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Diff'rent Strokes

Comedy Series

About This Show

Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986. The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, two African American boys from Harlem who are taken in by a rich white Park Avenue businessman named Phillip Drummond (Conrad Bain) and his daughter Kimberly (Dana Plato), for whom their deceased mother previously worked. During the first season and first half of the second season, Charlotte Rae also starred as the Drummonds' housekeeper, Mrs. Garrett (who ultimately spun-off into her own successful show, The Facts of Life).

Created by Jeff Harris and Bernie Kukoff

People Who Talked About This Show

  • Ben Starr
  • Fred Silverman

Featured Content

VIdeo clip: Opening sequence to Diff'rent Strokes

Resources

Different Strokes DVD

DVD: Diff'rent Strokes : Fan Favorites

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People Talking About This Show

  • Fred Silverman
    • Fred Silverman on his first success at NBC: Diff'rent Strokes (00m 51s)
  • Ben Starr
    • Ben Starr on how Diff'rent Strokes came about
    • Ben Starr on coming up with the catchphrase "Whatchu talkin' bout Willis?"
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