Life Goes on ( TV series ) - wikipedia Life Goes on ( TV series ) hide This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. ( Learn how and when to remove these template messages ) This article 's lead section does not adequately summarize key points of its contents. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. Please discuss this issue on the article 's talk page. ( June 2015 ) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( March 2015 ) Life Goes On The cast of Life Goes On. Clockwise from left : Kellie Martin, Patti LuPone, Bill Smitrovich, Chris Burke, and Arnold the Semi-Wonder Dog. Created by Michael Braverman Starring Bill Smitrovich Chris Burke Kellie Martin Patti LuPone Tracey Needham Theme music composer Lennon -- McCartney Opening theme `` Ob - La - Di, Ob - La - Da '' Performed by Patti LuPone and the cast of Life Goes On Country of origin United States Original language ( s ) English No. of seasons No. of episodes 83 Production Running time 60 minutes Production company ( s ) Toots Productions Warner Bros. Television Distributor Warner Bros. Television Distribution Release Original network ABC Original release September 12, 1989 -- May 23, 1993 Life Goes On is an American television series that aired on ABC from September 12, 1989, to May 23, 1993. Reruns aired on The Family Channel from 1992 until about 1995, FX from about 1995 until about 1998, and PAX ( the present - day ION ) from 1998 until about 1999. The show centers on the Thatcher family living in suburban Chicago : Drew, his wife Elizabeth, and their children Paige, Rebecca, and Charles, who is known as Corky. Life Goes On was the first television series to have a major character with Down syndrome ( Corky, played by Chris Burke, who himself has Down syndrome in real life ). Contents 1 Cast 2 Overview 2.1 Early seasons 2.2 Later seasons 3 Broadcast history and U.S. television ratings 4 Awards and nominations 5 DVD release 6 References 7 External links Cast Bill Smitrovich as Drew Chris Burke as Corky Kellie Martin as Rebecca Patti LuPone as Libby Tracey Needham as Paige Overview The drama featured the Thacher family, whose son, Charles `` Corky '' Thatcher ( played by Chris Burke ), has Down syndrome, while their daughter Becca ( played by Kellie Martin ) did well at school but was socially awkward. Tony Award - winning stage actress Patti LuPone played the mother Elizabeth ( `` Libby '' ) and Bill Smitrovich played the father Drew. Eldest sister Paige Thacher was played by Monique Lanier during the 1989 -- 1990 seasons and by Tracey Needham during the 1990 -- 1993 seasons. Becca 's boyfriend and Corky 's buddy, Tyler Benchfield, was played by Tommy Puett. Jerry Berkson ( Ray Buktenica ) was Libby 's quirky boss. In the last two seasons, Becca 's boyfriend Jesse McKenna was played by Chad Lowe. Executive Producer Michael Braverman first cast Chris Burke in the 1987 television movie Desperate, based on Braverman 's favorite book, Lord Jim. After seeing Burke 's work, ABC executives asked Braverman to create a show around Burke. The show is set in the Chicago suburb Glenbrook, Illinois, which is named after the high school which one of Braverman 's children attended at the time. The name itself is a blend of the real suburbs served by the school, Glenview and Northbrook. Each episode 's opening credits end with a shot of Arnold, the family dog ( billed as `` Arnold the Semi-Wonder Dog '' ). Apparently forgotten by the family in their rush to get ready for the day, he sits forlornly in the kitchen with his empty food bowl in his mouth and lets it drop to the floor. The show 's producers received a constant trickle of letters each week from viewers who thought this was cruel, so in the final episode 's opening credits, a bag of dog food spills out of a nearby cabinet. Early seasons During the show 's first year, the main focus was on Corky. Much of the show examined the challenges of a family whose son had Down Syndrome. The Thatchers sought to have Corky interact with regular society after spending years socializing him amongst other kids with Down syndrome in `` special '' classes. Indeed, this need to integrate Corky into `` normal '' society was the main storyline in Season 1, as the Thatcher family opted to enroll Corky in a regular high school despite the principal 's demand that Corky be placed in an alternative program for those with Down syndrome. In addition, during the first three seasons, episodes included Tyler Benchfield ( Tommy Puett ), Becca 's high school crush, who also had a brother with Down syndrome. Corky eventually got a job as an usher at a local movie theater. He later found a girlfriend, Amanda Swanson ( Andrea Friedman ), who also had Down Syndrome ; they married by the series ' end. Later seasons By the second season, the writers had begun to expand the show 's scope beyond Corky, and the third and fourth seasons centered on Becca and a new character named Jesse ( Chad Lowe ). Jesse, a junior, met Becca through the school 's theatre department. As the two became friends, Jesse told Becca he was HIV - positive. Tyler became a less prominent figure in Becca 's life, and was jealous of Becca 's closeness with Jesse. The character of Tyler was soon written out of the show ; he was given the memorable sendoff of dying in a car accident with Corky as a passenger. Much to the surprise of those around them, Becca and Jesse began a relationship despite his HIV. The writers began to explore life with HIV through Jesse 's character, and the difficulties the disease causes with romantic relationships. The relationship between Corky and Becca, previously portrayed as close, was also explored, as Corky briefly turned his back on his sister for dumping a mutual friend in order to date Jesse. The fourth season 's first episode, in which a 40 - something Becca ( Pamela Bellwood ) tours the house she grew up in while remembering the events of 25 years earlier, establishes that Jesse would ultimately die from AIDS and that Becca would move on to marry a man named David. The series itself ended ambiguously but on an upbeat note, showing Becca five years later, married with a son, named Jesse. Broadcast history and U.S. television ratings Season Timeslot ( EDT ) Season Premiere Season Finale TV Season Nielsen Ranking Sunday 7 : 00 pm September 21, 1989 May 13, 1990 1989 -- 1990 N / A Sunday 7 : 00 pm September 16, 1990 May 5, 1991 1990 -- 1991 # 68 ( 8.92 rating ) Sunday 7 : 00 pm September 22, 1991 May 10, 1992 1991 -- 1992 # 68 ( 9.21 rating ) Sunday 7 : 00 pm September 20, 1992 May 23, 1993 1992 -- 1993 # 66 ( 9.11 rating ) In Canada, the show aired on Crossroads Television System. Awards and nominations Year Award Recipient Result 1993 American Television Awards Best Supporting Actress, Dramatic Series Kellie Martin Won 1990 Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor -- Series, Miniseries or Television Film Chris Burke Nominated 1993 Humanitas Prize 60 Minute Category Marshall Goldberg ( For episode `` Bedfellows '' ) Nominated 1990 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Viveca Lindfors Won 1991 Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics Mark Mueller and Craig Safan ( For episode `` Corky 's Travels '' ) Nominated 1993 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Chad Lowe Won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Kellie Martin Nominated 1990 Viewers for Quality Television Award Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series Patti LuPone Nominated 1991 Nominated 1992 Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series Kellie Martin Won Founder 's Award Won 1993 Best Quality Drama Series Nominated Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series Chad Lowe Won Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series Kellie Martin Nominated Writers Guild of America Award Episodic Drama Toni Graphia ( For episode `` Last Wish '' ) Nominated 1990 Young Artist Award Best Young Actor Supporting Role in a Television Series Tommy Puett Nominated Kevin Telles Nominated Best Young Actress Supporting Role in a Television Series Kellie Martin Nominated Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a Television Series Michael Bays Nominated Ryan Bollman Nominated Best New Television Series Nominated Inspiration to Youth Chris Burke Won 1991 Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series Nominated Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series Kellie Martin Won Best Young Actress Supporting or Recurring Role For a TV Series Tanya Fenmore Nominated Leigh Ann Orsi Nominated 1992 Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series Kellie Martin Won 1993 Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series Nominated Best Young Actress Recurring in a Television Series Kiersten Warren Nominated DVD release On May 9, 2006, Warner Home Video released Season 1 of Life Goes On on DVD in Region 1. It is unknown if the remaining three seasons will be released. The DVD release has a replacement theme song at the beginning of each episode, with the exception of the show 's pilot. The replacement was due to high licensing costs for the Beatles ' song `` Ob - La - Di, Ob - La - Da. '' The new song aptly titled `` Life Goes On '' was written by composer Marc Jackson of MoonLab Music and sung by singer / songwriter Tara Johnston. The song was written specifically for the DVD release. References Jump up ^ Lowry, Brian ( 1993 - 04 - 16 ). `` CBS leads noms for Emmy rival ''. variety.com. Retrieved 10 November 2013. Jump up ^ `` American TV Awards to ' Seinfeld, ' ' Fly Away ' ''. variety.com. 1993 - 05 - 24. Retrieved 10 November 2013. External links Life Goes On on IMDb Life Goes On at TV.com The official DVD page for Life Goes On. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Life_Goes_On_(TV_series)&oldid=832056428 '' Categories : 1989 American television series debuts 1993 American television series endings 1980s American drama television series 1990s American drama television series American Broadcasting Company network shows Television series by Warner Bros. Television HIV / AIDS in television Down syndrome in television Television shows set in Northfield Township, Cook County, Illinois English - language television programs Hidden categories : Wikipedia introduction cleanup from June 2015 All pages needing cleanup Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from June 2015 All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify Articles needing additional references from March 2015 All articles needing additional references Articles with multiple maintenance issues Use mdy dates from June 2013 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français 한국어 Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Русский Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски 4 more Edit links This page was last edited on 23 March 2018, at 15 : 37. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: cast of the tv show life goes on
Answer: Bill Smitrovich