- I can't even go to Barbados without people wanting to hug me and 'Oh, Mrs. Garrett!', you know, it [The Facts of Life] really had an impact on their lives.
- [in 1979, about her small, awkward, plump stature]: How did I fit? I didn't. I felt inferior. I had this tremendous need to perform. I wanted to be acceptable to my peers. To feel equal. I had an older sister, Beverly, who seemed to be very secure. I had a younger sister, Mimi, who was cute! I thought if I could just be a big star, I'd feel like somebody too.
- [on theater]: I became drunk with power. I was burning to get to New York. But my parents begged me to stay. I needed to graduate, they said. I did soap opera on radio in Chicago. When I told the director my name was Lubotsky, he said, 'But you can't use that.' My father was very hurt. 'But why?,' he wanted to know.
- [on Teresa Brewer]: Teresa Brewer and I stood on the bar and sang 'Can't Help Lovin' That Man' and 'Cockeyed Optimist. Sometimes a drunk would give me 50 cents. My father came in once and nearly died. With tears in his eyes, he told me the cigarette girl had tried to hustle him.
- [on her professional friendship with Norman Lear]: So open. So up front. Not a big shot. Not afraid to take a risk, make a mistake.
- You can take wonderfully talented actors, wonderfully talented writers and producers, and, uh, do a wonderful show!... but if it doesn't hit with the public in two minutes, it's bye-bye.
- Because of the power of television, I was visible to everybody all over the world. But there are many things in the theater that are more fulfilling and that I look forward to doing more. But really, I love it all: theater, film, television.
- [as to how she was hired by Norman Lear to play Edna Garrett]: I got involved with 'Diff'rent Strokes,' because of Norman Lear. When I was in New York [originally], I did a lot of things and one of the things was 'The Colgate Comedy Hour,' and he was one of the producers and writers of it. So, when I came out to California [after many years in New York with my family], they were very, very wonderful, because I would do little guest shots, guest appearances on all of his sitcoms, and then I was doing something called 'The Eddie Capra Murder Mysteries,' and I was at Universal in costume, and they called and asked me to come meet with the producers, and everything. I was wearing an old schweppy thing that I wore for the character for the murder mysteries, and I sat down and I expected to read. They didn't have me read, we just talked, and they asked me about how I felt this housekeeper should be with these two boys and with Mr. Drummond, and I told him the way I felt, and the next thing I knew I had the part.
- Joan Collins is a bitch! There's no doubt about it, everyone says she an extremely difficult person.
- [on The Facts of Life (1979) along with her Edna Garrett character]: I want to bring in as much humanity as possible, as well as the humor. I've tried to make her a human being with dimensions. The way they write her now is with a great deal of sensitivity and understanding. But I don't want her to be Polly Perfect, because she must have human failings and make mistakes. She's also a surrogate mother to the girls. I told them I wanted to be firm with the girls because I know it's important. Parents must lay down ground rules for their children to help them to grow up and to learn responsibility for their actions. They must learn to stand on their own two feet.
- [in 1985, about being a serious actress, rather than being a funny comedienne]: A good actress should be able to play comedy as well as drama. I was doing a lot of drama until I took the comedy role in the series 'Car 54, Where Are You?,' and I've been tagged as a comedian ever since.
- [in 1982, on how when she headed to New York, when she dropped her last name]: My father was heartbroken when I didn't use Lubotsky. Today actors keep their real names and I could use it.
- [on the death of Gary Coleman]: Coleman was filled with joy which he spread around to millions of people all over the world.
- Composers, artists, actors, singers, all of them. I think, unconsciously learn from others. I'm sure it's not conscious, but they can't help it. I know I was influenced by Beatrice Lillie. I must have been.
- [despite her ongoing feud with Joan Collins, she responded in 2007 to a question about other actors who would be willing to work with Collins]: It's a miracle that people still want to work with her, but I guess they do!
- [In 2006]: I wanted to be a serious actress. I am a serious actress. I've done lots of good stuff.
- [on laughing about one of the songs she used to sing]: In those days, you could do things that were risqué. The lyrics were clever. Where would I be without those writers?
- For the first ten years of my life I lived at 1232 N. 12th St. It's a freeway now. My father owned a tire store. There were three girls in my family, and I was the middle one. All three of us were very talented. My older sister, Beverly, settled in Milwaukee and she died a few years ago. She was an opera singer who sang with the symphony and a group called the Saturday Arts' Club. My younger sister, Mimi, is an accomplished musician and composer. She wrote a children's album that I recorded for her, called "Wally Koala" and she's written a couple of musicals as well.
- [on Gary Coleman's death in 2010]: I said a prayer for him this morning after hearing about his condition. Gary was so loving, so charming. He was the big star of the show.
- [in 1989]: I'm in a rage, if you really want to know about it.
- [in 1988]: My former husband wanted to move to California. He is a music editor and music coordinator. He coordinated the music for the film version of 'Amadeus.' So many people have moved there from New York, and I felt at home.
- [on her popularity while playing the fifty-something Edna Garrett on The Facts of Life]: There have been lots of changes in my life these past few months. Not only am I thinner, but Mrs. Garrett is, too. It'll be a fun season.
- [in 1980, about an episode which she wasn't inspired to lose weight]: Yes, in that show, I was on a crash diet. But I had plans long before that to sensibly lose weight. I've dropped from a size 14 dress to a svelte 8; it's terrific.
- [responding in 1984 as to why she enjoys series television]: In TV, you have to compromise. But when strangers put their arms around you and tell you how much they love you it somehow makes it all worthwhile.
- [on Joan Collins]: You want to know what happened? They played it for her and she said, 'Who's that Old Cow?' And I really felt badly because I've had a long siege of the flu, and it was my first night out. I did write a note to her and had him slip it under her dressing room door and I said, 'I apologized, you were excellent in the play, signed, sincerely, 'The Old Cow.'
- I have to keep reminding people that I am not Mrs. Garrett. Mrs. Garrett is more together. She is much more organized. Not I ...
- [on her departure of The Facts of Life (1979), at the end of the seventh season]: They wanted me to stay a couple more years, they offered me millions.
- [on Mindy Cohn]: I kept going back to this little girl, Mindy Cohn, cause she was so adorable and she had that adorable little voice, and I asked her a question, and she go, 'Well, I don't know, it seems to me that,' and she's so cute and funny and I said, 'She'd be a great compliment to the other girls.'
- I had to act because I couldn't do anything else.
- [2011] I was thinking of a tree that grows up straight to the sky. Why, what did you think?
- [in 2015]: If this is your passion don't judge yourself. Just keep striving. Life is one long day at school. Keep working and growing in your art.
- [if she had turned down a role before playing Edna Garrett]: Yes. I've turned things down. Sometimes because I've just finished something else an I'm too exhausted or sometimes the material just doesn't grab me. I've been offered TV pilots I didn't think would fly - and even if they did go to series those weren't shows I'd want to be on for years and years. When my boys were young, I turned things down to spend time with them. It was something I needed to do-for them and for me.
- At 91, every day is a birthday. [In my book] I want to tell everybody to celebrate every day, to savor the day and be good to yourself, love yourself, and then you can be good to others and be of service to others. [interview, 2017]
- The Facts of Life (1979) was about growing up, family, love. And working our problems. I had a lot of input with issues like suicide, divorce, death. I'm really very proud.
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