Dana Michelle Plato

Different Strokes Lyrics to the theme song: “It Takes Diff’rent Strokes” – Theme Song lyrics by: Alan Thicke, Gloria Loring, and Al Burton

Now the world don’t move to the beat of just one drum
What might be right for you, may not be right for some
A man is born, he’s a man of means
Then along come two, they got nothin’ but their jeans
But they got Diff’rent Strokes
It takes Diff’rent Strokes
It takes Diff’rent Strokes to move the world

Everybody’s got a special kinda story
Everybody finds a way to shine
It don’t matter that you got not a lot- so what?
They’ll have theirs, you’ll have yours and I’ll have mine
And together we’ll be fine,
Cause it takes Diff’rent Strokes to move the world, yes it does
It takes Diff’rent Strokes to move the world!

Different Strokes Theme Songs:

Wavs:
Wav file of the theme song from the last season – short 30 second version (1985-1986) (74K)
Wav file of the theme song from the last season – 51 seconds (1985-1986) (126K)
Wav file of the ending theme song (without the ‘hum’ at the end/first season) (97K)
Wav file of the ending theme song (with the ‘hum’ at the end/1981 version) (76K)
Wav file of the ending theme song (1985-86 “Instrumental” version) (77K)

Wav file of the original opening theme song (125K)

Real Audio:Real Audio file of the original theme song (247K)
Real Audio file of the theme song from the last season (1985-1986) (248K)Midi:Midi file of the original theme song (6K)
Midi file of the original theme song – another version (17K)

Conrad Bain – Phillip Drummond
Gary Coleman – Arnold Jackson
Todd Bridges – Willis Jackson
Dana Plato - Kimberly Drummond (1978-1984)
Charlotte Rae – Edna Garrett (1978-1979)
Nedra Volz – Adelaide Brubaker (1980-1982)
Janet Jackson – Charlene DuPrey (1980-1984)
Dody Goodman – Aunt Sophia (1981-1982)
Shavar Ross – Dudley Ramsey
Le Tari – Mr. Ted Ramsey (1981-1985)
Mary Jo Catlett – Pearl Gallagher (1982-1986)
Rosalind Chao – Miss Chung (1982-1983)
Steven Mond – Robbie Jason (1982-1983)
Nikki Swasey – Lisa Hayes (1982-1986)
Dixie Carter – Maggie McKinney Drummond #1 (1984-1985)
Mary Ann Mobley – Maggie McKinney Drummond #2 (1985-1986)
Danny Cooksey – Sam McKinney (1984-1986)
Jason Hervey – Charlie (1985-1986)

Diff’rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on the NBC television network from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986. The series starred Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, two orphaned children from Harlem who are taken in by rich Park Avenue businessman Phillip Drummond (Conrad Bain) and his daughter Kimberly (Dana Plato), for whom their deceased mother previously worked.[1][2] During the first season, Charlotte Rae also starred as the Drummonds’ housekeeper, Mrs. Garrett (who ultimately spun-off into her own successful show, The Facts of Life).

The series made stars out of child actors Coleman and Bridges, and became known for the “very special episodes” in which serious issues such as racism, drug use and child molestation were dramatically explored. The lives of stars Coleman, Bridges and Plato, however, were later plagued by legal troubles and drug addiction, as the stardom and success they achieved while on the show eluded them after the series was cancelled.