Diff'rent Strokes
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on the NBC television network from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986.
Cast
- Conrad Bain - Phillip Drummond
- Gary Coleman - Arnold Jackson
- Todd Bridges - Willis Jackson
- Dana Plato - Kimberly Drummond (1978-1984)
- Charlotte Rae - Edna Garrett (1978-1979)
- Nedra Volz - Adelaide Brubaker (1980-1982)
- Janet Jackson - Charlene DuPrey (1980-1984)
- Dody Goodman - Aunt Sophia (1981-1982)
- Shavar Ross - Dudley Ramsey
- Le Tari - Mr. Ted Ramsey (1981-1985)
- Mary Jo Catlett - Pearl Gallagher (1982-1986)
- Rosalind Chao - Miss Chung (1982-1983)
- Steven Mond - Robbie Jason (1982-1983)
- Nikki Swasey - Lisa Hayes (1982-1986)
- Dixie Carter - Maggie McKinney Drummond #1 (1984-1985)
- Mary Ann Mobley - Maggie McKinney Drummond #2 (1985-1986)
- Danny Cooksey - Sam McKinney (1984-1986)
- Jason Hervey - Charlie (1985-1986)
Supporting characters
Outside of the Drummond household, there were a large number of supporting characters seen over the years. Philip's sister Sophia (Dody Goodman) was regularly seen in the fourth season, playing matchmaker for her brother in hopes of getting Philip to marry again. None of the women she set him up with lasted. Dudley Ramsey (Shavar Ross) showed up as Arnold's new best friend that year (though Dudley's first appearance was in the "Teacher's Pet" episode of Season 2), with whom he shared many memorable childhood scrapes. Some of these were important or serious storylines under the "very special episode" heading, which Diff'rent Strokes popularized (see below). Ted Ramsey (Le Tari) was Dudley's adoptive father, who turned up occasionally.
In the third season, Janet Jackson played Willis's steady girlfriend Charlene DuPrey. While she was only a regular cast member in the fourth season, Jackson continued doing guest appearances until the end of Season 6, when Charlene and Willis decided to break up.
Other classmates and friends of Arnold's seen over time included Robbie Jason (Steven Mond) and Lisa Hayes (Nikki Swasey), who was sweet on Arnold. Miss Chung (Rosalind Chao) was Arnold's homeroom teacher for a year. In the fall of 1985, when the series moved to ABC, Arnold, Dudley and Lisa entered high school, where they gained a new friend in Charlie (Jason Hervey).
