Claude Tanner (c. 1972-1991) is a former student of Degrassi High School, and had a big effect on Degrassi's timeline, even though he didn't appear very frequently. He was in a relationship with Caitlin Ryan, but his need to make things right and fair destroyed the relationship when he asked her to help him vandalize a nuke factory, but then, as the security guard tried to catch them, Claude left her. This ended the relationship, and her frequent rejection made him more and more depressed, among other things, and he committed suicide in the washroom, only to be found by Archie Simpson. He was portrayed by David Armin-Parcells.
Character History
Degrassi: Season 4 and Season 5 (High School Years)
Claude meets Caitlin in the first episode of Degrassi High. After the hallway brawl between Erica and Liz, Caitlin breaks up with Joey to be with Claude. They start a relationship, but this causes Joey and Caitlin to fight and bicker. After Claude convinces Caitlin into vandalizing a factory, he leaves her to get caught by the police. He then refuses to go with her to her court date, so she breaks up with him, and hits him. In the next season, Claude continues to pursue Caitlin, but she does not want to go out with him anymore. This was the final straw for Claude.
School Shooting (Suicide)
In Showtime (1), Claude brought a gun to Degrassi High, when Caitlin refuses to go out with him for the final time. He takes the gun into the boys' bathroom and shoots himself. The fatal gunshot can be heard in Mr. Walfish's class after Alexa makes a comment about a lecture they were talking about. Snake then asks if
Claude's body about to be found by Snake
he could go to the bathroom. He is excused, and is the one that finds Claude dead. According to Snake, only part of Claude's face was there, indicating that Claude must have shot himself in the head. Snake runs and tells Mr. Raditch, and the police are called. The entire school is informed later that day, and school is let out early.
Caitlin tells Maya Goldberg that she is not planning to go to his funeral, and when she goes home, she finds flowers that were sent by Claude. He basically says that he hopes that she could forgive him for what he has done. This gesture disturbs Caitlin as the two had once been a couple, but eventually brings Joey Jeremiah and Caitlin closer together.
Degrassi (Mentioned)
In Ray of Light (2), Mr. Simpson mentions Claude, however not by name. Mr. Simpson says to Eli, "You know, we have a lot more in common than you think.....When I was about your age, I found the body of a classmate who committed suicide."
Memorable Quotes
- Caitlin: "I hate when you do that."
Claude: "That's why I do it." - Everybody Wants Something. - Scott: "Hurry up man you're gonna be late for class."
Claude: "I'm not going to any more classes, what has this place ever done for me?"
Scott: "You're gonna get in trouble."
Claude: "No I won't...." (last line) - Showtime (1).
Trivia
- Claude is the first of six characters to get shot. The other five were Jimmy, Rick, Sean, Spinner, and Adam.
- After John Wheeler and Helen Wheeler, this was the third of ten deaths in Degrassi history, to be followed by Dr. Manning, Rick, J.T., Anson, Cam, Paula, and Adam.
- Claude Tanner was the first in the Degrassi Franchise to commit suicide. The second was Campbell Saunders.
- He was also the first character to be shot with his own gun. The second was Rick Murray.
- Claude is one of the many characters to have issues with his father.
- He had only been in one relationship before his death.
- Claude was one of ten male characters to grow and wear his long hair. The other eight were.
- He is the only student to die while attending Degrassi High School.
- Joey often deliberately mispronounced Claude's name to annoy Caitlin.
- He was a fan of the films of Jean-Luc Godard and Ingmar Bergman.
Relationships
- Main article: Claude-Caitlin Relationship
- Caitlin Ryan
- Start Up: Everybody Wants Something (DH 105)
- Break Up: All in a Good Cause (DH 111)
- Reason: Claude leaves Caitlin hanging after a protest.
