Degrassi: The Next Generation Characters
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[edit] Main characters
There is no single lead character, but from episode to episode one or two characters will usually be the focus of the main plot. Main characters listed here are those who are portrayed by actors billed in the opening
[edit] Emma Nelson (Miriam McDonald)
Daughter of Christine "Spike" Nelson (who gave birth to Emma in between the second and third season of Degrassi Junior High), Emma is smart, determined and idealistic, sometimes to a fault. She champions broad causes such as protecting the environment and boycotting genetically modified food.
[edit] Jimmy Brooks (Aubrey Graham)
- (Seasons 1-7)
Jimmy is an athlete, but also has an artistic side. His family is also quite wealthy, although he resents that his parents are often absent.
[edit] Theresa "Terri" MacGregor (Christina Schmidt)
- (Seasons 1-3)
The only daughter of a widowed father, Terri McGregor struggles with insecurities about her appearance, due to the fact that she is more curvaceous than her very thin peers. Her career as a plus-size model improved her self-image, and helped her overcome her vulnerability to peer pressure, although her individuation remains incomplete. She once possessed a keen interest in the occult.
[edit] Ashley Kerwin (Melissa McIntyre)
- (Seasons 1–4, Seasons 6-7; guest appearance Season 5)
Introverted Ashley strives to be good to the people around her, but is finding out that that's not always possible while being good, or even true, to herself.
[edit] Liberty Van Zandt (Sarah Barrable-Tishauer)
- (Season 1-8; Guest Appearances 9)
Liberty is very a pristine and intelligent savant. Her main love interest is J.T. Yorke, who she has been attracted to since the beginning of the series, much to the dismay of J.T.
[edit] Manuella "Manny" Santos (Cassie Steele)
Born in Manila, Philippines, the nation's capital, Manny is a Filipino girl who is struggling to define herself. Her demeanor and appearance have changed drastically over the years. Once giggly, girlish, and greatly naive, she is now head strong, confident, and sassy. Often criticized for being a 'slut' by both fellow students and her father, she has become very emotional.
[edit] Archie "Snake" Simpson (Stefan Brogren)
Archibald (Archie/Snake) is a student from the original series who has become a teacher at Degrassi. He marries Christine "Spike" Nelson in the second season and becomes Emma's stepfather. In the third season Spike gives birth to their son Jack.
[edit] Toby Isaacs (Jake Goldsbie)
- (Seasons 1–7)
Toby is introduced in the first episode of the series as a friend of J. T. Yorke, having met previously at summer camp. With Toby moving into the Degrassi school district due to his dad re-marrying, he is forced to attend Degrassi and soon strikes up friendships with Emma, Manny, and Sean. He is also Ashley's step-brother.
[edit] Gavin "Spinner" Mason (Shane Kippel)
Nicknamed for his bouts of ADHD, Spinner is an upperclassman who doesn't mind using his age and size to his advantage. He has an adopted sister named Kendra Mason. Often a bully to other students, Gavin alternates between being extremely closed-minded to being an incredibly supportive and loyal friend. That loyalty has waned with his best friend Jimmy, from stealing from him, to blaming a prank on him, resulting in his shooting. He's been isolated for this. He fell in love with Paige for a few seasons but they ended up breaking up, causing his personality change from a popular, loving boyfriend to an outcast rebel, which was further reinforced after his minor involvement in Jimmy's shooting, which turned him into a pariah among his friends.
[edit] James Tiberius "J.T." Yorke (Ryan Cooley)
- (Seasons 1-6)
J.T. was the resident class clown. His quick wit and humorous come-backs gave him attention and made him lots of friends, and got him into just as much trouble. He lived with his grandmother after his father left his mother. J.T. was a typical teen horn-dog and was insecure after thinking that his penis was not very big, even resorting to a penis-pump. When Mia went out of town and J.T. convinced Emma and Manny to have a birthday party for Liberty at Emma's house, while Snake and Spike were out of town. J.T. left the party to tell Liberty he was still in love with her, but two Lakehurst guys were waiting by his car. One of them fatally stabbed J.T., puncturing his aorta, hours later J.T was pronounced dead.
[edit] Paige Michalchuk (Lauren Collins)
- (Seasons 1-7; guest appearances Season 8)
Paige is a popular fashionista with a sharp tongue who often says things which are hurtful to others. "Brutally blunt" is her phrase of choice to describe her attitude at telling people like it is. Paige is no stranger to trials herself, however, and may be a more vulnerable person than indicated by the personality she shows to the outside world.
[edit] Sean Cameron (Daniel Clark)
- (Seasons 1–4, Season 6)
Sean is a troubled teen with a violent past. He was expelled from his previous school for involvement in a fight with bad consequences, and despite his best efforts to be normal, he often has flares of anger that get him into trouble again. Living with his older brother Tracker in a run-down apartment, Sean also wants desperately to have the material things that others have.
[edit] Dan Raditch (Dan Woods)
- (Seasons 1–4)
Ex-principal of Degrassi. Was there since the adults (Spike, Snake, Joey, Caitlin etc.) attended Degrassi. Was released due to his terrible reaction to the shooting involving Rick.
[edit] Joey Jeremiah (Pat Mastroianni)
- (Seasons 2–5)
Owner of a car dealership, father of Angela and stepfather of Craig Manning. Dated Sydney, Caitlin Ryan and currently Diane. Was a former student at Degrassi.
[edit] Craig Manning (Jake Epstein)
- (Seasons 2-5)
The consummate artist, Craig first could be seen being an avid photographer. But it would come to light suddenly that he likes to play the guitar when he forms a band after being adopted by Joey. Dealing with his abusive father before the adoption has made the transition to adulthood difficult for Craig and he continues to work though this and other issues, including a deceased loving mother, cheating on his girlfriend Ashley, impregnating Manny and being diagnosed as bipolar.
[edit] Eleanor "Ellie" Nash (Stacey Farber)
- (recurring Season 2; Seasons 3-7)
Ellie Nash started off as a goth, whose father is in the army and whose mother is an alcoholic, which spawns from not being able to cope with her husband's constant leaving. Ellie quickly became friends with Ashley Kerwin, a fellow goth at the time, and took a liking to Marco Del Rossi, whom she dated for awhile before he realized he was gay.
[edit] Hazel Aden (Andrea Lewis)
- (recurring Seasons 1-2; Seasons 3-5)
Hazel is a smart, popular Somali Muslim girl who is occasionally mean and sassy, but outside of her catty circle of friends usually deals with others with more kindness than she displays in front of her peers. She fell in love with Jimmy, and dated him for a couple of years. She struggled with the fact that the shooting left Jimmy handicapped, but stayed faithful to him, until she suspected that he had feelings for Ellie. After she found out that Jimmy was into Ellie and not her, she finally broke up with him. She once tried to pretend that she was Jamaican during a diversity celebration, but when an Iraqi classmate's poster was vandalized with anti-Muslim slurs, Hazel is accused of having committed the crime, though she is innocent. After the true culprits are caught, she realizes that she must be true to herself instead of trying to conceal her identity.
[edit] Christine "Spike" Nelson (Amanda Stepto)
- (recurring Seasons 1-2; Seasons 3-5; guest appearances Seasons 6-)
Hairdresser and mother of Emma, with whom she was pregnant in the original series. In the second season she married Archibald "Snake" Simpson, and in the third season she gave birth to their son Jack.
[edit] Caitlin Ryan (Stacie Mistysyn)
- (guest appearances Season 2; Seasons 3–4)
A prominent TV journalist who has had a long standing on-again off-again relationship with Joey Jeremiah since their junior high days. She broke up with Joey last season to accept a position in the U.S. at a nationally syndicated news magazine.
[edit] Marco Del Rossi (Adamo Ruggiero)
- (recurring Season 2; Seasons 3-5; guest appearances Seasons 6-7)
Marco is introduced as the love interest of Ellie. Marco's parents are often busy just like Jimmy Brooks' parents. He like to play the bass guitar and accordion and he is an aspiring break-dancer. According to his friends, Marco is known for being "Degrassi's Guardian Angel" for giving out the best advices to his freinds when it cam to friendships and relationships.
[edit] Jason "Jay" Hogart (Mike Lobel)
- (recurring Seasons 3-4; Seasons 5–7)
Jay is a belligerent rebel who carefully cultivates his bad boy image by being genuinely amoral. He seems to be involved with all of the illegal or inappropriate activities around Degrassi, and once admitted to being the "Low-down dirty sinner". He has been caught stealing a few times. He is also sexually active and help spread gonorrhea at school, including to Amy peters-Hoffman, and Emma Nelson. He dated Alex for a while, but Alex broke up with him when she discovered Jay was cheating on her. He works as a mechanic at an auto repair shop. In season three, he developed a friendship with Sean and proceeded to become a bad influence on him and Spinner. Similarly, he also befriended Spinner and became a bad influence on him as well. Jay was expelled from Degrassi because of his involvement with Rick's school shooting. He is now working as a mechanic.
[edit] Alexandra "Alex" Nuñez (Deanna Casaluce)
- (recurring Seasons 3-4; Season 5; guest appearances Season 6)
Alex dated Jay and was a member of his gang. She presents a tough feisty exterior, but is sensitive on the inside.
[edit] Peter Stone (Jamie Johnston)
- (Seasons 5–)
Peter is Mrs. Hatzilakos' son. From his first appearance in the series, Peter is established as mischievous and immoral.
[edit] Daphne Hatzilakos (Melissa DiMarco)
- (recurring Seasons 2-4; Seasons 5–7)
Former science teacher, who is now the Degrassi principal. She is the mother of Peter Stone, though she is divorced.
[edit] Darcy Edwards (Shenae Grimes)
- (recurring Seasons 4-5; Seasons 6-7; guest appearances Season 8)
Darcy Edwards is a strait laced Christian who is in the Spirit Squad and eventually becomes one of the leaders. Later, Darcy joined a Christian group at school called the "Friendship Club".
[edit] Mia Jones (Nina Dobrev)
- (recurring Season 6; Season 7-8)
Mia Jones is the new girl at Degrassi. She's a single teenage mom, with a little girl named, Isabella. She is on the cheerleading squad, and is liked by Manny. However, Darcy dislikes her for being a teen mother, and even tries to kick her off the squad. J.T has a crush on her and they were dating until J.T. is killed.
[edit] Derek Haig (Marc Donato)
- (recurring Season 5; Seasons 6-)
Derek went on a date with Emma, but it did not go well as they had nothing in common. Derek hurt Liberty's feelings when he began to question why she gave her child up for adoption. Derek later revealed that he was adopted and tries to understand Liberty's decision and how she feels about giving up her baby.
[edit] Danny Van Zandt (Dalmar Abuzeid)
- (recurring Seasons 4-5; Seasons 6-)
Danny Van Zandt is the younger brother of Liberty, and has made friends with J.T. Yorke so much so to the point that JT's best friend, Toby Issacs, felt alienated and befriended Rick Murray, the school shooter. While Danny and Liberty have the normal cat-and-dog relationship that is sometime seen between siblings, Danny is very protective and cares very much about her, as seen when it was discovered that JT impregnated Liberty. He was very helpful with the pregnancy, after attempting to blackmail JT into helping him get a good grade in Family and Consumer Science.
[edit] Alli Bhandari (Melinda Shankar)
Allia (Alli) Bhandari is the younger sister of Sav Bhandari. She is from a muslim indian family. She is in the ninth-grader gifted program. She likes being the pretty girl. Her friends are Claire, KC and Conner. She likes Johnny DiMarco (She went out with him, but they broke up when he couldn't admit him and Alli were going out)
