List of Degrassi characters (1987–1992)

Stephanie was one of the most notorious characters in the Degrassi franchise, as well as one of the most controversial. Her sexualized image and apparent disregard for self-respect was a heavy storyline in the show's first two seasons. In season three, Stephanie was said to have gone to private school in Europe after her mother wins the lottery. In reality, actress Stoffman decided to pursue her acting career elsewhere.

• Stephanie appeared in 22 episodes.
• Nicole Stoffman was nominated for the Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Continuing Dramatic Role at the 1987 Gemini Awards for her role as Stephanie Kaye.^[5]

• Voula appeared in 10 episodes. She made a voice only appearance in season two.

• Joey appeared in 67 episodes.
• Pat Mastroianni hosts the Degrassi Talks special on depression.
• Pat Mastroianni reprises his role for 87 episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation.

• Arthur appeared in 65 episodes.

• Yick appeared in 65 episodes.
• Siluck Saysanasy hosts the Degrassi Talks special on drugs.
• Siluck Saysanasy reprises his role for 2 episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation.

• Snake appeared in 67 episodes.
• Stefan Brogren reprises his role for 325 episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation and 8 episodes of Degrassi: Next Class, as well as Drake's music video for "I'm Upset".

• Susie appeared in 21 episodes.
• Sarah Charlesworth previously appeared as Casey Rothfels for 15 episodes of The Kids of Degrassi Street.

Wheels first appears as a grade eight student in Mr. Raditch's homeroom class. Wheels attempts the first of two ill-fated dates with class president Stephanie Kaye, which ends early when she gets sick from having consumed too much alcohol. Stephanie asks him out again, Facing peer pressure to "go all the way", Wheels purchases a box of condoms from a drug store. When he shows up at Stephanie's house on date night, he learns that Stephanie's mother is also the pharmacist who sold him the condoms. When Wheels loses interest in her, Stephanie attempts to make him jealous by openly flirting with Joey. Shortly after his fourteenth birthday, Wheels meets his biological father Mike Nelson, a struggling musician. He later counsels pregnant classmate Spike on whether to keep her unborn child or put her up for adoption. Wheels explains that he is grateful to both his natural parents for having given him a chance at a better life, and to his adoptive parents for providing that better life to him.

Wheels' poor grades become an issue in season two and Wheels learns that he is nearsighted and begins to wear glasses. Wheels also enrolls in after-school tutoring with Ms. Avery, forcing him to put music on hold. During a break from a tutoring session, he witnesses substitute homeroom teacher Mr. Colby attempting to sexually molest classmate Lucy and breaks it up. Lucy confided in him, and Wheels promised to corroborate her story when she eventually came forward. Thanks to the extra tutoring, his grades improve enough that he is allowed to resume playing music with the Zit Remedy. Later, Wheels and Joey sleep over at Snake's home when his parents leave him on his own for the weekend. They stay up all night and when they wake up late the next morning, Wheels realizes that he is going to be late for an optometrist appointment. Joey drives them both in Snake's parents' car, despite having neither a driver's license nor any formal driving skills. After they get caught—for fixing a broken tail light—Wheels' parents forbid him to associate with Joey as a result. Wheels heads into final exams still concerned about his grades; he gets promoted while Joey learns he's being left back. Despite these factors, the Zit Remedy perform live for the first time at the end-of-the-year dance.

At the start of season three, John and Ellen Wheeler are killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. Wheels was to have been with them that evening; instead he lied about having to study before sneaking off to Joey's house where the band recorded a demo of "Everybody Wants Something." The grieving Wheels withdrew from his friends, then blamed Joey for him not being with his parents that night. Wheels eventually reconciled with Joey and Snake, who was unable to articulate his grief. Wheels is then cared for by his maternal grandparents, but the tragedy affected him for the remainder of the show's run. He takes to using his parents' death as an excuse for his own failings, and is hostile to his grandparents' attempts to discipline him. After receiving a postcard from his biological father, Wheels hitchhikes to see him in Port Hope, Ontario; along the way, he is nearly molested by a traveling salesman who gives him a ride. Mike is surprised to see him and dashes Wheels' dream of living with him; after introducing Wheels to his pregnant fiancé, Maggie, Mike sends Wheels back to his adoptive grandparents. Later in the season, Wheels cites his parents' death as the reason he turns down an offer to drink beer with Snake and Joey.

Wheels, Joey, and Snake enter high school with their bond intact. In a move to display maturity, they change their band's name from the Zit Remedy to "The Zits". They each survive a hazing by bully Dwayne, shoot a music video for "Everybody Wants Something", try to get into a strip joint together, and perform in a "feminist" horror movie directed by Lucy. Wheels also shares a passionate kiss with Heather, but does not reciprocate her interest in him.

The final season revisits Wheels' conflicts with his elderly grandparents. They eventually tire of his lies, disobedience and theft, and evict him. Joey's parents allow him to stay at the Jeremiah house. Wheels is eventually kicked out when he is suspected of stealing from Joey's mother. The theft and Wheels' attempt to shift the blame drive a wedge between Wheels and Joey, though he later confesses. Snake's parents refuse to let Wheels in the Simpson house but Snake, though fed up with Wheels' attitude, takes pity on him and lets him sleep the night on the porch. Wheels and Joey reconcile their relationship when Wheels proves his new-found integrity by paying Joey's mother back the money he stole from her, and performs at the school talent show, alongside Joey and in place of Snake.

In the made-for-television movie Degrassi: School's Out, Wheels is assumed to have graduated from high school, is working as an auto mechanic, and is preparing for a move to Calgary to be with his girlfriend Karen. In a twist of irony, Wheels also has become a heavy beer drinker. At a summer party, he drives Lucy under the influence of alcohol to pick up snacks, and collides with another car. In doing so, he temporarily blinds and partially cripples Lucy, and kills a young child in the other car. Although Wheels had long worn out Joey's and Snake's sympathy after incessantly lying, stealing and refusing to take responsibility for anything, Joey nevertheless visits him in pre-trial confinement. However, Wheels' inability to accept culpability shocks Joey, but angers and disgusts Snake, who refuses to forgive him. He was charged with "criminal negligence causing death, criminal negligence causing injury times two, and drunk driving". Taking responsibility for once, he pleaded guilty to all charges.

Wheels is released from prison by the time the events of Degrassi: The Next Generation, take place. He appears in the series' pilot episode "Mother and Child Reunion". His appearance, however, is only shown in the Canadian version on CTV and not in the American version shown on The N. In the American version, Snake is nevertheless shown harbouring disgust with Wheels over the way his life turns out, and Wheels can be seen in vintage still photographs being viewed by the characters. Two years later, Joey finally manages to reunite the old friends when taking Snake out bowling to get the latter's mind off of his leukaemia and chemotherapy. Snake initially wants nothing to do with Wheels, but they bond over both having wanted to die (Wheels after killing the child, and Snake while dealing with his ailment and its treatment). The three friends, now balder and hopefully wiser, loudly sing "Everybody Wants Something" on the ride home in Joey's convertible.

• Wheels appeared in 61 episodes.
• Neil Hope hosts the Degrassi Talks special on alcohol.
• Neil Hope reprises his role for 2 episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation.
• Neil Hope previously appeared as Griff for 10 episodes of The Kids of Degrassi Street.
• Neil Hope died on November 25, 2007.

• Shane appeared in 38 episodes.
• Jonathan Torrens took over the role for 2 episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation.

Lucy substantially recovers from her injuries. Her eyesight is restored (whether in one or both eyes is unclear) and, having completed extensive physical therapy, she is able to walk well with the use of a cane. She completes an honours bachelor's degree, a master's degree and most of the work toward a Ph.D. She appears in the series premiere of Degrassi: The Next Generation, in which she attends a joint reunion of her class and Joey's. A day before the reunion, Joey sells her a blue Volkswagen New Beetle in preparation for her relocation to New Mexico to run her company and complete her doctoral dissertation at the University of New Mexico. She also returns in the second season episode, "White Wedding" as one of Spike's bridesmaids for her wedding to their former classmate Snake.

• Lucy appeared in 62 episodes.
• Anais Granofsky reprises her role for 4 episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation.
• Anais Granofsky previously appeared as Karen for 6 episodes of The Kids of Degrassi Street.

• Erica and Heather appear in 65 episodes.
• Angela and Maureen Deiseach reprise their roles for 1 episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation.

• Melanie appeared in 56 episodes.

Kathleen eventually does get counseling, but her problems continue into high school. Kathleen begins dating a boy named Scott Smith. He turns out to be an overly possessive boyfriend and physically assaults Kathleen during a quarrel. Kathleen eventually involves the police and frees herself from Scott.

Kathleen seemed to have conservative political and social views. Throughout the series she seemed to have homophobic views, is against sex before marriage and is critical of animal rights activism. Her sober presence made her unpopular with many of her peers. Although Kathleen often seemed conservative and uptight, she also showed a rebellious side. In junior high, she and Melanie get Joey Jeremiah to sell them drugs. Joey actually just gave them vitamin pills, and when the girls found out, they were infuriated. In high school, she found marijuana joints hidden in the tampon dispenser in the girls' washroom. She hides them in her purse and takes them to Diana Economopoulos' birthday sleepover party. She offers them to the other girls, and everyone except Caitlin smokes it. Kathleen makes fun of Caitlin when she refuses to try it.

In Degrassi: The Next Generation deleted scenes, Kathleen is shown being jealous of Caitlin's success after high school.

• Kathleen appeared in 54 episodes.
• Rebecca Haines hosts the Degrassi Talks special on abuse. During the episode, Haines reveals that she herself was a victim of sexual abuse, and talking to one of the teens for the show inspired her to get counseling of her own.
• Rebecca Haines reprises her role for 1 episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation.

• Rick appeared in 10 episodes.

• Caitlin appeared in 57 episodes.
• Stacie Mistysyn hosts the Degrassi Talks special on sexuality.
• Stacie Mistysyn reprises her role for 69 episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation.
• Stacie Mistysyn previously appeared as Lisa Canard for 17 episodes of The Kids of Degrassi Street.

• L.D. appeared in 41 episodes.

By Season 2, she befriends new student Liz O'Rourke, but hits a major setback when various parents begin to object to her presence in the school being pregnant. Caitlin becomes angry and decides to use her position in the school's newspaper to publish a piece condemning her removal. Mr. Raditch, while praising the piece as well-written, tells Caitlin that because of its heavy bias, it could not be published. Caitlin accuses Raditch of censorship and decides to spread her piece around on its own. This leads Caitlin into getting "tons" of detention, and Spike chiding her for not consulting her first. Other students are seen talking about Spike's presence in the school; Kathleen agrees with the decision to remove her, while her friend Melanie, as well as Joey (who brings up the hypocrisy of not kicking out Shane) object. After the PTA decides to remove Spike, Mr. Raditch tells the class that it is just the way it is, but vows that she will pass regardless, and tasks Erica and Heather Farrell to give her assignments. However, her absence only really lasts for one episode as she returns in time for the school dance, where she goes into labor.

Season 3 of Junior High sees the debut of Spike's baby, Emma, who becomes a protagonist of The Next Generation. While her raising Emma is not explicitly seen, she is seen with her frequently. During the season, Shane, who had been giving her child support payments, is persuaded by a friend to withhold a payment to attend a Gourmet Scum concert. At the concert, Shane takes acid and jumps off of a bridge, leaving him in a coma and developmentally disabled when he wakes up. After this, Spike attempts to apply for a job to make ends meet. When offered a job at a diner, she arrives for an interview, where the manager insults and laughs at her hair and claims she is late despite arriving on time.

By Degrassi High, she restarts her love life when she meets an Irish emigrant named Patrick, who is wearing the same Pogues shirt as her. As the relationship progresses, he even writes a song about her on his acoustic guitar, but she begins to avoid him because she feels like the relationship is too perfect, and is afraid about what will happen if it ends. Eventually, Patrick sits her down and tells her to take it easy. Off-screen in Season 2, she breaks up with Patrick and tells Liz she was on good terms with him. Later on, Liz asks Spike about going out with Patrick, to which Spike sarcastically allows her to. Liz does not pick up on the sarcasm and begins to date Patrick anyway, which angers Spike, and after an argument between the two, Liz breaks up with Patrick. While Spike is in the library, Patrick confronts her, ordering her to not meddle with his relationships especially as she was the one that broke up with him. He ends the confrontation by telling Spike that she may be a mother but she needs to grow up and leaves. Later on, after Claude Tanner commits suicide just before a talent show, Spike is the one to suggest to hold the show regardless, but give the proceeds to Claude's family, or a charity of their choice.

By School's Out, Spike works as a film processor with Tessa Campanelli, and is going to university. She jokes to Caitlin at Alexa's wedding that she and Emma are gonna be students together, and excuses herself to let Joey make amends with Caitlin.

Spike is a punk teen with large spiked hair, although this changes to more of a "mall hair" style by Degrassi High. Despite her punk fashion, her attitude can be generally described as mild-mannered although confrontational and resentful at times. She later befriends Caitlin after the school paper incident (although their friendship really takes off in The Next Generation). She is shown to have a love-hate relationship with Shane McKay after she becomes pregnant, feeling that Shane claims he wants to help until it becomes inconvenient, although in Degrassi High, after his accident, she offers to hang out with him. She appears to have some trust issues, as evidenced by her nervousness and dislike of being touched by Patrick. Being the mother of Emma, she has a recurring role in The Next Generation, appearing in more episodes of the latter than the former.

• Spike appeared in 62 episodes.
• Amanda Stepto hosts the Degrassi Talks special on sex.
• Amanda Stepto reprises her role for 121 episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation.

• Alexa appeared in 60 episodes.
• Irene Courakos reprises her role for 1 episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation.

• Simon appeared in 48 episodes.
• Michael Carry reprises his role for 1 episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation.

• B.L.T. appeared in 48 episodes.

• Liz appeared in 49 episodes.
• Cathy Keenan reprises her role for 4 episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation.
• Cathy Keenan appears as a background extra throughout the first season.

• Michelle appeared in 57 episodes.
• Maureen McKay appears as a background extra throughout the first season.

• Dwayne appeared in 16 episodes.
• Darrin Brown reprises his role for 1 episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation.

• Raditch appeared in 55 episodes including voice only appearances.
• Dan Woods reprises his role for the first four seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation. It is here that his forename, Daniel, is finally revealed.

• Avery appeared in 34 episodes.

• Doris appeared in 19 episodes.

• Lawrence made voice only appearances in 13 episodes.

• Mrs. Jeremiah appeared in 7 episodes.

• Mr. Jeremiah appeared in 1 episode.

• Swim Coach appeared in 2 episodes.

• Spike's Mom appeared in 5 episodes.
• Rhonda Kristi, stage name of Rhonda Feduck, died on 31 March 2023.^[6]

• Helen Wheeler appeared in 4 episodes.

• John Wheeler appeared in 4 episodes

• Colby appeared in 2 episodes.

• Louella appeared in 3 episodes.
• Susin Nielsen one of the show's writers.

• Garcia appeared in 13 episodes.

• Wheels' Grandmother appeared in 6 episodes.

• Wheels' Grandfather appeared in 6 episodes.

• Walfish appeared in 15 episodes.

• Webster appeared in 6 episodes.

• Gym Coach appeared in 4 episodes.

• Perry appeared in 4 episodes.