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!
Mindy Cohn – Then
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.
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 – Now
After Molly was axed from the show, that was exactly the moment that her career took off. Ringwald quickly became a teen star throughout the 80s; think Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink – absolute classics! With her trademark red hair and pink pout, Ringwald was a sensation, and admired by all the boys! (and girls too, we’re sure!)
She even ranked number 1 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Teen Stars! In recent times, Ringwald appeared in a number of films, as well as in 2018 starring in the popular Netflix film, The Kissing Booth.
George Clooney – Then
A bit of a latecomer onto the show, next up is Hollywood A-lister, George Clooney. First appearing on The Facts of Life during season 7 of the show, Clooney portrayed the amiable (and obviously very handsome!) handyman George Burnett.
We really cannot get over that shocking hair-do – but we guess that was just the fashion at the time…really slick! The cheeky handyman even stole a kiss from Blair Warner on the show! He was clearly a bit of a ladies’ man from the very beginning!