Lisa Whelchel

A confident, charismatic actress, Lisa Whelchel went from "The New Mickey Mouse Club" (syndicated, 1977-79) to teen stardom on "The Facts of Life" (NBC, 1979-1988). Playing the conceited but ultimately kind-hearted rich girl Blair Warner, Whelchel struck sparks with classmate Jo (Nancy McKeon) as well as with the younger Natalie (Mindy Cohn) and Tootie (Kim Fields) under the wry, watchful eye of Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae). A low-key, long-running sitcom hit that proved immensely popular with young audiences of multiple generations, the series became a fondly remembered pop cultural reference point and lived on in reruns as well as in "The Facts of Life Reunion" (ABC, 2001). Grammy-nominated for her 1984 Christian music album All Because of You, Whelchel left the business after the show ended, marrying a pastor and focusing on being a stay-at-home mom who also became an in-demand inspirational speaker and author of religiously-themed books on parenting and homeschooling. Still much loved by nostalgic fans, the actress earned considerable publicity when chose to compete on the 2012 Philippines-set season of "Survivor" (CBS, 2000- ). Thoroughly at peace with her unique slice of 1980s pop cultural immortality, Lisa Whelchel displayed a refreshingly grounded perspective on showbiz and built an enviable balance between life and work.