A Different World was the spin-off series that generations needed. The successful Cosby Show follow-up was originally meant to be the story of following the Huxtable’s eldest child Denise to college. However, the show was received so well that it grew well outside of Denise after her Season 1 departure due to off-screen life choices.
The show originally premiered in 1987, and over the course of its six seasons, A Different World became a cultural staple for many Black Americans living the Historically Black College or University (HBCU) experience, or gave a window into the experience for those who attended predominantly white institutions (PWIs).
So many people worked on and gained career advancements through A Different World, whether acting or on the production crew, including choreographer and actress Debbie Allen. Allen became the show’s producer/director and creative voice, given that she attended Howard University and had firsthand knowledge to authenticate the HBCU experience.
A Different World’s stars went on to become greats in their own right, but many will remember their names and faces from the cultural-shifting series. Let’s take a look.
Lisa Bonet left the show to start her family
Though A Different World was originally about Lisa Bonet’s character Denise Huxtable going off to the fictional Hillman College, she didn’t remain on the show for long. During the first season, she had a typical college experience — navigating friends, struggling with her grades, making romantic connections — but off-screen, Bonet had much more pressing concerns.
When it was revealed that Bonet was pregnant (by her former husband musician Lenny Kravitz), Bill Cosby didn’t want the character of Denise to go that route. While showrunner Debbie Allen was comfortable with the plot line, as mentioned in an interview with the Archive of American Television, Cosby was against Denise’s “good girl character” being tarnished by an unwed pregnancy.
Bonet’s character was written off A Different World as ultimately traveling to Africa. Outside of the Cosby universe, Bonet went on to star in movies and shows including New Eden, High Fidelity, and Biker Boyz. Bonet is now dating Game of Thrones actor Jason Momoa. Her 31-year-old daughter Zoe Kravitz, who’s also an actress, actually played her mom’s character in the Hulu remake of High Fidelity.
Jasmine Guy received multiple NAACP Image Awards
Jasmine Guy was a major player of the Hillman College band of friends. The pretentious Southern Belle, Whitley Gilbert, showcased a specific college student archetype. With the departure of Lisa Bonet, Guy’s character became a central part of many of the show’s plotlines, including her romantic relationship with Dwayne Wayne (played by Kadeem Hardison).
Given the success A Different World and Gilbert being well received by media, Guy won six consecutive NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, per her IMDb profile. The wins propelled Guy’s career forward as she went on to work in television (notably The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Roots: The Saga of an American Family, and The Vampire Diaries), film (Harlem Nights, Cats Don’t Dance, and short film My Nephew Emmett), and even on the theatrical stage (The Wiz and Chicago).
The Atlanta native currently has a recurring role on Grey’s Anatomy — currently in its 16th season — as Gemma Larson, a recovering alcoholic that’s friends with main character Richard Webber (played by James Pickens Jr.).
