It seems like a world ago when we could have a great spinoff as fans of a show, but that’s exactly what “A Different World” was. Continuing the story of Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) from “The Cosby Show,” the sitcom followed her foray into higher education and the lifestyle that came with it.
1. Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet)
With Bonet’s familiar face on our screens, audiences saw Denise venture into a whole new world of adulthood. Given that she was slated to be the show’s main star, her stint on the show was rather short. Unfortunately, it was reported that the optics of her being an unmarried pregnant woman influenced her exit. After the show, Bonet still landed roles and continues to work in the industry. She starred in the thriller Enemy of the State alongside Will Smith, Gene Hackman and Regina King. Most recently, the Emmy Award nominee has appeared on “Ray Donovan.”
2. Jaleesa Vinson (Dawnn Lewis)
Dawnn Lewis played Jaleesa Vinson, a fan favorite character out of the students casted. Mainly the voice of reason, Jaleesa holds her friends to high standards. While Lewis moved on from the show in 1992, she has never been short on work. She held a role on “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper” opposite Mark Curry and even made an appearance on Amazon Prime’s “The Boys.” However, much of her work since “A Different World” has been voiceover projects, many of which are still booming to this day. Some notable features include “The Simpsons,” “Futurama” and “Star Trek: Lower Decks.”
3. Kim Reese (Charnele Brown)
Charnele Brown wonderfully portrayed overachieving medical student Kim Reese. She is the student who has to make it, in part because of her humble beginnings. Kim doesn’t have the financial safety nets some other students might have. The way this pressure manifests is also a constant element of “A Different World.” After the show ended, Brown also became a producer. Her time on our small screens has been minimal since, but she has made cameos in “Living Single” and appeared in The Reading.
4. Freddie Brooks (Cree Summer)
What’s a cast of characters on a college campus without free spirit? Freddie Brooks (Cree Summer) embodied that. She was the conscience of the show and had a lot to do with furthering the social consciousness conveyed in it. Though not without her faults, Freddie was all about the unity and progression of Black people and was unapologetic about it. Summer has also done a ton of voiceover work since the end of “A Different World.” But luckily, she has graced our screens on the third season of ABC’s “Abbott Elementary.”
5. Vernon Gaines (Lou Myers)
The head chef in the cafeteria, Mr. Gaines (Lou Myers), is one of the most memorable characters from “A Different World.” As on many college campuses, the chefs get to know the students well and uniquely play a role in their assimilation to adulthood. Mr. Gaines looked out for his students, protected them and gave them game. Most memorably, he made them — and the audience — crack up with his quips. Unfortunately, Myers passed away in 2013 but stayed working until his last days. The same year of his death, he appeared as Mr. Harlan in Dreams.
6. Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison)
Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison) became the biggest star on “A Different World” once Denise left the school. Along with his charm and trademark shades, audiences loved seeing Dwayne evolve through his college years. Fans witnessed him go from student to professor; from dating Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy) to marrying her; from a boy to a man. Dwayne’s progression was a necessary narrative to display, and Hardison was the best person to do it. The White Men Can’t Jump actor has been a part of many cult classic movies such as The Sixth Man and Vampire in Brooklyn. Most recently he has had a recurring role on Showtime’s “The Chi.”
7. Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy)
Whitley was the posh and prissy southern belle who didn’t quite have the financial constraints that her friends did. Guy played the fly beauty as we watched her initially play hard to get with Dwayne. The pair’s on and off romance kept audiences glued to their screens. In the years after her time on the show, the Boston actress has held multiple television roles. Her latest appearance was on Amazon Prime’s “Harlem” — and just wait until you get a load of her Jamaican accent!
8. Ron Johnson (Darryl M. Bell)
Darryl M. Bell portrayed Ron Johnson, Dwayne’s best friend. In college, you always need a partner in crime. So, we got to watch Ron and Dwayne get into all kinds of shenanigans throughout the show. However, when the chips were down, they always had each other’s backs. Beyond “A Different World,” Bell has held roles as recently as 2018 on Issa Rae’s “Insecure.”
