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Actor Charlotte Rae, best known for her role as Mrs. Garrett, the patient housemother at a girls' school in the 1980s sitcom 

, has died at age 92.
Rae's publicist, Harlan Boll, said she died at her Los Angeles home on Sunday, according to various sources, including 

 Boll did not give a cause of death, but Rae had been diagnosed with bone cancer last year and had suffered from pancreatic cancer for several years, according to 


Rae's character, Edna Garrett, first appeared on NBC's 

lasted for nine seasons, although Rae left after seven, explaining, "I needed some time for the rest of my life."
As 

 revolved around a group of teenage girls attending a private New York boarding school. Guiding them through the trials and tribulations of adolescence was Edna Garrett, their no-nonsense, but always understanding, housemother."


The AP adds, "Edna Garrett provided kind if sometimes wry counsel to her charges (played by young co-stars including Lisa Whelchel, Nancy McKeon and Molly Ringwald) on a series that was praised for dealing with such sensitive issues of teenhood as sex, drug use, eating disorders and peer pressure."


Rae was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for 

 in 1982.
Although the role of Mrs. Garrett is what made her famous, Rae appeared as Woody Allen's mother in the film 

 (1971). She also played on the 1960s sitcom 

 and was Molly the Mail Lady in early episodes of 

 
She also starred in several Broadway musicals in the '50s and '60s and received two Tony nominations, first in 1966 as best actress in 

 in 1955. It was re-released in 2006.
According to the LA 

When she revealed her bone cancer diagnosis last year, Rae said in a statement: "I'm not in any pain right now. I'm feeling so terrific and so glad to be above ground. Now I have to figure out whether I want to go have treatment again or opt for life. I love life. I've had a wonderful one already ... I've had a great life, but I have so many wonderful things happening. I'd like to choose life. I'm grateful for the life I've already had."

Rae's fans and former co-stars were among those mourning her death. 


Kim Fields, who played the gossipy Tootie in 

, tweeted: "You all already know my heart is heavy yet. ... sorry, no words at the moment just love and tears... and yeah, smiles...."


 tweeted that the show "... would not have been the same without you 

. You were loved by everyone on our show and you were loved by everyone on the facts of life will miss you 'My heart is full of Pain' Rest in peace my friend."  Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Scott Neuman

Author

The Emmy- and Tony-nominated actor was most famous for her sitcom roles, which also included "Diff'rent Strokes" and "Car 54, Where Are You?" Rae was diagnosed with bone cancer last year.

Charlotte Rae, who played Mrs. Garrett on 80s sitcom 'Facts of Life,' dies at 92

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