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List of Degrassi characters (1987–1992)

The following is a list of characters from Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, the second and third entries of the Degrassi television franchise created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood.

Degrassi Junior High aired on the CBC on from 18 January 1987 to 27 February 1989, and centres around an ethnically and economically diverse group of adolescents attending the fictional Degrassi Junior High School in east end Toronto, as they deal with various issues including teenage pregnancy, abuse, and sexuality.[1][2]

Degrassi High aired on the CBC from 6 November 1989 to 18 February 1991 and follows most of the same characters in high school, as they deal with topics such as abortion, AIDS, and death.[3][1] This was followed in 1992 by the made-for-television film School's Out, which followed the students post-graduation.[4]

The show followed a rotating "repertory company" model, in which minor characters and extras may have had their roles expanded, and major characters may be relegated to the background on occasion. For example, Christine "Spike" Nelson, a major character in the series whose child, Emma, influenced the development of Degrassi: The Next Generation, began an extra with no speaking lines.[4]

Students edit

In order of first credited appearance:

Primary characters

Character name Portrayed by Seasons featured
Stephanie Kaye Nicole Stoffman 1–2
Stephanie Kaye was born as Stephanie Kobalewsky in 1973. After her parents' divorce, she took her mother's maiden name Kaye. Popular, beautiful, but naive, Stephanie was the school president of Degrassi Junior High. She reinvented her image to become more "mature". Eventually, this image catches up to her as she tries to grow up too fast and stumbles upon problems because of this along the way. She would routinely leave her home for school dressed in relatively conservative apparel then change into something provocative after arriving at school. She had a tendency to be stuck up and selfish to the point where it ended up coming back to haunt her in the season one finale Revolution.

Stephanie was one of the most notorious characters in the Degrassi franchise, as well as one of the most controversial. Her sexualized image and apparent disregard for self-respect was a heavy storyline in the show's first two seasons. In season three, Stephanie was said to have gone to private school in Europe after her mother wins the lottery. In reality, actress Stoffman decided to pursue her acting career elsewhere.

  • Stephanie appeared in 22 episodes.
  • Nicole Stoffman was nominated for the Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Continuing Dramatic Role at the 1987 Gemini Awards for her role as Stephanie Kaye.[5]
Voula Grivogiannis Niki Kemeny 1
  • Voula appeared in 10 episodes. She made a voice only appearance in season two.
Joey Jeremiah Pat Mastroianni 1–5
Arthur Kobalewscuy Duncan Waugh 1–5
  • Arthur appeared in 65 episodes.
Yick Yu Siluck Saysanasy 1–5
Archie "Snake" Simpson Stefan Brogren 1–5
Susie Rivera Sarah Charlesworth 1–2
Derek "Wheels" Wheeler Neil Hope 1–5
Wheels was born Derek Michael Nelson to a pair of teenage parents, but shortly after his birth he is adopted by John and Ellen Wheeler in a closed adoption. Wheels, Joey and Snake together form a garage band called "The Zit Remedy", later shortened to "The Zits" in high school.

Wheels first appears as a grade eight student in Mr. Raditch's homeroom class. Wheels attempts the first of two ill-fated dates with class president Stephanie Kaye, which ends early when she gets sick from having consumed too much alcohol. Stephanie asks him out again, Facing peer pressure to "go all the way", Wheels purchases a box of condoms from a drug store. When he shows up at Stephanie's house on date night, he learns that Stephanie's mother is also the pharmacist who sold him the condoms. When Wheels loses interest in her, Stephanie attempts to make him jealous by openly flirting with Joey. Shortly after his fourteenth birthday, Wheels meets his biological father Mike Nelson, a struggling musician. He later counsels pregnant classmate Spike on whether to keep her unborn child or put her up for adoption. Wheels explains that he is grateful to both his natural parents for having given him a chance at a better life, and to his adoptive parents for providing that better life to him.

Wheels' poor grades become an issue in season two and Wheels learns that he is nearsighted and begins to wear glasses. Wheels also enrolls in after-school tutoring with Ms. Avery, forcing him to put music on hold. During a break from a tutoring session, he witnesses substitute homeroom teacher Mr. Colby attempting to sexually molest classmate Lucy and breaks it up. Lucy confided in him, and Wheels promised to corroborate her story when she eventually came forward. Thanks to the extra tutoring, his grades improve enough that he is allowed to resume playing music with the Zit Remedy. Later, Wheels and Joey sleep over at Snake's home when his parents leave him on his own for the weekend. They stay up all night and when they wake up late the next morning, Wheels realizes that he is going to be late for an optometrist appointment. Joey drives them both in Snake's parents' car, despite having neither a driver's license nor any formal driving skills. After they get caught—for fixing a broken tail light—Wheels' parents forbid him to associate with Joey as a result. Wheels heads into final exams still concerned about his grades; he gets promoted while Joey learns he's being left back. Despite these factors, the Zit Remedy perform live for the first time at the end-of-the-year dance.

At the start of season three, John and Ellen Wheeler are killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. Wheels was to have been with them that evening; instead he lied about having to study before sneaking off to Joey's house where the band recorded a demo of "Everybody Wants Something." The grieving Wheels withdrew from his friends, then blamed Joey for him not being with his parents that night. Wheels eventually reconciled with Joey and Snake, who was unable to articulate his grief. Wheels is then cared for by his maternal grandparents, but the tragedy affected him for the remainder of the show's run. He takes to using his parents' death as an excuse for his own failings, and is hostile to his grandparents' attempts to discipline him. After receiving a postcard from his biological father, Wheels hitchhikes to see him in Port Hope, Ontario; along the way, he is nearly molested by a traveling salesman who gives him a ride. Mike is surprised to see him and dashes Wheels' dream of living with him; after introducing Wheels to his pregnant fiancé, Maggie, Mike sends Wheels back to his adoptive grandparents. Later in the season, Wheels cites his parents' death as the reason he turns down an offer to drink beer with Snake and Joey.

Wheels, Joey, and Snake enter high school with their bond intact. In a move to display maturity, they change their band's name from the Zit Remedy to "The Zits". They each survive a hazing by bully Dwayne, shoot a music video for "Everybody Wants Something", try to get into a strip joint together, and perform in a "feminist" horror movie directed by Lucy. Wheels also shares a passionate kiss with Heather, but does not reciprocate her interest in him.

The final season revisits Wheels' conflicts with his elderly grandparents. They eventually tire of his lies, disobedience and theft, and evict him. Joey's parents allow him to stay at the Jeremiah house. Wheels is eventually kicked out when he is suspected of stealing from Joey's mother. The theft and Wheels' attempt to shift the blame drive a wedge between Wheels and Joey, though he later confesses. Snake's parents refuse to let Wheels in the Simpson house but Snake, though fed up with Wheels' attitude, takes pity on him and lets him sleep the night on the porch. Wheels and Joey reconcile their relationship when Wheels proves his new-found integrity by paying Joey's mother back the money he stole from her, and performs at the school talent show, alongside Joey and in place of Snake.

In the made-for-television movie Degrassi: School's Out, Wheels is assumed to have graduated from high school, is working as an auto mechanic, and is preparing for a move to Calgary to be with his girlfriend Karen. In a twist of irony, Wheels also has become a heavy beer drinker. At a summer party, he drives Lucy under the influence of alcohol to pick up snacks, and collides with another car. In doing so, he temporarily blinds and partially cripples Lucy, and kills a young child in the other car. Although Wheels had long worn out Joey's and Snake's sympathy after incessantly lying, stealing and refusing to take responsibility for anything, Joey nevertheless visits him in pre-trial confinement. However, Wheels' inability to accept culpability shocks Joey, but angers and disgusts Snake, who refuses to forgive him. He was charged with "criminal negligence causing death, criminal negligence causing injury times two, and drunk driving". Taking responsibility for once, he pleaded guilty to all charges.

Wheels is released from prison by the time the events of Degrassi: The Next Generation, take place. He appears in the series' pilot episode "Mother and Child Reunion". His appearance, however, is only shown in the Canadian version on CTV and not in the American version shown on The N. In the American version, Snake is nevertheless shown harbouring disgust with Wheels over the way his life turns out, and Wheels can be seen in vintage still photographs being viewed by the characters. Two years later, Joey finally manages to reunite the old friends when taking Snake out bowling to get the latter's mind off of his leukaemia and chemotherapy. Snake initially wants nothing to do with Wheels, but they bond over both having wanted to die (Wheels after killing the child, and Snake while dealing with his ailment and its treatment). The three friends, now balder and hopefully wiser, loudly sing "Everybody Wants Something" on the ride home in Joey's convertible.

Shane McKay Bill Parrott 1–4
Lucy Fernandez Anais Granofsky 1–5
Lucy is portrayed as a wealthy rebel who seems to essentially live alone, her parents being shown as workaholics who are always out of town on business trips. The lack of attention from her parents causes her to act out recklessly, including shoplifting from department stores and throwing wild parties at her house. She becomes the target of a predator teacher, Mr. Colby, who touches her inappropriately, and whom she later reports to the authorities after he goes after Susie. Lucy is also the first of her grade to date older boys, including Paul, an 11th grader from Borden High School, whom she breaks up with after he tries to go "too far", and Paul's friend, Clutch, who she has an on-and-off relationship with. Lucy is also shown to be a budding filmmaker, shooting the music video for The Zit Remedy's "Everybody Wants Something", as well as the feminist horror film "It Creeps!". In Grade 11, she begins dating school president, Bronco, and in senior year, she runs for school president and wins. In School's Out, Lucy has graduated as the class valedictorian. However, tragedy strikes when an intoxicated Wheels gets behind the wheel of a car with Lucy and crashes into another vehicle, killing a child. The accident renders Lucy temporarily blind.

Lucy substantially recovers from her injuries. Her eyesight is restored (whether in one or both eyes is unclear) and, having completed extensive physical therapy, she is able to walk well with the use of a cane. She completes an honours bachelor's degree, a master's degree and most of the work toward a Ph.D. She appears in the series premiere of Degrassi: The Next Generation, in which she attends a joint reunion of her class and Joey's. A day before the reunion, Joey sells her a blue Volkswagen New Beetle in preparation for her relocation to New Mexico to run her company and complete her doctoral dissertation at the University of New Mexico. She also returns in the second season episode, "White Wedding" as one of Spike's bridesmaids for her wedding to their former classmate Snake.

Erica Farrell & Heather Farrell Angela Deiseach & Maureen Deiseach 1–5
Melanie Brodie Sara Ballingall 1–5
  • Melanie appeared in 56 episodes.
Kathleen Mead Rebecca Haines 1–5
Kathleen was introduced as a secondary character who disapproved of school president Stephanie and her provocative wardrobe but eventually went on to have a much greater role in the series. She acted as the sour, troubled foil to Caitlin throughout much of the series, often seen competing with her for grades. In season two, we are introduced to Kathleen's alcoholic mother whose behaviour is severely affecting her daughter. Kathleen invites Caitlin, Nancy and Tim to her house to prepare for a quiz show appearance and is humiliated to find her mother at home and noticeably intoxicated. In a later episode from the third season, Kathleen invites Melanie, her best friend throughout much of the series, to her house to work on a science project. Her mother is, again, drinking heavily and Melanie learns about Kathleen's burgeoning problem with anorexia nervosa when she sneaks a peek in her personal diary. Melanie takes pity on Kathleen believing that her eating disorder is stemming from her problems at home. She confronts Kathleen and tells her to get help. Kathleen is furious that her secret is out, but that day passes out in the middle of the school hallway.

Kathleen eventually does get counseling, but her problems continue into high school. Kathleen begins dating a boy named Scott Smith. He turns out to be an overly possessive boyfriend and physically assaults Kathleen during a quarrel. Kathleen eventually involves the police and frees herself from Scott.

Kathleen seemed to have conservative political and social views. Throughout the series she seemed to have homophobic views, is against sex before marriage and is critical of animal rights activism. Her sober presence made her unpopular with many of her peers. Although Kathleen often seemed conservative and uptight, she also showed a rebellious side. In junior high, she and Melanie get Joey Jeremiah to sell them drugs. Joey actually just gave them vitamin pills, and when the girls found out, they were infuriated. In high school, she found marijuana joints hidden in the tampon dispenser in the girls' washroom. She hides them in her purse and takes them to Diana Economopoulos' birthday sleepover party. She offers them to the other girls, and everyone except Caitlin smokes it. Kathleen makes fun of Caitlin when she refuses to try it.

In Degrassi: The Next Generation deleted scenes, Kathleen is shown being jealous of Caitlin's success after high school.

Rick Munro Craig Driscoll 1–2
  • Rick appeared in 10 episodes.
Caitlin Ryan Stacie Mistysyn 1–5
Lorraine "L.D." Delacorte Amanda Cook 1–4
  • L.D. appeared in 41 episodes.
Christine "Spike" Nelson Amanda Stepto 1–5
Christine "Spike" Nelson is introduced as an extra in the first eight episodes of Degrassi Junior High, with no speaking lines. She begins to play a bigger part in the show starting from episode 8 of Season 1, where she and Voula send flowers to L.D.'s ailing father as a nice gesture. She is elevated to near-main character status starting from episode 11, when she discovers that she is pregnant as a result of having unprotected sex with Shane McKay at a party held by Lucy Fernandez. When Erica and Heather Farrell help her purchase a pregnancy test, she initially hides it from her mother until she gives in and tosses the bag towards her. After a visit to the clinic, she confirms to her mom that she is pregnant.

By Season 2, she befriends new student Liz O'Rourke, but hits a major setback when various parents begin to object to her presence in the school being pregnant. Caitlin becomes angry and decides to use her position in the school's newspaper to publish a piece condemning her removal. Mr. Raditch, while praising the piece as well-written, tells Caitlin that because of its heavy bias, it could not be published. Caitlin accuses Raditch of censorship and decides to spread her piece around on its own. This leads Caitlin into getting "tons" of detention, and Spike chiding her for not consulting her first. Other students are seen talking about Spike's presence in the school; Kathleen agrees with the decision to remove her, while her friend Melanie, as well as Joey (who brings up the hypocrisy of not kicking out Shane) object. After the PTA decides to remove Spike, Mr. Raditch tells the class that it is just the way it is, but vows that she will pass regardless, and tasks Erica and Heather Farrell to give her assignments. However, her absence only really lasts for one episode as she returns in time for the school dance, where she goes into labor.

Season 3 of Junior High sees the debut of Spike's baby, Emma, who becomes a protagonist of The Next Generation. While her raising Emma is not explicitly seen, she is seen with her frequently. During the season, Shane, who had been giving her child support payments, is persuaded by a friend to withhold a payment to attend a Gourmet Scum concert. At the concert, Shane takes acid and jumps off of a bridge, leaving him in a coma and developmentally disabled when he wakes up. After this, Spike attempts to apply for a job to make ends meet. When offered a job at a diner, she arrives for an interview, where the manager insults and laughs at her hair and claims she is late despite arriving on time.

By Degrassi High, she restarts her love life when she meets an Irish emigrant named Patrick, who is wearing the same Pogues shirt as her. As the relationship progresses, he even writes a song about her on his acoustic guitar, but she begins to avoid him because she feels like the relationship is too perfect, and is afraid about what will happen if it ends. Eventually, Patrick sits her down and tells her to take it easy. Off-screen in Season 2, she breaks up with Patrick and tells Liz she was on good terms with him. Later on, Liz asks Spike about going out with Patrick, to which Spike sarcastically allows her to. Liz does not pick up on the sarcasm and begins to date Patrick anyway, which angers Spike, and after an argument between the two, Liz breaks up with Patrick. While Spike is in the library, Patrick confronts her, ordering her to not meddle with his relationships especially as she was the one that broke up with him. He ends the confrontation by telling Spike that she may be a mother but she needs to grow up and leaves. Later on, after Claude Tanner commits suicide just before a talent show, Spike is the one to suggest to hold the show regardless, but give the proceeds to Claude's family, or a charity of their choice.

By School's Out, Spike works as a film processor with Tessa Campanelli, and is going to university. She jokes to Caitlin at Alexa's wedding that she and Emma are gonna be students together, and excuses herself to let Joey make amends with Caitlin.

Spike is a punk teen with large spiked hair, although this changes to more of a "mall hair" style by Degrassi High. Despite her punk fashion, her attitude can be generally described as mild-mannered although confrontational and resentful at times. She later befriends Caitlin after the school paper incident (although their friendship really takes off in The Next Generation). She is shown to have a love-hate relationship with Shane McKay after she becomes pregnant, feeling that Shane claims he wants to help until it becomes inconvenient, although in Degrassi High, after his accident, she offers to hang out with him. She appears to have some trust issues, as evidenced by her nervousness and dislike of being touched by Patrick. Being the mother of Emma, she has a recurring role in The Next Generation, appearing in more episodes of the latter than the former.

Alexa Pappadopoulos Irene Courakos 1–5
Simon Dexter Michael Carry 2–5
Bryant Lester "B.L.T." Thomas Dayo Ade 2–5
  • B.L.T. appeared in 48 episodes.
Liz O'Rourke Cathy Keenan 2–5
Michelle Accette Maureen McKay 2–5
  • Michelle appeared in 57 episodes.
  • Maureen McKay appears as a background extra throughout the first season.
Dwayne Myers Darrin Brown 2, 4–5
Initially a one-off character who fights Joey in Junior High, he returns with two friends in Degrassi High, where he bullies Joey constantly. In Season 2 of Degrassi High, Dwayne discovers he has HIV after having sex with an infected girl, and after Joey beats him up in the bathroom during a fight, Dwayne begins to draw blood and tells Joey to get away. He later gives Joey the money to buy a car he wanted in exchange for telling nobody about his HIV-positive status. He begins to warm up to Joey during Season 2. Eventually, Dwayne reveals his HIV-positive status, which makes him an outcast just in time for the school dance, where he hides in the bathroom. Joey encourages Dwayne to just get out there; Tabi, one of his ex-cronies, asks him to dance.

Secondary characters

Actor Character Appearances
Tyson Talbot Jason Cox 1
Keith White Tim O'Connor 1–5
Ken Hung Wai Lee 1–2
John Ioannou Alex Yankou 1–5
Arlene Lott Nancy Kramer 1–5
Danah-Jean Brown Trish Skye 1–3, 4 (background extra), 5
Lisa Williams Joy Saint-Jean 1–5
Christopher Charlesworth Scott "Scooter" Webster 2–5
Kyra Levy Maya Goldberg 2–5
Joshua Whitehead Max 2
Chrissa Erodotou Diana Economopoulos 1 (background extra), 2–5
Andy Jekabsons Mark 2–5
Trevor Cummings Bartholomew Bond 3–4, 5 (background extra)
Michael Blake Paul 3
Steve Bedernjak Clutch 3–5
Annabelle Waugh Dorothy 3–5
Jacy Hunter Amy Holmes 3-5
Sara Holmes Allison Hunter 3–5
Tammy Campbell Trudi Owens 3, 4–5 (background extra)
Andy Chambers Luke Matthews 2 (background extra), 3–5
Kirsten Bourne Tessa Campanelli 3–5
Samantha Morrison Emma Nelson 3–4
George Chaker Nick 4–5
Michele Johnson-Murray Tabi 4–5
David Armin-Parcells Claude Tanner 4–5
Krista Houston Joanne Rutherford 4–5
Byrd Dickens Scott Smith 4–5
Vincent Walsh Patrick 4–5
Henry Hwang Ralph 4–5
L. Dean Ifill Basil "Bronco" Davis 3 (background extra), 4–5
Cameron Graham Dale 5
Ashlee Henricks Emma Nelson 5
Marsha Ferguson Cindy 5
Danny Ciraco Ricky 5

Faculty and adults edit

Character name Portrayed by Seasons featured
Daniel "Dan" Raditch Dan Woods 1–5
Mr. Raditch is the English teacher in Degrassi Junior High and the assistant principal in the Degrassi High series.
  • Raditch appeared in 55 episodes including voice only appearances.
  • Dan Woods reprises his role for the first four seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation. It is here that his forename, Daniel, is finally revealed.
Karen Avery Michelle Goodeve 1–4
Ms. Avery is the Geography and Social Studies teacher in Degrassi Junior High and the school librarian in the Degrassi High series.
  • Avery appeared in 34 episodes.
Doris Bell Deborah Lobban 1–3
Doris is the school secretary in Degrassi Junior High.
  • Doris appeared in 19 episodes.
Mr. Lawrence John Bertram 1–3
Mr. Lawrence is the unseen school principal in Degrassi Junior High.
  • Lawrence made voice only appearances in 13 episodes.
Mrs. Jeremiah Gretchen Helbig 1-5
Mrs. Jeremiah is Joey's mom.
  • Mrs. Jeremiah appeared in 7 episodes.
Mr. Jeremiah George King 1
Mr. Jeremiah is Joey's father.
  • Mr. Jeremiah appeared in 1 episode.
Swim Coach Evannah Sakamoto 1
Swim Coach coaches the girls swimming team at Degrassi Junior High.
  • Swim Coach appeared in 2 episodes.
Spike's Mom Rhonda Kristi 1–3
Ms. Nelson is Spike's mother in Degrassi Junior High.
  • Spike's Mom appeared in 5 episodes.
  • Rhonda Kristi, stage name of Rhonda Feduck, died on 31 March 2023.[6]
Helen Wheeler Nancy Sinclair 1–3
Helen Wheeler is Wheels' adopted mom before she is killed in a car accident.
  • Helen Wheeler appeared in 4 episodes.
John Wheeler Timm Zemanek 1–3
John Wheeler is Wheels' adopted father, married to Helen & is killed in the same car accident as she is.
  • John Wheeler appeared in 4 episodes
Mr. Colby Marcus Bruce 2
Mr. Colby is the substitute teacher in Degrassi Junior High. He is a predator, who inappropriately touches Lucy, and later Susie.
  • Colby appeared in 2 episodes.
Louella Hawkins Susin Nielsen 2–3
Louella is the school janitor and custodian in Degrassi Junior High.
  • Louella appeared in 3 episodes.
  • Susin Nielsen one of the show's writers.
Mr. Garcia Roger Montgomery 3
Mr. Garcia is the Math teacher in Degrassi Junior High.
  • Garcia appeared in 13 episodes.
Wheels' Grandmother Dorothy Phillips 3–5
Wheels' Grandmother & Grandfather take care of Wheels' after his adopted parents are killed in a car accident.
  • Wheels' Grandmother appeared in 6 episodes.
Wheels' Grandfather Rod Rekofski 3–5
Wheels' Grandfather & Grandmother take care of Wheels' after his adopted parents are killed in a car accident.
  • Wheels' Grandfather appeared in 6 episodes.
Jim Walfish Adam David 4–5
Mr. Walfish is the English and Literature teacher in Degrassi High.
  • Walfish appeared in 15 episodes.
Mr. Webster John Weir 4–5
Mr. Webster is the Science teacher in Degrassi High.
  • Webster appeared in 6 episodes.
Gym Coach Tom Cranston 4–5
Gym Coach teaches physical education at Degrassi High.
  • Gym Coach appeared in 4 episodes.
Mrs. Perry Florence Darnell 5
Mrs. Perry is the Special Education teacher in Degrassi High.
  • Perry appeared in 4 episodes.
Geography Teacher Gwen Tolbart 5
Geography Teacher appeared in 6 episodes of the final season of Degrassi High.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Degrassi.tv". www.degrassi.tv. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  2. ^ Burns, John (5 February 1989). "'Degrassi': A Series For Children That Goes for the Gut". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  3. ^ SONTAG, Sharon. Degrassi High moving on to meatier issues: [Final Edition]. Calgary Herald [online]. Nov 03, . 1989, s. C1. ProQuest Central. ISSN 0828-1815.
  4. ^ a b Ellis, Kathryn (2005). The official 411 Degrassi generations. Fenn Pub. Co. ISBN 1-55168-278-8. OCLC 59136593.
  5. ^ . Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. 2010. Archived from the original on 2009-09-03. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
  6. ^ "RHONDA FEDUCK Obituary (2023) - Toronto Star". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2023-09-29.

list, degrassi, characters, 1987, 1992, following, list, characters, from, degrassi, junior, high, degrassi, high, second, third, entries, degrassi, television, franchise, created, linda, schuyler, hood, degrassi, junior, high, aired, from, january, 1987, febr. The following is a list of characters from Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High the second and third entries of the Degrassi television franchise created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood Degrassi Junior High aired on the CBC on from 18 January 1987 to 27 February 1989 and centres around an ethnically and economically diverse group of adolescents attending the fictional Degrassi Junior High School in east end Toronto as they deal with various issues including teenage pregnancy abuse and sexuality 1 2 Degrassi High aired on the CBC from 6 November 1989 to 18 February 1991 and follows most of the same characters in high school as they deal with topics such as abortion AIDS and death 3 1 This was followed in 1992 by the made for television film School s Out which followed the students post graduation 4 The show followed a rotating repertory company model in which minor characters and extras may have had their roles expanded and major characters may be relegated to the background on occasion For example Christine Spike Nelson a major character in the series whose child Emma influenced the development of Degrassi The Next Generation began an extra with no speaking lines 4 Students editIn order of first credited appearance Primary characters Character name Portrayed by Seasons featuredStephanie Kaye Nicole Stoffman 1 2Stephanie Kaye was born as Stephanie Kobalewsky in 1973 After her parents divorce she took her mother s maiden name Kaye Popular beautiful but naive Stephanie was the school president of Degrassi Junior High She reinvented her image to become more mature Eventually this image catches up to her as she tries to grow up too fast and stumbles upon problems because of this along the way She would routinely leave her home for school dressed in relatively conservative apparel then change into something provocative after arriving at school She had a tendency to be stuck up and selfish to the point where it ended up coming back to haunt her in the season one finale Revolution Stephanie was one of the most notorious characters in the Degrassi franchise as well as one of the most controversial Her sexualized image and apparent disregard for self respect was a heavy storyline in the show s first two seasons In season three Stephanie was said to have gone to private school in Europe after her mother wins the lottery In reality actress Stoffman decided to pursue her acting career elsewhere Stephanie appeared in 22 episodes Nicole Stoffman was nominated for the Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Continuing Dramatic Role at the 1987 Gemini Awards for her role as Stephanie Kaye 5 Voula Grivogiannis Niki Kemeny 1Voula appeared in 10 episodes She made a voice only appearance in season two Joey Jeremiah Pat Mastroianni 1 5Joey appeared in 67 episodes Pat Mastroianni hosts the Degrassi Talks special on depression Pat Mastroianni reprises his role for 87 episodes of Degrassi The Next Generation Arthur Kobalewscuy Duncan Waugh 1 5Arthur appeared in 65 episodes Yick Yu Siluck Saysanasy 1 5Yick appeared in 65 episodes Siluck Saysanasy hosts the Degrassi Talks special on drugs Siluck Saysanasy reprises his role for 2 episodes of Degrassi The Next Generation Archie Snake Simpson Stefan Brogren 1 5Snake appeared in 67 episodes Stefan Brogren reprises his role for 325 episodes of Degrassi The Next Generation and 8 episodes of Degrassi Next Class as well as Drake s music video for I m Upset Susie Rivera Sarah Charlesworth 1 2Susie appeared in 21 episodes Sarah Charlesworth previously appeared as Casey Rothfels for 15 episodes of The Kids of Degrassi Street Derek Wheels Wheeler Neil Hope 1 5Wheels was born Derek Michael Nelson to a pair of teenage parents but shortly after his birth he is adopted by John and Ellen Wheeler in a closed adoption Wheels Joey and Snake together form a garage band called The Zit Remedy later shortened to The Zits in high school Wheels first appears as a grade eight student in Mr Raditch s homeroom class Wheels attempts the first of two ill fated dates with class president Stephanie Kaye which ends early when she gets sick from having consumed too much alcohol Stephanie asks him out again Facing peer pressure to go all the way Wheels purchases a box of condoms from a drug store When he shows up at Stephanie s house on date night he learns that Stephanie s mother is also the pharmacist who sold him the condoms When Wheels loses interest in her Stephanie attempts to make him jealous by openly flirting with Joey Shortly after his fourteenth birthday Wheels meets his biological father Mike Nelson a struggling musician He later counsels pregnant classmate Spike on whether to keep her unborn child or put her up for adoption Wheels explains that he is grateful to both his natural parents for having given him a chance at a better life and to his adoptive parents for providing that better life to him Wheels poor grades become an issue in season two and Wheels learns that he is nearsighted and begins to wear glasses Wheels also enrolls in after school tutoring with Ms Avery forcing him to put music on hold During a break from a tutoring session he witnesses substitute homeroom teacher Mr Colby attempting to sexually molest classmate Lucy and breaks it up Lucy confided in him and Wheels promised to corroborate her story when she eventually came forward Thanks to the extra tutoring his grades improve enough that he is allowed to resume playing music with the Zit Remedy Later Wheels and Joey sleep over at Snake s home when his parents leave him on his own for the weekend They stay up all night and when they wake up late the next morning Wheels realizes that he is going to be late for an optometrist appointment Joey drives them both in Snake s parents car despite having neither a driver s license nor any formal driving skills After they get caught for fixing a broken tail light Wheels parents forbid him to associate with Joey as a result Wheels heads into final exams still concerned about his grades he gets promoted while Joey learns he s being left back Despite these factors the Zit Remedy perform live for the first time at the end of the year dance At the start of season three John and Ellen Wheeler are killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver Wheels was to have been with them that evening instead he lied about having to study before sneaking off to Joey s house where the band recorded a demo of Everybody Wants Something The grieving Wheels withdrew from his friends then blamed Joey for him not being with his parents that night Wheels eventually reconciled with Joey and Snake who was unable to articulate his grief Wheels is then cared for by his maternal grandparents but the tragedy affected him for the remainder of the show s run He takes to using his parents death as an excuse for his own failings and is hostile to his grandparents attempts to discipline him After receiving a postcard from his biological father Wheels hitchhikes to see him in Port Hope Ontario along the way he is nearly molested by a traveling salesman who gives him a ride Mike is surprised to see him and dashes Wheels dream of living with him after introducing Wheels to his pregnant fiance Maggie Mike sends Wheels back to his adoptive grandparents Later in the season Wheels cites his parents death as the reason he turns down an offer to drink beer with Snake and Joey Wheels Joey and Snake enter high school with their bond intact In a move to display maturity they change their band s name from the Zit Remedy to The Zits They each survive a hazing by bully Dwayne shoot a music video for Everybody Wants Something try to get into a strip joint together and perform in a feminist horror movie directed by Lucy Wheels also shares a passionate kiss with Heather but does not reciprocate her interest in him The final season revisits Wheels conflicts with his elderly grandparents They eventually tire of his lies disobedience and theft and evict him Joey s parents allow him to stay at the Jeremiah house Wheels is eventually kicked out when he is suspected of stealing from Joey s mother The theft and Wheels attempt to shift the blame drive a wedge between Wheels and Joey though he later confesses Snake s parents refuse to let Wheels in the Simpson house but Snake though fed up with Wheels attitude takes pity on him and lets him sleep the night on the porch Wheels and Joey reconcile their relationship when Wheels proves his new found integrity by paying Joey s mother back the money he stole from her and performs at the school talent show alongside Joey and in place of Snake In the made for television movie Degrassi School s Out Wheels is assumed to have graduated from high school is working as an auto mechanic and is preparing for a move to Calgary to be with his girlfriend Karen In a twist of irony Wheels also has become a heavy beer drinker At a summer party he drives Lucy under the influence of alcohol to pick up snacks and collides with another car In doing so he temporarily blinds and partially cripples Lucy and kills a young child in the other car Although Wheels had long worn out Joey s and Snake s sympathy after incessantly lying stealing and refusing to take responsibility for anything Joey nevertheless visits him in pre trial confinement However Wheels inability to accept culpability shocks Joey but angers and disgusts Snake who refuses to forgive him He was charged with criminal negligence causing death criminal negligence causing injury times two and drunk driving Taking responsibility for once he pleaded guilty to all charges Wheels is released from prison by the time the events of Degrassi The Next Generation take place He appears in the series pilot episode Mother and Child Reunion His appearance however is only shown in the Canadian version on CTV and not in the American version shown on The N In the American version Snake is nevertheless shown harbouring disgust with Wheels over the way his life turns out and Wheels can be seen in vintage still photographs being viewed by the characters Two years later Joey finally manages to reunite the old friends when taking Snake out bowling to get the latter s mind off of his leukaemia and chemotherapy Snake initially wants nothing to do with Wheels but they bond over both having wanted to die Wheels after killing the child and Snake while dealing with his ailment and its treatment The three friends now balder and hopefully wiser loudly sing Everybody Wants Something on the ride home in Joey s convertible Wheels appeared in 61 episodes Neil Hope hosts the Degrassi Talks special on alcohol Neil Hope reprises his role for 2 episodes of Degrassi The Next Generation Neil Hope previously appeared as Griff for 10 episodes of The Kids of Degrassi Street Neil Hope died on November 25 2007 Shane McKay Bill Parrott 1 4Shane appeared in 38 episodes Jonathan Torrens took over the role for 2 episodes of Degrassi The Next Generation Lucy Fernandez Anais Granofsky 1 5Lucy is portrayed as a wealthy rebel who seems to essentially live alone her parents being shown as workaholics who are always out of town on business trips The lack of attention from her parents causes her to act out recklessly including shoplifting from department stores and throwing wild parties at her house She becomes the target of a predator teacher Mr Colby who touches her inappropriately and whom she later reports to the authorities after he goes after Susie Lucy is also the first of her grade to date older boys including Paul an 11th grader from Borden High School whom she breaks up with after he tries to go too far and Paul s friend Clutch who she has an on and off relationship with Lucy is also shown to be a budding filmmaker shooting the music video for The Zit Remedy s Everybody Wants Something as well as the feminist horror film It Creeps In Grade 11 she begins dating school president Bronco and in senior year she runs for school president and wins In School s Out Lucy has graduated as the class valedictorian However tragedy strikes when an intoxicated Wheels gets behind the wheel of a car with Lucy and crashes into another vehicle killing a child The accident renders Lucy temporarily blind Lucy substantially recovers from her injuries Her eyesight is restored whether in one or both eyes is unclear and having completed extensive physical therapy she is able to walk well with the use of a cane She completes an honours bachelor s degree a master s degree and most of the work toward a Ph D She appears in the series premiere of Degrassi The Next Generation in which she attends a joint reunion of her class and Joey s A day before the reunion Joey sells her a blue Volkswagen New Beetle in preparation for her relocation to New Mexico to run her company and complete her doctoral dissertation at the University of New Mexico She also returns in the second season episode White Wedding as one of Spike s bridesmaids for her wedding to their former classmate Snake Lucy appeared in 62 episodes Anais Granofsky reprises her role for 4 episodes of Degrassi The Next Generation Anais Granofsky previously appeared as Karen for 6 episodes of The Kids of Degrassi Street Erica Farrell amp Heather Farrell Angela Deiseach amp Maureen Deiseach 1 5Erica and Heather appear in 65 episodes Angela and Maureen Deiseach reprise their roles for 1 episode of Degrassi The Next Generation Melanie Brodie Sara Ballingall 1 5Melanie appeared in 56 episodes Kathleen Mead Rebecca Haines 1 5Kathleen was introduced as a secondary character who disapproved of school president Stephanie and her provocative wardrobe but eventually went on to have a much greater role in the series She acted as the sour troubled foil to Caitlin throughout much of the series often seen competing with her for grades In season two we are introduced to Kathleen s alcoholic mother whose behaviour is severely affecting her daughter Kathleen invites Caitlin Nancy and Tim to her house to prepare for a quiz show appearance and is humiliated to find her mother at home and noticeably intoxicated In a later episode from the third season Kathleen invites Melanie her best friend throughout much of the series to her house to work on a science project Her mother is again drinking heavily and Melanie learns about Kathleen s burgeoning problem with anorexia nervosa when she sneaks a peek in her personal diary Melanie takes pity on Kathleen believing that her eating disorder is stemming from her problems at home She confronts Kathleen and tells her to get help Kathleen is furious that her secret is out but that day passes out in the middle of the school hallway Kathleen eventually does get counseling but her problems continue into high school Kathleen begins dating a boy named Scott Smith He turns out to be an overly possessive boyfriend and physically assaults Kathleen during a quarrel Kathleen eventually involves the police and frees herself from Scott Kathleen seemed to have conservative political and social views Throughout the series she seemed to have homophobic views is against sex before marriage and is critical of animal rights activism Her sober presence made her unpopular with many of her peers Although Kathleen often seemed conservative and uptight she also showed a rebellious side In junior high she and Melanie get Joey Jeremiah to sell them drugs Joey actually just gave them vitamin pills and when the girls found out they were infuriated In high school she found marijuana joints hidden in the tampon dispenser in the girls washroom She hides them in her purse and takes them to Diana Economopoulos birthday sleepover party She offers them to the other girls and everyone except Caitlin smokes it Kathleen makes fun of Caitlin when she refuses to try it In Degrassi The Next Generation deleted scenes Kathleen is shown being jealous of Caitlin s success after high school Kathleen appeared in 54 episodes Rebecca Haines hosts the Degrassi Talks special on abuse During the episode Haines reveals that she herself was a victim of sexual abuse and talking to one of the teens for the show inspired her to get counseling of her own Rebecca Haines reprises her role for 1 episode of Degrassi The Next Generation Rick Munro Craig Driscoll 1 2Rick appeared in 10 episodes Caitlin Ryan Stacie Mistysyn 1 5Caitlin appeared in 57 episodes Stacie Mistysyn hosts the Degrassi Talks special on sexuality Stacie Mistysyn reprises her role for 69 episodes of Degrassi The Next Generation Stacie Mistysyn previously appeared as Lisa Canard for 17 episodes of The Kids of Degrassi Street Lorraine L D Delacorte Amanda Cook 1 4L D appeared in 41 episodes Christine Spike Nelson Amanda Stepto 1 5Christine Spike Nelson is introduced as an extra in the first eight episodes of Degrassi Junior High with no speaking lines She begins to play a bigger part in the show starting from episode 8 of Season 1 where she and Voula send flowers to L D s ailing father as a nice gesture She is elevated to near main character status starting from episode 11 when she discovers that she is pregnant as a result of having unprotected sex with Shane McKay at a party held by Lucy Fernandez When Erica and Heather Farrell help her purchase a pregnancy test she initially hides it from her mother until she gives in and tosses the bag towards her After a visit to the clinic she confirms to her mom that she is pregnant By Season 2 she befriends new student Liz O Rourke but hits a major setback when various parents begin to object to her presence in the school being pregnant Caitlin becomes angry and decides to use her position in the school s newspaper to publish a piece condemning her removal Mr Raditch while praising the piece as well written tells Caitlin that because of its heavy bias it could not be published Caitlin accuses Raditch of censorship and decides to spread her piece around on its own This leads Caitlin into getting tons of detention and Spike chiding her for not consulting her first Other students are seen talking about Spike s presence in the school Kathleen agrees with the decision to remove her while her friend Melanie as well as Joey who brings up the hypocrisy of not kicking out Shane object After the PTA decides to remove Spike Mr Raditch tells the class that it is just the way it is but vows that she will pass regardless and tasks Erica and Heather Farrell to give her assignments However her absence only really lasts for one episode as she returns in time for the school dance where she goes into labor Season 3 of Junior High sees the debut of Spike s baby Emma who becomes a protagonist of The Next Generation While her raising Emma is not explicitly seen she is seen with her frequently During the season Shane who had been giving her child support payments is persuaded by a friend to withhold a payment to attend a Gourmet Scum concert At the concert Shane takes acid and jumps off of a bridge leaving him in a coma and developmentally disabled when he wakes up After this Spike attempts to apply for a job to make ends meet When offered a job at a diner she arrives for an interview where the manager insults and laughs at her hair and claims she is late despite arriving on time By Degrassi High she restarts her love life when she meets an Irish emigrant named Patrick who is wearing the same Pogues shirt as her As the relationship progresses he even writes a song about her on his acoustic guitar but she begins to avoid him because she feels like the relationship is too perfect and is afraid about what will happen if it ends Eventually Patrick sits her down and tells her to take it easy Off screen in Season 2 she breaks up with Patrick and tells Liz she was on good terms with him Later on Liz asks Spike about going out with Patrick to which Spike sarcastically allows her to Liz does not pick up on the sarcasm and begins to date Patrick anyway which angers Spike and after an argument between the two Liz breaks up with Patrick While Spike is in the library Patrick confronts her ordering her to not meddle with his relationships especially as she was the one that broke up with him He ends the confrontation by telling Spike that she may be a mother but she needs to grow up and leaves Later on after Claude Tanner commits suicide just before a talent show Spike is the one to suggest to hold the show regardless but give the proceeds to Claude s family or a charity of their choice By School s Out Spike works as a film processor with Tessa Campanelli and is going to university She jokes to Caitlin at Alexa s wedding that she and Emma are gonna be students together and excuses herself to let Joey make amends with Caitlin Spike is a punk teen with large spiked hair although this changes to more of a mall hair style by Degrassi High Despite her punk fashion her attitude can be generally described as mild mannered although confrontational and resentful at times She later befriends Caitlin after the school paper incident although their friendship really takes off in The Next Generation She is shown to have a love hate relationship with Shane McKay after she becomes pregnant feeling that Shane claims he wants to help until it becomes inconvenient although in Degrassi High after his accident she offers to hang out with him She appears to have some trust issues as evidenced by her nervousness and dislike of being touched by Patrick Being the mother of Emma she has a recurring role in The Next Generation appearing in more episodes of the latter than the former Spike appeared in 62 episodes Amanda Stepto hosts the Degrassi Talks special on sex Amanda Stepto reprises her role for 121 episodes of Degrassi The Next Generation Alexa Pappadopoulos Irene Courakos 1 5Alexa appeared in 60 episodes Irene Courakos reprises her role for 1 episode of Degrassi The Next Generation Simon Dexter Michael Carry 2 5Simon appeared in 48 episodes Michael Carry reprises his role for 1 episode of Degrassi The Next Generation Bryant Lester B L T Thomas Dayo Ade 2 5B L T appeared in 48 episodes Liz O Rourke Cathy Keenan 2 5Liz appeared in 49 episodes Cathy Keenan reprises her role for 4 episodes of Degrassi The Next Generation Cathy Keenan appears as a background extra throughout the first season Michelle Accette Maureen McKay 2 5Michelle appeared in 57 episodes Maureen McKay appears as a background extra throughout the first season Dwayne Myers Darrin Brown 2 4 5Initially a one off character who fights Joey in Junior High he returns with two friends in Degrassi High where he bullies Joey constantly In Season 2 of Degrassi High Dwayne discovers he has HIV after having sex with an infected girl and after Joey beats him up in the bathroom during a fight Dwayne begins to draw blood and tells Joey to get away He later gives Joey the money to buy a car he wanted in exchange for telling nobody about his HIV positive status He begins to warm up to Joey during Season 2 Eventually Dwayne reveals his HIV positive status which makes him an outcast just in time for the school dance where he hides in the bathroom Joey encourages Dwayne to just get out there Tabi one of his ex cronies asks him to dance Dwayne appeared in 16 episodes Darrin Brown reprises his role for 1 episode of Degrassi The Next Generation Secondary characters Actor Character AppearancesTyson Talbot Jason Cox 1Keith White Tim O Connor 1 5Ken Hung Wai Lee 1 2John Ioannou Alex Yankou 1 5Arlene Lott Nancy Kramer 1 5Danah Jean Brown Trish Skye 1 3 4 background extra 5Lisa Williams Joy Saint Jean 1 5Christopher Charlesworth Scott Scooter Webster 2 5Kyra Levy Maya Goldberg 2 5Joshua Whitehead Max 2Chrissa Erodotou Diana Economopoulos 1 background extra 2 5Andy Jekabsons Mark 2 5Trevor Cummings Bartholomew Bond 3 4 5 background extra Michael Blake Paul 3Steve Bedernjak Clutch 3 5Annabelle Waugh Dorothy 3 5Jacy Hunter Amy Holmes 3 5Sara Holmes Allison Hunter 3 5Tammy Campbell Trudi Owens 3 4 5 background extra Andy Chambers Luke Matthews 2 background extra 3 5Kirsten Bourne Tessa Campanelli 3 5Samantha Morrison Emma Nelson 3 4George Chaker Nick 4 5Michele Johnson Murray Tabi 4 5David Armin Parcells Claude Tanner 4 5Krista Houston Joanne Rutherford 4 5Byrd Dickens Scott Smith 4 5Vincent Walsh Patrick 4 5Henry Hwang Ralph 4 5L Dean Ifill Basil Bronco Davis 3 background extra 4 5Cameron Graham Dale 5Ashlee Henricks Emma Nelson 5Marsha Ferguson Cindy 5Danny Ciraco Ricky 5Faculty and adults editCharacter name Portrayed by Seasons featuredDaniel Dan Raditch Dan Woods 1 5Mr Raditch is the English teacher in Degrassi Junior High and the assistant principal in the Degrassi High series Raditch appeared in 55 episodes including voice only appearances Dan Woods reprises his role for the first four seasons of Degrassi The Next Generation It is here that his forename Daniel is finally revealed Karen Avery Michelle Goodeve 1 4Ms Avery is the Geography and Social Studies teacher in Degrassi Junior High and the school librarian in the Degrassi High series Avery appeared in 34 episodes Doris Bell Deborah Lobban 1 3Doris is the school secretary in Degrassi Junior High Doris appeared in 19 episodes Mr Lawrence John Bertram 1 3Mr Lawrence is the unseen school principal in Degrassi Junior High Lawrence made voice only appearances in 13 episodes Mrs Jeremiah Gretchen Helbig 1 5Mrs Jeremiah is Joey s mom Mrs Jeremiah appeared in 7 episodes Mr Jeremiah George King 1Mr Jeremiah is Joey s father Mr Jeremiah appeared in 1 episode Swim Coach Evannah Sakamoto 1Swim Coach coaches the girls swimming team at Degrassi Junior High Swim Coach appeared in 2 episodes Spike s Mom Rhonda Kristi 1 3Ms Nelson is Spike s mother in Degrassi Junior High Spike s Mom appeared in 5 episodes Rhonda Kristi stage name of Rhonda Feduck died on 31 March 2023 6 Helen Wheeler Nancy Sinclair 1 3Helen Wheeler is Wheels adopted mom before she is killed in a car accident Helen Wheeler appeared in 4 episodes John Wheeler Timm Zemanek 1 3John Wheeler is Wheels adopted father married to Helen amp is killed in the same car accident as she is John Wheeler appeared in 4 episodesMr Colby Marcus Bruce 2Mr Colby is the substitute teacher in Degrassi Junior High He is a predator who inappropriately touches Lucy and later Susie Colby appeared in 2 episodes Louella Hawkins Susin Nielsen 2 3Louella is the school janitor and custodian in Degrassi Junior High Louella appeared in 3 episodes Susin Nielsen one of the show s writers Mr Garcia Roger Montgomery 3Mr Garcia is the Math teacher in Degrassi Junior High Garcia appeared in 13 episodes Wheels Grandmother Dorothy Phillips 3 5Wheels Grandmother amp Grandfather take care of Wheels after his adopted parents are killed in a car accident Wheels Grandmother appeared in 6 episodes Wheels Grandfather Rod Rekofski 3 5Wheels Grandfather amp Grandmother take care of Wheels after his adopted parents are killed in a car accident Wheels Grandfather appeared in 6 episodes Jim Walfish Adam David 4 5Mr Walfish is the English and Literature teacher in Degrassi High Walfish appeared in 15 episodes Mr Webster John Weir 4 5Mr Webster is the Science teacher in Degrassi High Webster appeared in 6 episodes Gym Coach Tom Cranston 4 5Gym Coach teaches physical education at Degrassi High Gym Coach appeared in 4 episodes Mrs Perry Florence Darnell 5Mrs Perry is the Special Education teacher in Degrassi High Perry appeared in 4 episodes Geography Teacher Gwen Tolbart 5Geography Teacher appeared in 6 episodes of the final season of Degrassi High References edit a b Degrassi tv www degrassi tv Retrieved 2021 04 15 Burns John 5 February 1989 Degrassi A Series For Children That Goes for the Gut The New York Times Retrieved 12 March 2012 SONTAG Sharon Degrassi High moving on to meatier issues Final Edition Calgary Herald online Nov 03 1989 s C1 ProQuest Central ISSN 0828 1815 a b Ellis Kathryn 2005 The official 411 Degrassi generations Fenn Pub Co ISBN 1 55168 278 8 OCLC 59136593 Canadian Awards Database History Search for Degrassi Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television 2010 Archived from the original on 2009 09 03 Retrieved 2010 04 22 RHONDA FEDUCK Obituary 2023 Toronto Star Legacy com Retrieved 2023 09 29 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of Degrassi characters 1987 1992 amp oldid 1193269611, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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