The Hidden Truth About “The Facts of Life”

For 9 seasons, audiences watched as Edna Garrett, a housemother at an all-girls’ boarding school, helped a group of teenage girls tackle the various obstacles that come with everyday life.

But while this sitcom had everyone in stitches in front of the camera, there are some unknown truths behind the scenes that will leave fans shaken.

Not many people know that the show that aired on television wasn’t the show that producers originally set out to make. And after some tough cuts during the first season, the cast of the show was nearly unrecognizable.

If you had your TV set to NBC in the ’80s, you’ll undoubtedly remember this classic sitcom.

The Cast Was All-Female

“The Facts of Life” aired from 1979 to 1988 and had an all-female cast. Now that might not seem like a big deal today, but for the 1980s, this was considered quite progressive.

The series worked so well with this cast that it inspired Hollywood to make other shows and films where women were the center of attention. But the show also broke other barriers, too.

The Show Featured a Disabled Person

Aside from having an all-female cast, “The Facts of Life” also broke an even bigger barrier when Blair’s cousin, Geri, appeared on the show. Why was this so important?

Because the character suffered from cerebral palsy, making it the first time a disabled person was featured on a primetime TV show.

This helped put the show on the map, but not everyone was reacting well to being in the spotlight…

One Actress Didn’t Like the Spotlight

Kim Fields, who played Tootie Ramsey, shared just how difficult it was being in the spotlight, especially as her body changed during puberty. “When your body is changing, people can be mean– everyone goes through those awkward stages,” she explained.

But one of her co-stars was really lucky right off the bat.

Mindy Cohn Never Auditioned

Actress Mindy Cohn didn’t audition for the role of Natalie Green. Producers simply went to several high schools and interviewed students— and Cohn was one of them.

The show’s lead star, Charlotte Rae (aka Edna Garrett), liked Cohn so much that she and the producers gave her the role of Natalie. But then something scary happened after season one.