The Facts of Life/Tootie Ramsey

Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey
The Facts of Life
Actor	Kim Fields
First Appearance	1x01- Rough Housing
Last Appearance	The Facts of Life Reunion
Series Billing	Billed
Episode Count	200
Also Appears On	Diff'rent Strokes

Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey is a fictional character on the series The Facts of Life. She was portrayed by actress Kim Fields from her introduction in an episode of Diff'rent Strokes in 1979 to this series and the 2001 reunion movie. Her character originated from an episode of the hit sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, and she was a main character in The Facts of Life.

Character History

Tootie was the youngest of the main characters and the only African American girl. She and her family hailed from Washington, D.C.. She attended Eastland Academy for most of the show's run. Tootie's most-remembered attributes were her penchant for roller skates, her gossipy nature, and her braces. A lot of Tootie's gossip got her and her friends in trouble, and she was noted for her catch phrase, "We are in trou-ble!"

Tootie was involved in many very special storylines. For example, Tootie befriended a boy named Fred who insisted that she only associate with black people, in an attempt to realize "her true roots." In another episode, Tootie was chosen by a photographer to model for newspaper advertisements but was instead lured into a borderline kiddie porn operation and was saved by Mrs. Garrett at the last minute. During a trip to New York City, Tootie was almost strong-armed into prostitution before Mrs. Garrett found her and took her home. In another episode, she struggled with the race issue again when her best friend Natalie dated a relative of hers and Tootie intervened, causing conflict between Natalie and herself. Tootie's favorite singer is Michael Jackson's older brother Jermaine Jackson.

Tootie helped Mrs. Garrett with her bakery, Edna's Edibles, after school and then worked full-time at the gift shop Over Our Heads after she graduated from high school in 1986. She also met and fell in love with Jeff Williams in 1983 and was engaged to him in the final season.

In the 2001 The Facts of Life Reunion TV movie, Tootie had attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London to pursue an acting career, was a Hollywood-based talk show host, and was the single mother of Tisha, a 10-year-old. After her visit, Tootie (who now preferred to be called "Dorothy") decided to quit her talk show, "Wake Up With Dorothy", and move to New York to take up the theater, but not before becoming the co-owner of the Peekskill Playhouse. Tisha Ramsey remained behind to attend Eastland Academy and continue the family tradition.