The place Is the Solid of ‘A Totally different World’ Now? All About Their Lives At present

Lisa Bonet as Denise Huxtable

Lisa Bonet rose to fame as Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Present, which ran from 1984 to 1992. Initially a derivative of the NBC sitcom, A Totally different World first centered on Denise’s life as an undergrad at Hillman School, a fictional traditionally Black faculty in Virginia.

Nonetheless, Bonet solely appeared within the first season of the present. In Might 1988, she and her then-husband, Lenny Kravitz, introduced they have been anticipating their first youngster collectively, and Bonet left the sequence.

Bonet and Kravitz’s solely youngster, daughter Zoë Kravitz, was born on Dec. 1, 1988. Bonet rejoined The Cosby Present as a sequence common in its sixth season however did not return for its seventh.

She took a break from performing to give attention to elevating Zoë earlier than returning in 1998’s Enemy of the State alongside Will Smith, and 2000’s Excessive Constancy. She then visitor starred on plenty of exhibits, together with Ladies, Ray Donovan and New Woman.

In her private life, Bonet and Kravitz break up in 1991, formally divorcing in 1993. She married Jason Momoa, whom she met in 2005, in a secret ceremony in 2017.

They welcomed two kids collectively, daughter Lola on July 21, 2007, and son Nakoa-Wolf on Dec. 15, 2008. The pair introduced their breakup in January 2022 and finalized their divorce two years later in January 2024.

Jasmine Man as Whitley Gilbert

Through the first spherical of casting for A Totally different World, Jasmine Man auditioned for the function of Jaleesa, per an oral historical past from the solid as instructed to Self-importance Honest. When extra characters have been added, she went out for Whitley, who grew to become the present’s focus in season 2. The sassy Southern belle was identified for her style, knack for artwork historical past and on-and-off relationship (however ultimately very on) with Dwayne Wayne.

Man appeared in each episode of A Totally different World — and wrote some — ultimately successful six NAACP Picture Awards for her portrayal of Whitley.

Throughout her time on the sitcom, she acted in 1989’s Harlem Nights and appeared on The Recent Prince of Bel-Air and TV films like Stomping’ on the Savoy and Boy Meets Woman.

After, she went on to visitor star on exhibits like Melrose Place and Residing Single, Touched by an Angel and That’s So Raven. Within the aughts, she starred in Lifeless Like Me and The Vampire Diaries, and she or he was a fixture within the Atlanta theater scene.

Her most up-to-date roles have been portraying Sylvia Wesley within the Wesley Christmas films and as Patricia on Harlem.

Man was married to Terrence Duckett from 1998 to 2008. The exes share one daughter, artist Imani Man Duckette.

Kadeem Hardison as Dwayne Wayne

Kadeem Hardison visitor starred on The Cosby Present earlier than touchdown his breakout function as Dwayne Wayne on A Totally different World in 1987. Recognized for his flip-up sun shades, Dwayne made being a math nerd cool, and his flirtatious antics and relationship with Whitley typically took heart stage.

Hardison had lately filmed College Daze with Man and Bell when he went to see an early taping of A Totally different World — the main focus then was on Denise, Jaleesa and Maggie, in accordance with Self-importance Honest. When extra characters have been added, each he and Bell auditioned for Dwayne, with the half finally going to Hardison.

“That last audition, getting that, gave me the arrogance to take a seat or to be comfy with who I used to be and with being nervous,” Hardison mentioned on a January 2025 Allison Interviews look. “I had to determine what to do with that nervous power, and I made a decision, that, okay, this character goes to have this nervous power, I’m going to apply it to display screen, let or not it’s a power as a substitute of a weak spot.”

After A Totally different World, Hardison labored steadily, with recurring roles on exhibits like Between Brothers, Abby and Okay.C. Undercover, directing 4 episodes of the latter.

He additionally directed and co-wrote 2013’s The Darkish Occasion and was seen on the massive display screen in movies like 1992’s White Males Can’t Soar and 1997’s Drive. He’ll subsequent seem on Felony.

Hardison was married to singer Chanté Moore from 1997 to 2000. The 2 share one youngster, daughter Sophia Hardison.

Dawnn Lewis as Jaleesa Vinson Taylor

Dawnn Lewis toured the Broadway present The Faucet Dance Child earlier than touchdown her first main TV function as Jaleesa Vinson Taylor in A Totally different World, starring within the first 5 seasons.

The play and sitcom had the identical casting administrators, so that they initially needed Lewis to give attention to the tour, she instructed Self-importance Honest. Nonetheless, after months of being instructed no, Lewis was known as in for an audition and scored the a part of Jaleesa, a maternal scholar who enrolls at Hillman after a failed marriage. She additionally wrote the theme music — although the musical and casting administrators didn’t understand they employed the identical particular person at first.

In 1992, Lewis left the present to affix Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, showing within the first season of the ABC sitcom. She later visitor starred on Higher Name Saul and had minor recurring roles on exhibits like One Tree Hill, The Secret Lifetime of the American Teenager, Main Crimes, Gray’s Anatomy and Days of Our Lives.

Lewis additionally appeared in movies comparable to 2006’s Dreamgirls. Along with performing, she is a Grammy Award-winning singer inducted into the Ladies Songwriters Corridor of Fame in 2021.

She was married to former NBA participant Johnny Newman within the mid-2000s.

Darryl M. Bell as Ron Johnson

Darryl M. Bell’s large break got here in Spike Lee’s College Daze, working along with his soon-to-be A Totally different World costars, Hardison and Man.

Bell and Hardison performed finest mates Ronald “Ron” Johnson — the lovable, goofy ROTC scholar and musician — and Dwayne, respectively, on the sitcom. The actors have been “very shut off-screen,” Bell instructed the Chicago Tribune in 1989 — although each auditioned for a similar function.

The Illinois native first appeared on the present as an unnamed scholar in episode 4, successful producers over. The function of Ron was created shortly after, which Bell earned after a chemistry learn with Hardison, per Self-importance Honest. He went on to painting the character for all six seasons.

Now, Bell is aware of the sitcom’s lasting legacy.

“I believe what I am most pleased with is, regardless of how tough some subject material could have been, A Totally different World was all the time humorous,” Bell instructed PEOPLE in June 2024. “We approached all the things via the lens of humor.”

After A Totally different World ended, Bell starred on the short-lived sci-fi present Homeboys in Outer House. He has appeared in 2000’s Brother and was the voice of Bravo Chief within the 2003 online game X2: Wolverine’s Revenge.

Bell has been in a long-term relationship with Cosby Present star Tempestt Bledsoe for 3 many years. The couple appeared collectively on the 2009 Fox actuality present Househusbands of Hollywood.

Charnele Brown as Kimberly Reese

Charnele Brown had her first main TV function as Kimberly Reese, Whitley’s studious pre-med roommate, in season 2 of A Totally different World. Kim was finest mates with Whitley and Freddie (Cree Summer time) and briefly dated Ron.

She has continued to behave, showing in episodes of Residing Single, Girlfriends, My Spouse and Children and fifth Ward, in addition to in movies like 1994’s Drop Squad and 2023’s The Studying. She can also be a author and producer, writing and starring within the 2020 TV film BKS, Finest Saved Secret and 2021’s Modifications.

Brown lives in Houston, the place she has run the Charlene Brown Performing Academy at Yates Excessive College since 2000.

Cree Summer time as Winifred “Freddie” Brooks

Cree Summer time joined the solid in season 2 as Winifred “Freddie” Brooks, Jaleesa’s free-spirited roommate on A Totally different World.

Summer time has since had a really profitable voice performing profession. Her greater than 300 credit embrace video video games, movies like 2003’s Blizzard, 2009’s Curious George 2: Observe That Monkey! and 2011’s Atlantis: The Misplaced Empire and animated exhibits like Vampirina, Voltron: Legendary Defender and The Patrick Star Present. She additionally has a recurring function on Abbott Elementary.

In her private life, Summer time met her ex-husband Angelo Pullen when she was 40, and the pair have been collectively for what she instructed StyleLikeU in 2022, per Essence, was a “good” near-decade. They share two kids, daughters Courageous Littlewing, born in 2011, and Hero Peregrine, born in 2013.

Sinbad as Coach Walter Oakes

Born David Adkins, the actor and comic is understood by his stage title, Sinbad. After nabbing a stand-up function and visitor spot on The Cosby Present, he was solid as Coach Walter Oakes on A Totally different World, per Self-importance Honest.

Not solely was he the director of Gilbert Corridor, the boldly dressed and humorous Walter coached soccer, basketball, baseball and monitor. Sinbad was touring with Luther Vandross and Anita Baker and internet hosting Showtime on the Apollo whereas filming, per the outlet, and it grew to become an excessive amount of — he left in season 4, hoping to transition to films and his personal TV present.

He did get his personal sitcom in 1993, The Sinbad Present, and appeared in comedies like 1996’s Jingle All of the Manner and First Child and 1997’s Good Burger. He additionally hosted the speak present Vibe and wrote a self-help e-book, 1998’s Sinbad’s Information to Life (As a result of I Know Every little thing).

Sinbad has headlined HBO comedy specials, together with 1993’s Afros & Bellbottoms, and continued to tour. He most lately made cameos on Atlanta and in 2023’s Good Burger 2.

He and spouse Meredith Fuller Adkins married in 1986. They’ve two kids collectively, daughter Paige and son Royce, and are grandparents. Sinbad and Meredith divorced in 1992 however remarried in 2002, they usually appeared along with their youngsters on the WeTV actuality present, Sinbad: It’s Simply Household.

Sinbad suffered a stroke in November 2020. He made a digital look through the A Totally different World solid’s HBCU tour in 2024, thanking followers through Instagram for his or her “prayers, assist, and constructive ideas.”

Lou Myers as Vernon Gaines

Lou Myers is finest identified for his portrayal of Vernon Gaines, the grumpy, feisty army vet who owns the Pit, in A Totally different World.

Following the sitcom, Myers appeared in movies like 1996’s Tin Cup, 1997’s Volcano and 2001’s The Wedding ceremony Planner and had visitor spots on varied exhibits from The Sinbad Present to NYPD Blue. His final movie function was in 2013’s Goals.

Myers continued to carry out on Broadway, together with in Oprah Winfrey’s manufacturing of The Coloration Purple and successful an NAACP Picture Award for his portrayal of Stool Pigeon in King Hedley II.

Myers died in 2013 from pneumonia. He was 77. He was survived by one son, Melvin Myers, and two grandsons, Brayden and Christian.

Glynn Turman as Colonel Brad Taylor

Glynn Turman was touring the play I’m Not Rappaport when he auditioned for the function of Colonel Brad Taylor on A Totally different World. Becoming a member of the solid in season 2, Col. Taylor was a math trainer nicknamed Mr. Struggle who later married Jaleesa.

Turman’s profession continued to shine after the sitcom. He had recurring roles on exhibits like The Wire, How one can Get Away With Homicide and Fargo and was a predominant solid member on Home of Lies. He gained an Emmy in 2008 for his visitor function on HBO’s In Remedy.

On the massive display screen, Turner appeared in movies like 2000’s Males of Honor, 2020’s Ma Rainey’s Black Backside and 2023’s 80 for Brady. He was final seen within the 2024 mini-series The Large Cigar and an episode of Hulu’s Paradise.

Turman was beforehand married to Ula M. Walker and the late Aretha Franklin, from 1978 to 1984. He has been along with his third spouse, realtor Jo-Ann Allen, since 1992. He has 4 kids.

Marisa Tomei as Maggie Lauten

Marisa Tomei scored the function of Maggie Lauten on A Totally different World.

“It looks like one other planet. It was a spotlight, for certain. I actually, actually loved it. I had a very good time on that,” she mentioned on the At present present in 2024, including that the one draw back, nonetheless, was Maggie’s auburn wavy shag and bangs have been an “unforgivable haircut.”

Tomei was solely on the primary season of A Totally different World. She rose to fame with 1992’s My Cousin Vinny, successful an Academy Award for her portrayal of Mona Lisa Vito. She obtained two extra Oscar nominations for 2001’s Within the Bed room and 2008’s The Wrestler.

A founding member of the Bare Angels Theater Firm, Tomei made her Broadway debut reverse Quentin Tarantino in 1998’s Wait Till Darkish.

The actress and producer has grow to be a fixture within the Marvel universe, taking part in Peter Parker’s aunt Might within the Spider-Man franchise. In recent times, Tomei has additionally appeared in 2020’s The King of Staten Island, 2023’s She Got here to Me and 2024’s Upgraded.

Loretta Devine as Stevie Rallen

Loretta Devine had a profitable stage profession earlier than being solid on A Totally different World, together with originating the function of Lorrell within the 1981 Tony-winning Broadway musical Dreamgirls. (She had a small half within the 2006 movie adaptation.)

The Emmy award-winning actress solely appeared in 10 episodes of season 1, however her performing profession since has been prolific. She went on to star in Boston Public and Gray’s Anatomy, and has appeared in movies like 1998’s City Legend and 2004’s Crash.

Devine met her husband, Glenn Marshall, when she was in her 50s. In December 2024, she instructed PEOPLE that she’s “form of like a loner” however is “actually artful,” knitting and crocheting in her spare time.