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.

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. This was followed in 1992 by the made-for-television film School's Out, which followed the students post-graduation.

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 as an extra with no speaking lines.

Cast timeline

1. Main cast (first billing at least once in the series or otherwise featured prominently)

2. Supporting cast (repertory cast members in background or with secondary storylines)

3. Guest star (brief or uncredited appearance)

4. Cast notes

Students

Primary characters

The following characters receive top billing in at least one episode:

Secondary characters

The following characters feature prominently throughout the show, although never receive top billing:

Minor supporting roles

• Hank (Billie Mintz, season 1), Joey's partner-in-crime, bullies Arthur on his first day at school

• Annie (Ximena Bensusan, season 1), background student

• Avrianna (Jenny Lass, season 1), background student in a wheelchair

• Vicky Friedland (Karryn Sheridan, seasons 1–5), background student

• Vivian Wong (Colleen Lam, seasons 1–4), background student

• Jyoti (Sabrina Dias, seasons 1–4), background student, attends Susie's sleepover where Caitlin has a seizure

• Mahmoud "Mack" Sama (Samer Kamal, seasons 1–4), background student, friends with Arthur and Alex

• Mark (Andy Jekabsons, seasons 1–5), background student, footballer who later dates Amy

• Jason Cox (Tyson Talbot, season 1), the school's sports representative and captain of the boys' soccer team

• Wai Lee (Kei Kei Hung, seasons 1–2), chosen for the swim race against the girls' team, along with Jason and Wheels

• Joy Saint-Jean (Lisa Williams, seasons 1–5), background student, reprises her role in Degrassi: The Next Generation

• Max (Joshua Whitehead, season 2), grade 6 advanced placement student, Scooter's friend

• Meat & Stu (Raffi Malkassian & Kevin Marshall, season 2), Dwayne's friends, school bullies

• Nicole (Stephanie Samuels, season 3), background Borden High student, friends with Clutch and Paul

• Glen (Marc Betsworth, season 3), background Borden High student, friends with Clutch and Paul, later deals drugs to Shane

• Mick (Wayne Reid, season 3), background Borden High student

• Dave (Adam Silver, season 3), background Borden High student, later calls BLT a racial slur

• Faith (Astra Crosby, season 3), goth Borden High student, who tells Erica what Clutch's astrological sign is

• Rainbow (Anna Keenan, seasons 3–5), background student, reprises her role in Degrassi: The Next Generation

• Ricky (Danny Ciraco, seasons 3–5), background student, friends with Alex, reprises his role in Degrassi: The Next Generation

• David (Carl Langschmidt, seasons 3, 5), background student

• Michi Noguchi (Nokkeo Vong, seasons 3–4), background student, friends with Dorothy

• Lily (Ysu Luu, season 3), background student, friends with Dorothy and Tessa

• Casey (Andrew Lockie, seasons 3–5), background student, friends with Alex

• Trudi Owens (Tammy Campbell, seasons 3–5), background student with red streaked hair, friends with Caitlin and Susie

• Lois (Carina Annis, season 4), background student, friends with Tabi

• Grace (Niville Diggs, seasons 4–5), background student, friends with Tabi

• Ralph (Henry Hwang, seasons 4–5), background student, friends with Snake and Tim

• Sylvia (Aimee Darcel, seasons 4–5), background student, friends with Claude

• T.J. (Charles Bonsu, seasons 4), background student, friends with BLT

• Cindy (Marsha Ferguson, season 5), captain of the girls' volleyball team who BLT leaves Michelle for

• Sprinka (Rahnuma Panthaky, season 5), Cindy's friend

• Dale (Cameron Graham, season 5), sexist jock who is interested in Lucy but clashes with her over use of the basketball court

• Todd (Christian Campbell, season 5), Dale's friend, dates Tessa in School's Out

Adults

Minor supporting roles

• Voula's parents (Paul Brock & Nancy Beltrame, season 1)

• Rick's dad (Sid Bruyn, season 1), who beats him

• Joey's mom (Gretchen Helbig, seasons 1–5)

• Joey's dad (George King, season 1)

• Swim coach (Evannah Sakamoto, season 1), coaches the girls swimming team at Degrassi Junior High

• Stephanie & Arthur's mom (Pat Beaven, seasons 1–2), a pharmacist

• Frank Delacorte (Kenneth Taylor, season 1, 4), L.D.'s dad, a mechanic

• Spike's mom (Rhonda Kristi, seasons 1–3), who owns a hairdressing salon

• Helen & John Wheeler (Nancy Sinclair & Tim Zemanek, seasons 1–3), Wheels' adopted parents, who die in a car accident

• Mike Nelson (Dave James, seasons 1, 3), Wheels' birth father, a drummer

• Steven & Mary McKay (Peter Brierley & Jane Carnwath, seasons 2–3), Shane's parents, a minister and his wife

• Mr. Colby (Marcus Bruce, season 2), substitute teacher and predator, who inappropriately touches Lucy, and later Susie

• Liz's mom (Laine Williams, season 2), a waitress

• Caitlin's mom (Dona Hird, seasons 2, 4–5), vice-principal of another school

• Caitlin's dad (Steve Behal, season 2, Martin Brown, season 5), teacher who cheats on his wife

• Kathleen's mother (Sheila Brogren, seasons 2–3), an alcoholic

• Snake's parents (Vivian Palin & Clarke Mackey, season 2, Maggie Thomas & Ingvar Brogren, seasons 3, 5)

• Wheels' grandparents (Dorothy Phillips & Rod Rekofski, seasons 3–5), who take care of Wheels' after his adopted parents are killed

• Kathleen's father (Ross Churchill, season 3)

• Melanie's mom (Vanessa Dylyn, season 3)

• Stephanie & Arthur's dad (James Johnston, season 3)

• Michelle's mom (Rose Ann Newlove, seasons 3–4)

• Michelle's dad (Frank Quinlan, season 3, Richard Kovsky, season 4–5)

• Diana's mom (Angela Demos, season 4)

• BLT's dad (Ronald Williams, season 4)

• Gym coach (Tom Cranston, season 5), teaches physical education at Degrassi High

• Geography teacher (Gwen Tolbert, season 5)

Cast appearances

The Degrassi franchise includes its predecessor, The Kids of Degrassi Street, and its spin-offs Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High, School's Out! Degrassi Talks, Degrassi: The Next Generation and Degrassi: Next Class. Several Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High cast members have appeared on multiple shows.

1. Main cast (first or second billing at least once in the series)

2. Supporting cast (repertory cast members in background or with secondary storylines)

3. Guest star (brief or uncredited appearance)

References