Fairchild has a younger sister, Cathryn Hartt, who is also an actress.
Fairchild played in the soap opera for one episode in 1978.
In 1984, she co-starred on 's short-lived television drama , and then appeared on as attorney Jordan Roberts from 1985 to 1986.
The series was cancelled halfway through its first season, but by this time, Fairchild was established as a television actress.
In 1980, she scored her first regular primetime role as Constance Weldon Carlyle on the soap opera.
She also made guest appearances on the hit sitcom as 's mother, and was a recurring guest star on the sitcom as Andrea, a rival of 's character.