Lisa Whelchel was born Lisa Diane Whelchel May 29th, 1963 in Littlefield, Texas.

As a youngster, Texas native Lisa Whelchel appeared in several productions at the famed Casa Manana Dinner Theatre. But Lisa's Hollywood career began with a spot on The New Mickey Mouse Club. She was one of more than 6,000 young hopefuls to audition. (Producers created an additional spot especially for her.)

After her Mousketeer days and a couple of roles in made-for-TV movies, Whelchel was cast as Blair Warner on The Facts of Life. During the show's run, Lisa added recording artist to her resume. Her 1984 album "All Because of You" earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Inspirational Performance.

Ms. Whelchel also has several films to her credit, including the features Where the Red Fern Grows, Part Two, and The Double McGuffin, and the telefilms The Facts of Life Goes to Paris, Skyward, Twirl, No Man's Land, and The Facts of Life Down Under.

Several years ago she performed the title role in Peter Pan at Kansas City's Starlight Theater.

She put aside her acting career after The Facts of Life to play her favorite role—wife and mother of three (son Tucker, 11 and daughters Haven, 9 and Clancy, 8). She married Steve Cauble in July 1988 - he is a pastor. They reside in Santa Clarita, California. She has 2 younger brother named Cody and Casey.

Recently her book, Creative Correction: Extraordinary Ideas for Everyday Discipline, about child discipline was released. Lisa works with her husband who is an associate pastor in the Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. She continues to home school her three children.

In the summer of 2001, Lisa and her family plan on taking a vacation across the US to promote her books. Her next book which she is working on is called The Facts of Life: And Other Lessons My Father Taught Me, due in October 2001. She also has plans for other books including: Beyond Bible Stories and The Adventures of Christmas, which are aimed at children.

Kim Fields was born May 12th, 1969 in New York City, New York.

Kim Fields, a New York City native and longtime L.A. resident, made her debut on Sesame Street at the tender age of five. But one of her most recognizable early roles was as the little girl who "looooooved" Mrs. Butterworth in the classic syrup commercial. After a stint on the series Baby I'm Back and an appearance in the miniseries Roots, Kim landed the role of Tootie on The Facts of Life.

When the show began filming, Fields was so short that the producers put Tootie in roller skates to avoid difficult camera angles. Ironically, she had lost a role on Diff'rent Strokes because she was too tall to play Gary Coleman's girlfriend.

She graduated from Pepperdine University in 1990 with a Bachelor's degree in communications and film film. In addition to acting and directing, Kim taught at an acting school. At Pepperdine, she started her own production company specializing in Christian themes, Victory Entertainment Inc.

Fields, a Taurus (as she's always sure to mention in interviews), now has her own production company (Victory Entertainment). She's also a director with several credits under her belt including episodes of Living Single, a series in which she starred opposite Queen Latifah from 1993 to 1998. She also directed for the Nickelodeon sitcom Kenan & Kel.

In 2000, she was in the tv movie Hidden Blessings and the theatrical film Glow.

More recently, she has directed episodes of the new Nickelodeon series Taina.

Kim was married to business executive Johnathon Franklin Freeman in July 1995 and divorced in 1998. She has a younger sister named Alexis who is an actress and appeared on The Secret World of Alex Mack and Sister, Sister and her mother's name is Chip and is an actress and drama teacher (she appeared on The Facts of Life as her mother).

Mindy Cohn was born May 20th, 1966 in Los Angeles, California.

Mindy Cohn, known to most as the somewhat neurotic Natalie Green on The Facts of Life, has been an actress, a talk-show hostess and a game-show guest star. Mindy also earned her college degree in sociology from Loyola Marymount University in 1995, which was put to good use on a Phoenix-based radio talk show (106.3FM The Edge) where she discussed teen issues alongside co-host Alan Thicke. (Coincidentally, Thicke co-wrote the Facts of Life theme song.)

Cohn has also appeared on shows like 21 Jump Street, Suddenly Susan and HBO's acclaimed Dream On, as well as several television specials for Disney.

In 1993, she co-starred with comedian John Mendoza on the NBC sitcom The Second Half.

Mindy has an older sister named Pam who was a stand-in for her on the show.

More recently, she was the voice of Candy Yuponce on the syndicated TBS series The Chimp Channel, and appeared as Toni in the 2000 film Alone with a Stranger. She also does a voice of a character on the FOX animated series The Kids From Room 402.

Nancy McKeon was born in Westbury, New York on April 4th, 1966. She has only one brother, Philip McKeon, who is 18 months older and whom she appeared in over 60 commercials with over the years. Her middle name is Justine.

From her childhood home in Forest Hills, NY, Nancy McKeon began her career as a catalogue model and actress on commercials and the now defunct soap opera The Secret Storm.

When her brother Philip was cast to play Tommy on the series Alice, the McKeon clan headed for the West Coast. Nancy soon shared her brother's success. She was cast in hit shows like Starsky and Hutch, The Love Boat, Alice and, of course, The Facts of Life. McKeon's amazing ability to cry on cue as Jo Polniaczek on The Facts of Life won her the nickname her "Faucet Face" from her cast mates.

After The Facts of Life was cancelled, Nancy made several guest appearances on television series and hosted Friday Night Videos opposite Michael Damian (whom she dated). McKeon is now best known for an impressive list of made-for-TV movies.

Her most recent acting credit is an October 1999 episode of Touched by an Angel.

At one time, she dated Michael J. Fox and later Luc Robitaille - a NHL hockey player.

Lifetime is airing Intimate Portrait: Nancy McKeon on 1/5/01 at 7-8PM Eastern.

She will be starring in a new one hour drama on Lifetime called The Division (originally called City Limits) on 1/7 at 9-10PM Eastern.

'The Division" explores the complex lives of five very different female detectives working together in the Central Station of the San Francisco Police Department. Because of the diverse nature of SF, these women face an endless array of cases, from inner city homicides to white collar crime in the Financial District.
Stars Bonnie Bedelia, Nancy McKeon, Lisa Vidal, Lela Rochon-Fuqua and Tracey Needham. (Nancy's character is named Ginny Ecstead).

Nancy currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

From the Daily News on 10/25/00 - New Horizons: Nancy McKeon, who has spent most of her life before the cameras, as tomboy Jo on "The Facts of Life," the star of CBS' 1995 "Can't Hurry Love," and dozens of TV movies, is now earning plaudits as a director. Her "A Wakening," which she wrote and helmed, won both the Best First Short Film and the Audience Award for Best Drama at Florida's Marco Island Film Festival this month, honors she never expected it to receive.

"It's my very first attempt at directing," she says. "I financed it myself, and it never would have been made except for the love and efforts of some remarkable people who worked for free. We shot in my aunt's house in Queens, N.Y., and some of my relatives worked as extras." Even her Beverly Hills hair stylist, the very hot Phil Ackerman, flew to New York to do everyone's hair during production, paying his own expenses and air fare. With the drama, about a young boy at the Irish wake of his grandfather, who was his best friend, getting such attention, interest is already being generated in its purchase."

John Lawlor played the headmaster at Eastland Mr. Steven Bradley for the first 2 seasons on The Facts of Life.

Prior to The Facts of Life he had made several tv series appearances including Ellery Queen, The Rockford Files, and Alice and as Leonard Marsh on the Cloris Leachman sitcom Phyllis. He also appeared in the movies The Gumball Rally, Jackson County Jail, and Relentless.

During the 80's he appeared in several movies. His most recent credit is the 1994 movie Wyatt Earp as Judge Spicer.

Jenny O'Hara played Miss Mahoney a teacher who was only seen in the first 4 episodes of The Facts of Life in 1979.

She was born February 24th, 1946 in Sonora, California.

She has a lengthy list of credits both before and after The Facts of Life. Some of her notable appearances include the sitcom My Sister Sam, the soap opeara As the World Turns, and the sitcoms Life's Work and Costello. View her entry at the Internet Movie Database for a detailed list of her credits.

Felice Schachter played Nancy Olson during the first two seasons (and a few season 3 episodes) of The Facts of Life.

She auditioned for the role of Kimberly on Diff'rent Strokes but didn't get the role as it eventually went to Dana Plato. The producers, however, liked her and cast her in the spin-off, The Facts of Life. Felice was the first girl to be cast in The Facts of Life and the first to be released when the show was re-tooled and down-sized after the first season.

She was also in the 1982 movie Zapped which starred Scott Baio. She made guest appearances on the sitcoms Alice in 1980 and E/R in 1985.

Felice was interviewed for the 1999 E! True Hollywood Story on The Facts of Life, currently she owns her own production company.

Julie Piekarski played Sue Ann Weaver during the first two seasons (and a few season 3 episodes) of The Facts of Life.

Julie Piekarski was born February 2nd, 1964 in St. Louis, Missouri.

She was in the movie The Miracle of Kathy Miller in 1981 and in 1977 was in the New Mickey Mouse Club. She also appeared in a 1983 episode of Three's Company, 1982 episode of Quincy, M.E., and the 1983 ABC Afterschool Special 'Carousel'. She did commercials for McDonald's and Taco Bell among others.

She is sometimes credited as Julie Piekarski-Probst and worked as the entertainment reporter for KPLR-TV in St. Louis for about a year between 1986-1988. She also did some local theatre there.

She is married with three children currently residing in her hometown St. Louis. Her husband is a dentist and is named John Probst.

Julie Anne Haddock played Cindy Webster during the first two seasons (and a few season 3 episodes) of The Facts of Life.

Before The Facts of Life she had appeared on Wonder Woman and Little House on the Prairie.

Her other credits include Mulligan's Stew (the tv movie and series), Like Normal People (1979), the movies Scavenger Hunt and The Great Santini, and the 1983 tv series Boone.

She still lives in Los Angeles and uses her married name. She sings in her church and no longer acts.

Molly Ringwald played Molly Parker during the first 2 seasons - 9 of 13 episodes.

Molly was born in Roseville, California on February 18th, 1968. Her fathers name is Bob Ringwald and mothers name is Adele Ringwald. She graduated high school in 1986.

Molly was one of the original 80's brat-packers having appeared in the classic films Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink.

She continues to be very busy with her acting career with her credits for 2000 including the movies: Cut, In the Weeds, and Ring of Fire. She was also on the short-lived tv drama series The Street.

Molly was married to Valerie Lameignere on July 28th, 1999 near Bordeaux, France.

Hugh Gillin played the cook at Eastland, Howard, during the 1980-1981 season.

He has a lengthy list of credits (see his Internet Movie Database entry for a detailed list) before and after The Facts of Life. Some of these include Paper Moon, The Bad News Bears Go to Japan, Semi-Tough (tv series), Airplane II, Psycho II and III, Elvis and Me (as Colonel Parker), and Back to the Future III. His most recent credit is the 1996 tv movie What Love Sees.

Roger Perry played Mr. Charles Parker, the headmaster at Eastland, from 1981-1983.

Before The Facts of Life he had appeared in several tv series and many tv movies including Harrigan and Son and Arrest and Trial. From 1982-1985 he played John Costello on the popular night time soap opera series Falcon Crest.

He is married to Jo Anne Worley.

Geri Jewell was born in 1958. She became one of the first actresses/comediannes with cerebral palsy with a with a recurring role on a TV series, as Blair's cousin Geri Tyler from 1981-1984.

Before achieving success as stand-up comedienne Geri Jewell tried several jobs, such as typist, soda jerk and data processor. But having been diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child and suffering considerable hearing impairment, none of these suited her medical condition—or her sense of humor. Jewell was discovered at a benefit dinner by producer Norman Lear himself, who found her self-deprecating humor and openness refreshing. He soon cast her as Blair's cousin, Geri Tyler, on The Facts of Life.

In addition to guest starring in several episodes of The Facts of Life from 1981-1984, she appeared in the film Wisecracks, and the TV shows Two of a Kind and 21 Jump Street.

Geri's indomitable spirit has helped her overcome countless hurdles, making her an inspiration to viewers and co-workers alike.

Pamela Segall appeared as Kelly Affinado during the 1983-1984 season.

Before FOL, she appeared in Grease 2 as Dolores Rebchuck. She has continued acting appearing in various tv series and tv movies (see her entry at the Internet Movie Database for a detailed list).

Most of her recent credits have been voice work for animated movies or series such as FernGully: The Last Rainforest, Phantom 2040, Quack Pack, Jungle Cubs, Jumanji, 101 Dalmations: The Series, King of the Hill (as Bobby Hill), Pepper Ann, and Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot.

She is sometimes credited as Pamela Segall Adlon.

Woody Brown played Blair's boyfriend Cliff during the 1983-1984 season.

Woody Brown was born Woodward Allen Brown on February 26th, 1956.

He appeared in the tv series Flamingo Road and the movies Off Limits, The Accused, The Rain Killer, Alligator II: The Mutation, Secret Games 3, Animal Instincts II, and Dominion (which he produced and wrote). In 1979-1980 he appeared in the tv series Love of Life. His most recent credit is a 1997 episode of JAG.

George Clooney played young carpenter George Burnett during the 1985-1986 season.

George Clooney was born George Timothy Clooney in Lexington, Kentucky on May 6th, 1961.

Who would have guessed he would have gone on to so much success after The Facts of Life?

He is probably best known as Dr. Doug Ross on the popular medical drama ER from 1994-1999.

He first appeared on the sitcom E/R in 1984. Later, he would appear on Roseanne, Sunset Beach, Baby Talk, and Sisters.

More recently he has turned to films. In 1997 he played Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman & Robin. Over the last few years he has appeared in The Thin Red Line (1998), Three Kings (1999), and The Perfect Storm (2000).

In 1996, he was chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. In 1997, People voted him the Sexiest Man Alive and he was voted best dressed male television star.

He married actress Talia Balsam in 1989, and divorced in 1992.

Mackenzie Astin was born MacKenzie Alexander Astin was born in Los Angeles, California on May 12th, 1973. He is the son of actor John Astin and actress Patty Duke. His older brother is actor Sean Astin.

He has acted steadily since The Facts of Life ended. In 1996 he appeared in The Evening Star. His most recent credits include The Long Island Incident (1998 tv movie), The Last Days of Disco (1998), Dream for an Insomniac (1998); Selma, Lord, Selma (1999 tv movie), The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human (1999), Stranger Than Fiction (1999), and Off the Lip (2000).

Cloris Leachman replaced Charlotte Rae as she took the role of Beverly Ann Stickle, Mrs. Garrett's sister, from 1986-1988.

Cloris Leachman was born April 30th, 1926 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Cloris Leachman, a one-time Miss Chicago in 1946, went on to become one of the most prolific actresses on television. While most people know her as Mrs. Garrett's sister and replacement, Beverly Ann Stickle, on The Facts of Life or the self-absorbed Phyllis Lindstrom on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spinoff Phyllis, she has appeared in over 100 different television series. As of the year 2000, Leachman remains the only actress to have won five Emmy Awards in five different categories.

The former beauty queen turned heads in 1997 when she did a controversial magazine cover for Alternative Medicine Digest where she appeared clad only in body paint. More recently she acted in Hal Prince's national tour of Showboat.

In the summer of 1999, she appeared in the short-lived CBS sitcom Thanks.

Her most recent credits include: Music of the Heart (1999), Hanging Up (2000), The Amati Girls (2000), and Manna From Heaven (2001).

She is the mother of five children.

Sherrie Krenn was born on August 28th, 1970 in Sydney, Australia. At the age of 14 she opened for Johnny Cash. At the age of 16 she moved to Los Angeles and soon landed the part of Pippa McKenna on the 1987-1988 season of The Facts of Life as an Australian exchange student.

In 1993, Sherrié moved to Nashville, and became Sherrié Austin, and in 1997 released a country album titled Words, where she wrote or co-wrote 7 of the 10 songs... Her single from her album, "Never Been Kissed" was released in August of 1999, titled Love In The Real World. On May 5th 1999, Sherrié was one of the nominees for Best New Female Artist at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

She will be touring, playing mostly smaller venues and state fairs, until October. She also plans on taking a break to focus on her songwriting at some point in the near future.