J.T. Yorke
From Degrassi Wiki
 |
|
| James Tiberius Yorke | |
|---|---|
| Biographical information | |
| Gender |
Male |
| Eye color |
Hazel |
| Hair color |
Brown |
| Born |
1989 |
| Died |
October 2006 |
| Relationships | |
| Title(s) |
J.T. |
| Job |
Entertainer |
| Behind the scenes | |
| First appearance | |
| Last appearance |
Rock This Town (alive) |
| Portrayer | |
James Tiberius Yorke, known as J.T., (1989-2006) was a fictional character on Degrassi: The Next Generation, portrayed by Ryan Cooley.
Contents |
[edit] Background
J.T. was born in Toronto where he was raised by his mother. However, his grandmother began raising him after his father abandoned the family and his mother was not able to support him on her own. It's hinted that his parents had him during high school.
[edit] Life at Degrassi
J.T. first attended Degrassi at the age of 12 (grade 7) and was best friends with Manny Santos and Emma Nelson. When he found out his friend Toby Isaacs transferred to the school for the school year, he became J.T.'s newest best friend.
He was often considered the class clown. Not long after he began attending Degrassi, Liberty Van Zandt developed a crush on him. J.T., however, had a crush on her and would not tell her how he felt so he moved on to someone else, but still had a crush on Liberty. In grade 8, J.T. had a crush on Paige Michalchuk, which followed into grade 9.
In grade 11, J.T. first started dating Liberty after he became friends with her brother, Danny Van Zandt. The two became very close, and J.T. ended up getting Liberty pregnant. Liberty was very demanding, so J.T. decided to end their relationship, but still offered to help support the baby. Seeing how supportive he was, Liberty decided to give him another chance, and the two got back together. The couple then looked for places to live, and found a nice apartment. However, they didn't have enough money. J.T. was already juggling a job as the host of a local children's show as "PJ J.T.", and as a cashier at a pharmacy in the mall.
After being talked into it by Jay Hogart, J.T. decided to sell Oxycontin to some drug dealers, eventually becoming a dealer himself. When Liberty found out, she broke up with him. This led to J.T. over-dosing on a bunch of pills, trying to kill himself at the Ravine during a party. His suicide attempt failed, and he had his stomach pumped. Liberty later gave birth to their child, a boy, and gave him up for adoption to a family in Vancouver.
In his senior year, J.T. met a new student named Mia Jones who had a daughter named Isabella. J.T. and Mia soon dated, and he became close with both of them. He got his job back as "PJ J.T." During a school girl's basketball game against Lakehurst High School, the Spirit Squad started fighting after Nic insulted Mia. J.T. hit Nic in the face with his mascot helmet, and was given a few weeks worth of detention. Nic told J.T. and Toby to sleep with one eye open.
J.T. continued to date Mia, and later found out that she had dated Nic. Nic declared "war" on Degrassi, and J.T. declared war back. J.T., along with Danny and Derek, tried to recruit people to fight them, but nobody wanted to. Toby told them to just drop it, and that if it continued, it would just get worse. The guys didn't listen, and insisted on fighting. At the request of Mia, the guys didn't fight them, however. The Lakehurst guys later found Toby in the Degrassi courtyard, and beat him up, even breaking his arm.
Not too long after, on Liberty's birthday, Manny wanted to throw a party because Emma's parents were out of town, but they didn't have an excuse. J.T. suggested that she should throw Liberty a party for her birthday. Manny gave Liberty a makeover, and word got out that there was a party. While there, Liberty confessed to J.T. that she loved him. J.T. was startled to hear that, so he told her that he was dating Mia. Liberty got mad and ran outside. J.T. found Toby and asked him for advice. He asked whether he should go for Mia or Liberty, because he liked both. Toby told him Liberty, so J.T. ran outside to look for her. He didn't see her, but instead saw two students from Lakehurst there: Johnny DiMarco and Drake Lempky.
J.T.'s Death in Season 6 Johnny was urinating on J.T.'s car when J.T. stepped outside, and, while staying calm, told him to find something better to do. Drake pulled out a switchblade, and told J.T. to "laugh at this", ran with it, and then stabbed J.T. in his back, puncturing his aorta. The two guys fled from the scene, and shortly after, Liberty saw the body and cried for help. Later at the hospital, the doctors informed Toby (who told them that he was J.T.'s brother, as the doctors could only release information over J.T. to his family) that there was nothing they could do, and that his "brother" was dead. Manny, Liberty, Emma, and Sean mourned the loss. J.T. was only 17 years-old. It was sad but watchers have to remember the good times,not the bad and the good things J.T. did.
[edit] Reaction
A few days later, J.T.'s funeral was held. A big memorial at Degrassi was held in remembrance, and Jimmy made t-shirts, with the proceeds going to the Yorke family. Mr. Simpson hosted the event, and many were in attendance. A slide show was put together by Spinner and Peter, and a video of J.T. playing with Isabella was shown. A few days later, there were several protests against Lakehurst by Degrassi students, telling them to "go home", in honor of J.T.'s death.
[edit] Relationships
- Manny Santos
- Start Up: "Our House" (321)
- Broke Up: "Mercy Street" (404)
- Reason: Manny believes that J.T. is too immature.
- Liberty Van Zandt
- First Relationship
- Start Up: "Voices Carry, Part 2" (412)
- Broke Up: "Foolin'" (504)
- Reason: Liberty is too controlling.
- Second Relationship
- Start Up: "Turned Out, Part 1" (507)
- Broke Up: "Turned Out, Part 2" (508)
- Reason: J.T. attempts suicide by overdosing on oxycodone.
- First Relationship
- Mia Jones
- Start Up: "Eyes Without A Face, Part 1" (605)
- Broke Up: "Rock This Town" (611)
- Reason: J.T.'s death, although it is hinted that he was going to break up with Mia for Liberty.
