The 25 best 'Degrassi' characters, ranked

We kick off our list with the only character not introduced initially as a student. Dan Raditch (Dan Woods) was a challenging and stern yet somewhat popular English teacher in Degrassi Junior High. He was promoted to assistant principal during the Degrassi High years, where his general guidance of the school had been questioned. Raditch, known for his hilariously easy workouts, was presented in a goofier light during the first few seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation. However, he eventually is pushed out for not doing enough during the school shooting in the fourth season.

He drove around in a hearse and wore black, so Elijah "Eli" Goldsworthy (Munro Chambers) must be dangerous to the rest of the Degrassi: The Next Generation clan. Introduced late during that show's run, Eli is less dangerous than he is troubled. His relationship with Clare during the character's run (and after) seems to be the basis of his problems. Eli is pretty creative, but any positive progress he makes in life tends to be derailed by his own doing (manipulation, revenge, drugs, infidelity). Those later years of TNG offered few seriously intriguing characters, but Eli stood out.

While Degrassi: Next Class had its moments, it can be argued that the character development was lacking, and they didn't have the personal impact like those from previous installments of the franchise. However, Maya (Olivia Scriven), introduced in Season 11 of Degrassi: The Next Generation, is worthy of a spot on our list. Maya is a talented musician, singer, and songwriter who endures her fair share of drama. Her recovery from a bus crash that left her depressed and questioning her songwriting ability was notable.

One of the more underrated characters in the annals of the Degrassi franchise. Brainy, nerdy, and a bit of a loner in the early days of Degrassi: The Next Generation, Liberty (Sarah Barrable-Tishauer) blossomed as a character over time. She became more sociable and less uptight as time passed but perhaps wasn't ready to grow up. Her teenage pregnancy was one of the more surprising developments within the TNG universe. However, after giving the baby up for adoption, Liberty became valedictorian of the Class of 2007 and enrolled in college.

Miles (Eric Osborne) is a character from Degrassi: Next Class. Introduced during the 13th season of Degrassi: The Next Generation, Miles is confident, sarcastic, and pretty funny. When it comes to one-timers, there might not be anybody better than Miles. While he likes to come off as mature, Miles still has a lot of growing up to do. Yet, he's a good friend and looks out for his siblings. His bisexual storyline is one of the more intriguing within the confines of the Next Class and remains a big reason to watch that version of the franchise.

Actress Shenae Grimes has a knack for being part of the legacy of a beloved TV show. Before she starred in the generation of 90210 storylines, Grimes made her television debut as Darcy — the wholesome Christian student, star of the Degrassi spirit squad, and all-around perfect adolescent. However, Degrassi Community Schools can turn challenge even the best of people. Darcy's attraction to boys became her downfall during The Next Generation. She dated Spinner and Peter, was sexually assaulted at a party, and contracted Chlamydia. That resulted in an attempt to take her own life. Troubled and lost, Darcy wrongfully accused Mr. Simpson of inappropriate behavior. However, like most of the youth at Degrassi, Darcy re-established her reputation for good in time for Grimes to take her act to Hollywood.

Rick (Ephraim Ellis) was the main player in one of the most tragic events in the history of Degrassi: The Next Generation. An introvert, Rick was often bullied in high school but managed to have a romantic relationship with Terri MacGregor, whom he was abusive toward, and landed in the hospital. Rick was expelled from Degrassi but eventually returned. The bullying intensified. Rick brought a gun to school in the fourth season. After shooting Jimmy, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down, Rick pointed the gun at Emma. Sean intervened, butt the gun accidentally went off, and Rick was left to die.

One of Degrassi: The Next Generation's bad boys. Still, it was easy to feel some compassion for Sean (Daniel Clark). He had a troubled childhood and was still rough around the edges during his time at Degrassi. As noted, Sean is probably best known for saving Emma from Rick's wrath. However, Rick's accidental shooting and death left Sean naturally rattled. He split Toronto for a spell, returned, and then got tossed in jail for drag racing. Even then, as misguided Sean could be, we could root for him. He tried to make it work with Emma but eventually left to join the Army. 

One of the more important (and maybe the most likable) characters within the Degrassi legacy. As a gay student during Degrassi: The Next Generation, Marco (Adamo Ruggiero) endured the usual obstacles that come with coming out. He was shunned by at least one close friend (Spinner) before reconciling and was the victim of a hate crime. However, Marco always seemed to persevere and faced just about every challenge head-on. He's a great friend to many, especially Ellie. Marco eventually returned to Degrassi as a student-teacher.

J.T. (Ryan Cooley) went from class crown to one of the franchise's most tragic figures during The Next Generation. While he had a good amount of friends, girls didn't necessarily take him seriously romantically. However, J.T. dated Liberty and got her pregnant after the king-sized condom he used did not stay on. Wishing Liberty would keep the baby, he stole and sold oxycodone to make money to help her. This was much to Liberty's dismay, and she dumped him and gave the baby up for adoption. Though he went on to date Mia, J.T. was still in love with Liberty but never admitted it to her. While looking for Liberty to proclaim his love, J.T. was killed after being stabbed by a kid from nearby Lakehurst High. J.T.'s death was stunning, considering his prominence and popularity in the series.

Perhaps no character in Degrassi's history saw such a transformation as Manuella "Manny" Santos (Cassie Steele). She started in Degrassi: The Next Generation as a happy-go-lucky junior-high student and a good friend to most. However, Manny got a little boy crazy and eventually took on more of a promiscuous nature. She often backstabs her friends for a guy (Craig or Jay) and got pregnant in high school, which led to an abortion. She also found herself going against the likes of Darcy and Paige. As she grew older, Manny continued to make questionable social and romantic decisions and dabbled in drugs while still trying to find her way as a young adult. 

Speaking of Manny, it was Craig (Jake Epstein) who got her pregnant during Degrassi: The Next Generation. He's a musician (with his school band Downtown Sasquatch), romantic, and a bit of a tortured soul — having dealt with the deaths of his mother and abusive father — and later diagnosed as bipolar. In addition to Manny, Craig has many loves. Ashley and Ellie are the most prominent and those he continues to see beyond the halls of Degrassi Community. Post-graduation, Craig follows his musical ambitions, but it's rocky. A cocaine addiction hinders his progression, but he apparently overcame that serious obstacle to make that dream a reality. When it comes to pure acting ability, Epstein is among the elite, along with Shenae Grimes, who both enjoyed mainstream Hollywood success after Degrassi.

It was easy to feel for and appreciate Ellie (Stacey Farber). She's among the most realistic characters without many over-the-top plotlines. Ellie never really pretended to be anything she wasn't on Degrassi: The Next Generation. With a father in the military, Ellie lived with her alcoholic mother. Her character was introduced as a goth, but she made her way to the mainstream thanks to friendships with Marco, perhaps her best friend, and Paige. However, like any teen, she had her insecurities and dealt with those by self-harming, resulting in a powerful storyline. Ellie also had an underrated sense of humor and dated a few notable people, including Sean, but her heart belonged to Craig. 

Another severely underrated character within the world of Degrassi. Kathleen (Rebecca Haines) began as a bit part but soon blossomed into an intriguing supporting character on Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High. Kathleen is smart and competitive regarding grades, but she's also bitter. Her jealousy toward certain classmates, notably the intelligent and popular Caitlin Ryan, tends to bring out the worst in her personality. On the surface, Kathleen is an annoying character who's easy to dislike. Still, when we learn of her troubled home life that an alcoholic mother hinders, it becomes easy to empathize with her angst and battle with anorexia.

The Degrassi franchise was known for its groundbreaking and controversial characters. Perhaps none more than Adam (Jordan Todosey), a trans character introduced in TNG. It was a rather historical television moment, bringing major awareness to the LGBTQ+ community in terms of representation in film and television. Adam, born Gracie, was immensely popular within the Degrassi fanbase, and the character was a role model. Notably for handling consistent bouts with transphobia and a potentially promising relationship with Becky. When Adam was killed in a car accident while texting, there was plenty of uproar among the Degrassi faithful.

One of the more tragic tales in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Wheels was among the more prominent characters from Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High. Neil Hope, who starred in the role, was part of The Kids of Degrassi Street, though not playing the same character. A member of the garage band The Zit Remedy, Wheels was adopted, overcame some academic struggles, and was generally likable until his adoptive parents were killed in an auto accident during the third season of Junior High. From there, things went downhill. 

Shunning any real authority figures in his life, Wheels got in trouble for stealing and often alienated close friends Joey Jeremiah and "Snake" while in high school. During the 1992 made-for-TV Canadian movie Degrassi: School's Out, Wheels ends up in prison for a drunk driving incident that severely injured his friend Lucy and killed a boy in another car. Wheels tries to turn his life around upon his release by reuniting with his pals during the Canadian version of the TNG pilot. Sadly, Hope, who dealt with alcoholism and diabetes in real life, passed away in November 2007.

The "It" Girl in the first two seasons of Degrassi Junior High. Pretty and popular, Stephanie (Nicole Stoffman) was ready to grow up before she was ready (like when she got drunk before a school dance). She was known for leaving the house each morning conservatively dressed and changing into racier clothing at school. Stephanie sometimes came off conceited, did not want to be seen with younger brother Arthur, and could be manipulative when it came to boys — "Wheels" and Joey" — in the school. At the beginning of Season Three, it's noted that Stephanie left to attend a private school. However, she remains one of the franchise's most memorable and trendsetting characters.

Like the aforementioned Neil Hope, Stacie Mistysyn, who played Caitlin, is one of the few actors to be part of The Kids of Degrassi Street, which kicked off the entire franchise. An intelligent student activist, Caitlin dealt with seizures at a young age. She was friendly and relatively popular but often drawn to the "bad boy" as an adolescent. However, in high school, she dated Claude, another student social activist, who ultimately took his own life. Never really lucky in love, Caitlin's on-again-off-again relationship with goofball Joey Jeremiah spans childhood into their time as adults and is a reoccurring storyline. After college, Caitlin becomes a successful journalist and is somewhat of a mentor to the kids from TNG. She tends to do more unintended harm than good. Mistysyin earned three Gemini Award nominations for her work as Caitlin.

It can be argued that Spike is the most important character in the history of the Degrassi franchise. In Junior High, her teen pregnancy storyline was rather groundbreaking for television during the late 1980s. Despite struggling to balance the baggage that comes with being a teen mom — booted from school and trying to move forward with a confident frame of mind — Spike (Amanda Stepto), who got the nickname for his punk-style hair, proved to be a good example of fictional perseverance. The presence of Spike's daughter, now an adolescent, in TNG, opened the Degrassi door to a new generation of fans and took the franchise's popularity to greater heights.

It's safe to say that Jimmy Brooks is probably the most famous character from the Degrassi franchise. Not just because of the character, which is worthy of praise, but the actor. Billed as Aubrey Graham during The Next Generation, he's currently known to the world as Drake — one of the biggest rappers on the planet. Jimmy was a musician on TNG but played guitar in Craig's band before making it on his own. Jimmy was also a pretty good athlete until Rick shot him, leaving him in a wheelchair. The music video for Drake's 2018 hit "I'm Upset" was a stellar homage to his Degrassi years.

A serious mainstay from The Next Generation series, Spinner (Shane Kippel) endured quite a bit during his run on the show. He started as a bully, was a decent drummer, and had trouble dealing with the fact that Marco was gay before finally coming to his senses. He dealt with ADHD. He dated Paige, Manny, Emma, and Darcy, to name a few, but struggled to keep a girlfriend. As time went on, Spinner showed signs of maturity. He overcame a gunshot wound and testicular cancer. He ran The Dot and ended up with Emma. While Spinner seemed like more of a pain and cooler than he came off, his presence within the Degrassi universe was massive.

Speaking of Spike's daughter, Emma (Miriam McDonald) was a bridge between the old school Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High to a new fan base with Degrassi: The Next Generation. The focal point of TNG, Emma is bright and focused but still a bit naïve and trusting, which sometimes gets her in trouble. Emma seems to fancy bad boys, like Sean. She was best friends with Manny, battled an eating disorder, and eventually married Spinner in one of the more bizarre twists to the franchise. Fans might have a love/hate relationship with Emma, but there's no doubting her character's importance to the franchise's evolution.

Consider Paige (Lauren Collins) a Stephanie Kaye 2.0. However, much meaner, at least earlier on in TNG. Like traditional high school queen bees, Paige was manipulative when it came to boys and cutthroat with other girls. An example was cheating on Spinner. Paige, however, can be quite vulnerable, and like Stephanie (though to a much larger degree), in a rush to grow up. She dropped out of college and made her way to Hollywood, where ego cost her a major acting gig in a movie. We wanted to believe Paige would grow up and mature as a person, but it never seemed to happen, thus leaving us disappointed that this larger-than-life character would always be shallow. That said, she was always entertaining to watch.

Another consistent presence within the Degrassi franchise. The lanky Snake (Stefan Brogren) was introduced as a student in Degrassi Junior High and High. Also a member of The Zit Remedy (then The Zits), Snake was good-natured as a student but not afraid to call out his buddies when disloyal or acting like jerks. As an adult, Snake became a teacher at Degrassi and married Spike. He became Emma's stepdad and natural father to Jack. Snake, who eventually became principal at Degrassi, survived a cancer diagnosis, some minor infidelity, and accusations of inappropriate behavior with the aforementioned behavior Darcy to remain a fixture in Degrassi schools. Other than The Kids of Degrassi Street, Snake has appeared in every version of the franchise, and Brogren remains a champion of the Degrassi phenomenon off-screen. 

From the early days of Degrassi Junior High, it was obvious Joey Jeremiah was destined to be the face of the franchise. A class clown, slacker, and small-time con-man but also lovable with his fedora and Hawaiian shorts, Joey (Pat Mastroianni) was best friends with Snake and Wheels and part of The Zit Remedy. Though it was easy not to take Joey seriously as a student, he was compassionate when helping his friends. As noted, his relationship with Caitlin spanned Junior High, High, and TNG. As an adult, he got responsible, ran a used-car dealership, married, and had a daughter. However, his wife died, leaving Joey to become a stepdad to Craig, proving he could grow up and maintain responsibility. In real life, Mastroianni has embraced the franchise's legacy and its loyal fandom as perhaps Degrassi's biggest ambassador.