Felice Schachter

Felice Schachter is a multifaceted American actress, producer, and educator celebrated for an early career both on television and film, most particularly for her legendary performance as Nancy Olson on the TV series The Facts of Life. Since transitioning behind the camera and into education, she now dedicates her time to teaching special education, leveraging her diverse experience to make lasting changes.

The Early Years: A Star is Born

Felice Schachter was born on November 17, 1963, into a Queens, New York, show business-endowed family. Her mother, Suzanne Schachter (nee Mokotoff), was a theatrical production manager; her father, Alex Schachter, was a real estate developer and accountant.

Felice, one of three sisters, Simone and Janine Schachter, also creative professionals, grew up in an environment that fostered artistic and creative expression.

From Baby to Broadway: An Early Career

Schachter was thrown into show business when four months old, she appeared on the cover of American Baby magazine. For proof, her career took off and moved onto other ads and amusements. Indeed, by 1982, she had completed more than 100 TV commercials, including some well-known ads for Ivory Snow, Pampers, Downy, Baby Alive, and Jordache Jeans.

Her early career also included off-Broadway productions such as The Innocents and Time Again, as well as dancing in productions with the Stuttgart Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, and New York City Ballet including The Taming of the Shrew, Sleeping Beauty, and Nutcracker Suite.

Breaking into Television: A Star on the Rise

Schachter’s career on screen began in 1976 when he appeared in The Adams Chronicles. Her most iconic role, however, was as Nancy Olson on the television show The Facts of Life-a character she played from 1979 to 1982. Being one of the main casts during the initial run, she later became a recurring guest star until 1986. She was the first girl to be cast in The Facts of Life and the first to be let go when the show was retooled after the first season.

Outside of The Facts of Life, Schachter had appeared on multiple variety TV series such as Diff’rent Strokes, Alice, New Monkees, Love of Life, NBC Quiz Kids, and Love, American Style.

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The Big Screen: A Notable Film Role

While not as extensive as her work in television, Schachter’s film career includes the 1982 movie Zapped!, in which she played Bernadette opposite Scott Baio. This displays her ability to transition from television into film.

Pursuing Higher Education: A New Chapter

Despite the early initial success of her entertainment career, Schachter decided to pursue higher education. While attending Brown University, she was actively working as a radio anchor at the university’s radio station, WBRU. Throughout her time at Brown, she worked concurrently as a sports broadcaster with CBS Sports from 1983 to 1985, then with PRIME from 1986 until 1987.

Therefore, this was a transitional period in her career, whereby she began moving toward pursuing behind-the-camera opportunities or those outside of sports.

Behind the Camera: A New Role in Production

In the 1990s, Schachter effected a gradual shift toward working behind the camera. Among her production credits are Magic Island, After The Game, the pilot for JAG, Uncle Sam, Twilight of the Golds, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, on which she worked as a production coordinator.

This shift enabled her to parlay her experience in front of the camera into work behind the camera.

Teaching and Personal Life: A New Passion

Afterward, Schachter retired and did some work in education. Currently, she is a special education teacher in New York City, teaching special needs children-more specifically, specifically children who have autism-using Applied Behavioral Analysis to teach these children social and language skills.

Schachter considers the birth of her son, William, in October 2005, to be her greatest accomplishment.

Interesting Facts and Trivia

Afterward, Schachter retired and did some work in education. Currently, she is a special education teacher in New York City, teaching special needs children-more specifically, specifically children who have autism-using Applied Behavioral Analysis to teach these children social and language skills.

Schachter considers the birth of her son, William, in October 2005, to be her greatest accomplishment.

Awards and Nominations: Recognizing Her Impact

In 2008, she received a nomination for a TV Land Award in the category “Favorite Character(s) Who ‘Went Missing'” for her work with The Facts of Life. Certainly, this nomination spoke volumes to her lasting effect on the show and its viewers, encapsulating her into TV history.

• actress
• celebrity biography
• celebrity career