She stole our hearts as the bubbly Natalie Green on The Facts of Life.
But in recent times, Mindy Cohn has been fighting a private battle with cancer.
Kept her diagnosis private
Los Angeles native Mindy Cohn is best known for her role as the cheerful, boy-crazy Natalie Green on The Facts of Life, which aired on NBC for nine seasons from 1979 to 1988.
She made the character a fan favorite with her humor and emotional honesty. Natalie was also part of a groundbreaking storyline, becoming the first of the core group to lose her virginity on the show, which was notable for its time.
In recent years, she has also appeared in the Emmy-winning Prime Video comedy series Palm Royale.
The actress has also received attention for speaking openly about her health journey. She is a breast cancer survivor, having been diagnosed in 2012.
She initially kept her diagnosis private before eventually speaking out in People magazine.
“I was walking around my neighborhood in Los Angeles and I suddenly got so tired,” she said. “I just couldn’t go anymore. This was before Uber was really a thing, so I texted my friend Helen Hunt and said, ‘Something’s wrong with me. I need help.’”
“Have been off social media for awhile..”
Cohn went to the doctor, and a scan showed something in her breast. Before she knew it, she was being biopsied. The news was devastating.
“It was breast cancer,” she shared and added: “I kept that secret for a long time.”
Luckily, Cohn was declared cancer-free in 2017 after undergoing a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation.
But now, the actress is speaking publicly about her health again, revealing she is currently facing cancer for the second time.
The Facts of Life star, 59, shared the update in an Instagram post on Sunday, April 19, her first post in over a month. While she kept many details private, her message confirmed she has been quietly undergoing treatment.
“Have been off social media for awhile ‘cuz i had to go kick cancer’s a–,” the actress wrote on Instagram.
In her latest update, Cohn said she is staying hopeful while recovering and thanked the medical team supporting her through treatment, including her oncology surgeon, whom she described as “phenomenal.”
She shared that she plans to rest for a couple of weeks before returning to normal life.
“Onwards!” she added, striking an optimistic tone about what comes next.
Cohn’s message about her cancer quickly drew an outpouring of support from across Hollywood.
Rosie O’Donnell wrote, “U got this girl.”
“Love you, Mindy! Here whenevs you need us!” commented Jerry O’Connell.
“Sending Love your way,” wrote Helen Hunt.
“Love you, Mindy. Damn it… F**K CANCER,” wrote Vicki Lawrence.
READ MORE
- Alan Osmond, the eldest of Osmond Brothers, dies at 76
- Signs of pancreatic cancer you should never ignore
