Born in Harlem, New York, Kim Fields landed her first acting gig at the age of 5, on Sesame Street! It wasn’t until 1978 however that she really gained some recognition, after scoring the role of Tootie Ramsey on Diff’rent Strokes.
Her character gave a very real insight into how kids dealt with real-life issues such as racism and inappropriate behavior towards children.
Lisa Whelchel – Then
Playing the gorgeous, snobby and rebellious Blair Warner, at just 14, Welchel had the looks and the dollars! Seen smoking cigarettes, drinking underage and being chased by boys, she was the stereotypical ‘bad girl’.
After the first season, Blair’s character was tweaked depicted her as a spoiled “Daddy’s Girl. We bet it would’ve been a difficult time in her life, what with growing up right before the eyes of the nation!
Lisa Whelchel – Now
Known for her great faith, it’s no surprise that Lisa Whelchel forged a career that was closely affiliated with her Christian beliefs. Producing a Christian music album in 1984 (which, by the way, was nominated for a Grammy Award!), she enjoyed some success as a musician.
Whelchel has since found strengths giving inspirational talks at churches and conferences. In2004, she founded Momtime Ministries which was designed to help mothers after having children and raising them.
Kim Fields – Now
After her time on The Facts of Life, Fields had a five-year gig on the TV show Living Single which took her through the 90s. Sure, she was involved with The Facts of Life reunion and various interviews, however, she decidedly moved on with her career and life.
After graduating from university, Fields went on to direct, and in fact, has directed several Nickelodeon shows. After Fields left the series Living Single, she also dabbled in rap music and R&B and even released an album, called Smooth is Spoken Here.
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!