Groundbreaker Geri Jewell, 69, Who Played Cousin Geri on ‘The Facts of Life,’ Is Thriving in New Photo
Groundbreaker Geri Jewell, 69, Who Played Cousin Geri on ‘The Facts of Life,’ Is Thriving in New Photo
Megan JohnsonSat, February 21, 2026 at 3:10 PM UTC
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(Photo by NBC on Getty Images)
Geri Jewell broke boundaries on The Facts of Life, and she's doing better than ever these days!
The actress and stand-up comedian, 69, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at eighteen months old. She later went on to become the first disabled actor to have a recurring role on a TV series with her role on The Facts of Life.
These days, Jewell is thriving. In a recent Facebook post, the actress, who also deals with hearing loss, smiled brightly as she reconnected with one of her high school teachers.
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Cousin Geri's Introduction on The Facts of Life
Jewell was first introduced on The Facts of Life in 1980 as ritzy New Yorker Blair Warner's cousin. Her character ended up being featured on 12 episodes of the popular series. Here's a look at Geri's introduction to the gang at the Eastland School:
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In a 2015 interview with VICE, Jewell explained how she ended up on the series.
"I performed for the second annual Media Access Awards. Norman Lear and [The Facts of Life star] Charlotte Rae were in the audience that night. Norman came up to me afterwards and said, “You know you’re really funny, kid, but you’re way before your time.” And I said, “So wait a couple weeks,” Jewell recalled.
Life After The Facts of Life
After her run on the popular '80s series ended, Jewell continued her stand-up career. In 2002, she ran into NYPD Blue creator David Milch at a pharmacy while recovering from spinal cord surgery. Dressed in pajama bottoms and feeling lousy, Jewell was embarrassed to be seen in her state. However, Milch was a fan of her comedy work and he offered her a role on his upcoming HBO series, Deadwood. Jewell describes being offered the opportunity to star on the western as "amazing." Here's a look at Jewell discussing how the tremendous opportunity fell into her lap.
Jewell is also the author of a 2011 memoir, I’m Walking As Straight As I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond.
Related: Fan-Favorite '80s Sitcom Star Reveals Mistake That Almost Ended Her Career in Resurfaced Interview
This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
