Degrassi Where Are They Now, What Are The Cast Of Degrassi Doing Now?
Updated Mar 07, 2022
Degrassi
Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler established the Canadian teen drama brand Degrassi in 1979. Beginning as a series of short films about preadolescents living on or near Toronto's eponymous De Grassi Street, the series evolved to focus on an ensemble cast of ethnically and economically diverse teenagers attending the eponymous middle and high schools as they grapple with social and cultural issues relevant to adolescence. The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Degrassi: Next Class, and Degrassi, a revival slated to premiere in 2023 on HBO Max, are the six main programs in the franchise. Television specials and made-for-TV films, as well as literary adaptations, soundtracks, and non-fiction documentary programs, are all part of the franchise.
Class set to resume at 'Degrassi' with new one-hour drama produced for HBO Max https://t.co/ciFueBVH0p pic.twitter.com/EuCPxy3vxV— CTV News (@CTVNews) January 13, 2022
Degrassi - The Next Generation
In 2001, Schuyler and Stephen Stohn resurrected the Degrassi series as Degrassi: The Next Generation, with Emma Nelson, Spike's baby from Junior High, as the major character and some of the original cast members, now adults, in regular parts. It became the franchise's most popular series, outlasting its predecessors with fourteen seasons and a significant cult following. Several actors from The Next Generation have gone on to acquire greater fame and recognition after their time on the show, most notably Canadian actor-turned-rapper Drake, who starred in The Next Generation.
‘Degrassi’ Revival Enrolls at HBO Max https://t.co/hTqJNXBNON— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 13, 2022
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Degrassi Where Are They Now
Drake
Breaking single day records. ????@Drake is now the most streamed artist, and #CertifiedLoverBoy is the most streamed album, in less than 24 hours on Apple Music in 2021.— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) September 3, 2021
Listen again: https://t.co/bVGPK6H92m pic.twitter.com/Ts28bsPoAG
Drake was merely Aubrey Graham, the Canadian kid who played Jimmy Brooks before he became famous as a rapper. Jimmy, a basketball standout, was fatally murdered by another student in season four. Jimmy, who is paralyzed from the waist down, continues to work at Degrassi until season seven when he graduates. Drake's tenure on Degrassi signaled the beginning of his great music career. He's released three studio albums, each of which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and for Take Care, he won the Grammy for Best Rap Album. He also popularised the term "YOLO," which has now become an Internet craze.
Nina Dobrev
— Nina Dobrev (@ninadobrev) November 4, 2021
Nina Dobrev, who plays Mia Jones, a single mother who launches on a modeling career, joins the group as a regular in season six. Dobrev went from Degrassi to Elena Gilbert in the CW's The Vampire Diaries, which was her most high-profile role. Dobrev was a six-year regular on the show before leaving in 2015. The Roommate (2011), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), and Let's Be Cops are just a few of the films in which the TV actress has appeared (2014).
Shenae Grimes
I'm sharing all of the absolute must-have products that have gotten me through this wild pregnancy journey on my YouTube channel today! Go watch it now! xo https://t.co/rMiZTDlqgM pic.twitter.com/ZX1fUNHh7B— Shenae Beech (@shenaegrimes) August 30, 2018
Darcy Edwards, played by Shenae Grimes, was introduced in season four as a devout Christian girl. In season seven, her tale takes a dramatic turn when she is raped at a party. She becomes depressed and attempts suicide, but she recovers and relocates to Kenya to assist in the construction of schools. After being cast in The CW's 90210, Grimes left Degrassi to play Annie Wilson, a character modeled in part on Brenda Walsh from the original Beverly Hills, 90210. The show ran for five seasons, and Grimes married musician Josh Beech shortly after filming the series finale.
Miriam McDonald
MIRIAM MCDONALD STILL LOOKS GOODT #ImUpset pic.twitter.com/NggtgEnzt8— Thaddeus C. (@ItsHippyPotter) June 14, 2018
Emma Nelson, the daughter of Degrassi Junior High's Spike and Shane McKay, and therefore the "next generation," was played by Miriam McDonald. She's introduced as the "cause girl," a woman who champions a variety of social issues and organizes protests. She struggles with concerns such as cyber-threats, sexually transmitted diseases, and eating disorders as the story progresses. McDonald has a few minor roles outside of Degrassi, most recently in Orphan Black in 2013 and the horror film Wolves in 2014. She is currently employed as a real estate agent and has an Instagram presence.
Daniel Clark
Happy 36th birthday Daniel Clark (aka Sean Cameron) pic.twitter.com/aTMhEKeDJW— ???????????????????????????? (@degrassiimhigh) October 14, 2021
Daniel Clark was cast as bad boy Sean Cameron after appearing in shows like Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark? in the 1990s and portraying the little brother in Model Behavior (2000). Sean has an on-again, off-again relationship with Emma (McDonald) for several seasons before joining the army and being deployed to Afghanistan. After Degrassi, Clark's most noteworthy appearance was as Steve in the 2007 film Juno. He soon stopped acting and enrolled at NYU. He's worked in a variety of media roles and is presently the managing director of eFresh Meals, a Canadian meal-delivery service. At the Toronto premiere of We Are Disorderly, he reconnected with Drake, Lauren Collins, and Adamo Ruggiero.
Cassie Steele
Happy 32nd birthday Cassie Steele (aka Manny Santos) pic.twitter.com/D84QXlT7D6— ???????????????????????????? (@degrassiimhigh) December 2, 2021
Cassie Steele portrayed Manny Santos, Emma Nelson's best friend, for nine seasons. Manny is the subject of a memorable two-part episode in season three, in which she discovers she's pregnant at the age of 14 and decides to undergo an abortion. After Degrassi, Steele's next significant endeavour was the CTV sitcom The L.A. Complex, which aired on The CW for a limited time in 2012. She was most recently seen on Rick & Morty as Tammy. Steele also has a music career, having released her EP Shifty in 2012 and Patterns in 2014.
Jake Epstein
Craig Manning and Ellie Nash were so meant to be. Confirmed endgame too#Crellie #Degrassi #DegrassiGoesHollywood ???????? pic.twitter.com/46jJdje3z0— Paul???????? (@PaulStans1) February 9, 2022
Many of the girls had their sights set on musician Craig Manning, played by Jake Epstein, early on in the series. He is diagnosed with bipolar disorder in season four, and he battles with drug misuse a few seasons later. Epstein moved from television to theatre, where he toured for Spring Awakening in 2009 and American Idiot in 2010. In Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, he also served as an alternate for Peter Parker for a short time. Following that, in 2013, he played Gerry Goffin in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway for the first time.
Lauren Collins
Lauren Collins is so pretty. #Degrassi pic.twitter.com/nAf9RiOYz2— Paul???????? (@PaulStans1) February 12, 2022
Lauren Collins played Paige Michalchuk, the popular cruel girl when she first came on Degrassi, but the label faded as her character grew. She is raped by Dean Walton in season two, and after battling in the aftermath, she chooses to press charges. Collins appeared in the films Take the Lead (2006) and Charlie Bartlett (2007) during her tenure on Degrassi and had a recurring part on the Canadian sitcom Life with Derek in the late 2000s. She recently participated in a Degrassi parody on Comedy Central's Kroll Show as a guest. She also co-wrote and featured in Zero Recognition, a satirical short film about a young actress who embarks on an online dating adventure.
Adamo Ruggiero
Transphobia and homophobia have no place in schools. @danjlevy @LGBTYouthLine https://t.co/wxngFZXHib— HuffPost Canada (@HuffPostCanada) January 14, 2021
Adamo Ruggiero auditioned for the role of Craig Manning but was cast as Marco Del Rossi in season two. Marco's sexuality and his coming out was a big plot point early on. In recent years, Ruggiero has appeared as a guest on Canadian sitcoms such as Being Erica and Saving Hope, as well as acting in a few short films. He made many appearances in the web series MsLabelled in 2015. He also hosted the Degrassi web series Straight Talk with Adamo Ruggiero, in which he sat down with Degrassi alumni and discussed the show.
Shane Kippel
Only SIX more likes til we hit 4000!! Please like our FB page now and help us reach it! https://t.co/VsNxCFoZX4 pic.twitter.com/zOcbgfCAUI— Shane Kippel (@shaneykipps) May 31, 2017
Shane Kippel portrayed Spinner Mason, whose bullying of another kid resulted in Jimmy's shooting in season four. Spinner is diagnosed with testicular cancer later in the series, but he goes into remission. After marrying Emma Nelson, he exits the program in season nine. Kippel, like his co-star Lauren Collins, was a recurrent character on the late-2000s sitcom Life with Derek. He played a young convict in the drama-thriller Dog Pound, which he starred in in 2010. Soon after, he gave up acting to pursue a career in music. He is currently the drummer for Dear Love, a Toronto-based rock band. At one of Kippel's Dear Love events, he had a mini-reunion with Lauren Collins and Adamo Ruggiero.
Stacey Farber
Happy 34th birthday Stacey Farber (aka Ellie Nash) ❤️ pic.twitter.com/K04alDQ8JA— ???????????????????????????? (@degrassiimhigh) August 25, 2021
Ellie Nash, the goth girl, is played by Stacey Farber, who joined the ensemble in season two. She eventually grows out of that phase, and when she goes to university, she joins The Core, the student newspaper, to become more active in journalism. In real life, Farber went to The New School and interned at Teen Vogue, following a similar path. She then starred in the short-lived Canadian sitcom 18 to Life, which revolved around a teen couple who married after high school. Following the show's demise in 2011, Farber starred in the one-season CW show Cult and has recently appeared in a guest role on Rookie Blue and Saving Hope.
Cast Of Degrassi
Cast Name |
Character Name |
Drake |
Jimmy Brooks |
Nina Dobrev |
Mia Jones |
Shenae Grimes |
Darcy Edwards |
Miriam McDonald |
Emma Nelson |
Daniel Clark |
Sean Cameron |
Cassie Steele |
Mandy Santos |
Jake Epstein |
Craig Manning |
Lauren Collins |
Paige Michaluchuk |
Adamo Ruggiero |
Marco Del Rossi |
Shane Kippel |
Spinner Mason |
Stacey Farber |
Ellie Nash |
Ryan Cooley |
J.T Yorke |
Christina Schmidt |
Terri McGregor |
Jake Goldsbie |
Toby Isaacs |
Sara Barrable |
Liberty Van Zandt |
Melissa Mclyntyre |
Ashley Kerwin |
Stefan Brogren |
Archie |
Degrassi Where Are They Now - FAQs
Fast forward to her freshman year and she completely changed. Manny was no longer innocent and her character became the popular girl that every guy wanted to date.
Stefan Brogren, who plays Archie 'Snake' Simpson, is the show's longest-running cast member and is also a producer and director on Degrassi: Next Class. 7
Degrassi was originally produced by Playing With Time Inc., a production company owned by Hood & Schuyler.
The series ended with the TV movie "School's Out" in 1992. The series wasn't revived again for nearly a decade when Schuyler and Stephen Stohn created "Degrassi: The Next Generation" in 2001.
Degrassi's most successful alum, Aubrey Graham is better known as Drake, the rapper who has sold over 170 million records worldwide, won four Grammys, released several major chart-topping records.
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