List of A Different World characters

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

Main characters

Denise Huxtable

Portrayer Seasons No. of
episodes
Lisa Bonet 1 23

Denise Huxtable is a sophomore at Hillman. A native of Brooklyn; daughter of Hillman alumni Cliff and Clair; granddaughter of Hillman alumnus Russell Huxtable; sister of Sondra, Theo, Vanessa, and Rudy; roommate of Maggie and Jaleesa during sophomore year; married Lt. Martin Kendall of the U.S. Navy; stepmother of Olivia Kendall; moved overseas with Martin; living in Singapore, pregnant with her first child (as revealed in the final episode of The Cosby Show in April 1992).

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

Dwayne Wayne

Portrayer Seasons No. of
episodes
Kadeem Hardison All 6 135

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 known for his flip up eyeglasses/shades and 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 Ronald Johnson. He dated Suzanne Taylor although the two broke up because she was not ready to get serious. Although he dated several women across the series, he was most involved in an on-again-off-again relationship with Whitley Gilbert across the series. After working at a summer internship 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 and his engagement with Whitley was broken off when he almost cheated on her. However, when she dated 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.

Whitley Gilbert

Portrayer Seasons No. of
episodes
Jasmine Guy All 6 137

Whitley Gilbert majors in Art History and French at Hillman. A native of Richmond (Virginia), daughter of Hillman alumni Mercer and Marion Gilbert, cousin of Liza and Courtney, stepdaughter of Monica Gilbert, befriended by Millie (and eventually Denise and Dwayne), unsuccessfully ran for the title of "Miss Hillman", pledged Alpha Delta Rho Sorority and successfully "crossed over", roommate (and best friend) of Kimberly during third and fourth years at Hillman, temporarily employed by Mr. Gaines at The Pit to pay for damages to his car, involved in serious relationship with Julian Day (to Dwayne's dismay), involved in an on-again-off-again relationship with Dwayne for years, voluntarily remained at Hillman for a fifth year to take additional courses in business, off-campus roommate of Jaleesa during fifth year at Hillman, undermined and successfully ruined Dwayne's relationship with Kinu Owens, graduated (Class of 1991), engaged to Dwayne, lost virginity to Dwayne, worked as summer intern with E.H. Wright Industries, dorm director of Height Hall, employed as an assistant art buyer for E.H. Wright Industries (where she was a victim of sexual harassment), was horrified to learn that some of her African-American ancestors were slave owners, engagement broken (after Dwayne almost cheats on her), entered into serious relationship with Virginia state senatorial candidate Byron Douglas III, cheated on Byron with Dwayne (for which Byron forgives her), engaged to Byron, rejected Byron during the wedding ceremony and married Dwayne immediately thereafter, daughter-in-law of Woodson and Adele Wayne, honeymoon in Los Angeles coincided with the 1992 riots following the verdict in the Rodney King trial, downsized from art buyer position, employed as waitress, employed as substitute teacher, pregnant with her first child, moved to Japan (with Dwayne).

Supporting characters

Character Actor Seasons
1 2 3 4 5 6
Maggie Lauten Marisa Tomei Main
Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor Dawnn Lewis Main
Stevie Rallen Loretta Devine Main
Ronald "Ron" Martin Johnson Darryl M. Bell Recurring Main
Coach Walter Oakes Sinbad Recurring Main
Leticia "Lettie" Bostic Mary Alice Main
Kimberly Reese Charnele Brown Main
Winifred "Freddie" Brooks Cree Summer Main
Colonel Bradford Taylor Glynn Turman Main
Vernon Gaines Lou Myers Recurring Main
Gina Deveaux Ajai Sanders Recurring Main
Lena James Jada Pinkett Recurring Main
Charmaine Tyesha Brown Karen Malina White Main

Maggie Lauten is a "military brat", a journalism major and one of the few white students at predominantly African American Hillman; involved in long-distance relationship with Mike, transferred to Hillman at the start of sophomore year, roommate of Denise and Jaleesa during sophomore year, vacationed in Greece with Jaleesa during the summer of 1988, disappeared after season one.

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 25, 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.

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.

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 (Cree Summer):[2] 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, lost her virginity in a one-time sexual encounter with Ron, 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.

Kimberly Reese (Charnele Brown):[3] 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).

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.

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

References

  1. Haithman, Diane (1988-10-06). "Different Touch to 'Different World'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  2. "Off The Reservation, `Different World`s` Cree Summer Is A Bundle Of Contradictions". Chicago Tribune. 1990-04-12. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  3. "A Different World`s` Brown Speaks Out On Interracial Couples". Chicago Tribune. 1991-07-27. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  4. "Recurring Role Moves Actor From Placentia Into 'A Different World'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-02.