a different world
There are several members of theA Different Worldcast who have died - and the actors who have passed away after come out on the NBC situation comedy shows how high the caliber of endowment in the show sincerely was . Airing between 1987 and 1993,A Different Worldwas a spin - off ofThe Cosby Showthat plump on to win a solid following in its own right wing . Jasmine Guy led the hurl as Whitley Gilbert - Wayne , and the show followed her liveliness at the fictional Hillman College .
In the years following the cancelationof the 1990s sitcomA Different Worldin 1993 , several former cast members have surpass away . Some were recurring presences on the show , whereas others were invitee wiz who only appeared in single episode . However , each penis of theA Different Worldcast who has died left with an unbelievable career behind them , play up how of import the performances of the histrion in the situation comedy were for cement its bequest .
Lou Myers
Passed Away February 2013 Aged 77
Actor : A prolific actor before get together the mould ofA Different Worldin season 2 , Lou Myers is still well known for play Vernon Gaines in the NBC sitcom . However , he had a hit Broadway career too , first appearing in the 1975 ravel ofThe First Breeze of Summer , and was an original hurl member for many August Wilson plays likeMa Rainey ’s Black Bottom . Lou Myers snuff it in 2013 after complications with Pneumonia , aged 77 .
Notable Lou Myers Role
Movie / Show
Release yr
Burt Weinberg
The Wedding Planner
2001
Josiah Quincy
The Passion Of Darkly Noon
1995
Clint
Tin Cup
1996
Role : Lou Myers play Vernon Gaines inA Different World , join the situation comedy in season 2 to debut in the episode “ Two Gentlemen of Hillman” . The possessor of Hillman College restaurant “ The Pit ” went on to appear in 88 instalment of the show , and was one of the more popular character despite being implausibly grouchy . However , his gruff exterior was just a front , and over many conversation with character like Kim ( who worked for him ) , it became clear he was a complex mortal deep down .
Diahann Carroll
Passed Away October 2019 Aged 84
Actor : Diahann Carroll , who played Marion inA Different World , passed off in 2019 after a long struggle with big Crab which was first diagnose in 1997 . Carroll was one of the most critically acclaimed members of theA Different Worldcast , and had won a Golden Globe and Tony Award in addition to receive five Emmy nominations . Outside ofA Different World , Diahann Carroll is most remembered for her appearance in classic moving-picture show like 1974’sClaudineand 1961’sParis Blues .
Notable Diahann Carroll Role
Claudine
1974
Connie Lampson
Paris Blues
1961
Julia Baker
Julia
1968 - 9171
Role : As Marion Gilbert , Diahann Carroll appear in 7 episodes ofA Different World , and was always hilarious . Marion was Whitley Gilbert - Wayne ’s mom and an extremely nosey and judgmental socialite . It ’s grueling to imagine anyone other than Carroll as the incredibly magnetic middle - class role , and the late player truly made the role her own . She first come out in season 2 ’s “ For She ’s Only A Bird In A Gilded Cage ” , with Marion ’s last episode being “ When One Door Closes … Part 2 ” in time of year 6 .
Rosalind Cash
Passed Away October 1995 Aged 56
Actor : The firstA Different Worldcast member to slip by away was Rosalind Cash in 1995.Like Diahann Carrol , Cash passed by from cancer , though at the much younger age of 56 . She was still active when she pass off , and was limn Mary inGeneral Hospitalon ABC at the time of her death . out of doors of playing Dean Hughes inA unlike World , Rosalind Cash is also known for her work in sci - fi movies such as 1971’sThe Omega Man .
Notable Rosalind Cash Role
Lisa
The Omega Man
1971
Mary Mae Ward
General Hospital
1994 - 1995
Freida Lovejoy - Burton
Sister , Sister
1982
Role : Rosalind Cash only appear in four episode ofA Different Worldas Dean Hughes . A serious character who want to be an intimidating front , Cash rap into her stage work in plays like Shakespeare’sKing Learto give the recurring sitcom role the gravitas needed . While not one of the most centralA Different Worldcharacters , Rosalind Cash ’s Dean Hughes was definitely among the more memorable .
Ron O’Neal
Passed Away January 2004 Aged 66
Actor : A Different Worldcast penis Ron O’Neal is fondly remembered for his prevalence inthe blaxploitation picture motility , especially due to his role as cocain monger Youngblood Priest in 1972’sSuper Fly . His calling pop on Broadway before moving to screen roles in the 1970s . He also turned his helping hand to committal to writing and directing , helm the 1973Super FlysequelSuper Fly T.N.Tin 1973 . O’Neal died in 2004 after a conflict with pancreatic cancer that lasted four years .
Notable Ron O’Neal Role
Youngblood Priest
Super Fly
1972
Colonel Ernesto Bella
Red Dawn
1984
Mustapha Mond
Brave New World
1980
Role : Ron O’Neal play Whitley ’s Father-God Mercer onA Different World , and while his character was married ( and then divorced ) from Diahann Carrol ’s Marion , the two could n’t be more dissimilar . O’Neal only appeared in four episode of the show , and was n’t as constitutional a comportment as Marion , though thanks to the actor ’s considerable talent , the character was both memorable and help add emotional depth to the grownup Whitley .
Robert Guillaume
Passed Away October 2007 Aged 89
Actor : Robert Guillaume was among the most acclaimed member of theA Different Worldcast , and like Diahann Carroll had won several awards let in a Grammy and two Emmys . Playing Dean Winston and Professor Murphy inA Different Worldisn’t what Guillaume is most known for either . Playing Benson DuBois inSoapandBenson , as well asvoicing Rafiki inThe Lion Kingremain career play up . He also made history as the first disastrous actor to toy the Phantom inThe Phantom of the Operabefore he perish in 2017 .
Notable Robert Guillaume Role
Rafiki
The Lion King
1994
Benson DuBois
Benson
1979 - 1986
Jordan Gaines
Superfly T.N.T
1973
Role : Despite his high level of acclaim , Robert Guillaume only appeared in three episodes ofA Different World , and portrayed two characters . Guillaume recreate Dean Winston for a individual episode and Professor Murphy twice in the sitcom , with Winston being a history instructor and Murphy teaching Kim medication . Of all the esteemed actor ’s part and appearances , it ’s among his most minor .
Ted Ross
Passed Away September 2002 Aged 68
Actor : The late Ted Ross ’s career was defined by playingThe Lion inThe Wiz , a role he received a Tony Award for during the 1975 Broadway ravel of the show . He seem in the same role in the 1978 movie , though this andA Different Worldare far from his only career highlighting . He also played Bitterman in the 1981 rom - comArthur , and his final movie role before he passed away in 2002 was 1991’sThe Fisher King . Ross ache a stroke in 1998 , and it was complications from this that finally conduce to his passing .
Notable Ted Ross Role
Lion
The Wiz
1978
Bitterman
Arthur
1981
Limo Bum
The Fisher King
1991
Role : Ted Ross ’s character Dean Harris is one of severalA Different Worldcharacters to cross over fromThe Cosby Show . He first come along in the season 3 finale ofThe Cosby Show,“Hillman ” , which also present the college which would become the key location forA Different World . He appeared in the pilot ofA Different World , though did n’t take back for many episodes , with his net performance as Dean Harris come in season 1 ’s “ My Dinner with Theo ” .
Kristoff St. John
Passed Away February 2019 Aged 52
player : A unlike Worldcast penis Kristoff St. John passed away in 2019 at age 52 , among the youngest at their clock time of death . The late actor ’s most far-famed visual aspect was n’t inA dissimilar Worldbut the CBS day soapThe Young and the Restless , inwhich he appeared from 1991 until 2019 as Neil Winters ( and advance two Daytime Emmys for ) . He also played Adam Marshall inGenerationsand Alex inRoots : The Next Generations . His death was ruled as accidental and linked to an fundamental heart consideration .
Notable Kristoff St. John Role
Neil Winters
The Young And The Restless
1991 - 2019
Alex Haley
root : The Next Generations
1979
Danny Burton
Role : Kristoff St. John only appeared in a single installment ofA Different World , play E.Z. Brooks . He look in the 12th installment of time of year 1 , “ Advise and Descent ” , and is a failing student Denise agrees to help during finals week . Like Ted Ross , Kristoff St. John had also appeared onThe Cosby Show , though in a completely unlike role . In the series from whichA Different Worldspinned off from , St. John play David James , a fiber who was ironically the opposite of E.Z. Brooks in many way , since James had a knifelike interestingness in books and philosophy .
James Avery
Passed Away December 2013 Aged 68
player : Actor James Avery is fuck most preponderantly for playing Uncle Phil in the strike 1990s sitcomThe Fresh Prince of Bel - Air . It wasplaying Philip Banks alongside Will Smiththat put Avery ’s name on the mathematical function , thoughThe Fresh PrinceandA Different Worldare far from his only appearances . He also receive acclaim for play Judge Michael Conover inL.A. Lawand voicing Shredder in the originalTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlescartoon . Avery tragically passed away in 2013 at old age 68 due to tortuousness during candid - marrow surgical procedure .
Notable James Avery Role
Uncle Phil
The Fresh Prince Of Bel - Air
1990 - 1996
Judge Michael Conover
L.A. Law
1988 - 1992
Shredder
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
1987 - 1993
purpose : James Avery had a very brief appearance inA Different World , which came shortly before he first debut as Uncle Phil inThe Fresh Prince of Bel - Air . He had a small theatrical role in the time of year 3 episode “ To Have and Have Not ” , which beam in 1989 . His character was simply called “ The Pin Pusher ” . A small part , but one made all the more memorable in retrospect give Avery ’s later calling .
Thomas Mikal Ford
Passed Away October 2016 Aged 52
Actor : A Different Worldcast extremity Thomas Mikal Ford was no alien to sitcoms . He had regular role inMartinas Tommy and Mel inThe Parkers . However , it ’s play Lt . Malcolm Barker in the 1994 - 1999 Fox dramaNew York Undercoverthat he ’s perhaps most recognized for , especially since it ’s beenconfirmed by Maker Dick Wolfthat the show take away place in theLaw & Order , Chicago , andFBIuniverse . Another member of theA Different Worldcast who die relatively young , Ford slip by aside aged 52 watch a ruptured abdominal aneurism .
Notable Thomas Mikal Ford Role
Lt . Malcolm Barker
New York Undercover
1994 - 1999
Tommy
Martin
1992 - 1997
Mel
The Parker
1999 - 2001
character : Thomas Mikal Ford is one of several cast members ofA Different Worldwho expire that only had a minor appearance on the show . Ford guest starred in theA Different Worldseason 3 episode “ The Thing About Women ” . His fibre , Lama Collins , was the X - husband of Jaleesa Vinson .
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A Different World , a spin - off from The Cosby Show , premier in 1987 . Initially following Denise Huxtable at Hillman College , the serial later focuses on Whitley Gilbert and Dwayne Wayne as it explores life at a historically black college in Virginia , including depictions of fraternity and sororities .
