History Characters / DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason7

[[redirect:DegrassiTheNextGenerationSeason7Graduates]]

[[center: [- [[Characters/{{Degrassi}} Top Index]] | [[Characters/DegrassiJuniorHigh Junior High and High]] -] ]]
[[center: [- [[Characters/DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason5 Season 5 Graduates]] | '''Season 7 Graduates''' | [[Characters/DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason9 Season 9 Graduates]] | [[Characters/DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason11 Season 11 Graduates]] | [[Characters/DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason12 Season 12 Graduates]] | [[Characters/DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason14 Season 14 Graduates]] -] ]]
[[center: [- [[Characters/DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason16 Season 16 Graduates (Next Class 1)]] | [[Characters/DegrassiGrade11Class Grade 11 Class (Next Class 2)]] -] ]]
[[center: [- [[Characters/DegrassiOtherStudentsAndCollegeFriends Misc. Students]] | [[Characters/DegrassiProminentAdultsAndDegrassiFaculty Misc. Adults]] -] ]]

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Due to the fact this is a [[LongRunners long running show]], this character list does contain unmarked spoilers for the entire series, so please tread lightly or not at all.
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[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Emma Nelson]]

[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/emma_season4_002.jpg]]
'''Emma Nelson'''\\
[-Played by Miriam [=McDonald=], Seasons 1-9 (regular), 15 (guest)-]

->''“I can’t apologize for doing something I believe in.”''

Emma is the daughter of Spike Nelson and Shane [=McKay=], and step-daughter of Snake, all from Series/DegrassiJuniorHigh. Emma is highly idealistic with strong opinions and a desire to help others in need. She is an staunch environmentalist, and many of her causes correlate with this. In season 4, she undergoes a radical makeover, as she ditches her dorky cause girl gear and starts dressing like the popular girls. She ditches her friends and starts to hang out with the popular kids, until she realizes she can't change who she is and defends Rick, which doesn't save her when Rick brings a gun to school. She was one of the many students affected by the school shooting in season four, which left her lost and questioning who she was, and turning to questionable methods to deal with her PTSD. In season five, she developed an eating disorder due to her control issues and trouble at home. Her biggest love relationship in the show was with Sean Cameron, a troubled young man. They dated on and off since season 2 and their relationship went through tremendous highs and lows before it finally ended in season 7 when Sean went off to the military. In season nine, she dropped out of Smithdale University due to stress and to re-evaluate her future goals. She marries Spinner Mason at the end of season nine, after realizing she loved him. No, really.
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* AccidentalMarriage: Marries Spinner in a drunken stupor, and the marriage later turns real.
* ActionGirl: She surprisingly held her own in a fight against tough girl Alex.
* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: She was drawn to Sean, Jay, ''and'' Peter despite their bad boy tendencies.
* TheBusCameBack: In the Degrassi: Next Class episode "[=#ThrowbackThursday=]," where she it's revealed she's ''still'' married to Spinner.
* ButWeUsedACondom: She had a pregnancy scare in season six with Sean, despite using protection.
* CompressedVice: Her anorexia was only portrayed in two episodes, with only a few mentions of it later on.
* ControlFreak: Even as a kid she was a bit of a control freak, specifically trying to control Manny and trying to stop her from joining the Spirit Squad. Later, after her parents separate for a bit, she tries to maintain control on other aspects of her life, leading to her anorexia.
* DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou: In Series/DegrassiHigh, after her father Shane takes tries LSD he falls off/jumps off a bridge, suffering traumatic brain injuries and had to live in special needs facilities. That's a pretty good reason to not raise a child.
* DisappearedDad: Her father Shane from Series/DegrassiJuniorHigh is in a home for the mentally disabled.
* DoomedNewClothes: She decided to show off her new white skirt at school, the same day she starts her period.
* {{Expy}}: She is directly inspired from [[Series/DegrassiJuniorHigh Caitlin Ryan]]; both are feminists and have strong opinions.
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: With Manny, JT, and Toby, she is melancholic (introverted and task-oriented).
* GoGetterGirl: She is a staunch feminist, and not content with the typical AcceptableFeminineGoals. She also started a protest against the Spirit Squad for supposedly being sexist.
* GirlinessUpgrade: In season 4, she ditched much of her earthy, basic (and animal printed) clothing and started wearing more fashionable girly clothing in addition to wearing makeup and growing out her hair.
* GranolaGirl: She is an environmentalist, vegetarian, and animal lover.
* HeroicBSOD: She got hit with this after Rick pointed a gun at her in the WhamEpisode. The post-traumatic stress affected her greatly, to the point where she questioned everything about herself. And also ended up giving oral sex to Jay to distance herself from the event.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Manny, her best friend and confidant.
* {{Hypocrite}}: Has had quite a few hypocritical moments over the years, as sometimes her philosophies don't quite match up with her behavior.
* KarmaHoudini: She can often be a {{jerkass}} to the ones closest to her, but they eventually forgive her in the end.
* InWithTheInCrowd: Briefly in season 4 as she joined in with the bullying of Rick until she found her conscious.
* IntoxicationEnsues: In season eight with marijuana, as she smokes in order to loosen up and establish her college identity.
* LastMinuteHookUp: Gets hitched with Spinner at the end of season nine.
* LightFeminineAndDarkFeminine: The Light to Manny's Dark. Emma is generally seen as a "good girl," and not sexy or desirable, at least until season four.
* MyGirlIsNotASlut: Sean judges Emma harshly for hooking up with Jay, and for ruining his admiration for her and his past memories of her. A lighter version of the trope appeared when Snake was uncomfortable about Emma being sexually active with Sean.
* NoPeriodsPeriod: Horrifically averted in ''Coming of Age'', complete with the red splotch on her brand new white skirt.
-->"[[Website/BoycottTheCaf Shit, did someone stab Emma in the ass?]]"
* NotSoAboveItAll: She tries to hold steadfastly to her principles but often times she can't even live up to her own standards and has some hypocritical moments and breakdowns.
* OnlyFriend: She was Manny's only friend until Manny branched out. The opposite is also true, Manny is Emma's only friend and [[TrueCompanions True Companion]]; she is friendly with Liberty, JT, Toby and others but not nearly as close as she is with Manny.
* SexForSolace: She gives Jay oral sex after nearly being killed by Rick in order to cope with her emotional breakdown.
* ShesAllGrownUp: The most dynamic example in the show as she emerged from her awkward phase as one of the more attractive Degrassi students.
* SheCleansUpNicely: Shown in season four where she doesn't have her braces anymore, starts wearing makeup and starts dressing more fashionable.
* SignificantWardrobeShift: She shifts from her usual natural, understated clothing after season three and starts dressing fashionably and wearing makeup to start distancing herself from her "cause girl" look.
* SoapboxSadie: She ''will'' give you her opinion on an issue, and was the resident "cause girl" of Degrassi particularly about environmental issues but not limited to advertising in schools, to genetically modified food, endangered species and violence.
* SpinOffSpring: The daughter of Spike from ''Degrassi Junior High'', and she is one of the main characters of Degrassi: The Next Generation.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Starting in season four where with her new look came a more shallow personality, until the shooting rocks her to the core.
* WeightWoe: Suffered from both bulimia and anorexia, and it's mentioned a few times after she recovers.
* WhatTheHellHero: Near the beginning of season four, Emma attempts to rekindle her relationship with Chris Sharpe. Not because she still likes him or anything; it's just because Liberty has shown an interest in Chris and Emma's worried that if Liberty is his next girlfriend, it will make her look bad. Both Liberty and Manny call her out on this bout of bitchiness.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Manny Santos]]

[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/manny_season4_002.jpg]]
'''Manuella "Manny" Santos'''\\
[-Played by Cassie Steele, Seasons 1-9 (regular)-]

->''“Remember when you got your period in class and everyone was laughing in class and you just told them to shut up? I feel like that everyday, like everyone's joking about me and I can't get them to shut up.”''

Manny is Emma's best friend who's been there for her since the beginning. She's sweet, cute and she has a idealistic view of romance, falling hard for Craig Manning in season two. In season three, she decided to start dressing provocatively in order to get attention from boys and bury her "cute" imagine. She gets Craig's attention and they end up sleeping together despite Craig having Ashley as a girlfriend. Afterward, she discovered she was pregnant and after much agonizing, she had an abortion but it left her with being known as the school slut. To put the drama behind her, she focuses on acting after realizing she loved it when she was part of the Jay and Silent Bob movie that filmed in Canada. In season 5, she ends up back in the arms of Craig. But unfortunately, he was into Ellie, which set off her insecurity. Much of her insecurity regarding her looks and self-worth are due to her oppressive father and Craig being emotionally distant from her during their relationship. In TheMovie, she lands a role in Jason Mewes's Mewes-sical High. She now lives in Los Angeles and works as an actress but still has time to see Jay.
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* ActionGirl: More of the action-oriented girls on Degrassi, having been in three fights during her tenure.
* AFriendInNeed: She sticks with Emma, through thick and thin not to mention her other friends, such as Liberty and Darcy.
* AttentionWhore: In season 3, wearing lowrider jeans and a thong to get attention from all the Degrassi guys.
* BeAWhoreToGetYourMan: At the start of season three, her infamous Hot Girl makeover was to win over an extra. She later tries to sweep Craig away from Ashley the minute they have a fight.
* BerserkButton: DO NOT call her a slut!
* BreaktheCutie: In proud Degrassi tradition. After having sex with Craig, being his side chick, getting pregnant and having an abortion she becomes a ''much'' different character. She loses her cheery, naive spirit and becomes much more jaded.
* BreakoutCharacter: Initially Emma's shadow in Seasons 1 and 2, she developed her own style and personality and became one of the show's most dynamic characters in Season 3.
* CatchPhrase: "Cuckoo bananas!"
* TheCheerleader: She joined the Spirit Squad in season one, became captain, and stayed there until she graduated.
* ClingyJealousGirl: In season two, where she asked Craig to not speak to Ashley, after their ''one'' date, when Ashley is in all his classes. When they begin to date again and Craig hangs out with Ellie, she still remains jealous but for good reason.
* TheCutie: ''Only'' in the first two seasons, as she was adorable, sweet, and innocent. Starting in season three, she decides that she doesn't want to be "cute little Manny" anymore. She wants to be hot, not cute or adorable, but HOT!
* DudeMagnet: In season 3, she becomes very popular with boys.
* FilleFatale: During season 3 with her "hot girl" makeover and having all the boys (and Craig) drool all over her.
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: With Emma, JT, and Toby, she's choleric (extroverted and task-oriented).
* GoodBadGirl: She's very sweet and kind, and after she goes through, she becomes a lot more mature. And also she's more sexually experienced than most of her peers.
* GoodGirlsAvoidAbortion: Averted, with "Accidents Will Happen". This led to the episode being banned from Creator/TeenNick for about three years.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Emma, her best friend since the beginning of the series.
* HormoneAddledTeenager: Boys and sex are her two biggest vices. She throws herself at Craig and has sex with him.
* HotForTeacher: She starts dating her acting professor at Smithdale University.
* HumiliationConga: When it was revealed she was pregnant in front of the whole school, and then being known as the "school slut" in season three. Happens again later when she flashes her breasts to Peter and he uploads the video to the Internet.
* IdolSinger: In her imagination during season 2, she sings a Broadway style number with Craig. In a ball gown. Also, she becomes one literally in season eight as she sings in ''Mewes-ical High'' and at Spinner and Emma's wedding.
* IJustWantToBeLoved: She has a desperate need for love and male attention and the need to be protected.
* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Her makeover in season three was partly to stop being known as "Emma's sidekick" along with getting attention from boys.
* InstantHumiliationJustAddYouTube: After she drunkenly flashes her breasts for Peter who films it. A Degrassi Mini revealed that that video has it's own remix.
* LightFeminineAndDarkFeminine: The Dark to Emma's Light. Manny is seen as a seductress and a boyfriend-stealer by the Degrassi female student body.
* LivingADoubleLife: She hid her provocative clothing and her MsFanservice status from her conservative parents.
* LoveMartyr: Was the other girl in Craig's relationship with Ashley, and for the most part always came in second place. More pronounced with her relationship with her professor in TheMovie.
* MistakenForRacist: By Holly J and Chantay in ''Love is a Battlefield'' after they hear Manny and Damian joking around.
* TheMistress: Craig continued to see Manny while dating Ashley. For a while she was happy with the mistress label until she finally demanded an ultimatum for Craig.
* MsFanservice: A MsFanservice to the school with her outfits in season three, for the [[BareYourMidriff belly button shirts]], [[PantyShot showing her thong]], and actually GoingCommando and nearly exposing her butt. She's also seen in bikini tops, particularly in Season 4's car wash. This gets a bit Squicky when you realize Cassie Steele was 13 and 14 at the time of filming Seasons 3-4.
* MyGirlIsNotASlut: As Manny herself points out, ''Craig'' was the one who cheated when they had sex, but whereas he got off scot-free, [[NeverLiveItDown she gets saddled with the label "slut"]].
* NaiveEverygirl: In the first two seasons, she was a hopeless romantic and sweet and adorable. This changed in the third season with her Hot Girl makeover.
* NiceHat: After she changes her look, she's often seen with a different hat in many episodes.
* OnlyFriend: She was Emma's only friend, and for awhile she was hers.
* PrincessPhase: One day she imagines herself as Cinderella with Craig as her Prince. Craig likes her but says that he can't kiss her because she reminds him of his five year old sister.
* TheRival: To Paige, for a while. After an all-out CatFight towards the end of season four, they mostly get over it. Also had Ellie as a rival, as she was jealous of Ellie spending time with Craig.
* ShesAllGrownUp: After her makeover, the male Degrassi student body finally took notice of her graduating puberty with honors.
* SatelliteCharacter: She was Emma's shadow for the first two seasons before she became a more dynamic character in season three.
* SexEqualsLove: This was her outlook on sex, especially after she and Craig did it. She wasn't prepared for the consequences.
* SingleGirlSeeksMostPopularGuy: She crushed on Craig Manning after he danced with her in season two and deliberately sought him out in season three after her makeover.
* TeenPregnancy: She never went through with it and she terminated the pregnancy.
* ThinksLikeARomanceNovel: When she crushes on Craig, she literally imagines herself as a princess and with Craig as her PrinceCharming. She views on romance don't mature much from that until season 6 when she finally dumps Craig after his crappy treatment of her.
* TookALevelInDumbass: Once she went through the change, she increasingly became lacking in basic common sense (though she did get better by later seasons).
* TookALevelInJerkass: In season three with her new look came a mean girl streak and she initially had no qualms about messing around with other girls' boyfriends.
* UsedToBeASweetKid: The first few seasons had her as the innocent, pigtail-wearing, popularity-seeking best friend of Emma. She wanted to be special even then, but didn't take the drastic lengths that eventually would to be so.
* TheVamp: Her reputation at Degrassi, much to her dismay.
* WeightWoe: She was considering getting liposuction on her thighs and rear, after a casting agent tells her to "dump the lumps." Worried about her weight for an upcoming role and purged a couple of times at Emma's suggestion, but stopped before things got out of control.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:J.T. Yorke]]

[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jt_season5_002.jpg]]
'''James Tiberius "J.T" Yorke'''\\
[-Played by Ryan Cooley, Seasons 1-6 (regular)-]

->''“If JT's death has taught me anything, it's that the worst mistakes are the ones you never learn from. And to never, ever take your friends for granted.”''

Earlier in the show's run, JT was the class clown obsessed with the female anatomy and sex. He grew to be one of Degrassi's more popular students in season three, but all the while keeping his joking attitude. Despite his childish and immature antics, he was the apple of Liberty Van Zandt's eye. They eventually get together and starting dating in season 5 but then he accidentally gets Liberty pregnant. Neither he nor Liberty handle the situation very well, with JT resorting to stealing prescription drugs in order to provide for Liberty and the baby. It completely blows up in his face, he ends up on suicide watch after a drug overdose and Liberty gives up the baby for adoption. In season six, Mia Jones becomes his girlfriend but he still has lingering feelings for Liberty despite wanting to get away from their past baby drama. Even while dating Mia, JT realizes that he was still in love with Liberty, but unfortunately he was fatally stabbed by a Lakehurst student before he could confess that he still loved her.
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* {{Adorkable}}: He's seen as a general perverted geek at Degrassi, but he is funny, kind-hearted and friendly enough for the girls to take notice but not quite go out with.
* AllGuysWantCheerleaders: Paige, at least initially and Manny in season three. With the latter he even has a short relationship but it doesn't last long.
* BackFromTheDead: As a ghost, in the season nine Christmas mini-episode and a season six {{Tearjerker}} webisode.
* BreakTheCutie: The happy-go-lucky JT accidentally impregnates Liberty, desperately attempts to scrape together the money to support her and their child and works long hours to do it, ends up being coerced into a drug deal by Jay (and ends up immediately throwing up right after, that's how disgusted with himself he becomes), gets dumped by the love of his life as a result of his actions, and ends up in the hospital after overdosing on pills (whether it was an accident or a deliberate suicide attempt seems to be up for interpretation).
* BookDumb: He rather be a ClassClown than be a good student. But he does show a surprising talent for sewing, and can do good in school when he applies himself.
* ButWeUsedACondom: Liberty ends up pregnant due to JT using a large-sized condom that slipped off.
* ButtMonkey: He was the "Comic Relief" version the first few seasons. As the show went on, he became the "Go Through Hell" version.
* ChivalrousPervert: He is obsessed with sex and pornography, but he has always treated women with respect.
* ClassClown: Degrassi's biggest ClassClown before he grew out of it in season three.
* CoolLoser: He's funny, charming to girls, and resourceful but for some reason he was seen as a loser, possibly due to him hanging around Toby and his childishness. After he grows up some, he becomes more popular.
* DeadpanSnarker: Usually the snarkiest out of his group of friends, along with Liberty.
* DistractedByTheSexy: Twice in ''U Got The Look'', ogling Manny's new look and colliding into obstacles.
* DoggedNiceGuy: With Manny, who was more into Craig and other popular boys.
* DrivenToSuicide: After going absolutely crazy trying to be a good teen father, which included quitting his dream TV job, getting a pharmacy job and stealing painkillers for money. The show doesn't make it clear on whether or not JT meant to do it, but when asked outright, JT is ashamed and he's on suicide watch at the hospital.
* EmbarrassingMiddleName: ''Tiberius.'' He prefers to be called JT.
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: With Emma, Manny, and Toby, he is sanguine (extroverted and people-oriented).
* GayBravado: As part of him trying to get Liberty to stop crushing on him. [[MemeticMutation "Hey there Liberty, girlfriend!"]]
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Toby, even after JT moves up the PopularityFoodChain.
* HormoneAddledTeenager: ''Very'' much so. He looks at porn on the internet, his science project are homemade silicone breast implants, and was in total admiration of HotTeacher Ms. Hatzilakos.
* HotForTeacher: He had a big crush on Ms. Hatzilakos, until he spent time with her and respected her as a teacher.
* IconicOutfit: His baseball caps in seasons one and two, which he stops wearing when he becomes more popular.
* InterruptedDeclarationOfLove: He is tragically killed before he can tell Liberty he loves her.
* InWithTheInCrowd: Starting in season three, he gets more popular. This creates problems within his friendship with Toby.
* KillTheCutie: Just when it looks like he'll get back together with Liberty for good, a Lakehurst bully stabs him for no reason. Poor JT's only consolation is that he died in Liberty's arms (not that this was much consolation to her, this moment was the biggest BreakTheCutie moment for Liberty).
* KilledOffForReal: The second Degrassi student to be killed during the series' run.
* LoveEpiphany: In the last episode he was alive in, despite dating Mia and defending her from Lakehurst bullies, he realizes that he's always been in love with Liberty.
* NiceHat: In the first two seasons, he often wears a cap backwards.
* NocturnalEmission: He has a wet dream about Liberty. In Toby's bed.
* NoGuyWantsToBeChased: Resisted Liberty's advances for a long while.
* OnlyKnownByInitials: His full name is James Tiberius, but everyone calls him JT.
* OppositesAttract: With Liberty, an uptight ChildProdigy.
* ParentalAbandonment: By both of his parents, he lives with his grandmother.
* PluckyComicRelief: In seasons one through three with his ClassClown antics.
* RaisedByGrandparents: Raised by his grandmother, specifically.
* RetCon: His mother and father are mentioned in the earlier seasons, but in season five he is shown to live with his grandmother, and neither parent appears to be in the picture. No in-universe explanation for this is ever given. Of course, since so little was known about JT's home life, his parents could've walked out on him off-screen.
* {{Schemer}}: In the first two seasons, he always had some plan that ended up getting Toby or them both in trouble.
* StraightManAndWiseGuy: The wise guy to Toby's straight man.
* ThoseTwoGuys: With Toby, before the TeenPregnancy storyline launched him into the main character spotlight.
* TeenyWeenie: JT is insecure about his penis size so much so he uses a penis pump.
* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: With childhood friend Manny, who never payed him much attention and when they started going out, she dumped him shortly thereafter.
* WhiteShirtOfDeath: Happened to be wearing one when he was stabbed.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Toby Isaacs]]

[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/toby_01.jpg]]
'''Toby Isaacs'''\\
[-Played by Jake Goldsbie, Seasons 1-6 (regular), 7 (recurring), 8 (guest)-]

->''“Toby's a geek. He always has been.”''

Toby is J.T.'s best friend, Ashely's step-brother, and nerdy to the extreme. He loves video games, computers, and {{anime}}. When J.T. begins to get more popular, their friendship drifts apart until both characters hit a low in season four and season five. In season four, his friend Rick shoots Jimmy in the Degrassi hallways and later ends up being accidentally shot and killed by Sean. In season six, J.T. is killed which pretty much means Toby is unlucky, to say the least. Throughout season six and seven, he expressed a lot anger toward Lakehurst High for "killing J.T.," but after time he came to terms with J.T.'s murder. He is one of the more level-headed characters at Degrassi, and doesn't mind the fact he is considered a huge nerd.
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* {{Adorkable}}: He is a pretty huge nerd and awkward, but despite that he's had a girlfriend for two seasons and even AlphaBitch Holly J took a liking to him.
* AllLoveIsUnrequited: In ''The Mating Game'', he nurses a budding crush on Emma, and the feeling isn't mutual.
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Virtually every main male student at Degrassi served as this to him, including his more outgoing best friend.
* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: To Ashley, in seasons one and two. In Ashley's first episode, he takes a long time in the bathroom and puts on her training bra.
* TheArtifact: He, along with Ashley were a lot more prominent in the first few seasons as {{expies}} of [[Series/DegrassiJuniorHigh Stephanie and Arthur]], but as the show distanced itself from it's roots, their roles shrank.
* ButtMonkey: He has two very close friends killed, and is also relentlessly bullied. In a lighter version of the trope, he's always the butt of the joke, particularity when it comes to romance and women.
* DoggedNiceGuy: For just about every girl he had an interest in. His only relationship in the series was with Kendra, whom he was a DoggedNiceGuy for until they started dating.
* DoomMagnet: Both his friends died: first Rick, then J.T.
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: With Emma, Manny, and JT, he is phlegmatic (introverted and people-oriented).
* HeterosexualLifePartners: JT is his very best friend, and he was crushed when he was killed.
* InformedJudaism: He is Jewish, and it's only mentioned a couple of times in the series.
* JewishAndNerdy: Well, he's a nerd and he's Jewish. Fits the trope to a T.
* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: During his senior prom, he got this treatment from Liberty, Manny, and Emma. "Girls and Toby."
* NiceJewishBoy: He doesn't have it in his heart to be mean, and was only mean towards Lakehurst and Johnny [=DiMarco=] because of him being present when JT was killed. He got better though
* OnlySaneMan: Throughout his time on the show, he was the most normal and level-headed out of all of his friends, with no major relationship drama and very few issues-oriented story arcs.
* {{Otaku}}: He loves anime and manga and he even meets Kendra due to their shared interest.
* OutOfFocus: throughout seasons three through seven, he played no major role at all, a stark contrast to seasons one and two.
* ProudToBeAGeek: He makes no apology for being a geek and being smart.
* StraightManAndWiseGuy: The straight man to JT's wise guy.
* TinySchoolboy: He's significantly shorter than all of the other male characters and several female ones.
* ThoseTwoGuys: With JT, in the first two seasons.
* TheShortGuyWithGlasses: He fits the physical description and is the TheSmartGuy out of all his friends.
* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: Emma and Manny doesn't see him as a potential love interest due to the fact they grew up together.
* VisitByDivorcedDad: A rare gender-switched example on TV when dealing with divorced parents. Toby lives with his Dad full-time, and sees his Mom on certain weekends and occasions. She's an overworked career mother in the entertainment industry. This is made clear in the Season 1 episode "Parents' Day" when his Mom almost misses the school open house because she was caught up with work.
* WeightWoe: In season two, he tries to make weight for the wrestling team by starving himself and using laxatives and even throwing his lunch up.
* WoundedGazelleGambit : In Season 4's "kissing contest" with Rick. He uses this to get girls to "kiss it better."

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Liberty Van Zandt]]

[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/liberty_season5_005.jpg]]
'''Liberty Van Zandt'''\\
[-Played by Sarah Barrable-Tishauer, Seasons 1-8 (regular), 9, 15 (guest)-]

->''“Liberty sees an opportunity, she goes for it. She’s like a rabid wolverine.”''

Liberty is an intelligent young girl who skipped a grade[[note]]which was seemingly retconned out later[[/note]]. Due to her intelligence being higher than her peers, she tends to be socially awkward and pompous of her own achievements. She is very serious-minded and despite this, she falls in love with class clown J.T. Yorke. In season five, she becomes pregnant by J.T. which caused a lot of strife within their relationship and they ended up splitting. J.T. gained a new girlfriend, but still had feelings for Liberty but was tragically killed before he confessed to Liberty. She grieves throughout season 6 and 7 before picking up the pieces and becoming valedictorian for the class of 2007. She ends up attending Smithdale University along with Manny and Emma. Liberty also has a younger brother, Danny.
----
* AcademicAlphaBitch: Even as a younger Degrassi student, she thought that with her smarts she could try to take charge of things. In season five, Liberty becomes StudentCouncilPresident and then fights to be valedictorian. By then she was more confident and more concerned with herself than her peers.
* ActionGirl: After Lucas brags that JT was begging to be stabbed, she full on ''shoves'' him into a fence and stats flailing on him. And Lucas is a good foot taller and much heavier.
* BirthdayHater: Even before JT bled to death in her arms outside of her birthday party.
* BlackAndNerdy: She graduates as valedictorian, and participates in a number of school activities.
* BreakTheHaughty[=/=]BrokenBird: Season five and six, after her pregnancy and JT being killed. She slowly pulls herself out it at the end of season seven.
* BrutalHonesty: She was never one to mince words.
* ButWeUsedACondom: JT used a large-sized condom that slipped off during sex, getting Liberty pregnant.
* ChildProdigy[=/=]TeenGenius: She was one year younger than the rest of her class due to her skipping a grade due to her genius.
* ClassRepresentative: In seasons one through four she is an ambitious know-it-all who takes it upon herself to enforce the dress code. She was responsible for involving the school in putting on a performance of 'Dracula' to express the darkness the school went through.
* ControlFreak: Shown off in ''Relax'', where she goes insane with power when's she made team manager of the floor hockey team.
* DeadpanSnarker: She can be snarky on occasion.
* DitzyGenius: A lot of intelligence is book smarts, and it really showed when she got pregnant as she was too afraid and in denial to do anything. And then there's her wearing a cape as her part of floor hockey team manager power trip.
* ExtravertedNerd: Despite her place on the PopularityFoodChain, she seemingly wasn't aware of it. She was even confident enough to ask Sean out, while he was hanging out with his GangOfBullies.
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: Well not to be ''that'' harsh as she's liked by Emma, Manny, JT and Toby but they didn't really hang out with her that much as her personality can be abrasive. This gets better in the later seasons.
* GoGetterGirl: She takes school government, academic and after-school activities ''very'' seriously. Don't get in her way.
* HerHeartWillGoOn: After JT was stabbed, she went through the typical arc of getting over the death and becoming a better person as a result.
* InsufferableGenius: She's smart and not afraid to let you know about it. Constantly.
* LIsForDyslexia: She suffers from Dyscalculia.
* {{Meganekko}}: She's rarely seen without her glasses.
* OutOfFocus: In seasons three through four, in stark contrast to the first two seasons. It took JT getting her pregnant and getting killed for her to get back in the main character spotlight.
* OppositesAttract: With JT, Degrassi's ClassClown.
* SheCleansUpNicely: She already blossomed until a beautiful woman during the show, and then when she shows up at prom, wearing a [[LadyInRed clingy red dress]]. She gets rave reviews, from both male and female.
* SheIsAllGrownUp: As stated above, she along with Emma graduated puberty with honors, and it definitely showed at prom with the red dress.
* SmugSnake: Her pomposity was a plot point in several episodes.
* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: Her speech patterns tend to be very technical and wordy, with a dash of SpockSpeak.
* StalkerWithACrush: Towards JT, in the earlier seasons despite him being very clear that he didn't like her.
* StudentCouncilPresident: She was the first character to be president two times in a row.
* TeenPregnancy: After she and JT bungled their baby plans, she gave the baby up for adoption.
* TokenMinority: A would-be token to a sorority she rushed for in season 8 before she figured out their scheme to simply add a black girl for funding.
* UptightLovesWild: Uptight Liberty crushing on Wild JT. Also her crush on TroubledButCute Sean.
* {{UST}}: She and Damian had this, despite Damian dating Emma. They acted on it, but got caught and Liberty nearly lost all her friends due to this.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Sean Cameron]]

[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sean_season4_002_370.jpg]]
'''Sean Cameron'''\\
[-Played by Daniel Clark, Seasons 1-4, 6 (regular), 7 (guest)-]

->''“Classic Sean. When going gets tough, the Sean gets going.”''

Sean is a troubled young man who ends up at Degrassi after being expelled from his old school for a violent incident. He immediately gets the interest of Emma, and in season two they become an item. He has a tendency to let his anger get the best of him, resulting in a lot of fights at school. Despite his anger problem, Sean is a sweetheart and tries desperately to hide that from the tough crowd he hangs with. In season three, he breaks up with Emma due to feeling like a hindrance in her life and starts a relationship with Ellie. When Rick shoots Jimmy then turns the gun to Emma in season four, Sean protects Emma but inadvertently kills Rick in the process. Shell-shocked, he retreats to Wasaga Beach where his parents live. He returns to Degrassi in season six and reunites with Emma, only to be thrown in jail for a non-lethal hit and run while street racing Peter Stone. After he gets out of prison, he rekindles his relationship with Emma but later joins the Canadian military despite Emma's wishes.
----
* AlcoholicParent: Both of his parents, leading for him to live with his brother Tracker in Toronto. Overall, they're GoodParents and welcome Sean back when he goes up to Wasega.
* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: His EstablishingCharacterMoment involves him riding on the back of his brother's motorcycle, running his fingers through his hair and disrespecting a teacher. Emma is instantly smitten.
* AccidentalMurder: While wrestling Rick for the gun, he accidentally kills Rick.
* AntiHero: He's not all for big causes, but he does what needs to be done.
* AntiVillain: Yes, ''[[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor both]]''. As a villain, he just wants to hurt Emma, even if he hurts her family in the process.
* BigOlEyebrows: "Saw your picture...recognized the eyebrows."
* BruiserWithASoftCenter: Very tough and gets into fights a lot but he's very sensitive and wants to do the right thing.
* ChekhovsSkill: Remember when Sean was on the wrestling team? See that dude pointing a gun at Emma?
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Not so much. According to Degrassi legend, he was so tough he deafened a kid in the ear for messing with him. In truth, he was bullied by the kid until he fought back and punched him in the ear. Played straight with his parents being alcoholics and almost elderly and his older brother is much older than him hinting at the fact that he may have been an [[ButWeUsedACondom "accident."]]
* {{Delinquent}}: He doesn't try to be, but often finds himself in delinquent-type behavior whether due to circumstance or peer pressure.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Not so much "evil" as an AntiHero, but "Just put the gun down. You're only going to make things worse." And he and Ellie defended Rick when nobody else would.
* {{Expy}}: Of Rick Munro, a minor character from Series/DegrassiJuniorHigh. Rick was also Caitlin's initial LoveInterest and Caitlin is in many ways like Emma.
* HeldBackInSchool: Due to the violent incident he had in Wasega, he ended up repeating his 7th grade year.
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: He's a good kid, who does some bad things. His status changes several times throughout the show and even during his "evil" phases, he was sweet.
* HeroicBSOD: After he accidentally kills Rick, he feels terribly guilty despite saving Emma and stays away from Toronto for an entire season.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Jay, after he breaks up with Emma and stops hanging out with her friends.
* JerkassFacade: He has a cold, aloof demeanor, but inside he's a softie and doesn't like being outwardly mean. It's also hinted that much of his bad boy act and look is a front.
* KirkSummation: Gives Rick one last chance to stop the violence.
* MemeticBadass: In-universe example, as the rumors of him deafening a kid spread.
* MrFanservice: His sexy eyebrows are something of a MemeticMutation. Not to mention that he has had several {{Shirtless Scene}}s, one of the more memorable ones in season 2 with the then closeted Marco EatingTheEyeCandy while Sean was playing basketball outside.
* MyGirlIsNotASlut: He freaks out on Emma after he finds out what she did to Jay and is not the wholesome girl he remembers.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After accidentally killing Rick, he feels completely terrible and leaves Toronto in order to deal with his feelings.
* OnlySaneMan: The first two seasons, outside of a few mishaps, he was one of the more level-headed students. Except in season three and six.
* ParentalAbandonment: His parents sent him away to Toronto to avoid jail time after he deafened a bully in the ear.
* PerpetualPoverty: He is poor, lived with his brother in a bad place of town and qualified for assistance when he decided to live alone.
* PutOnABus: Twice, once in season four the second time it was a LongBusTrip in season six.
* RememberWhenYouBlewUpASun: Used repeatedly in the episode after he killed Rick, much to his dismay. Averted after his return.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: He also tends to run away from his problems and not face them.
* ShirtlessScene: More than any other character, including one at age ''fourteen.''
* SugarAndIcePersonality: He keeps up a tough exterior and in season 3, completely switches over to being a {{delinquent}}, but Sean is a big 'ol softie on the inside. In season 6, after he comes back from his Bus Trip, he seems to have embraces the Sugar side of himself more.
* TroubledButCute: DegrassiTheNextGeneration's original troubled, but cute boy. He has a lot of issues, and he's very handsome.
* UnlikelyHero: Who would've expected him out of all characters to try to talk down Rick and try to wrestle the gun out of his hand?
* VerbalTic: Says "man" a lot, e.g. "I'm screwed, man."

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Damian Hayes]]

[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/damien_01.jpg]]
'''Damian Hayes'''\\
[-Played by Mazin Elsadig, Seasons 6 (recurring), 7(regular)-]

->''“This should be a contest between equals. But the truth about Damian Hayes is that his charm is all an act.”''

Introduced in season six, and attended Degrassi in season 7 when his old high school Lakehurst burned down. He was friends with the boy who killed JT, [[AbortedArc but this is never extrapolated on much.]] He is a very ambitious guy and is very active in Lakehurst and Degrassi student government. He dates Emma, but later cheats on her with Liberty. He graduates along with the rest of the class of 2007 [[LongBusTrip and attends Banting University.]]
----
* AmbitionIsEvil: So bright, such a go-getter, and not afraid to do anything to get what he wants.
* BlackAndNerdy: He fought with Liberty over the valedictorian slot, and smart enough to get into Banting University.
* ChickMagnet: He's had Emma, Manny and Liberty, all the three main girls, falling for him.
* ClassRepresentative: He participated in both Lakehurst and Degrassi student government.
* HandsomeLech: He's a good looking guy, and in his short time on the show, he moved through Manny, Emma, ''and'' Liberty pretty quickly, not to mention cheating on Emma.
* SatelliteLoveInterest: He's pretty much the SatelliteCharacter to all three girls he dated and hooked up with.
* SmugSnake: Confident to a fault, and even told Manny that she possibly couldn't understand politics.
* SpearCounterpart: He is very similar to Liberty in a lot ways, being black nerds and with the pomposity and intelligence.
* {{UST}}: With Liberty, while still dating Emma.
* YourCheatingHeart: He cheats on Emma by making out with Liberty at her prom, no less.

[[/folder]]

* KarmaHoudini[=/=]EasilyForgiven: She can often be a {{jerkass}} to the ones closest to her, but they eventually forgive her in the end.

* TheCutie: ''Only'' in the first two seasons, as she was adorable and sweet. Starting in season three, she decides that she doesn't want to be "cute little Manny" anymore. She wants to be hot, not cute or adorable, but HOT!

* MsFanservice: A MsFanservice to the school with her outfits in season three, for the [[BareYourMidriff belly button shirts]], [[PantyShot showing her thong]], and actually GoingCommando and nearly exposing her butt.
** She's also seen in bikini tops, particularly in Season 4's car wash. This gets a bit Squicky when you realize Cassie Steele was 13 and 14 at the time of filming Seasons 3-4.

* RealLifeRelative: Her sister Alex Steele played Craig's little sister, and she later gained a regular role in season eleven.

* [[VisitByDivorcedDad Visit by Divorced Mom]]: A rare gender-switched example on TV when dealing with divorced parents. Toby lives with his Dad full-time, and sees his Mom on certain weekends and occasions. She's an overworked career mother in the entertainment industry. This is made clear in the Season 1 episode "Parents' Day" when his Mom almost misses the school open house because she was caught up with work.

* UptightLovesWild: Uptight Liberty crushing on Wild JT.
** Also her crush on TroubledButCute Sean.

* [[VisitByDivorcedDad Visit by Divorced Mom]]: In the series, Toby lives with his Dad full-time, and sees his Mom on certain weekends and occasions, mainly due to the fact that she's an overworked career mother in the entertainment industry. This is made clear in the Season 1 episode "Parents' Day" when his Mom almost misses the school open house due to the fact that she was caught up with work.

-->"[[BoycottTheCaf Shit, did someone stab Emma in the ass?]]"

[[center: [- [[Characters/DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason5 Season 5 Graduates]] | '''Season 7 Graduates''' | [[Characters/ DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason9 Season 9 Graduates]] | [[Characters/DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason11 Season 11 Graduates]] | [[Characters/DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason12 Season 12 Graduates]] | [[Characters/DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason14 Season 14 Graduates]] -] ]]

[[center: [- [[Characters/DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason5 Season 5 Graduates]] | '''Season 7 Graduates''' | [[DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason9 Season 9 Graduates]] | [[Characters/DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason11 Season 11 Graduates]] | [[Characters/DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason12 Season 12 Graduates]] | [[Characters/DegrassiGraduatingClassOfSeason14 Season 14 Graduates]] -] ]]

[-Played by Miriam [=McDonald=], Seasons 1-9 (regular), 16 (guest)-]

[-Played by Sarah Barrable-Tishauer, Seasons 1-8 (regular), 9, 16 (guest)-]

* AbortedDeclarationOfLove: He is tragically killed before he can tell Liberty he loves her.

* {{UST}}: She and Damien had this, despite Damien dating Emma. They acted on it, but got caught and Liberty nearly lost all her friends due to this.

* IconicOutfit: His baseball caps in season two, which he stops wearing when he becomes more popular.

* GayBravado: As part of him trying to get Liberty to stop crushing on him. [[MemeticMutation "What's up Liberty girlfriend?"]]

* ThinksLikeARomanceNovel: When she crushes on Craig, she literally imagines herself as a princess and with Craig as her PrinceCharming. She views on romance don't mature much from that until season 7 when she finally dumps Craig after his crappy treatment of her.