The Fab Cast
Stefan Brogren times four, and Pat Mastroianni, with some mayor.
Perhaps you are curious as to who these people were bringing all your favorite characters to life. Where did they come from? What are they up to now? Lettuce see!
Joey Jeremiah was brought to you courtesy of Pat Mastroianni (short for Pasquale, not Patrick.) Born on December 22, 1971 ... Pat was a regular kid, until he answered a flyer at the age of 13. Then along came an acting career! Pat found great success as Joey, nonsurprisingly, and picked up a Gemini award in 1988 (a couple of nominations, too.) In his post-Degrassi days, he continues to act. He played "Frank" in the TV show Liberty Street (a show created by the Degrassi producers!) He also appeared in Riverdale (that was, too); Catwalk; Psi Factor; and many other shows. Pat even has some movies to his name, namely The Counterfeit Contessa and a small role in Godzilla -- the one with Matthew Broderick (shriek!), which means I obliviously saw him in the theater! He has his own website, as well (see my links section) and tends to auction off Degrassi memorabilia on Ebay. Earlier this year, he donated the profits to Multiple Scleroris (which I give him major kudos for, as an immediate family member of mine has MS ... even though a numb-brain tried to ruin this by writing hate emails to Pat, for some reason.)
Stefan Brogren is the real-life counterpart of Snake Simpson. I don't really know where he came from, but we're all glad he came! Apparently, Stefan still appears in commercials. He was also in a music video for the band Scratching Post, and recently wrote an entertaining magazine article about being a former child actor.
How 'bout Wheels? Thank Neil Hope for him! Neil was born on September 24, 1972 to a five-kid family (common ground!) It sounds like he had a tragic upbrining, but luckily this didn't stop him from appearing first on The Kids of Degrassi Street (as "Griff"), and then on DJH and DH! He once mentioned directorial aspirations, but no fan seems to really know what he's up to these days. Neil is rumored to be working in a Money Mart. He's a puzzle and a mystery!
Caitlin came courtesy of Stacie Mistysyn, another Kids alum. Stacie was born in July (?) of 1972, and has a sister and a brother. Her father, Robert, worked on the Degrassi crew, as well. In 1992, she platonically shared an apartment with Neil Hope (!), but last I read, she's living in California now ... and still acting. She appeared in the Liberty Street pilot movie (playing "River"), and a few other films (one of them has Barry Flatman in it; he played Ramona Quimby's daddy in that old Ramona show with Sarah Polley!) Stacie even has a new movie coming out. Check the IMDB for the title (it co-stars Steve Parlavecchio, of the great indie movie Bandwagon!)
If you're a Lucy fan, you might be interested to know that HER real-life counterpart is a young woman by the name of Anais Granofsky. Anais also appeared on Kids, and she's been busy since the final Degrassi. She's had parts both large-sounding and small in the movies (she was a glorified extra in Neve Campbell's Three to Tango) and recently wrote and directed her OWN independent film!
Surprisingly, a Degrassi-ite who had just a small role on the show -- Patrick -- has kept busy with many projects since then. His real name is Vincent Walsh. He was born on either February 4 or April 2 of 1972 (I've seen both; it should be the latter, so we could share a birthday month!) and, obviously, is a real Irishman. He played a knight named Angus in the series Mystic Knights of Tir-Na-Nog (or something like that.) He was also an extra in Saving Private Ryan, and appeared in Summer Fling with Jared Leto and Gabriel Byrne, and The Tale of Sweeney Todd with sexy Campbell Scott (swoon!) ... The Matchmaker and some other stuff, too. Vince sang in The Matchmaker, so I assume he's really into music, but I don't know. Like Diana, he's an Outsiders fan, and that knight show even earned him an action figure!!
We can't talk about Patrick without mentioning Spike! One of the oldest Degrassi kids, you can call her by her real name, which is Amanda Stepto. I think she appeared in one movie after Degrassi, along with a music video. She's rumored to have done all kinds of different things, like teach English in Japan, and run a store with her real-life best friend ... Cathy Keenan (who played Liz. Cute, huh?)
Shane, a/k/a Bill Parrot, hasn't left the world of acting, either. I actually SAW him in that Anne of Green Gables sequel! He's in commercials, and has all kinds of little movie roles to his name. Speaking of names, he's tacked a "y" onto his ... I always see him billed as Billy Parrot now. I read he was buddies with Neil Hope, at least back in the days of Degrassi.
Another pair of real-life friends? Pat Mastroianni and Siluck Saysanasy (I know that's probably spelled wrong, but I'll fix it later.) Silcuck portrayed Yick. He has quite an interesting family history, which you can read about in his Degrassi Talks book excerpt (speaking of which, I love when they talk about how he didn't like the character of Yick, so Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler had to explain "the X factor"!) I'm unaware of any acting projects from him post-Degrassi, but I heard he lives in Vancouver now, making him the closest thing to my Degrassi neighbor.
Well, I hate to end this here, but unfortunately I have to for now. Coming soon ... any other biographical information on the above, plus a complete cast list and MORE little biographies! I want to give everybody their due! I know this is rushed, and lazy and pathetic, but here for now is a list of some other character names and real names that I'm thinking of off the top of my head:
Kathleen Mead: Rebecca Haines
Melanie Brodie: Sara Ballingall
Tim: Keith White (he's done some singing with Stacie Mistysyn)
The twins: Angela and Maureen Diesasch (they tango-dance, I think?)
Karen Avery: Michelle Goodeve
Dan Raditch: Daniel Wood (a former fellow deejay!)
Mr. Walfish: Adam David
Nancy Kramer: Arlene Lott
Maya: Kyra Levy (she's in the band Psycho Key)
Bart Bond: Trevor Cummings
Susie Rivera: Sarah Charlesworth
Scooter: Christopher Charleswort
Arthur Kobolowsky: Duncan Waugh
Dorothy: Annabelle Waugh
Tessa Campanelli: Kirsten Bourne
Claude Tanner: David Armin-Parcels
Stephanie Kaye: Nicole Stoffman
Dwayne: Darrin Brown (he's a film crew person, and recently worked on the movie Loser)
Luke: Andy Chambers
Simon Dexter: Michael Carry
Amy: Jacy Hunter
Allison: Sara Holmes (a drama teacher)
Michelle Asseth: Maureen McKay
LD Delacourte: Amanda Cook
More later, alligators ... in just a brief while, crocodiles!
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