Look how far they’ve come! A lot of the Degrassi: The Next Generation cast has moved on to some amazing things.
Aubrey Graham: Then
Graham played Jimmy Brooks, a 2007 Degrassi grad.
Jimmy was the school’s star basketball player who ended up in a wheelchair after a tragic school shooting. Jimmy’s final Degrassi appearance proved he was no longer a kid, as he proposed to his non-Degrassi alum girlfriend, Trina.
Drake: Now
Now you know Graham as Drake, the multi-platinum recording artist.
Shenae Grimes: Then
Grimes played Darcy Edwards, member of the Christian group and Friendship Club.
After going to therapy following a sexual assault, Darcy decides to spend her final high school year volunteering in Africa. Though Darcy isn’t seen again, her younger sister Clare becomes a major player in later seasons.
Shenae Grimes: Now
After leaving Degrassi, Grimes moved on to another high school when she starred as Annie Wilson on 90210.
Nina Dobrev: Then
Dobrev appeared as Mia Jones, a teen mother, from 2006 to 2009.
Mia leaves school before graduating in order to pursue a modeling contract, taking her young daughter with her.
Nina Dobrev: Now
Dobrev moved on to play a high school student on The Vampire Dairies.
Lauren Collins: Then
Collins played Paige Michalchuk, the uber-popular cheerleading captain, who graduated in the class of 2006.
Though Paige stuck around longer than some of her co-stars, her last official appearance is in the TV movie Degrassi Goes Hollywood, in which Paige scores (and then loses) a part in Jason Mewes’ film.
Lauren Collins: Now
Collins is still acting and has appeared on the Kroll Show and Long Story, Short.
Daniel Clark: Then
Clark starred as the bad boy (with a heart of gold!) Sean Cameron, Degrassi class of 2008.
After some trouble with the law, Sean decides to join the army. His last appearance on the show reveals that he will be sent overseas to Afghanistan.
Daniel Clark: Now
Clark now works as a producer and correspondent for Fusion, the new cable channel launched by ABC News and Univision, according to his IMDb profile.
Adamo Ruggiero: Then
Ruggiero was Marco Del Rossi, class of 2006 valedictorian and Degrassi’s school president.
Marco returns to Degrassi briefly as a student teacher who struggles with the decision to give “the new Paige,” Holly J, more time to work on her essay.
Adamo Ruggiero: Now
Ruggiero is still acting and recently appeared in an episode of Saving Hope.
Miriam Mcdonald: Then
We watched McDonald grow up as teen activist Emma Nelson, Degrassi class of 2007.
Though everyone thought that Emma would end up with her first boyfriend Sean, the show pulled a plot twist when Emma got hitched to former Degrassi classmate Spinner.
Miriam Mcdonald: Now
McDonald is still acting and recently celebrated her 28th birthday. She also sells real estate in Canada.
Cassie Steele: Then
Steele played Manny Santos, an aspiring actress and Emma’s best friend.
Manny achieves her Hollywood dreams in TV movie Degrassi Goes Hollywood, in which she beats out her ultimate rival, Paige, for the starring role in a movie.
Cassie Steele: Now
Steele is still acting and most recently was in the TV movie Twist of Fate.
Shane Kippel: Then
Kippel was Gavin “Spinner” Mason, Degrassi class of 2007’s class clown.
Though he dated Paige, Darcy, and Jane during his time at Degrassi, he ultimately ends up marrying Emma. He currently works as the manager of The Dot, and even hired Degrassi student Eli.
Shane Kippel: Now
Today, Kippel’s focus is on his band, Dear Love.
Sarah Barrable-Tishauer: Then
Barrable-Tishauer was Liberty Van Zandt, the over-achiever who gave up her baby with boyfriend J.T. for adoption.
When we last saw Liberty, she was attending Smithdale University with Manny and Emma.
Sarah Barrable-Tishauer: Now
Today, Barrable-Tishauer is a digital marketing coordinator for a company called Urban Adventures.
Ryan Cooley: Then
Cooley was J.T. Yorke, the father of Liberty’s baby and notorious jokester.
Sadly, J.T. didn’t have a chance to graduate from Degrassi, as J.T. was murdered by a student from a neighboring high school during a confrontation.
Ryan Cooley: Now
Cooley is stil acting and provided the voice for Louis in 2013’s Oh No! It’s an Alien Invasion on the Cartoon Network.
Jake Epstein: Then
Epstein starred as Craig Manning, Degrassi’s resident Casanova and blossoming musician.
After struggling with a cocaine addiction, Craig moved to Los Angeles to pursue music. His last appearance on the show had Craig finally sharing a kiss with Ellie, who had loved him from afar for so long.
Jake Epstein: Now
Epstein is still acting. He went on to tour the U.S. in the acclaimed musicals Spring Awakening and Green Day’s American Idiot after Degrassi.
Jake Goldsbie: Then
Goldsbie was Toby Isaacs, J.T.’s best friend.
He takes J.T.’s tragic death the hardest, but eventually overcomes his grief. He is seen as a host of robot war competitions.
Jake Goldsbie: Now
Goldsbie (shown here second from the left) founded his own production company, Not Bad Pictures, after exiting Degrassi.
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