too!
Juliette Lewis
Scott Bryce
Scott Bryce is yet another actor who rose to fame after appearing on Facts of Life. On the show, he played Rick Bonner. Then came Lethal Weapon 3, which was a huge hit. He’s still working as an actor, and he’s married with one child.
Scott Bryce
Dawn Gregg
Despite only appearing in three episodes as Jenny, this actress established herself as a superb Hollywood performer. Following this job, she began producing, directing, and writing. She primarily works on short films. She didn’t return to acting until 2012. She is now married with five children.
Dawn Gregg
Eve Plumb
Can we just say that without cosmetic surgery, this legend makes aging look like a piece of cake? Amazing. Even though she only appeared twice as Eve, she is best known for her role as Jan on The Brady Bunch. She continued to perform in shows like Law & Order, Days of Our Lives, and Army Wives, even though her latter parts were not as prominent. In her spare time, she also enjoys drawing. She bought her first property for $55,000 when she was 11 years old, and she recently sold it for $3.9 million.
Eve Plumb
David Ackroyd
He only featured in two episodes as Major Dorsey, but he went on to have a lot of success in TV shows. You might recognize him from Walker Texas Ranger, Xena Warrior Princess, The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, and other films. Because of his austere manner, he was frequently cast as doctors, government officials, and lawyers.
David Ackroyd
Jennifer Barlow
Jennifer Barlow, who played Alicia in two episodes, gave a noteworthy performance. She continued to appear in shows including Dallas, The Jeffersons, Nine to Five, Beverly Hills 90210, and Star Trek: The Next Generation, where her talent was recognized. She has not only performed in those series, but she has also produced, directed, and done much more in Hollywood behind the scenes.
Jennifer Barlow
Mayim Bialik
Mayim guest-starred on the show’s final two episodes in 1988, to speak of two episodes. Jennifer Cole, a vivacious child, was played by her. We don’t need to catch anyone up on this celebrity any longer! On The Big Bang Theory, she portrays neuroscientist Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler. Not to mention that she has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, thus in this situation, art imitates life.
Mayim Bialik
Seth Green
Seth Green featured in two episodes of Facts of Life before becoming the famous actor he is today. Rat Race, the Austin Powers movies, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and his voicing for Robot Chicken and Family Guy are just a few of his more well-known appearances.
Seth Green
Loren Lester
Facts of Life showed Lester for eight episodes. He’s gone on to have a good career since then. He is, in fact, one of the most well-known Robin voices in the Batman franchise. Amazing! He’s appeared in several plays and musicals in addition to guesting on various TV shows.
Loren Lester
Julie Piekarski
Before departing Facts of Life, Piekarski played Sue Ann Weaver for 16 episodes. She kept a quiet profile, avoiding cosmetic surgery and the front pages of newspapers. She did, however, make a memorable appearance in the 2016 film The Importance of Doubting Tom.
Julie Piekarski
Helen Hunt
Her performance on Facts of Life, like that of several of her other former co-stars, was not nearly as well-known as her latter role. We’re all familiar with Hunt from the TV show Mad About You. She has, of course, done a great deal of other work in the sector. She recently starred in the film Shots Fired.
Helen Hunt
Pamela Adlon
This next celebrity rivals George Clooney in every way! On our list, she’s one of the most successful. She did, however, lend her voice to King of the Hill and Thundercats. Let’s not forget her great performance on Californication!
Pamela Adlon
Larry Wilmore
Perhaps we spoke too soon…Larry Wilmore went on to have a lot of success after the show. After taking a break from acting, Wilmore returned to writing. He has written for a variety of shows, including The Bernie Mac Show and In Living Color, to mention a few. We’re all familiar with him now because of his Comedy Central show. Larry, congrats!
Larry Wilmore
David Spade
You probably don’t recall when Spade first arrived on the show. However, we are all familiar with this wild comedian from his subsequent roles. He even received two Golden Globe nominations. From The Emperor’s New Groove to Just Shoot Me, he’s shown a diverse range of abilities.
David Spade
Gary Coleman
Coleman’s journey did not have a happy ending, from Diff’rent Strokes to appearances on Facts of Life. Regrettably, he found himself in legal and financial difficulties. Then, regrettably, he died when he was just 42 years old. Gary, may you rest in peace.
Gary Coleman
Orson Bean
You might not recall Orson’s role as Oliver Thompson from The Facts of Life because he only appeared in three episodes. He went on to play Loren Bray on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman after leaving this show. Of course, Bean went on to star in a variety of other television shows, but he is best known for his role as Loren Bray.
Orson Bean
Dick O’Neil
Dick O’Neill has something iconic about him. We may not recall his brief appearance on The Facts of Life, but we are familiar with him from his earlier performances. Perhaps you remember him from Cagney and Lacey as Charlie. Unfortunately, when he was 70 years old, the world lost this star.
Dick O’Neil
Nicolas Coster
Coster went from a minor role on The Facts of Life, to being a massive celebrity! Is it true that Nicolas Coster has appeared in 168 films? Well, not for long, because he’s still working as an actor! He is most known for his seven-year stint on The Bay. Perhaps you’ll see him in the 2018 picture Con Man, starring Mark Hamill and Elisabeth Rohm.
Nicolas Coster
Mako
Mako was nominated for an Academy Award before ever appearing on the show! The guest appearance, on the other hand, did not appear to harm his reputation. Mako has been in films such as Memoirs of a Geisha and Seven Years in Tibet, to mention a few. Mako passed away in 2006, at the age of 72.
Mako
Moon Unit Zappa
Yes, she is the musician Frank Zappa’s daughter! She also featured on Curb Your Enthusiasm, How I Met Your Mother, and Roseanne, in addition to her brief appearance on the show. In addition to being an actor, Zappa is a stand-up comedian and a magazine writer.
Moon Unit Zappa
Richard Dean Anderson
We all know him from Stargate, General Hospital, and MacGyver, to name a few. You probably had no idea he was a guest on The Facts of Life. In any case, he’s kept himself pretty busy in Hollywood. He most recently appeared in Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23 as a guest star.
Richard Dean Anderson
Lou Richards
Richards went from being a guest star on the show to having a successful acting career of his own. In fact, he has appeared in hit television shows such as Mad Men, Grey’s Anatomy, and even How to Get Away With Murder. He also appeared in The Infamous, a TV movie.
Lou Richards
Jermaine Jackson
In fact, Jermaine portrayed himself in an episode of the show! That makes sense, given his status as a well-known singer and former member of The Jackson 5! Jackson’s music is still alive and well today, and he plays on the Goji ni muchu! show.
Jermaine Jackson
Paul Provenza
Wow, this celebrity has gone on to become a well-known stand-up comedian, actor, and book since his role as Casey Clark on The Facts of Life. On Empty Nest, he played Patrick Arcola, and on Beggars and Choosers, he played Parker Meridian. He’s also appeared on WTF, The Tony Perkins Show, Todd N Tyler Radio Empire, and The Rubin Report, among other podcasts. He published Satiristas! in 2010. Bill Maher, George Carlin, and Stephen Colbert are among the prominent comedians interviewed.
Paul Provenza
Heather McAdam
She returned to the show as Alex. Heather has been in guest parts on a variety of shows since then, including Beverly Hills, 90210, and Quantum Leap. She also appeared on Sisters as Catherine Margolis, aka Cat. Young Estelle in Touched By An Angel was her final acting role. She is now married to Tod Kessler and has three children with him.
Heather McAdam
Laura Summer
This actress has continued to work in Hollywood after playing Emily in three episodes. For The Real Ghostbusters, she voiced Janine and other characters. She’s done voice work for Digimon: Digital Monsters, Twitches, The Cheetah Girls, The Garfield Show, and a slew of additional Digimon shows. Perhaps that’s why you haven’t seen much of her since the show, but you have definitely heard her!
Laura Summer
Lauren Tom
Lauren Tom was fortunate enough to make her big acting debut on The Facts of Life. She appeared in two episodes of Miko in 1982. Lauren was just getting started in her profession. She has voiced for a number of shows in addition to playing Julie, Ross’ girlfriend on Friends. Maybe you’ve seen her in Futurama as Amy! She’s also done voice work for shows like King of the Hill and Rocket Power. She also appeared in Bad Santa as Lois and Pretty Little Liars as Rebecca.
Lauren Tom
Mark Tymchyshyn
He played Ben Rutledge in The Facts of Life before appearing as a guest star on a number of programs. He also appeared in the film He Said, She Said as Steve. In The Gregory Hines Show, he played Alex. In addition, he made an appearance on an episode of Boston Legal! He played Mel Powers in George Lopez. His most recent appearance was as a guest star in Reckless.
Mark Tymchyshyn
Joel Brooks
After his role as Raymond Garrett in The Facts of Life, he played J.D. Lucas in My Sister Sam on television. After that, he had a slew of further guest appearances on shows for years. On HBO’s Six Feet Under, he played Robbie, and on Phil of the Future, he played Mr. Messerschmidt.
Joel Brooks
Lois Nettleton
Lois died in January 2008, which was a sad loss. After playing Noreen Stickle on The Facts of Life, she racked up a long list of credits. She went on to play Joanne St. John on In the Heat of the Night and Evelyn in Crossing Jordan after that. Her most recent performance was in the television film The Christmas Card as Rosie Spelman.
Lois Nettleton
Jeff Williams
Jeff’s acting career began with his part on The Facts of Life as Peter! He’s appeared as a guest star on a variety of shows since then, including The Cosby Show, Law & Order, The Sopranos, The Mentalist, and Difficult People. On Birdland, he played Dr. Lewis Niles. He also had an appearance on HBO’s Ballers!
Jeff Williams