Kim Fields
She grew up on television as America's favorite roller-skating teen, then deftly navigated a decades-long career behind the camera.
Born 1969 (age 57)·American actress and television director·Birthday: May 12·Generation X
Biography
Kim Fields entered America's living rooms as a child, her infectious energy and signature roller skates making Tootie Ramsey a beloved fixture on 'The Facts of Life.' She navigated the tricky transition from child star to adult actor with notable grace, avoiding the pitfalls that ensnared many of her peers. Fields didn't just cling to nostalgia; she expanded her repertoire, starring in the hit sitcom 'Living Single' and later appearing on reality competition shows like 'Dancing with the Stars.' Her most significant evolution, however, was stepping behind the camera. She directed numerous episodes of popular sitcoms like 'Tyler Perry's House of Payne' and 'Kenan & Kel,' using her deep understanding of comedic timing and set dynamics to build a respected second act as a television director.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Kim was born in 1969, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Kim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1974Started school
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1987Could vote
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Turned 21
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 50
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey for nine seasons on the hit NBC sitcom 'The Facts of Life.'
- Played Regine Hunter on the FOX sitcom 'Living Single' for its entire five-season run.
- Directed multiple episodes of television series, including 'Tyler Perry's House of Payne' and 'Let's Stay Together.'
- Began her career as a child actress with a recurring role on the final seasons of 'Good Times.'
Did You Know?
She voiced the character of Precious Pupp in several episodes of the animated series 'The Pound Puppies.'
She competed on the 22nd season of 'Dancing with the Stars,' partnered with professional dancer Sasha Farber.
Her mother, Chip Fields, is an actress and director who sometimes guest-starred on 'The Facts of Life.'
“I've been blessed to have a career that has allowed me to grow up in front of America and then grow behind the camera.”
