Line #90 Characters/DiffrentStrokes


1	[[foldercontrol]]
2
3	!Main Characters
4	[[folder:Phillip Drummond]]
5	--> '''Played by''' Creator/ConradBain
6
7	A white, wealthy widower who adopts two black kids.
8	----
9	* {{Deuteragonist}}: While Arnold is the main protagonist throughout the show, Mr. Drummond is the only one besides Arnold who remains a prominent character in all 8 seasons, since Willis and Kimberly are OutOfFocus later on.
10	* GoodParents: A loving father to Kimberly, a good adoptive father to the Jackson boys, and later a good stepfather to Sam.
11	* HappilyMarried: With his eventual wife Maggie. They are in a happy marriage in the last two seasons.
12	* LastNameBasis: Throughout the first season and for most of the second, Arnold and Willis refer to him as either "Mr. Drummond" or "Mr. D". Once their adoption is official in the middle of season 2, they address him as "Dad" for the rest of the series. Years later, an adult Arnold is shown to still call him "Dad" during their cameo in the series finale of ''The Fresh of Bel-Air''. His stepson Sam, however, only addressed him as "Mr. D".
13	[[/folder]]
14
15	[[folder:Arnold Jackson]]
16	--> '''Played by''' Creator/GaryColeman
17	--> '''Dubbed by''' Creator/JackieBerger (European French)
18
19	The younger and snarkier of the two black boys adopted by Phillip Drummond. He's the BreakoutCharacter and the face of the show.
20	----
21	* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Can be this to Willis, either by being too clingy or annoying him with his snarky remarks.
22	* TheBabyOfTheBunch: The youngest and most childish of the family, and usually treated as such by his older siblings in the early years, although he keeps his short stature even after becoming a teenager. Averted in the last few seasons, after his little stepbrother Sam is introduced on the show.
23	* BigBrotherWorship: Downplayed. He makes fun of Willis a lot but there is also an episode where he follows him and wants to spend time with him.
24	* BigEater: He has a big appetite, and in one episode he has a hard time giving up junk food.
25	* BreakoutCharacter: Starts off as a member of the family, and eventually becomes the star of the show with all the other characters being either DemotedToExtra or defined by their interactions with him.
26	* BrutalHonesty: A common trait of his MouthyKid characterizion, he has no problem in speaking out truths to other people, especially his older brother.
27	* CharacterCatchphrase: "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?". Also a MadLibsCatchphrase, since the "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout...?" can be followed by literally any name, depending on whom he's talking to.
28	* CoolBigBro: Becomes this to little stepbrother Sam in later seasons, often giving him advice.
29	* DeadpanSnarker: One of the snarkiest kids on any sitcom. His sassy one-liners were regular.
30	* HappilyAdopted: By Phillip Drummond. He eventually starts calling him Dad, after the adoption becomes official.
31	* HeightAngst: In one episode of the later seasons, he realizes he won't grow up much and his height will remain the same forever. He's not happy about it, though it's rarely an issue in other episodes.
32	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He's snarky, a bit selfish, and can be an AttentionWhore, but is mainly a good-natured kid.
33	* {{Malaproper}}: An example comes from the season three episode "Drummond's Fair Lady":
34	-->'''Arnold''' [intending to say "Magna Cum Laude"]: "Hi, I understand you graduated Magna Cum Lousy."
35	* MouthyKid: Possibly the TropeCodifier. He is a smartass kid who always says what he thinks, even with people older than him.
36	* TheNapoleon: Is very short, has an attitude, and can be pushy.
37	* TinySchoolBoy: Arnold is 4'8", due to his actor Gary Coleman's suffering from congenital autoimmune kidney disease. It's rarely a plot point, once Arnold moves out of the "cute kid" phase and into his teens.
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Willis Jackson]]
41	--> '''Played by''' Creator/ToddBridges
42
43	The older of the two black boys adopted by Phillip Drummond, and usually a CoolBigBro to Arnold.
44	----
45	* AdvertisedExtra: Unlike Kimberly who is PutOnABus, Willis is credited as a main character in the opening credits until the end of the show, but in the last two seasons he's very much OutOfFocus.
46	* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: While he and Arnold are much less close in later years, they still share a few heartwarming moments. One example is Arnold's letter to him in "Willis Goes to College" from the final season.
47	* BigBrotherInstinct: He stands up for Arnold when he gets bullied.
48	* BrattyTeenageSon: He's rude to Mr. Drummond initially because he doesn't trust him yet, unlike [[ChildrenAreInnocent Arnold]] who immediately warms up to him. Even after he softens up, he still can be selfish and irresponsible at times.
49	* CharacterCatchphrase: Say what?
50	* CharacterizationMarchesOn: He starts off with a "street-wise boy from the hood" attitude. In later seasons, he's much more preppy.
51	* CoolBigBro: To Arnold. They are extremely close in early seasons, though they grow apart a bit later on.
52	* DemotedToExtra: In the last two seasons, he was dropped into the background since most of the storylines were focusing on Arnold and his new stepbrother Sam (Maggie's son). However, at least two Season 8 episodes are Sam-Willis episodes, with Willis giving advice to Sam.
53	* HappilyAdopted: By Phillip Drummond. Though he has a hard time accepting it in early episodes, he eventually starts calling him Dad, after the adoption becomes official.
54	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: In early seasons, he's rebellious and sometimes disrespectful, but still a loving brother to Arnold. Later on, he TookALevelInKindness.
55	[[/folder]]
56
57	[[folder:Kimberly Drummond]]
58	--> '''Played by''' Creator/DanaPlato
59	--> '''Dubbed by''' Creator/CelineMonsarrat (European French)
60
61	Phillip Drummond's only biological child who becomes a CoolBigSis to Arnold and Willis.
62	----
63	* AdvertisedExtra:
64	** In the first season, she's credited as main character, but is absent in several episodes, and has a pretty minor role compared to the Jackson boys, her father, or even Mrs. Garrett. However, starting in season 2, she becomes a prominent character along with the rest of the family.
65	** In season 8, she is featured in two clips of the opening credits (though Dana Plato is not credited as a cast member in the opening, since she was PutOnABus), despite only appearing in three episode as a guest star.
66	* AndStarring: In seasons 3-6, she's credited as "and Dana Plato" in the opening.
67	* BreakTheCutie: In the episodes that deal with tough issues, such as being nearly a victim of sexual assault and later suffering from bulimia.
68	* CoolBigSis: She is very nice to both of her adopted brothers.
69	* DaddysGirl: Mr. Drummond's only daughter, and is very close to her father.
70	* NiceGirl: She's a sweet and friendly girl most of the time, having the same kindness of her father.
71	* PutOnABus: In the last two seasons. Due to her actress being pregnant at the time, she is not part of the regular cast in the last two seasons, only making occasional guest appearances.
72	* SpoiledSweet: For years, she has been the DaddysGirl and only child of a wealthy widower, but she's not bratty. She's very caring, and accepts her two adopted brothers enthusiastically since the beginning.
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Edna Garrett]]
76	--> '''Played by''' Creator/CharlotteRae
77
78	The family's first housekeeper in the first two seasons.
79	----
80	* AndStarring: "and Charlotte Rae"
81	* TheBusCameBack: Despite being PutOnABus in season 2, she appears again in Mr. Drummond's WeddingEpisode at the end of season 6.
82	* LastNameBasis: Of the three housekeepers, Mrs. Garrett was the only one who wasn't regularly addressed by her first name (even by Mr. Drummond).
83	* PutOnABus: She leaves the show midway through the second season, to star in the spinoff ''Series/TheFactsOfLife''.
84	[[/folder]]
85
86	[[folder:Pearl Gallagher]]
87	--> '''Played by''' Creator/MaryJoCatlett
88
89	The family's third housekeeper in seasons 5-8
90	----
91	* AdvertisedExtra: In season 8, she's credited as a regular in the opening, but only appears in 6 out of 19 episodes.
92	* FakeGuestStar: She appears in almost all the episodes in season 5, but is listed as a guest star and doesn't appear in the opening until the following season.
93	* PromotionToOpeningTitles: Is a FakeGuestStar in season 5, but is added to the opening in season 6.
94	* SatelliteCharacter: She is on the show for ''four seasons'', more than other two housekeepers, yet she never has a ADayInTheLimelight (Mrs. Garrett does, despite only appearing in one season and a half).
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Maggie [=McKinney=]]]
98	--> '''Played by''' Creator/DixieCarter (Season 6-7), Creator/MaryAnnMobley (Season 8)
99
100	Phillip Drummond's eventual wife in later seasons.
101	----
102	* AndStarring: Both her actresses get this, "and Dixie Carter as Maggie" in season 7, and later "and Mary Ann Mobley as Maggie" in season 8.
103	* HappilyMarried: She is married to Mr. Drummond in the last two seasons, and they are in a happy marriage.
104	* PromotionToOpeningTitles: Introduced in season 6, added to the opening in season 7.
105	[[/folder]]
106
107	[[folder:Sam [=McKinney=]]]
108	--> '''Played by''' Creator/DannyCooksey
109
110	Maggie's son, a little kid who becomes close to Arnold.
111	----
112	* TheBabyOfTheBunch: The new cute litte kid in the family, after Arnold gets older. Arnold, who was originally this trope, becomes a CoolBigBro to Sam.
113	* CousinOliver: The new younger brother from Phillip Drummond's second marriage. The series went from focusing on Willis playing older brother to Arnold to Arnold playing older brother to Sam. [[DemotedToExtra There wasn't much room for Willis afterwards]].
114	* PromotionToOpeningTitles: Introduced in season 6, added to the opening in season 7.
115	* SpotlightStealingSquad: The last two seasons focus on the Arnold/Sam brother duo nearly all the time, while Arnold's older brother Willis is DemotedToExtra.
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	!Other Characters
119	[[folder:Adelaide Brubaker]]
120	--> '''Played by''' Nedra Volz
121
122	The family's second housekeeper in seasons 2-4.
123	----
124	* TheBusCameBack: Despite being PutOnABus after season 4, she appears again in Mr. Drummond's WeddingEpisode at the end of season 6.
125	* CoolOldLady: The oldest of the three housekeepers, and she's a feisty yet sweet lady.
126	* RecurringCharacter: The only housekeeper who wasn't a regular and never appears in the opening.
127	[[/folder]]
128
129	[[folder:Dudley Johnson]]
130	--> '''Played by''' Creator/ShavarRoss
131
132	Arnold's best friend.
133	----
134	* AscendedExtra: He only makes sporadic appearances in seasons 2-4. Since Arnold turns into the BreakoutCharacter, and later seasons focus much more on Arnold's social life at school, Dudley starts to appear much more frequently, as he's Arnold's closest friend.
135	* BreakTheCutie: Considering that he was left alone with a child molester in [[VerySpecialEpisode "The Bicycle Man"]], and Mr. Horton tried to touch him... Thankfully, his father and the police arrived JustInTime to save him.
136	* HappilyAdopted: Like Arnold, he was adopted, and his adoptive father is a NiceGuy.
137	* HeterosexualLifePartners: Since his introduction at the end of season 2, he and Arnold remain best friends until the end of the show.
138	* RecurringCharacter: Oddly enough, he appears quite often but was never [[PromotedToOpeningTitles billed as a main cast member]] at any point in the series, despite his prominence.
139	[[/folder]]
140
141	%%[[folder: Ted Ramsey]]
142	%%!!'''Ted Ramsey'''
143	%%->'''Played By''': Creator/LeTari
144	%%[[/folder]]
145
146	%%[[folder: Charlene DuPrey]]
147	%%!!'''Charlene DuPrey'''
148	%%->'''Played By''': Creator/JanetJackson
149	%%[[/folder]]
150
151	%%[[folder: Sophia Drummond]]
152	%%!!'''Sophia Drummond'''
153	%%->'''Played By''': Creator/DodyGoodman
154	%%[[/folder]]
155
156	%%[[folder: Miss Chung]]
157	%%!!'''Miss Chung'''
158	%%->'''Played By''': Creator/RosalindChao
159	%%[[/folder]]
160
161	%%[[folder: Robbie Jason]]
162	%%!!'''Robbie Jason'''
163	%%->'''Played By''': Creator/StevenMond
164	%%[[/folder]]
165
166	%%[[folder: Lisa Hayes]]
167	%%!!'''Lisa Hayes'''
168	%%->'''Played By''': Creator/NikkiSwasey
169	%%[[/folder]]
170
171	%%[[folder: Charlie]]
172	%%!!'''Charlie'''
173	%%->'''Played By''': Creator/JasonHervey

Context Characters / DiffrentStrokes