Episode # 152: Larry Straus (Charlotte Rae)

Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we speak to Larry Strauss, son of actress Charlotte Rae. To say we were more than a little surprised at how many of you connected to this episode with all of you comments, likes and metrics, is an understatement. You really took a liking to this one and why not? Larry was incredibly open about how both his mother and Josh’s mother both shared the stage in the Broadway musical Li’l Abner, about an indiscrete moment between Cloris Leachman and Martin Balsam,  how his mother turned a co-starring role on Diff’rent Strokes into a starring role on The Facts of Life and much more.

We also spoke to Larry about his books, the more recent biography of his mother The Facts of My Life as well as Lightman a book of fiction about two characters awash in catastrophe and possible redemption in 1973 New York City. What’s more we delved into his teaching students in the LAUSD system in Los Angeles and how rewarding it is for him in an often difficult environment.

We also learn about Larry’s father John Strauss who was a composer & editor whose credits run the gamut from The Phil Silvers Show, Amadeus, Take The Money and Run and so much more. This episode has a it all, some laughs, some heartache and some great storytelling. But it’s the story about Larry’s older brother Andrew that took place each Christmas season that still has us thinking about it today. Another child of a celebrity interviewed by the child of a celebrity. Everyone has a story.