Editing Growing Pains (section)

== Cast and characters ==

=== Main ===
* [[Alan Thicke]] as Dr. Jason Roland Seaver. Dr. Seaver is a graduate of [[Boston College]] and holds a Doctorate in Psychology. He initially practiced at [[Long Island]] General Hospital before working from home and volunteering at his local community's free clinic.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Terrace |first=Vincent |title=Television Series of the 1980s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |year=2017 |isbn=9781442278318 |pages=92}}</ref>
* [[Joanna Kerns]] as Margaret Katherine "Maggie" (née Malone) Seaver. Maggie is also a graduate of [[Boston College]] where she met her future husband and majored in [[Child Psychology]] before switching to [[Journalism]]. Prior to her marriage, she worked as a researcher for ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine. She is a reporter for the ''Long Island Daily Herald'' (as Maggie Malone) and for the television news program ''Action News'' on Channel 19. She is also a columnist for the ''Long Island Sentinel''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Terrace |first=Vincent |title=Television Series of the 1980s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |year=2017 |isbn=9781442278318 |pages=92}}</ref>
* [[Kirk Cameron]] as Michael Aaron "Mike" Seaver. Mike, the oldest child, attended Wendell Wilkie Elementary School before moving to Dewey High School. He accumulates multiple menial jobs. [[Waiting staff|Waiter]] at The World of Burgers, [[Salesman]] at The Stereo Village, [[Car wash]] attendant, night man at the Stop and Shop [[convenience store]], singing waiter at Sullivan's Tavern. Of average ability, he aspires nonetheless to become an actor. He enrolls at Alf Landon Junior College and, later, at Boyton State College. At Alf Landon, Mike was a member of the Drama Club where he meets his girlfriend Kate McDonald in the play "The Passion". He eventually becomes a teacher of remedial studies at a [[Community health center|Community Health Centre]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Terrace |first=Vincent |title=Television Series of the 1980s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |year=2017 |isbn=9781442278318 |pages=92}}</ref>
* [[Tracey Gold]] as Caroline Anne "Carol" Seaver. Carol is the second born child. She attended Dewey High School where she was the 1988 [[Homecoming Queen]] and President of the Future Nuclear Physicists Club. She later attends [[Columbia University]] (to the disappointment of her parents who would have preferred her to enroll at their [[Alma mater|alma-mater]]) but drops out to work as a computer page breaker at GSM Publishing. She returns to Columbia to study law and works with her father at the free clinic. <ref>{{Cite book |last=Terrace |first=Vincent |title=Television Series of the 1980s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |year=2017 |isbn=9781442278318 |pages=92}}</ref>  
* [[Jeremy Miller]] as Benjamin Hubert Horatio Humphrey "Ben" Seaver. Ben attends the same elementary and high school as his siblings. Heavily influenced by his older brother, Ben holds a number of menial jobs including newspaper delivery boy and attempts to make money by managing a rap group.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Terrace |first=Vincent |title=Television Series of the 1980s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |year=2017 |isbn=9781442278318 |pages=92}}</ref>

=== Later additions ===
* A fourth child, Christine Ellen "Chrissy" Seaver (twins Kelsey and Kirsten Dohring; [[Ashley Johnson]]), is born at the beginning of season 4, a day after Ben's 12th birthday. She was played in her newborn/infant stage by 2 uncredited sets of twin sisters, who remained in the role until season 4 (1988–1989) ended. By season 5 (1989–1990), she was played in her toddler stage by alternating twins Kirsten and Kelsey Dohring. In seasons 6 and 7 (1990–1992), Chrissy's age was advanced to 5 years old.
* A new cast member was added for the seventh and final season (1991–1992) when homeless teen Luke Brower ([[Leonardo DiCaprio]]) is brought into the Seaver family to live with them until the end of season 7.

=== Recurring ===
* [[Andrew Koenig]] as Richard Milhous "Boner" Stabone (seasons 1–4), Mike's friend; left to join the [[United States Marine Corps]].
* [[Chelsea Noble]] as Kate MacDonald (seasons 5–7), Mike's girlfriend. They both meet at Alf Landon Junior College. She later becomes a model and appears in the 1992 [[swimsuit]] edition of The Sporting Man magazine.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Terrace |first=Vincent |title=Television Series of the 1980s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |year=2017 |isbn=9781442278318 |pages=92}}</ref>
* Jamie Abbott as Stinky Sullivan (seasons 2–6), Ben's friend.
* [[K. C. Martel]] as Eddie Ziff (seasons 1–7), Mike's friend.
* [[Sam Anderson]] as Principal Willis DeWitt (seasons 1–7), Mike's history teacher in season one and principal from season 2 onward.
* Betty McGuire as Kate Malone (seasons 1–7); Maggie's mother.
* Lisa Capps as Debbie (seasons 2–4), Carol's friend.
* [[Rachel Jacobs]] as Shelley (seasons 2–4), Carol's friend.
* [[Gordon Jump]] as Ed Malone (seasons 1–7), Maggie's father.
* [[Julie McCullough]] as Julie Costello (seasons 4–5), Mike's former girlfriend who was originally hired by Jason to be Chrissy's nanny.  Julie is a sophomore at [[Columbia University]] majoring in Child Psychology. When she and Mike break up, she quits school and becomes a waitress at Le Village Restaurant.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Terrace |first=Vincent |title=Television Series of the 1980s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |year=2017 |isbn=9781442278318 |pages=92}}</ref>
* [[Bill Kirchenbauer]] as Coach Graham Lubbock (seasons 2–3; starred in spin off ''[[Just the Ten of Us]]''), a gym teacher.
* [[Jane Powell]] as Irma Seaver (seasons 4–6), Jason's mother.
* Jodi Peterson as Laura Lynn (seasons 4–6), Ben's girlfriend/love interest.
* Kevin Wixted as Bobby Wynette (seasons 2–3),  Carol's former boyfriend.
* Christopher Burgard as Dwight Halliburton (season 7), Carol's love interest.
* [[Evan Arnold]] as Richie Flanscopper (seasons 1–3), Carol's school classmate who has a crush on her.
* [[Fred Applegate (actor)|Fred Applegate]] as Mr. Fred Tedesco (season 7), the principal of the learning annex where Mike teaches.
* [[Matthew Perry]] as Sandy (season 4), Carol's love interest of 3 episodes. He died several hours after a DUI accident following 'a few beers'.