Key Points
Charlotte Rae and Cloris Leachman formed a close friendship in college at Northwestern University.
A heartfelt 1946 letter from Leachman to Rae reveals their early bond and aspirations.
Their careers and friendship intertwined, culminating in Leachman replacing Rae on ‘The Facts of Life.’
Long before they became two of television’s most recognizable faces, Charlotte Rae and Cloris Leachman were already close friends—bonded not by fame, but by college, ambition, and a shared love of performance.
That little-known friendship is now coming to light thanks to a remarkable letter Leachman sent to Rae in 1946, decades before either woman became a television legend. The deeply personal note, written when both were students at Northwestern University, is part of Rae’s private collection and was recently revealed on Collector’s Call on MeTV, hosted by Rae’s Facts of Life co-star Lisa Whelchel.
After Rae’s death in 2018 at age 92, her son, Larry Strauss, inherited a trove of memorabilia that chronicles her long and storied career in theater, television, and music. While the collection includes familiar artifacts from The Facts of Life, some of its most meaningful pieces have nothing to do with fame—and everything to do with relationships formed long before it.
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A Rare Glimpse Into Their Friendship
Among the most remarkable items in the collection is a letter from Leachman, dated November 26, 1946. Addressed to Rae by her maiden name, “Miss Charlotte Lubotsky,” the note offers an unusually intimate snapshot of their friendship as young women just beginning their journeys in the arts.
Written on Gamma Phi Beta stationery, the letter captures Leachman’s warmth, humor, and affection for Rae, touching on everyday moments and shared dreams of becoming famous in the Big Apple.
My dearest Char:
The hat box and coat arrived in good order yesterday, followed by your delightful letter today. I’m afraid that if you hadn’t been so wonderful about consenting to get on the trail of these things, I never would have seen them again. Thanks so much, Char… you are my sunshine!
Leachman goes on to write about returning home, family chatter filling the room as she writes, and the excitement of imagining a future life in New York together where they can use a newly-purchased sunlamp to get tan and joke that they “winter in Florida.”
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“Won’t we have fun telling people we winter in Florida when you come to live with me in New York!” she wrote
As the letter closes, Leachman reflects on the bonds they shared at Northwestern University and the belief that something meaningful lay ahead for them both.
Keep up the old fight, dear. This is only the beginning of a shiny, new life… and I think it’s worth fighting for!
Lots of love,
Clo the Blow
Decades later, the letter stands as a poignant reminder that before awards, iconic roles, and television history, Charlotte Rae and Cloris Leachman were simply two young friends encouraging one another—unaware of just how intertwined their futures would become.
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That bond would eventually come full circle. When Rae left The Facts of Life in 1986, Leachman joined the series as Beverly Ann, Edna Garrett’s sister, seamlessly continuing the warmth and wisdom Rae had established. For many viewers, the transition felt natural. Few knew it was rooted in a friendship that began decades earlier.
Rae, of course, is best remembered for her portrayal of the wise and compassionate Mrs. Garrett on Diff’rent Strokes and The Facts of Life, a role that earned her an Emmy nomination in 1982. But her career spanned decades, including Broadway roles, hundreds of television appearances, and even a little-known 1955 solo album—the master tapes of which are also part of Strauss’ collection.
Leachman went on to become one of the most decorated actresses in television history, earning multiple Emmy Awards and an Academy Award over a career that stretched from classic Hollywood to modern sitcoms.
On Collector’s Call, Strauss appears alongside his daughter, Carly, as archivists and pop-culture historians assess the value of Rae’s keepsakes—from Sesame Street wardrobe pieces to The Facts of Life set props. Yet it’s the personal items that resonate most deeply.