BRITISH STARLET CAROL WHITE TURNS UP ON 'DIFF'RENT STROKES'

Carol White & Gary Coleman on Diff'rent Strokes in 1980

In 1980, former British sexpot Carol White, who started the wave of full-lipped blondes from Julie Christie to Susannah York to Judy Geeson, appeared on the family sitcom DIFF'RENT STROKES... random for a seemingly semi-retired actress known for playing troubled girls ranging from NEVER LET GO to POOR COW.... 

On DIFF'RENT STROKES her penultimate (and last television) role has her dining with "old friend" Philip Drummond at a fancy restaurant, only to be constantly interrupted by phone calls from THE SLUMBER PARTY back home that includes original cast members of THE FACTS OF LIFE... 

And much like this episode's crossover guest-star Molly Ringwald, Carol starting out a child actress... Beginning in 1949 and continuing throughout the 1950's, she gained genuine attention during the British New Wave with a small part in THE BOYS (as the one girl they all want) to her co-starring turn opposite Oliver Reed in I'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT'S'IS'NAME... And, decades later, following a HAWAII FIVE-O episode right before STROKES, her career ended after an indie adaptation of NUTCRACKER, after which she died (far too young) in 1991, of liver disease. And although she had many vices during the 1980's, she still looked fantastic.

Carol White with Conrad Bain on DIFF'RENT STROKES

Carol White on DIFF'RENT STROKES: Season 2 The Slumber Party

Julie Anne Haddock and Molly Ringwald on DIFF'RENT STROKES

Carol White with Conrad Bain on DIFF'RENT STROKES

Peter Sellers and Carol White in NEVER LET GO from 1960

Carol White in NEVER LET GO from 1960

Carol White in POOR COW from 1967

Carol White with Conrad Bain on DIFF'RENT STROKES