Apparently, the crew visited an all-girls preparatory school Cohn was attending at the time, in the research phase of preparing for the show. Rae was so impressed with Cohn’s personality that she convinced the producers to create a role that reflected the real Mindy Cohn.
Despite the fashion at the time to be thin and scrawny, Cohn was on the fuller side, pushing the message that all girls are beautiful no matter their shape or size. This reassured those girls watching, and US audiences.
Julie Piekarski – Then
With her first big break in the industry as a Mouseketeer on The New Mickey Mouse Club, Piekarski was destined to be an actress. Following her popularity working for Disney, Piekarski was cast as Sue Ann Weaver on the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life from 1979-1981.
Piekarski, however, was among those who were culled from the show when the network decided to reboot the series. Whilst she appeared occasionally over the seasons, and in a reunion, her time with the show was short!
Julie Piekarski – Now
After she was let go in 1981, Piekarski deciding to take a short break from acting. So she put on her best newsreader voice and dabbled in entertainment reporting for KPLR-TV in her hometown, St Louis, Missouri.
She’s taken a back seat these days, now married to dentist John Probst. The pair have three wonderful children and returned to Piekarski’s hometown, living in St Louis!
Mindy Cohn – Now
Following a number of TV shows, including guest appearances in Charles in Charge, 21 Jump Street, The Help and later The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Mindy’s other famous role came about. She was Velma Dinkley of the Scooby-Doo franchise.
Cohn is a strong supporter of the LGBTI community, even going as far as to label herself as a “fag hag” – you do you boo!
Molly Ringwald – Then
Ringwald's role in the show was short but sweet. Appearing as Molly Parker during the first season of the show, the character was cut after producers decided to overhaul the show and its direction.
Whilst she was disappointed to be let go so soon, she was certainly destined for success regardless of how long she spent on the show!