Lisa Whelchel

Lisa Diane Whelchel (born May 29, 1963) is an American actress best known for her role in the television series The Facts of Life as the preppy and wealthy Blair Warner.

Life and career

Whelchel was born in Littlefield, Texas, the daughter of Jenny (née French), a real estate agent, and Jimmy Whelchel, an electrician.^[1] She was raised for most of her childhood in Fort Worth, Texas and got her start as a Mouseketeer on The New Mickey Mouse Club, which aired in syndication from 1977-1978.

An original cast member of The Facts of Life, Whelchel once refused a storyline that would have made her character the first among the four young women in the show to lose her virginity in that controversial episode. A born-again Christian, Whelchel refused because of her Christian convictions, and the storyline was rewritten for the character of "Natalie." Whelchel appeared in every episode except that one.

Although she has had other roles, her acting career effectively ended after The Facts of Life went off the air in 1988. During her role on The Facts of Life, she was offered a role in the music video for the Christian singer/songwriter Steve Taylor's "Meltdown (at Madame Tussaud's)"

In 1984, Whelchel released a Christian pop album entitled All Because of You. While the album was a modest success (#17 on the Billboard Contemporary Christian charts) and received a Grammy nomination for Best Inspirational Album, Whelchel did not record a follow-up. Among the songs featured on the album were "Just Obey," "Cover Me Lord," and "Good Girl" ("Why be a good girl? Be a good girl!")

She returned to acting for the 2001 made-for-TV movie, The Facts of Life Reunion, appeared with two of her Facts of Life co-stars (excluding Nancy McKeon, who was unable to participate in the movie) on The Today Show in the spring of 2006, and admitted to being "bummed out" that Kim Fields was unable to attend.^[2]

On February 1, 2007, Whelchel was reunited with Kim Fields on WFAA-TV's "Good Morning Texas." Fields was in Dallas to promote her appearance in the production, "Issues: We've All Got 'Em,'" when Whelchel was introduced as a surprise guest. It marked the first time in six years (since the reunion movie) that Fields and Whelchel even had contact. The video of the reunion is posted on YouTube.^[3]

In 2008's Drawn Together Season 3 finale, American Idol Parody Clip Show, Lisa was named in their "In Memoriam" section, supposedly killed by Princess Clara by strangling her with the cord of a telephone.

Christian ministry

Whelchel, who became a born-again Christian at age ten,^[4] has devoted her life to her Christian faith. She has written books of anecdotes and advice that provide guidance on various topics which she believes should be handled in a manner appropriate to the Holy Bible. These include topics such as raising children and motherhood. Lisa has spoken about her child rearing books and methods of discipline in her 2005 interview with talk show host, Drew Marshall.^[5] Whelchel is also a staunch advocate of homeschooling.

She is seldom seen in acting roles today, as she is busy raising and home schooling her children. Whelchel "feels her current role, as a wife and mother, is her greatest, and most challenging, role yet."^[6] In 2000, she founded, Momtime Ministries, a religious network of mothers' groups who meet weekly to "equip and refresh and encourage" each other.^[7]

Family

Whelchel married Steven Cauble, an associate pastor at her church, on July 9, 1988. They have three teenage children: Tucker, Haven, and Clancy.

Bibliography

• Creative Correction
• The Facts of Life and Other Lessons My Father Taught Me
• So You're Thinking About Homeschooling
• How to Start Your Own Mom Time
• The ADVENTure of Christmas: Helping Children Find Jesus in Our Holiday Traditions
• Taking Care of the Me in Mommy
• The Busy Mom's Guide to Prayer
• The Busy Mom's Guide to Wisdom
• The Busy Grandma's Guide to Prayer
• Speaking Mom-ese: Moments of Peace & Inspiration in the Mother Tongue from One Mom's Heart to Yours

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Young Artist Awards

• 1982: Nominated, "Best Young Comedienne in a Motion Picture or Television" - The Facts of Life
• 1982: Nominated, "Best Young Actress in a Television Special" - Twirl
• 1983: Nominated, "Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series" - The Facts of Life
• 1984: Nominated, "Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series" - The Facts of Life

References

External links

• Official site
• Hollywood Bible Study - Christy Tennant
• Lisa Whelchel at the Internet Movie Database