NathanGeri Jewell – Then
Geri Jewell was performing at the Media Access Awards where a producer took an interest. She joined the cast of ”The Facts of Life” and since she had cerebral palsy, she made history as the first person with disabilities to appear on a show as Cousin Geri. She was one of the most beloved characters and the producers wanted her to be a regular without any hesitation.
Geri Jewell – Now
Despite her condition, Geri Jewell still continued to work hard even after her role on the show ‘The Facts of Life’ came to an end. She performed as a comedian for years and even got a role on CBS’s ”The Young and the Restless” back in 2004. Also, her role as Cousin Geri would not be her only regular appearance on a show. She got cast on HBO’s western show ”Deadwood”.
Alex Rocco – Then
We all love and remember the recurring character on the show named Charlie Polniaczek who is Jo’s dad. The actor who played the role was Alex Rocco. He appeared on just 11 episodes of the entire show but he left a mark on everyone. Before the show, he became famous as Moe Greene in Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘The Godfather’. As for TV, Rocco starred in shows like ‘St. Elsewhere’ and ‘The A-Team’.
Alex Rocco – Now
Even though ‘The Facts of Life’ ended, Alex Rocco was offered many other roles. The actor was praised for his role on ‘The Famous Teddy Z’ and he ended up winning the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor. In his career, Rocco has starred alongside Tom Hanks, Jennifer Lopez, and John Travolta in a number of Hollywood movies. His last role was in 2016’s ‘Don’t Sleep’. He, unfortunately, died on July 18, 2015.
Roger Perry – Then
John Lawlor’s character as the headmaster ended after Season One leaving room for Roger Perry who took on the replacement, Charles Parker. He was there for just 10 episodes but one funny quote of his remains unforgettable: “You know there are parents here whose names I’ve only seen on checks? And I’ve been getting angry phone calls from them all week. They are furious I allowed those books to be removed from the library. I mean Edna, they hate me.”
Roger Perry – Now
Perry was famous long before ‘The Facts of Life’. The show actually ended up being one of the final roles of his career. After the show got over, he joined ‘Falcon Crest’. Even after he quit acting, his wife Joyce Bulifant, made appearances on several game shows like ‘Chain Reaction’ and ‘Match Game’. Both of them have received Golden Palm Stars because of their career.