Here's What the Cast of Degrassi: The Next Generation Is Up to Now
The stars of Degrassi recently reunited for Drake's music video "I'm Upset," and it has us wondering what they've been up to. The series first premiered in 2001, and the stars have certainly grown up since then. While Nina Dobrev (Mia) and Shenae Grimes-Beech (Darcy) moved on to other popular TV shows following their stints on the Canadian series, others have branched out into different careers entirely. Jake Epstein (Craig) fittingly has had a handful of theater credits, while A.J. Saudin (Connor) — who got very hot, BTW — has said goodbye to acting for good to work on music. Keep scrolling to see what the rest of the cast is up to now.
Drake as Jimmy
Jimmy is Degrassi's star athlete before a school shooting leaves him paralyzed from the waist down.
Drake Now
After saying goodbye to Degrassi, Drake, whose birth name is Aubrey Drake Graham, put his acting career behind him and pursued a rapping career. He has made four studio albums and is set to release his fifth, Scorpion, on June 29.
Miriam McDonald as Emma
Emma is daughter of Christine Nelson from Degrassi Junior High and the stepdaughter of Archie Simpson. She is best friends with Manny and eventually marries Spinner.
Miriam McDonald Now
McDonald has made guest appearances in a handful of series over the years, including Orphan Black in 2013. In 2016, she reprised her role as Emma on Netflix's Degrassi: Next Class for the episode "#ThrowbackThursday."
Lauren Collins as Paige
Paige is the It girl of Degrassi and has an on-and-off-again romance with Spinner throughout the series.
Lauren Collins Now
Collins has kept busy since Degrassi. She appeared on a handful of series, including the Disney Channel show Life With Derek, and currently has a recurring role on FX's The Strain.
Andrea Lewis as Hazel
Hazel is the best friend of Paige and ex-girlfriend of Jimmy.
Andrea Lewis Now
After Degrassi, Lewis moved onto a different show called Moccasin Flats in 2006. She recently appeared in the web series The Number: The Reboot.
Christina Schmidt as Terri
Terri is one of Paige's close friends who eventually ends up in a coma after her abusive boyfriend Rick pushes her and she falls onto a rock.
Christina Schmidt Now
After leaving Degrassi in season three, Schmidt pursued a career in modeling. She is also mom to an adorable little boy, whom she posts about on Instagram.
Melissa McIntyre as Ashley
Ashley is Jimmy's first love. After their breakup, she eventually winds up in a complicated love triangle with Craig and Manny.
Melissa McIntyre Now
McIntyre has kept a pretty private life since saying goodbye to Ashley. She doesn't have any recent acting credits since she left Degrassi in 2008.
Jake Epstein as Craig
Craig is an aspiring musician who battles a few inner demons throughout the show.
Jake Epstein Now
Epstein has had a pretty successful theater career since saying goodbye to Craig. Aside from playing Will in the first national tour of American Idiot in 2011 and playing an alternate for Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark from 2012 to 2013, he originated the role of Gerry Goffin in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical in 2014. He was last seen on the TV series Designated Survivor as Chuck Russink before its cancellation.
Stacey Farber as Ellie
Ellie is the "goth" girl in school who is best friends with Marco.
Stacey Farber Now
Farber has had a handful of guest appearances on TV shows in recent years. Aside from playing Dr. Sydney Katz on Saving Hope from 2014 to 2017, she recently appeared on Grace and Frankie, Schitt's Creek, and UnREAL.
Ephraim Ellis as Rick
Rick is Terri's abusive ex-boyfriend who ends up coming back to Degrassi later on in the series. After getting bullied by his classmates, he brings a gun to school and ends up shooting Jimmy in the back.
Ephraim Ellis Now
Ellis has appeared in a handful of series since leaving Degrassi. He mostly recently had a guest-starring role on FXX's Man Seeking Woman.
Sarah Barrable-Tishauer as Liberty
Liberty is one of the smartest students in Degrassi. Later on in the series, she has a baby with JT, but eventually gives it up for adoption.
Sarah Barrable-Tishauer Now
Barrable-Tishauer has pretty much put her acting career behind her. Aside from making a guest appearance on Degrassi: Next Class in 2016, most of her time is spent as a DJ.
Cassie Steele as Manny
Manny is Emma's wild and carefree best friend. She has a complicated relationship with Craig, but eventually develops a serious relationship with Jay Hogart.
Cassie Steele Now
Steele has been in a handful of TV movies including The L.A. Complex in 2011, but her most recent acting credit is as the voice of Tammy on the animated series Rick and Morty. In 2012, Steele released an EP titled Shifty, followed by Patterns in 2014.
Adamo Ruggiero as Marco
Marco is Ellie's best friend and ex-boyfriend who eventually comes out as gay.
Adamo Ruggiero Now
Ruggiero most recently starred on the webseries MsLabelled, though he did reprise his role as Marco on Degrassi: Next Class.
Shane Kippel as Spinner
Shane Kippel is the best friend of Jimmy and ex-boyfriend of Paige. He eventually marries Emma.
Shane Kippel Now
Kippel stayed on Degrassi for nine seasons before leaving in 2010. While he did reprise his role on Degrassi: Next Class, he is currently a drummer for a band called Dear Love.
Nina Dobrev as Mia
Mia is a teen mom who briefly dates JT.
Nina Dobrev Now
In 2009, Dobrev left Degrassi to star on The CW's The Vampire Diaries. She famously left the series at the end of season six, but returned for the series finale in 2017. Since then, she has appeared in a handful of movies including xXx: Return of Xander Cage and Flatliners.
Stefan Brogren as Archie
Archie is Emma's stepfather and a teacher at Degrassi. He eventually becomes the school's principal.
Stefan Brogren Now
Brogren has certainly been the longest-running cast member on Degrassi. After the series ended its run on MTV Canada and TeenNick in 2015, Brogren continued playing Archie on Netflix's Degrassi: Next Class, where he also serves as a producer.
Paula Brancati as Jane
Jane is an ex-girlfriend of Spinner and the aunt of Mia's daughter.
Paula Brancati Now
Brancati has had a long list of acting credits since leaving Degrassi, including her most recent role in the Canadian horror series Slasher.
A.J. Saudin as Connor
Connor is the godson of Archie who struggles with social situations as a result of his having Asperger's syndrome.
A.J. Saudin Now
Since saying goodbye to Connor, A.J. Saudin, who now goes by the professional name Saudin, has quit acting to work on music. In 2017, he released his second EP titled A Midsummer's Daydream, which is available to stream.
Dalmar Abuzeid as Danny
Danny is Liberty's little brother. He's best friends with Derek before they have a falling out over a girl.
Dalmar Abuzeid Now
Abuzeid most recently appeared on a TV series called Condor, which is based on the novel Six Days of the Condor by James Grady.
Marc Donato as Derek
Derek is the best friend of Danny but eventually becomes somewhat of a school bully when they have a falling out.
Marc Donato Now
Donato has appeared in a handful of shorts and TV series, including a webseries called Ladies Like Us.
Jake Goldsbie as Toby
Toby is Ashley's dorky stepbrother. He is best friends with JT.
Jake Goldsbie Now
Goldsbie only has three acting credits since Degrassi, his most recent being his guest-starring role on USA Network's Falling Water. He also has a sports podcast called Sportsfeld.
Daniel Clark as Sean
Sean is the ultimate bad boy of Degrassi, but has a soft spot for his on-and-off-again girlfriend Emma.
Daniel Clark Now
Clark has done a complete 180 since saying goodbye to Sean. After graduating New York University with a major in political science and a minor in business in 2012, he worked for ABC's World News. Today, he manages his own production company, Dissent Media Corp.
Shenae Grimes-Beech as Darcy
Darcy is the head cheerleader who dates Spinner and Peter during her time at Degrassi.
Shenae Grimes-Beech Now
In 2008, Grimes-Beech left Degrassi to star on The CW's Beverly Hills, 90210 spinoff, 90210. She currently stars on the TV series The Detail. In May 2013, she tied the knot with musician Josh Beech, and they are currently expecting their first child together.
Ryan Cooley as JT
JT is the class clown at Degrassi. He has a baby with Liberty, but they eventually give it up for adoption. During his senior year, he is tragically stabbed to death outside Emma's house during Liberty's 17th birthday party.
Ryan Cooley Now
After his character's death during season six, Cooley appeared in a handful of Degrassi: Minis as well as an animated series called Oh No! It's an Alien Invasion in 2013. According to his Twitter bio, he is currently the vice president for a digital agency and product innovation firm called Konrad Group.
Mike Lobel as Jay
Jay is yet another bad boy at Degrassi, but eventually becomes more of an antihero in later seasons. He's close friends with Sean and eventually develops a relationship with Manny.
Mike Lobel Now
Lobel appeared on the Canadian series Really Me from 2011 to 2012 and is currently in an indie-rock band called Future Peers.