Natalie Green in "The Facts of Life Reunion"
Mindy Cohn made her acting debut as the witty, outspoken Eastland Academy student, Natalie Green, in the hit comedy series "The Facts of Life." She was discovered while attending Westlake School for Girls in Bel Air, California, when actress Charlotte Rae and producer Norman Lear came to the school to authenticate scripts for their new show. Ms. Rae was so taken with the vivacious eighth grader, she convinced producers to create a role for her. Ms. Cohn remained on the show for nine years, then traveled to Paris and Australia with her co-stars to produce two successful television movies based on the series.
Concurrently with her role in "Facts," Ms. Cohn played Rose Jenko in Fox's "21 Jump Street." Other notable television appearances include "Diff'rent Strokes," "Double Trouble," "Charles in Charge," "Dream On" and "Suddenly Susan."
In 1983 Ms. Cohn appeared in her first professional stage performance in "Table Settings," written and directed by James Lapine and filmed for HBO Television. The illustrious cast included Eileen Heckart, Stockard Channing, Robert Klein, Peter Riegert and Dinah Manoff. She went on to make her feature film debut in "The Boy Who Could Fly," which co-starred Colleen Dewhurst, Fred Gwynne and Fred Savage.
Ms. Cohn took a hiatus from her career to attend Loyola Marymount University, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Cultural Anthropology. During this time she studied improvisation and scene work with Gary Austin, Harry Mastergeorge and Larry Moss.
In 1993 Ms. Cohn received a Dramalogue Award for her performance in a production of "Catholic School Girls" at the Globe Playhouse in Los Angeles. The following year she returned to television as Mo Tucker in the NBC series "The Second Half," starring John Mendoza, Wayne Knight and Jessica Lundy. In 1995 Ms. Cohn and Alan Thicke co-hosted the radio show "Talkzone," which gave teens a venue to discuss pertinent issues with their parents.
Most recently Ms. Cohn starred in the pilot "Virtually Casey" for the Disney Channel. She also starred in the feature films "Dead Simple," "Employee of the Month" and "Alone with a Stranger." In addition to numerous voice-overs and television guest-starring roles, Ms. Cohn remains busy with her production company, Storm Productions.
Ms. Cohn currently resides in her birthplace of Los Angeles. When not working, she actively fundraises for WeSpark, a non-profit cancer support center.
This is from the ABC Presskit for "The Facts of Life Reunion" movie
September 27, 2001 -- Lisa Whelchel interview with Entertainment Tonight...
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT: What was it like walking back on the set the first day?
LISA WHELCHEL: It was just surprising how those long friendships, those deep friendships, how we just immediately were there again. It was not even like it was 13 years. We were laughing and cracking up and having a great time and catching up. My daughter HAVEN said on the first day, "I hope momma, I hope I have friends like you do when I grow up." It was just that obvious that these were really good friends.
ET: What are your fondest memories?
LISA: The fondest memories for me are the same things that we are experiencing right now, and that's just all the fun. When you know someone so well, that you can just finish each other's sentences and you laugh at everything the other person says. That was the fun part about being on that set, for nine years and that's the fun part about being on the set now.
ET: What's Blair doing now? Where is she?
LISA: Blair is married to Tad Warner, so she's Blair Warner Warner. They own hotels all over the world and this little inn at Peekskill (New York) -- she bought this just out of special feeling towards Peekskill.
ET: How are the girls coming together? Can you set up the story a bit?
LISA: It's Thanksgiving and we've decided to all be together. It's one of those things that when you have those long lasting friendships, most of the time you have to make it happen. And the girls have said that we are all going to get together for Thanksgiving this year.
ET: What can we expect in the reunion?
LISA: Well, we've all grown up quite a bit. I would say that KIMMIE (FIELDS) has grown up the most. She just looks, wow. You're thinking ... this is Tootie? I don't think so. Then she has the 10-year-old daughter on the show, and Natalie (MINDY COHN), who two men are fighting over. Blair is just happy as a clam, because she's got all the money in the world and a wonderful husband who looks just like her.
ET: What brought you back?
LISA: Well, they have been talking about it for years. It's one of those things that you get excited about, but then after awhile you think, "When it really happens, I'll get excited." Believe it or not, they only called about a month ahead of time saying it looks like it's really going to happen and it's going to happen in September. At that point I'm going, "Oh man, we're on our (family) trip. Can't I do this when I get home?" As it turns out, it could not be more perfect, because my next book, which is called, The Facts of Life and Other Lessons My Father Taught Me, is released September 15. Actually, this timing is perfect.