The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, two African American boys from Harlem who are taken in by a rich white Park Avenue businessman named Phillip Drummond and his daughter Kimberly, for whom their deceased mother previously worked. During the first season and first half of the second season, Charlotte Rae also starred as the Drummonds' housekeeper, Mrs. Garrett.
The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, two African American boys from Harlem who are taken in by a rich white Park Avenue businessman named Phillip Drummond and his daughter Kimberly, for whom their deceased mother previously worked. During the first season and first half of the second season, Charlotte Rae also starred as the Drummonds' housekeeper, Mrs. Garrett.
Cast, crew and production details
About Diff'rent Strokes
Cast
Conrad BainPhillip Drummond
Gary ColemanArnold Jackson
Todd BridgesWillis Jackson
Dana PlatoKimberly Drummond
Mary Jo CatlettPearl Gallagher
Danny CookseySam McKinney
Dixie CarterMaggie McKinney
Charlotte RaeEdna Garrett
Credits
Created by
Bernie Kukoff, Jeff Harris
Written by
Ed Jurist, Howard Meyers, Seaman Jacobs, Blake Hunter, Paul Haggis, Mark Miller, Debra Frank, Scott Rubenstein, Donald Ross, Martin Ragaway, Booker Bradshaw, Myles Wilder, Danny Simon, Woody Kling, Alan Rosen, Fred Rubin, Gordon Mitchell, Ed Jurist, Gordon Mitchell, Ben Gershman
Production details
Status
Ended
Series type
Scripted
Episodes
189
Original language
English
Networks & production
ABCUnited States
NBCUnited States
Norman Lear/Tandem Productions
Embassy TelevisionUnited States
Embassy Pictures CorporationUnited States
Tandem ProductionsUnited States
Themes
adopted childafrican americanbrother brother relationshipchild careclass differencesfamily relationshipsinterracial adoptionmanhattan, new york cityorphansitcomwealthywidower
Season 6 episodes
Watch options above are for the show and may vary by season or episode.
Arnold's ecstasy over meeting his hero Mr. T goes from elation to emulation when the young girl he's trying to impress snubs him in favor of his idol. Former bouncer and bodyguard Mr. T, who came to national prominence as Sylvester Stallone's opponent in ""Rocky III"" and was the star of the hit television series ""The A-Team,"" makes a special guest appearance as ""The A-Team's"" B.A.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Joel Brooks, Shavar Ross, Mr. T
Arnold's first day at junior high is emotionally devastating when he's shunned for not measuring up to the expectations that everyone had for Willis Jackson's brother, but Arnold devises a risky scheme that he feels certain will elevate his prestige.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Shavar Ross, Martin Ferrero, Steven Mond
Drummond, Willis and Arnold bravely subdue a burglar who had been holding the family at gunpoint, but the arresting officer is befuddled when the three ""crime fighters"" relate differing versions of the apprehension.
A short visit to the United States by Phillip Drummond's Dutch cousin Anna and her son Hans becomes an eternity for Arnold and Willis, who are made scapegoats for cousin Hans' mischief.
Arnold is disappointed to discover that his favorite teacher moonlights as a cocktail waitress, but he's stunned when he learns why she has to work the second job.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Jayne Kennedy, Shavar Ross, Steven Mond
Kimberly's 18th birthday present from daddy -- a trust fund -- will make her a wealthy woman, but her free-spirited dreams of independence could be cut short when Drummond discovers just how she intends to spend her ""fortune.""
Drummond's provided with police protection of a most unusual kind after his charitable philanthrophy leads to a $1,000,000 extortion threat against him.
When Kimberly starts a campaign to open the school's Lettermen's Club to female membership, an embarrassed Willis retaliates with chauvinistic aplomb by becoming the first male contestant in the Senior Class Beauty Pageant.
Arnold and Dudley succumb to peer pressure and ignore warnings against cigarette smoking, only to have the harsh realities brought to light by Dudley's father, a chronic smoker.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Shavar Ross, Le Tari
Arnold unwittingly solves his father's dilemma -- trying to make romance and finance go hand-in-hand -- when Drummond finds himself falling for an attractive local television aerobics instructor that his company is attempting to turn into an international success. Veteran Broadway and television actress Dixie Carter is introduced in the role of fitness instructor Maggie McKinney.
Directed by Gerren KeithWritten by Mark Miller, Howard MeyersGuest stars Dixie Carter
Kimberly and Arnold break a long-standing family rule and face death when, on their return from a shopping trip, they find themselves short of cash and decide to hitch a ride home rather than call home for assistance.
Hitchhiking leads to kidnapping for Arnold and Kimberly, but Arnold escapes and he is so disoriented he is unable to remember the location of the kidnapper's apartment so that the police can rescue Kimberly who's till being held captive.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars William Daniels, Shavar Ross
Upset over Maggie breaking off their relationship, Drummond chases her to Hollywood to win back her heart, but while he woos Maggie, Arnold and Dudley sneak away from a studio tour to find the star of Knight Rider and wind up in a life threatening situation.
Directed by Gerren KeithWritten by Blake HunterGuest stars David Hasselhoff, Shavar Ross
Arnold's joy over being saved from an explosion by ""Knight Rider's"" David Hasselhoff quickly turns to dismay when he learns his father is getting married and a little brother comes along with the package.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars David Hasselhoff
Maggie's reaction to a proposed pre-nuptial agreement threatens to hamper Phillip's happiness -- but could eliminate Arnold's fear about ""inheriting"" a strict new mother and a pesky little brother.
Directed by Gerren KeithWritten by Mark Miller, Howard Meyers
Their family and friends assembled, Phillip and Maggie meet at the altar, only to realize each has made a major mistake, in the concluding part of a special two-part story. Charlotte Rae, Dody Goodman, Janet Jackson and Nedra Volz, each of who had appeared in recurring roles on ""Diff'rent Strokes,"" return as their original characters for the Drummond nuptials.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Charlotte Rae, Nedra Volz, Robert Rockwell
Arnold and Pearl fall into a depression when Maggie and Phillip return from their honeymoon with a temporary eviction notice for Pearl, and orders for Arnold to babysit for his ""tag-along"" little brother Sam instead of going to a party.
In a quest for religion started by Maggie and his father, Arnold thinks he has found it after attending an impressive bar mitzvah where his friend ""Becomes a man"" at age 13.
Directed by Linda DayGuest stars Shavar Ross, John Hancock, Steven Mond
The money for the National Wheelchair Games that Arnold's class has raised and entrusted to him is missing--leaving Arnold embarrassed and his family ""in the dumps.""
Guest stars Shavar Ross, Steven Mond, Melanie Watson
Willis and Charlene's budding young love begins to wilt when she moves in as a temporary houseguest at the Drummond's. Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson's younger sister, returns in her role as Willis' girl friend Charlene.
Blinded by love, Kimberly takes an enormous and deceptive risk when she talks her father into allowing her to move into an apartment, allegedly with her girl friend.
Directed by Gerren KeithWritten by Mark Miller, Howard Meyers
