'Life With Derek': Where Is The Cast Now?
Life With Derek was about a blended family filled with seven distinctive personalities. Lasting four seasons, the comedy ran from 2005-2009 and culminated with the TV movie Vacation With Derek in 2010.
The show was a hit among kids and teens and had one of the catchiest theme songs of the decade. (Come on, you know you still remember all the words.) There was also a slightly skeevy side to the fandom, however, with fans shipping step-siblings Derek and Casey as "Dasey." The leads seemed to get a kick out of this, since Derek himself shared this Instagram pic using the ship name as a hashtag.
So what's the cast been up to these last six years? It turns out, a lot.
Michael Seater, "Derek Venturi"
After Derek, Seater went on to star in the Canadian shows 18 to Life and Bomb Girls, as well as having a recurring role on Murdoch Mysteries. In 2014, he wrote, directed, and starred in the short Sly Cad — and his TV Derek mom was in it as well. The short was co-produced by Seater and former Degrassi: The Next Generation star Paula Brancati. The two co-own and operate BrancSeater Productions, with Sly Cad being the company's first film. Seater is the director of the films People Hold On, Private Displays of Affection, and Sadie’s Last Days on Earth, according to the company's website.
Ashley Leggat, "Casey MacDonald"
Leggat played Tara in three of Hallmark Channel's Good Witch movies and reprised her role on the spin-off TV series. In 2011, she married hockey player Jeremy Williams. More recently, she was directed by her TV brother in Seater's People Hold On. Her newest project is Day Players, a short about young actors trying to make it in the dog-eat-dog world that is the film industry.
Jordan Todosey, "Lizzie MacDonald"
The middle sister in the Venturi-MacDonald family went on to play female-to-male transgender Adam Torres on Degrassi: The Next Generation for several years. Now, you can find her on the Netflix sci-fi drama Between, co-starring Jennette McCurdy. Todosey likes skateboarding, as judged by her Twitter profile pic, and rocked a super cute pixie cut a few years ago.
Daniel Magder, "Edwin Venturi"
The younger bro of the family, Magder was on the Canadian show Mudpit from 2011-2013, and his film Deadly Voltage was just released in the U.K. He also gets recognized for his Derek role on Tinder a lot, and shares screenshots of his convos on his Twitter.
Ariel Waller, "Marti Ventur"
The baby of the Venturi-MacDonald family, Waller hasn't acted since Vacation With Derek in 2010. Her Twitter is private, but it does state she lives in Canada.
Joy Tanner, "Nora MacDonald"
The matriarch on Derek played Laura Coyne on several episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation, guest-starred on Covert Affairs, and was Bonnie Reynolds in House at the End of the Street. Until February 14, you can see Tanner as Charlotta in the comedic play The Cherry Orchard at the Berkeley Street Theatre in Toronto. Tanner's also a cultural arts writer and journalist; you can check out some of her work here.
John Ralston, "George Venturi"
Besides his role as George on Derek, Ralston is also known among teens for playing Miles Hollingsworth II on both Degrassi: The Next Generation and Degrassi: Next Class. In 2015, he co-starred with Christina Ricci and Clea DuVall in the mini-series The Lizzie Borden Chronicles. Look for him later this year in the romantic drama Two Lovers and a Bear.
Shadia Simmons, "Emily Davis"
After playing Casey's BFF Emily on Derek, Simmons quit acting and earned a B.A. in American History at a New York college, then went on to earn a Masters in Education and is now a high school teacher. She's also the program director of Star Acting Studios, which teaches children about the dramatic arts.
Arnold Pinnock, "Paul Greebie"
Pinnock played the school guidance counselor and later went on to act on several TV shows, including Beauty and the Beast, Heroes Reborn, Young Drunk Punk, and The Listener.
Kit Weyman, "Sam"
Derek's BFF and Casey's on-again, off-again boyfriend guest-starred on Flashpoint, The Firm, Warehouse 13, and Rookie Blue. Currently, he's been on the short film beat, serving as writer, executive producer, and actor for The Cliff and the Road. Furthermore, Weyman's been a cinematographer for a series of shorts called Once a Tree. He's also one half of the hip-hop duo Two Left, alongside his cousin Tosh Weyman.
Robbie Amell, "Max"
Yes, the one and only Robbie Amell had a recurring role on Derek as Casey's boyfriend and the school's quarterback. Amell guest-starred on Pretty Little Liars and Modern Family and had recurring roles on Revenge, The Flash, and The X-Files revival. In 2015, he starred in the teen comedy The DUFF, and he'll wed longtime girlfriend Italia Ricci later this year.