(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Every week, we got a glimpse into the lives of fictitious college students, Dwayne Wayne, Whitley Gilbert, Ron Johnson and friends on A Different World. Ron was the loveable but practical, fun-loving friend of Dwayne who was a dedicated friend to the end and always down for some comic relief.
So what happened to the man who played Ron, Darryl M. Bell?
Over six incredible seasons, Bell and his fellow stand-out castmates depicted life as college students at a fictitious Historically Black University (Hillman College) applying comedy as a means to educate audiences on many of today’s current issues. From discrimination to AIDS, apartheid, and war, and just growing up in general A Different World struck a chord with audiences everywhere made an impact on television that still entertains today.
After A Different World, Bell continued to act, but his heart was behind the camera. Which is why he’s now an executive producer, writer, director, and entrepreneur. He operates an independent production company and is regularly invited to speak at universities across the country.
Born in Chicago and raised in New Jersey by the founder of the first black firm on the New York Stock Exchange, Bell’s upbringing included getting well-versed in strategy, negotiation, and strong financial knowledge. After graduating from high school as one of only two African American students in his class, Bell attended Syracuse University, where he was awarded the chancellor’s citation for prominent Alumni in 1986 and is a proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He now remains one of the fraternity’s most distinguished Alphas.
On-screen, Bell was a ladies man. Off-screen, he only has one lady he gives his attention to: Tempestt Bledsoe. You may remember her as “Vanessa” on The Cosby Show.
After Bell lost his father’s millions at the age of 24 years old, Bledsoe–a recent graduate of New York University’s prestigious Stern School of Business at the time–helped him pick up the pieces and stabilize his finances. Although a private couple, the two emerged once more in the limelight for Fox’s 2009 reality show, Househusbands of Hollywood, which highlighted husbands of successful career women handling the household duties. Ultimately, this couple has stood by each other through adversity and continues to experience laughter and happiness.
When asked what keeps them together for so long, without marriage, Bledsoe replies, “I think we are very compatible. I think that is really the heart of it. People ask us what it is. I think a lot of couples find themselves together and find out…
… that they are not really a good match. And laughter is also very important.”
From 2011-2013, Bledsoe hosted Clean House, a home makeover and interior design show. Tempestt revealed how rewarding the experience is of helping people with such a grand task. “I love helping people put their homes in order. Whenever someone says, ‘you’ve changed my life’, you can’t replace that.”
No matter what adult role she lands, Bledsoe’s Cosby Show character is one of the most adored. “A woman told me just the other day how much she loves watching reruns of the show with her grandchildren,” she says. “That feels really good.” Tempestt enjoys the recognition of her character from 31 years ago because she understands the cultural significance and long-lasting impact that the show had on television.
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