Her character on "The Facts of Life" (1979) was a Democrat, so was Rae, in real-life.
Her classmates at Northwestern University included Cloris Leachman, Paul Lynde, Charlton Heston, Martha Hyer, Patricia Neal and Agnes Nixon. Because they were seated alphabetically and her last name was Lubotsky, she & Lynde were seated next to each other.
Her ex-husband John Strauss served as musical composer of "Car 54, Where Are You?" (1961), in which she co-starred.
Her family moved to Milwaukee's village of Shorewood, Wisconsin, in 1936.
Her parents, Esther Ottenstein, who was a childhood friend of Golda Meir, and Meyer Lubotsky, a retail tire business owner.
Her sister, Beverly Ann, died in 1998.
Her younger sister, Mimi, wrote a children's album that Rae recorded for her, called "Wally Koala.".
Knew Jeffrey Hunter through their work in local theater as teenagers.
Left "The Facts of Life" (1979), at the beginning of the eighth season, because she felt her character was repeating herself. After she tried to reduced her role, the producers and NBC were against her decision of her departure, so she was being replaced by Cloris Leachman, who stayed on the show until the show's cancellation in 1988.
Member of Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority.
Met Norman Lear on an episode of "The Colgate Comedy Hour" (1950).
Middle daughter of three musical girls. Older sister Beverly, an opera singer, died of cancer a few years ago. Younger sister Mimi is a musician and composer.
Of Russian-Jewish immigrants.
One of her sons is autistic.
She got the role of Edna Garrett on "Diff'rent Strokes" (1978), was Norman Lear been friends with her years before. This led her to starring in "The Facts of Life" (1979), the year later, which she stayed on the show from 1979 to 1986.
She has three grandchildren.
Starred in "Pippin" at the New Jersey Paper Mill Playhouse.
Used to be a heavy smoker for years.
Used to be a spokesperson for Mr. Muscle oven cleaner and Charmin toilet paper in the 1970s.