List of A Different World characters

Last updated

A Different World is a spin-off from the American television sitcom The Cosby Show with Denise Huxtable, in the first season. It aired on NBC for six seasons, from 1987 to 1993.

Contents

Main characters

Denise Huxtable

PortrayerSeasonsNo. of
episodes
Lisa Bonet Season 123

A native of Brooklyn; Denise Huxtable is the daughter of Hillman alumni Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable and Clair Hanks Huxtable, Esq. She enrolled in Hillman and was roommates with Maggie Lauten and Jaleesa Vinson during her sophomore year. Denise was a poor student who often procrastinated and struggled to manage her time and money. She disliked Whitley Gilbert and endured Dwayne Wayne's crush on her. She left Hillman at the end of her sophomore year to travel to Africa. There, she met and married Lt. Martin Kendall of the U.S. Navy and became the stepmother of Olivia Kendall. She only reappears once in season 3 to give Dwayne closure on his crush.

Note: Denise originated as a regular character on The Cosby Show, on which she was featured on a regular basis during seasons 1–3, 6 and 7, and on a recurring basis during seasons 4 and 5. She left "A Different World" after season 1. [1]

Whitley Gilbert-Wayne Douglas

PortrayerSeasonsNo. of
episodes
Jasmine Guy All 6142

Whitley Marion Gilbert-Wayne is an Art History and French major at Hillman. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] A native of Richmond (Virginia), she is daughter of Hillman alumni and divorcees Mercer and Marion Gilbert. She began the series with a snobbish, prissy attitude and disliked by many of the characters although following Denise's departure after season 1, the show was retooled to feature her in the lead. [10] As a consequence, Whitley's character was mellowed out and she was paired romantically with Dwayne, with whom she had an on again-off again relationship. Whitley originally went to college to land a husband although she quickly realized she enjoyed art history and stayed at Hillman for a fifth year to take business courses. After graduation, she was engaged to Dwayne and had a part-time job at E.H. Wright Industries as an assistant art buyer and as a dorm director at Hillman. After learning that Dwayne went on a date with another woman, Whitley broke off their engagement although the two reunited when Whitley cheated on her fiancé Byron Douglas III with Dwayne. Still, she was ready to marry Byron until Dwayne interrupted her wedding and declared his love for her. The two married and spent their honeymoon in Los Angeles, which coincided with the 1992 riots following the verdict in the Rodney King trial. After being laid off at E.H. Wright Industries, Whitley was employed in a series of odd jobs until she became a teacher at a school for troubled adolescents. At the end of the series, Whitley learns she's pregnant and she and Dwayne move to Tokyo, Japan upon a job offer for Dwayne. Whitley divorces Dwayne and moves back to Richmond, Va where she reunites with Sen Byron Douglas. Byron was the man that Whitley almost married when Dwayne interrupted their wedding ceremony. Byron and Whitley get married and Whitley has a child named Marion. Dwayne also moves back to Richmond Va where he reunites with his ex-girlfriend Kinu. They get married and have a baby Dwayne Wayne Jr.

Dwayne Wayne

PortrayerSeasonsNo. of
episodes
Kadeem Hardison All 6142

Dwayne Wayne is a mathematics major at Hillman. A native of Brooklyn, he achieved a perfect score on the math portion of the SAT. He is best recognized by his flip up sunglasses and is known for making unsuccessful advances on numerous women throughout his freshman year. He had a crush on Denise and unsuccessfully ran for the title of "Miss Hillman" at her urging to highlight the sexism of the pageant. His best friend/roommate is Ron Johnson. Although he dated several women across the series, he was most involved in an on-again-off-again relationship with Whitley Gilbert. After working at a summer internship for Kinishewa Electronics in Japan, he began a relationship with Kinu Owens. However, he broke up with her once he realized he was still in love with Whitley. He graduated from Hillman as valedictorian of Class of 1991 and engaged to Whitley. He became a mathematics professor at Hillman but his engagement with Whitley was broken off when he almost cheated on her. However, during her relationship with Byron Douglas III, the two slept together and he interrupted Whitley and Byron's wedding ceremony to declare his love for her. Whitley left Byron at the altar for Dwayne and the two quickly married. They honeymooned in Los Angeles, which coincided with the 1992 riots following the verdict in the Rodney King trial. At the end of the series, Whitley became pregnant with their first child and he designed a new video game for Kinishewa with Ron. The couple decided to move to Japan for his work. In a reunion special, it was revealed that while at Kinishewa, Dwayne invented the flip cell phone, inspired by his flip glasses. Dwayne and Whitley divorce and relocate back to Richmond Va. Dwayne marries Kinu and Whitley marries Byron Douglas. Dwayne and Kinu have a child together, Dwayne Wayne Jr.

Supporting characters

CharacterActorSeasons
123456
Maggie Lauten Marisa Tomei Main
Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor Dawnn Lewis Main
Stevie Rallen Loretta Devine Main
Ronald "Ron" Martin Johnson Darryl M. Bell RecurringMain
Coach Walter Oakes Sinbad RecurringMain
Leticia "Lettie" Bostic Mary Alice Main
Kimberly Reese Johnson Charnele Brown Main
Winifred "Freddie" Brooks Zulu Cree Summer Main
Colonel Bradford Taylor Glynn Turman Main
Vernon Gaines Lou Myers Main
Gina Deveaux Ajai Sanders RecurringMain
Lena James Jada Pinkett RecurringMain
Charmaine Tyesha Brown Karen Malina White Main

Maggie Lauten (Marisa Tomei): A "military brat" and journalism major, she is one of the few white students at predominantly African American Hillman. She transferred to Hillman at the start of the sophomore year and was roommates with Denise Huxtable and Jaleesa Vinson. Maggie was a sweet-natured, although occasionally ditzy, girl. If Maggie would have stayed on the show after season one, Debbie Allen (the show's producer from seasons 2–6) would have given her a black boyfriend and there would have been an episode where Dwayne brings her home for Thanksgiving dinner and Dwayne's parents disapproves of his interracial relationship. Due to Marisa Tomei leaving the show after the first season, the story never happened.

Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor (Dawnn Lewis): native of Camden (New Jersey), sister of Danielle and Yvonne Vinson, ex-wife of Lamar Collins, enrolled at Hillman at age 26, a business management major, roommate of Denise and Maggie during sophomore year, worked part-time at the Hillman library, assistant dorm director of Gilbert Hall, vacationed in Greece with Maggie during the summer of 1988, roommate of Freddie during junior and senior years, worked a summer installing cable television, entered into serious relationship with Walter, co-dorm director of Gilbert Hall, engaged to Walter, couple halts wedding at the altar and mutually separates, graduated (Class of 1990), accepted an entry-level corporate position, off-campus roommate of Whitley, married Colonel Bradford Taylor (in a surprise elopement), stepmother of Suzanne and Terrence, started a temporary employment agency, gave birth to daughter Imani, disappeared after season five. Comes back to Richmond, Va. with Suzanne, Terrence and Colonel Bradford Taylor and Imani.

Stevie Rallen (Loretta Devine): mother of J.T., graduate student dorm director of Gilbert Hall, replaced by Lettie Bostic

Ronald Marlon Johnson, Jr. (Darryl M. Bell): native of Detroit (Michigan), son of Ron Johnson Sr. and brother of Rachel Johnson, roommate and best friend of Dwayne, involved in serious relationship with Millie, member of the ROTC pledged Kappa Lambda Nu Fraternity and successfully "crossed over", dated numerous women during most of his college career, worked summers as a salesman for his father's automobile dealership, falsely implied that Dwayne's campaign for student body president was endorsed by former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson, member of the Hillman ROTC, managed/performed in the band X-Pression, graduated after nine semesters (January 1992), victim of a bias incident at Virginia A&M University (on the weekend of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 1992), band breaks up, employed as spokesman for a phone sex hotline, employed as a car salesman (independent of his father), unemployed, criticized Kimberly's interracial relationship with Matthew (but later admitted he was jealous), entered into serious relationship with Kimberly (after pursuing her for months), antagonist of Shazza, cheated on Kimberly with Freddie (while Freddie was involved with Shazza), broke up with Kimberly, entered into serious relationship with Freddie, manager and co-owner of "The Place Where The Blues Will Be Played" with Mr. Gaines, provided the concept which inspired Dwayne's new video game for Kinishewa, chosen to be godfather of Dwayne and Whitley's unborn child. Ron marries Kimberly and they have a baby together Marlon.

Walter Oakes (Sinbad): graduate student, football/baseball/basketball/track coach, dorm director of all-male residence hall, involved in serious relationship with Jaleesa, co-dorm director of Gilbert Hall, engaged to Jaleesa, couple halts wedding at the altar and mutually separates, moves to Philadelphia to manage community center.

Leticia "Lettie" Bostic (Mary Alice): enrolled in Hillman, dropped out of Hillman a few credits short of her degree, moved to Paris, met Pablo Picasso, spied for the Allies during World War II, rejected marriage proposal from South African freedom fighter Marcus Mpepo, replaced Stevie as dorm director of Gilbert Hall decades later in 1988, chastises Kimberly for engaging in unprotected sex, disappeared after season two.

Winifred "Freddie" Brooks Zulu (Cree Summer): [11] native of New Mexico, daughter of Joni Brooks, cousin of Matthew, roommate of Jaleesa during freshman and sophomore years, has unrequited feelings for Dwayne, was a student activist throughout her undergraduate career, dated Garth Parks (who almost rapes her), dated Ernest Bennett, roommate of Kimberly during junior and senior years, entered into serious relationship with Shazza Zulu, graduated (Class of 1992), enrolled in Hillman Law School, co-dorm director of Height Hall, cheated on Shazza with Ron (while Ron was involved with Kimberly), broke up with Shazza on Thanksgiving Day 1992, entered into serious relationship with Ron, earned law review membership and completed first year of law school. Freddie breaks up with Ron and Freddie reunites with her ex-boyfriend Shazza. Freddie and Shazza get married and have a baby Winifred Anne Brooks

Kimberly Reese Johnson (Charnele Brown): [12] native of Columbus (Ohio), daughter of Clinton Reese, roommate (and best friend) of Whitley during freshman and sophomore years, a biology major, employed by Mr. Gaines at The Pit part-time throughout her undergraduate career, involved in serious relationship with Robert (had a pregnancy "false alarm"), rejected a much-needed scholarship because of the sponsoring corporation's investments in apartheid-controlled South Africa, employed at funeral home part-time, roommate of Freddie during junior and senior years, involved in serious relationship with Matthew, pledged Alpha Delta Rho Sorority and successfully "crossed over", performed in the band X-Pression, graduated (Class of 1992), entered into serious relationship with Ron (after being pursued for months), enrolled in Hillman Medical School, co-dorm director of Height Hall, broke up with Ron, entered into serious relationship with fellow medical student Spencer Boyer, completed first year of medical school, engaged to Spencer (after turning down numerous proposals from him). Kimberly breaks up with Spencer and Kimberly marries Ron and they have a baby together Marlon Johnson.

Colonel Bradford Taylor (Glynn Turman): served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, retired with the rank of colonel, ex-husband of Johanna, father of Suzanne and Terrence, professor of mathematics at Hillman (nicknamed "Dr. War" because of his reputation as a demanding professor), commander of the Hillman ROTC, became Dwayne's primary mentor, was distraught when his former student Zelmer Collier was deployed to the Persian Gulf just before the start of Operation Desert Storm, rejected membership in an all-white country club after being criticized by Terrence, married Jalessa Vinson (in a surprise elopement), brother-in-law of Danielle Vinson, became a father for the third time when Jaleesa gave birth to daughter Imani.

Vernon Gaines (Lou Myers): met Lena Horne during World War II; husband of Velma and father of Darnell; uncle of Faith, Hope, Charity and Henrietta; owner and manager of The Pit; employer of Byron Douglas III; employer and father figure of Kimberly; co-owner of apartment building with Velma; frequent critic of his ne'er-do-well son; temporary employer of Whitley; employer of both Lena and Charmaine; co-owner of "The Place Where The Blues Will Be Played" with Ron; reunited with Lena Horne in 1993. Vernon dies in 2013, leaving the Pit to Kimberly and Ron's daughter Marlon.

Gina Deveaux (Ajai Sanders): family emigrated to the U.S. from Martinique, pledged Alpha Delta Rho Sorority and successfully "crossed over", dated Dion (who physically abused her), pressed charges against Dion and broke up with him, roommate of Lena and Charmaine at the start of junior year, involved in incident that led Charmaine to falsely accuse Terrell of sexual harassment, placed on academic probation, moved off-campus into house (with Lena, Charmaine, Terrell and Dorian), rejected Dion again after he violated probation and contacted her, completed junior year and still enrolled at Hillman.

Lena James (Jada Pinkett): native of Baltimore (Maryland), daughter of Grover James, originally an engineering major but later journalism major, named after singer Lena Horne, ended high school relationship with Piccolo, employed by Mr. Gaines at The Pit part-time, developed a brief crush on Dwayne, roommate of Gina and Charmaine at the start of sophomore year, entered into serious (yet celibate) relationship with Dorian, rejected Piccolo's attempt to reconcile, moved off-campus into house (with Gina, Charmaine, Terrell and Dorian), completed sophomore year and still enrolled at Hillman.

Charmaine Brown (Karen Malina White): native of Brooklyn (New York), best friend of Claire Huxtable's distant cousin Pam Tucker, began dating Lance Rodman in high school, visited Hillman with Lance during her senior year of high school, roommate of Gina and Lena at the start of her freshman year at Hillman, amazed and annoyed others with her rapid pattern of speech, employed by Mr. Gaines at The Pit part-time, mistakenly accused Terrell of sexual harassment, relationship with Lance ended when he broke up with her by telephone, failed French midterm after she and Terrell were caught cheating, harassed by local residents (along with Terrell), moved off-campus into house (with Gina, Lena, Terrell and Dorian), completed freshman year and still enrolled at Hillman. [Note: Charmaine originated as a recurring character on The Cosby Show. She was featured during seasons 7 and 8 of that series.]

Recurring characters

Related Research Articles

Lilakoi Moon, known professionally as Lisa Bonet, is an American actress. She portrayed Denise Huxtable on the sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992), for which she earned widespread acclaim and a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1986; she reprised the role of Denise in the first season of the spinoff series A Different World.

<i>The Cosby Show</i> American television sitcom (1984–1992)

The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom created by and starring Bill Cosby that originally aired on NBC from September 20, 1984, to April 30, 1992, with a total of 201 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons, including an outtakes special. The show focuses on the Huxtables, an upper middle-class Black-American family living in Brooklyn, New York; the series was based on comedy routines in Cosby's stand-up comedy act, which in turn were based on his family life. The series was followed by a spin-off, titled A Different World, which ran from September 24, 1987 to July 9, 1993, with a total of six seasons consisting of 144 episodes.

<i>A Different World</i> American sitcom (1987-1993)

A Different World is an American sitcom television series and a spin-off of The Cosby Show. It aired for six seasons on NBC from September 24, 1987 to July 9, 1993. The series originally centered on Denise Huxtable and the life of students at Hillman College, a fictional historically black college in Virginia. It was inspired by student life at historically black colleges and universities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keshia Knight Pulliam</span> American actress (born 1979)

Keshia Knight Pulliam is an American actress. She began her career as a child actor. She landed her breakthrough role as Rudy Huxtable, on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992), and became the youngest person to be nominated for an Emmy Award, when she earned a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in A Comedy Series at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards. She later reprised the character on the spin-off series A Different World (1987–88). Knight Pulliam is also known for her portrayal of Miranda Lucas-Payne on the TBS comedy drama Tyler Perry's House of Payne (2007–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dawnn Lewis</span> American actress and singer (born 1961)

Dawnn Jewel Lewis is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Jaleesa Vinson–Taylor on the NBC television sitcom A Different World from the series beginning in 1987 until the end of its fifth season in 1992, in addition to co-writing the opening theme song for the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kym Whitley</span> American comedian and actress (born 1962)

Kym Whitley is an American comedian, actress and podcaster. She is known for her roles on television sitcoms, such as My Brother and Me, Sparks, Animal Practice, The Boondocks, Young & Hungry, The Parkers, The Cleveland Show, Black Dynamite, and Act Your Age. Whitley was nominated for a 2004 BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Box Office Movie for her role as Ormandy in the 2003 comedy film Deliver Us From Eva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jill Taylor (Home Improvement)</span> Fictional character

Jillian "Jill" Patterson Taylor is a character in the TV sitcom Home Improvement played by Patricia Richardson. Jill is Tim Taylor's wife. Jill and Tim raise their three sons together. Jill Taylor has appeared on critics' lists of "top TV" or "most memorable" moms. For this role, Richardson was nominated four times for Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress – Comedy Series and also received two nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy.

Dwayne Wayne is a fictional character who appears in the American sitcom A Different World, portrayed by actor Kadeem Hardison.

Whitley Marion Gilbert-Wayne is a fictional character who appears in the American sitcom A Different World, portrayed by actress Jasmine Guy. Warming up to whiz student Dwayne Wayne, the two have an on/off flirtation with each other until their eventual marriage near the end of the series.

Pilot (<i>The Cosby Show</i>) 1st episode of the 1st season of The Cosby Show

"Pilot" is the pilot episode and the first episode of the first season of the American sitcom The Cosby Show. "Pilot" originally aired in the United States on NBC on Thursday, September 20, 1984, at 8:00 PM ET. This episode debuted the week before the official start of the 1984–85 United States network television season. They only have 4 children in this episode: Denise, Theo, Vanessa & Rudy. Sondra, the first born, is introduced later in that season, episode 4; she however, is not in the featured/mentioned in the intro. The confrontation with Theo in this episode is seen again in a flashback in the series finale "And So We Commence". The episode was directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Ed. Weinberger and Michael J. Leeson. The episode was a critical and commercial success, achieving both high ratings and positive critical feedback.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudy Huxtable</span> Fictional character from The Cosby Show

Rudith Lillian "Rudy" Huxtable is a fictional character who appears on the American sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992). Portrayed by actress Keshia Knight Pulliam, Rudy is the youngest child of Cliff and Clair Huxtable. First appearing alongside her family in the pilot episode "Theo's Economic Lesson", which premiered on September 20, 1984, Rudy matures from a precocious five-year-old girl into a teenager longing for independence throughout the course of the series' eight year-long run.

<i>Happy Together</i> (1989 American film) 1989 American film

Happy Together is a 1989 American romantic comedy film directed by Mel Damski and starring Patrick Dempsey and Helen Slater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodbye Mr. Fish</span> 2nd episode of the 1st season of The Cosby Show

"Goodbye Mr. Fish" or sometimes "Good-bye Mr. Fish", "Goodbye, Mr. Fish" or just "Mr. Fish" is the second episode of the first season of the American sitcom The Cosby Show. The episode was directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Earl Pomerantz. "Goodbye Mr. Fish" originally aired in the United States on NBC on Thursday September 27, 1984, at 8:00 PM Eastern time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clair Huxtable</span> Fictional character

Clair Huxtable is a fictional character who appears on the American sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992). Portrayed by actress Phylicia Rashad, Clair, the wife of Cliff Huxtable and mother of their five children, is the matriarch of the show's central Huxtable family. Working as a lawyer, Clair values the importance of maintaining a successful career and strong household simultaneously. The character debuted alongside most of her family in the pilot episode, "Theo's Economic Lesson", which premiered on September 20, 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denise Huxtable</span> Fictional character who appears on The Cosby Show

Denise Huxtable Kendall is a fictional character on the American sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992), portrayed by actress Lisa Bonet. Denise also leads the first season of its spin-off A Different World (1987). The second-born child of Cliff and Clair Huxtable, Denise is a free spirit known for her eccentric clothing. Alternating between regular and recurring character, Denise appears on the sitcom on-and-off throughout its eight-year run, from its pilot "Theo's Economic Lesson" to the seventh-season episode "Cliff and Jake", for a total of 98 episodes, after which Bonet departed for the remainder of the series.

Boomerang is an American comedy television series, serving as a sequel to the 1992 film of the same name. The series premiered on February 12, 2019, on BET.

"Thanksgiving" is the eighth episode of the second season of the American comedy-drama streaming television series Master of None. The episode was released on Netflix on May 12, 2017, along with the rest of the second season. It was written by series creator Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe, who star as Dev Shah and Denise. Melina Matsoukas served as the episode's director.

<i>Twenties</i> (TV series) American comedy television series

Twenties is an American single-camera comedy series created by Lena Waithe. The plot is semi-autobiographical and follows "a queer black girl, Hattie, and her two straight best friends, Marie and Nia, who spend most of their days talking 'ish' and chasing their dreams." The show stars Jonica T. Gibbs, Christina Elmore, Gabrielle Graham, Sophina Brown, and Big Sean. It premiered on BET on March 4, 2020. In June 2020, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on October 13, 2021.

References

  1. Haithman, Diane (1988-10-06). "Different Touch to 'Different World'". The Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  2. Company, Johnson Publishing (12 December 1988). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved 3 August 2017 via Google Books.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. Leonard, David J.; Guerrero, Lisa (23 April 2013). African Americans on Television: Race-ing for Ratings. ABC-CLIO. ISBN   9780275995157 . Retrieved 3 August 2017 via Google Books.
  4. Company, Johnson Publishing (17 December 1990). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved 3 August 2017 via Google Books.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. Terrace, Vincent (12 November 2012). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2d ed. McFarland. ISBN   9780786486410 . Retrieved 3 August 2017 via Google Books.
  6. Cooper, William Fredrick (18 March 2014). Unbreakable: A Novel. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   9781476703961 . Retrieved 3 August 2017 via Google Books.
  7. Gasman, M.; Commodore, F. (25 November 2014). Opportunities and Challenges at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Springer. ISBN   9781137480415 . Retrieved 3 August 2017 via Google Books.
  8. Ramos, Dino-Ray (April 30, 2015). "Binge-Watching 'A Different World': 17 Things You Totally Forgot About This Guilt-Free 'Cosby Show' Spin-Off". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  9. Company, Johnson Publishing (1 June 1988). "Ebony". Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved 3 August 2017 via Google Books.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  10. Cadet, Danielle (September 21, 2017). "Whitley's World: A Brief History of Bad and Boujee Black Girl Style". Andscape . ESPN. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  11. "Off The Reservation, 'Different World's' Cree Summer Is A Bundle Of Contradictions". Chicago Tribune . 1990-04-12. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  12. "A Different World's Brown Speaks Out On Interracial Couples". Chicago Tribune . 1991-07-27. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  13. "Recurring Role Moves Actor From Placentia Into 'A Different World'". The Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved 2010-10-02.