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IMDbPro

Diff'rent Strokes

  • TV Series
  • 1978–19861978–1986
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
12K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,173
225
Todd Bridges, Conrad Bain, Gary Coleman, and Dana Plato in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
Trailer 1
Play trailer0:59
4 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyDramaFamily
The misadventures of a wealthy Manhattan family who adopted the children of their late African American housekeeper from Harlem.The misadventures of a wealthy Manhattan family who adopted the children of their late African American housekeeper from Harlem.The misadventures of a wealthy Manhattan family who adopted the children of their late African American housekeeper from Harlem.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
12K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,173
225
    • Jeff Harris
    • Bernie Kukoff
  • Stars
    • Gary Coleman
    • Todd Bridges
    • Conrad Bain
    • Jeff Harris
    • Bernie Kukoff
  • Stars
    • Gary Coleman
    • Todd Bridges
    • Conrad Bain
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 42User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Episodes181

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos4

    Diff'rent Strokes
    Trailer 0:59
    Watch Diff'rent Strokes
    Diff'rent Strokes: Season 5
    Trailer 1:56
    Watch Diff'rent Strokes: Season 5
    Diff'rent Strokes
    Trailer 0:52
    Watch Diff'rent Strokes
    Season Three Opening Sequence
    Video 0:50
    Watch Season Three Opening Sequence

    Photos362

    Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Gary Coleman and Charlotte Rae in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Janet Jackson in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Conrad Bain and Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Milton Berle and Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Todd Bridges, Conrad Bain, Gary Coleman, and Charlotte Rae in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Todd Bridges and Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Todd Bridges, Conrad Bain, and Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gary Coleman
    Gary Coleman
    • Arnold Jackson
    Todd Bridges
    Todd Bridges
    • Willis Jackson
    Conrad Bain
    Conrad Bain
    • Philip Drummond
    Dana Plato
    Dana Plato
    • Kimberly Drummond…
    Mary Jo Catlett
    Mary Jo Catlett
    • Pearl Gallagher
    Danny Cooksey
    Danny Cooksey
    • Sam McKinney
    Shavar Ross
    Shavar Ross
    • Dudley Ramsey…
    Charlotte Rae
    Charlotte Rae
    • Edna Garrett
    Dixie Carter
    Dixie Carter
    • Maggie McKinney…
    Steven Mond
    Steven Mond
    • Robbie Jason
    Nedra Volz
    Nedra Volz
    • Adelaide Brubaker
    Mary Ann Mobley
    Mary Ann Mobley
    • Maggie McKinney Drummond…
    Nikki Swasey Seaton
    Nikki Swasey Seaton
    • Lisa Hayes
    Janet Jackson
    Janet Jackson
    • Charlene DuPrey
    Jason Hervey
    Jason Hervey
    • Charlie
    Rosalind Chao
    Rosalind Chao
    • Miss Chung…
    Dody Goodman
    Dody Goodman
    • Aunt Sophia Drummond
    Bobby Herbeck
    Bobby Herbeck
    • The Waiter…
      • Jeff Harris
      • Bernie Kukoff
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Alan Thicke, who played Dr. Jason Seaver, the patriarch on the sitcom "Growing Pains (1985)," wrote and performed the series' memorable theme song.
    • Quotes

      [Willis has just learned his close friend has died in an auto accident]

      Willis Jackson: Oh no...

      [pause]

      Willis Jackson: [crying] Oh no...

      [Willis hangs up the phone and cries]

      Willis Jackson: Look at me. Crying just like a kid.

      Philip Drummond: No. Crying just like a man.

    • Alternate versions
      Two hour-long episodes on the first season DVD are presented in their edited, two-part syndicated versions.
    • Connections
      Edited into Tupac: Resurrection (2003)

    User reviews42

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Gary Coleman made this show......when lasted eight seasons and 189 episodes
    During my days as a kid,and partly through my high school years as well,this show was just that: The brainchild of Gary Coleman. Coleman made millions off this series,and when the show left the airwaves in 1986(and its repeats in syndication),it was totally discarded forever,never to be heard from again,despite of what the people may say about this show and the fate of its cast including Todd Bridges(who played brother Willis),and the sudden death of Dana Plato(who played big sister Kimberly),and also from Conrad Bain(who played the widower Mr. Drummond) who was a regular on TV's Maude before coming to this series.

    If someone would come up to you on the street,they would asked "What you talking about?" in the form of that question.

    Interesting point about this show: It started off as a show called "Milk" on the NBC network before it became a series. "Diff'rent Strokes" when it premiered on November 3,1978 became one of the network's biggest hits scoring in the top ten of the Nielsens during its astounding seven year run on the Peacock Network and made Gary Coleman a huge megastar. NBC canceled this series on May 4,1985 after 170 episodes.

    Also Mr. Drummond would get married in the show too during the 1984-1985 season to Maggie McKinney(played by Dixie Carter before going on to "Designing Women",which was on a rival network),and also bringing in her son Danny as Arnold's other brother(played by Danny Cooksey-who would go on to star opposite Scwarzenegger in Terminator 2,and also do voice-overs for children's shows) Also,Janet Jackson would appear as Willis' girlfriend Charlene during the 1981-1983 season(which during this time Miss Jackson did have a hit album out along with this series at that time). Shavar Ross was Arnold's best friend Dudley. When the show was canceled by NBC on May 4,1985 there were several cast changes. Mary Ann Mobley replaced Dixie Carter on the show and also gone were Pearl(Mary Jo Catlett). On September 27,1985,the show moved to ABC-TV where 19 new episodes were produced before the network finally canceled it on March 7,1986 after 189 episodes.

    This was a grand series that spawned two spin-offs,the short-lived situation comedy series "Hello,Larry",and another successful series "The Facts of Life",which would go on to become NBC's longest-running and successful series from 1979-1987.

    If it comes back on the air,its worth seeing.
    helpful•13
    10
    • raysond
    • Jun 8, 2000

    FAQ2

    • When did Arnold and Willis' parents die?
    • Willis had trouble remembering events from what year?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 3, 1978 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Metromedia Square - 5746 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Tandem Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 30 minutes
      • Color

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