Diff'rent Strokes

***Diff'rent Strokes*** is an American sitcom created by Jeff Harris and Bernie Kukoff. _Diff'rent Strokes_ is set in New York City. It ran for 8 seasons and had 189 episodes. _Diff'rent Strokes_ launched the career of four of its stars Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges, Dana Plato, and Conrad Bain.

## About

The show is about a rich man Phillip Drummond (Conrad Bain) and his daughter Kimberly Drummond (Dana Plato) living in an apartment in New York City. Shortly before his maid died, she wanted him to take care of her two children, Arnold and Willis Jackson (Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges). They go through funny adventures and face realistic problems that can affect Arnold or the Drummond family.

## Cast and characters

Conrad Bain is the only cast member to appear in all _Diff'rent Strokes_ episodes. Gary Coleman did not appear in two.

### Main characters

- Conrad Bain as **Phillip Drummond**, a friendly, rich white widower. He runs the Trans Allied, Inc. He was born December 3, 1931 in Manhattan. He has two adopted African-American sons, 12-year-old Willis and 8-year-old Arnold Jackson. He also has an older sister named Sophia. He then remarried Maggie McKinney.
- Dana Plato as **Kimberly Drummond**, Phillip's only biological child. She was shown as a caring, loving big sister to both Willis and Arnold. As a rich teenager, though, she had various problems.
- Gary Coleman as **Arnold Jackson**, the younger brother of Willis. He was born in Harlem, New York City on October 19, 1971. Arnold was known for his catch phrase, _Whatchoo talkin' 'bout Willis?_, which became a part of popular culture.
- Todd Bridges as **Willis Jackson**, the older brother of Arnold. He was born in Harlem on April 27, 1965. Willis's catch phrase is _Say what?_

### Other characters

- Charlotte Rae - Edna Garrett
- Nedra Volz - Adelaide Brubaker
- Janet Jackson - Charlene DuPrey
- Dody Goodman - Aunt Sophia
- Shavar Ross - Dudley Ramsey
- Le Tari - Mr. Ted Ramsey
- Mary Jo Catlett - Pearl Gallagher
- Rosalind Chao - Miss Chung
- Steven Mond - Robbie Jason
- Nikki Swasey - Lisa Hayes
- Dixie Carter - Maggie McKinney Drummond #1
- Mary Ann Mobley - Maggie McKinney Drummond #2
- Danny Cooksey - Sam McKinney
- Jason Hervey - Charlie

## The curse

There have been rumors of a curse about the cast members of the series such as; the falling career, robbery, and suicide of Dana Plato and the sudden death of  Gary Coleman from an accidental fall. The only well-known cast members that survive is Todd Bridges.

## Infobox (television)

- **image**: On the set of Diff'rent Strokes (39256460980).jpg
- **caption**: Title screen
- **genre**: Sitcom
- **creator**: Jeff Harris
Bernie Kukoff
- **writer**: Ben Starr (American producer), Ben Starr
Budd Grossman
Howard Leeds
Martin Cohan
- **director**: Herbert Kenwith
<small>(season 1)</small>
Gerren Keith
Mel Ferber
Tony Singletary
- **starring**: Conrad Bain
Gary Coleman
Todd Bridges
Dana Plato
Charlotte Rae
Mary Jo Catlett
Danny Cooksey
Dixie Carter
Mary Ann Mobley
Nedra Volz
- **theme music composer**: Alan Thicke
Al Burton
Gloria Loring
- **open theme**: "It Takes Diff'rent Strokes" (pilot);
"The Facts of Life" by Linda Lavin;
"Learning the Facts of Life" by Telma Hopkins
- **country**: United States
- **language**: English
- **num seasons**: 8
- **num episodes**: 189
- **list episodes**: List of Diff'rent Strokes episodes
- **executive producer**: Budd Grossman
<small>(season 1)</small>
Howard Leeds
<small>(seasons 2–6)</small>
Blake Hunter
<small>(seasons 5–7)</small>
Martin Cohan
<small>(season 7)</small>
Bob Brunner
Ken Hecht
<small>(season 8)</small>
- **producer**: Howard Leeds
Herbert Kenwith
<small>(season 1)</small>
Martin Cohan
<small>(seasons 1–6)</small>
Ben Starr
<small>(seasons 2–4)</small>
Bruce Taylor
<small>(season 7)</small>
Al Aidekman
Richard Gurman
<small>(season 8)</small>
- **camera**: Multiple-camera setup, Multi-camera
- **location**: Metromedia Square
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, Hollywood, California (1978–82)
Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City Studios
Universal City, California (1982–85)
The Prospect Studios, ABC Television Center
Hollywood, California (1985–86)
- **runtime**: 24 minutes
- **company**: Tandem Productions, Tandem Productions, Inc.
<small>(1978–86)
</small>ELP Communications, Embassy Television
<small>(1985–86)</small>
- **channel**: NBC
(1978–85)
American Broadcasting Company, ABC
(1985–86)
- **related**: _The Facts of Life_
_Hello, Larry_