Who says acting careers are being hurt by reality shows?
Lisa Whelchel, who played the peppy Blair Warner on “The Facts of Life” in the 1980s, is back on TV this fall as a cast member on “Survivor: Phillipines.”
At 49, she’s the oldest woman among the 15 castaways unveiled Monday. But she’s not the only vaguely recognizable name. National League MFP Jeff Kent, 44, of the Giants, who still holds the record for most home runs by a second baseman, is also on board.
Others have more ordinary backgrounds: a bartender, business student, cosmetologist, seminary student, sex therapist and track coach among them.
They won’t be hard to look at. Kate Hanson, 22, is a former Miss Delaware from Newark; Angie Layton, 20, is a former Miss Utah Teen from Provo.
Locally, Sarah Dawson, 28, of Silver Spring, who is in insurance sales, describes herself as a troublemaker.
Three former “Survivor” players still to be named to the cast are those who had to be pulled out of previous seasons for medical reasons. They are believed to be Jonathan Penner, Michael Skupin and Russell Swan, but thankfully not the bigoted Colton Cumbie from last season.
As for Whelchel, who began her career on “The New Mickey Mouse Club,” she’s spent most of her life as a Christian author.
“Survivor: Philippines,” the 25th season of the series, begins Sept. 19 on CBS.