Top 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsMost Popular Video GamesMost Popular Music VideosMost Popular Podcasts
    Release CalendarBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersSundance Film FestivalIndependent Spirit AwardsBlack History MonthSXSWSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Diff'rent Strokes

  • TV Series
  • 1978–19861978–1986
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
12K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,173
225
Todd Bridges, Conrad Bain, Gary Coleman, and Dana Plato in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
Trailer 1
Play trailer0:59
4 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyDramaFamily
The misadventures of a wealthy Manhattan family who adopted the children of their late African American housekeeper from Harlem.The misadventures of a wealthy Manhattan family who adopted the children of their late African American housekeeper from Harlem.The misadventures of a wealthy Manhattan family who adopted the children of their late African American housekeeper from Harlem.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
12K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,173
225
    • Jeff Harris
    • Bernie Kukoff
  • Stars
    • Gary Coleman
    • Todd Bridges
    • Conrad Bain
    • Jeff Harris
    • Bernie Kukoff
  • Stars
    • Gary Coleman
    • Todd Bridges
    • Conrad Bain
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 42User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Episodes181

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos4

    Diff'rent Strokes
    Trailer 0:59
    Watch Diff'rent Strokes
    Diff'rent Strokes: Season 5
    Trailer 1:56
    Watch Diff'rent Strokes: Season 5
    Diff'rent Strokes
    Trailer 0:52
    Watch Diff'rent Strokes
    Season Three Opening Sequence
    Video 0:50
    Watch Season Three Opening Sequence

    Photos362

    Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Gary Coleman and Charlotte Rae in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Janet Jackson in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Conrad Bain and Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Milton Berle and Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Todd Bridges, Conrad Bain, Gary Coleman, and Charlotte Rae in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Todd Bridges and Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Todd Bridges, Conrad Bain, and Gary Coleman in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gary Coleman
    Gary Coleman
    • Arnold Jackson
    Todd Bridges
    Todd Bridges
    • Willis Jackson
    Conrad Bain
    Conrad Bain
    • Philip Drummond
    Dana Plato
    Dana Plato
    • Kimberly Drummond…
    Mary Jo Catlett
    Mary Jo Catlett
    • Pearl Gallagher
    Danny Cooksey
    Danny Cooksey
    • Sam McKinney
    Shavar Ross
    Shavar Ross
    • Dudley Ramsey…
    Charlotte Rae
    Charlotte Rae
    • Edna Garrett
    Dixie Carter
    Dixie Carter
    • Maggie McKinney…
    Steven Mond
    Steven Mond
    • Robbie Jason
    Nedra Volz
    Nedra Volz
    • Adelaide Brubaker
    Mary Ann Mobley
    Mary Ann Mobley
    • Maggie McKinney Drummond…
    Nikki Swasey Seaton
    Nikki Swasey Seaton
    • Lisa Hayes
    Janet Jackson
    Janet Jackson
    • Charlene DuPrey
    Jason Hervey
    Jason Hervey
    • Charlie
    Rosalind Chao
    Rosalind Chao
    • Miss Chung…
    Dody Goodman
    Dody Goodman
    • Aunt Sophia Drummond
    Bobby Herbeck
    Bobby Herbeck
    • The Waiter…
      • Jeff Harris
      • Bernie Kukoff
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Facts of Life
    6.8
    The Facts of Life
    Mork & Mindy
    7.1
    Mork & Mindy
    The Cosby Show
    7.4
    The Cosby Show
    Happy Days
    7.4
    Happy Days
    Family Ties
    7.2
    Family Ties
    Laverne & Shirley
    7.0
    Laverne & Shirley
    Mr. Belvedere
    6.6
    Mr. Belvedere
    Who's the Boss?
    6.6
    Who's the Boss?
    Growing Pains
    6.6
    Growing Pains
    The Brady Bunch
    6.8
    The Brady Bunch
    I Dream of Jeannie
    7.4
    I Dream of Jeannie
    Gilligan's Island
    7.4
    Gilligan's Island

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Alan Thicke, who played Dr. Jason Seaver, the patriarch on the sitcom "Growing Pains (1985)," wrote and performed the series' memorable theme song.
    • Quotes

      [Willis has just learned his close friend has died in an auto accident]

      Willis Jackson: Oh no...

      [pause]

      Willis Jackson: [crying] Oh no...

      [Willis hangs up the phone and cries]

      Willis Jackson: Look at me. Crying just like a kid.

      Philip Drummond: No. Crying just like a man.

    • Alternate versions
      Two hour-long episodes on the first season DVD are presented in their edited, two-part syndicated versions.
    • Connections
      Edited into Tupac: Resurrection (2003)

    User reviews42

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Makes me Wish I didn't know the truth!
    Watching the true Hollywood story on E! about the cast of Different Strokes was heartbreaking, after all, two of the three cast members had substance abuse problems and the star, Gary Coleman, had problems with his parents that he sued them. It's sad to watch the show, I wish I didn't know Dana Plato's problems because now I see how much she wanted her life to be like Kimberly Drummond. Conrad Bain was great as the father figure of the show. Of course, he was supposed to only be acting but I think he became a paternal figure to those youngsters. We went Mrs. Edna Garrett played by the wonderful Charlotte Rae who got her own show without all the drama of Different Strokes. She escaped it. I never approved of them dissing Dixie Carter for Mary Ann Mobley. I like them both in the role as the second Mrs. Drummond. Of course, there was the guest appearances of First Lady Nancy Reagan preaching against drugs. How little did we know the truth? Gary Coleman never escaped the image of the chubby cute kid on Different Strokes. Dana Plato who is gone to a better place never did get to experience the life of Kimberly Drummond except when she was on the set. I only wish Todd and Gary best for their future. I only wished that the off-screen drama was cut down for their sakes. I feel guilty getting laughs knowing that they went home and cried or faced abuse.
    helpful•29
    15
    • Sylviastel
    • Oct 17, 2006

    FAQ2

    • When did Arnold and Willis' parents die?
    • Willis had trouble remembering events from what year?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 3, 1978 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Metromedia Square - 5746 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Tandem Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 30 minutes
      • Color

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Todd Bridges, Conrad Bain, Gary Coleman, and Dana Plato in Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
    Top Gap
    What is the Spanish language plot outline for Diff'rent Strokes (1978)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page
    Add episode

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.