List of Girl Meets World characters

Girl Meets World is an American coming of age television sitcom. The series made its debut on Disney Channel on June 27, 2014.

The series is a sequel to the sitcom Boy Meets World, which aired on ABC in its TGIF block from 1993 to 2000. The original series centered on Cory Matthews, including his growing relationship with Topanga Lawrence and their eventual marriage. Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel, who portrayed Cory and Topanga, reprise their roles in Girl Meets World, which centers on the life of the couple's daughter, Riley Matthews. Her father has become a history teacher while her mother is a lawyer who gains part ownership of an old world bakery in "Girl Meets Popular". Other members of the Boy Meets World cast have either recurring roles or cameo appearances.

Main characters

Riley Matthews

Riley Matthews (Rowan Blanchard)^[1] is the daughter of Cory and Topanga Matthews, and has a younger brother named Auggie. At the start of the series, she is 12 years old and in seventh grade. She is the center of many lessons in her father's class, and is trying to find herself. She and her best friend, Maya Hart, explore school together, while making new friends along the way. She and Maya are in middle school for the first two seasons and then high school beginning the third season. Riley is very much like her father, having a similar personality and character traits; in "Girl Meets Cory and Topanga" she finds out how goofy both her parents were in their childhood and realizes that she is like both of them. She also develops a crush on her classmate Lucas Friar; they go on their first date in "Girl Meets First Date". In the episode of 'Girl meets Triangle' , Riley and Maya discover that Lucas likes both of them, but Lucas decides to propose to Riley in 'Girl meets Ski Lodge'. She is periodically portayed by Lindsey Lamer in flashbacks to the early period of Riley and Maya's friendship, around the time Auggie was born.

Cory Matthews

Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) is Riley and Auggie's father and Topanga's husband. He has taken a job as a history teacher at John Quincy Adams Middle School for the first two seasons and then Abigail Adams High School beginning the third season. In both settings, his class consists of his daughter and her friends and his history lessons relate to their lives, becoming life lessons for them. In addition to being Riley's father, he often acts as a father figure to Maya. He also acts as a mentor to his students, much like Mr. Feeny was to Cory, Topanga, and Shawn in Boy Meets World.

Maya Hart

Maya Hart (Sabrina Carpenter) is Riley's best friend. Maya is from a single-parent household, raised by her mother Katy; she is tomboyish, social and street smart, but has a troubled past rooted in the fact that her father Kermit abandoned her and Katy before Maya turned five. Accordingly, Maya is wild and rebellious as evidenced by her actions, such as protesting homework and almost lighting a class assignment on fire, but her friendship with Riley and the Matthews' family keep her grounded most of the time. In the season 2 three-part episode "Girl Meets Texas", it is shown that she also has deeper feelings for Lucas than she normally lets on. But she then supports the love of Riley and Lucas instead, as Josh tellls her that there is a chance for them in 'Girl meets Ski Lodge' She is periodically portayed by Ivy George in flashbacks to the early period of Maya and Riley's friendship, around the time Auggie was born.

Lucas Friar

Lucas Friar (Peyton Meyer) is another member of the group and also Riley's love interest. Originally from Austin, Texas, Lucas has gentlemanly manners and common sense, but is also fearless when defending his friends. He is also close friends with Maya, Farkle and Zay, and Maya also stereotypes him as a cowboy calling him derisive but good-natured names like "Huckleberry" and "Bucky McBoingboing"; in "Girl Meets 1961" it is revealed that Lucas is from a family of cowboys. In "Girl Meets the Secret of Life", Lucas admits he is a year older than his classmates, and his father was transferred to New York, giving Lucas a fresh start, having been kicked out of his former school in Austin. The reason for his expulsion involved sticking up for his friend Zay Babineaux after he got into trouble with some students.

Auggie Matthews

Auggie Matthews (August Maturo) is Riley's precocious young brother and Cory and Topanga's son. In the pilot episode he believed himself to be Riley's twin, and wants to be like his father when he grows up.

Topanga Matthews

Topanga Matthews (Danielle Fishel) is Riley and Auggie's mother and Cory's wife. Topanga is Cory's high school girlfriend and they have been friends since they were babies. Topanga has become a successful lawyer and is a loving and protective mother as shown in "Girl Meets Sneak Attack". She later inherits Svorski's from the late Mrs. Svorski, later changing the bakery's name to Topanga's.

Farkle Minkus

Farkle Minkus (Corey Fogelmanis) is close friends with Riley and Maya, but is also infatuated with them. In "Girl Meets Sneak Attack", it is shown that he cares for the two and will do anything for them to be happy. He is smart, a big flirt, and eccentric. He is shown to be the teacher's pet in many episodes. He is the son of Cory and Topanga's former classmates, Stuart Minkus and Jennifer Bassett; of the two, Farkle bears great similarities to his father. Farkle cares a lot about his education and always keeps his grades up in class. In season three, he becomes the love interest of his former arch-nemisis, Smackle.

Recurring characters

Evelyn Rand

Evelyn Rand (Jackée Harry) meets Riley and Maya on the subway in the pilot. They later call her Crazy Hat because of the obscure hats they see her wearing at the subway station. She is revealed to be a successful businesswoman.

Ava Morgenstern

Ava Morgenstern (Ava Kolker) is Auggie's girlfriend. Being slightly older, she manipulates Auggie into doing whatever she wants, remaining oblivious to how this affects him. Ava's personality appears to be a product of her mom's way of raising her. Early on, Topanga makes it clear that she does not like Ava, but in the season 2 episode "Girl Meets STEM", she takes Ava's side: Ava is furious when she and Auggie get exactly the same trophy after Ava singlehandedly defeats Auggie's soccer team 29-0. In the season 3 premiere "Girl Meets High School: Part One", Ava comes to Cory, Topanga, and Auggie when her parents are splitting up. In "Girl Meets I Do," Ava attends Shawn and Katy's wedding where she meets Mr. Feeny.

Smackle

Isadora Smackle (Cecilia Balagot) is Farkle's arch-rival. In "Girl Meets I Am Farkle", it is revealed that she was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome when she was five years old. By the start of "Girl Meets High School, Part 1", she has joined the others at Abigail Adams High School, having become Farkle's girlfriend and the unofficial sixth member of the group.

Katy Hart

Katy Hart (Cheryl Texiera) is Maya's mom. For Career Day at school, Katy reveals to Maya's class that though she works as a waitress she aspires to be an actress. Katy frequently fails to show up to any event of importance to Maya, believing herself to be a hindrance to her daughter's future. Her relationship with Maya is strained at first, reminiscent to that of Shawn and Chet Hunter from Boy Meets World, but they become much closer after Shawn reveals to Maya in "Girl Meets Master Plan" that Maya's father deserting her family was not Katy's fault; Katy maintained the story that she drove him away believing that a girl should think well of her father. As the series progresses Katy becomes a manager for "Topanga's" bakery. After meeting Shawn, she develops feelings for him. The two get engaged in "Girl Meets Upstate" and subsequently wed in "Girl Meets I Do".

Ms. Kossal

Gabriella Kossal (Aisha Kabia) is the art teacher at John Quincy Adams Middle School who is impressed with Maya's art.

Dewey/Doy

Dewey/Doy^{[lower-alpha 1]} (Cooper Friedman) is a friend of Auggie who pronounces his name "Doy" much to the annoyance of Topanga. He does not like his name and cries each time somebody corrects his pronunciation.

Zay Babineaux

Zay Babineaux (Amir Mitchell-Townes) is Lucas' old friend from Texas who later moves to New York and enrolls at J.Q. Adams Middle School, becoming the unofficial fifth member of the group. He fancies himself a smooth talker, but his words and actions more often get him into trouble rather than out of it. When Zay and Lucas were classmates at their old school in Texas, Lucas was usually the one who bailed him out, which was the situation that got Lucas expelled.

Charlie Gardner

Charlie Gardner (Tanner Buchanan) is an eighth grader at John Quincy Adams Middle School who admires Riley. In "Girl Meets Semi-Formal", he asked Riley to the semi-formal, right before Lucas was going to.

Sarah

Sarah (Sarah Carpenter) is a classmate of Riley and Maya at both John Quincy Adams Middle School and Abigail Adams High School. She mostly serves as a background character in many episodes, but achieves prominence in "Girl Meets Hollyworld" as a screenplay writer for a movie her father, the director DW Preminger, is casting. The episode "Girl Meets Commonism" shows her on the honor board panel and reveals her last name to be Carpenter.

Boy Meets World alumni

The following characters from Boy Meets World make appearances in the series in the form of recurring roles, guest appearances, or cameo appearances. They are listed in order of appearance:

Mr. Feeny

George Feeny (William Daniels) is Cory's omnipresent mentor who is now in his late 80s. Feeny makes a cameo appearance in the pilot episode, his only appearance in the first season. Mr. Feeny was Cory, Shawn, and Topanga's teacher in junior high, their principal in high school, and their professor in college. Throughout these years, Feeny was the Matthews' next-door neighbor and a close friend to the Matthews family as well as Shawn Hunter. In "Girl Meets Gravity", Cory calls Feeny to check up on him after the death of Mrs. Svorski. In "Girl Meets Pluto", Cory, Shawn, and Topanga, along with Riley and Maya, return to Philadelphia to dig up a time capsule from Feeny's backyard where they are caught by Feeny. He asks Riley and Maya how Cory has been to them as he receives some positive answers. He returns in the season three episode "Girl Meets I Do" where he comes to New York to wed Shawn and Katy as Ava meets him. Feeny comments that he is a lot of things. When Auggie calls him "grandpa," Feeny quoted "except that." He will return in the season three finale.^[2]

Minkus

Stuart Minkus (Lee Norris) is Cory, Shawn, and Topanga's former classmate, appearing as a main cast member in the first season of Boy Meets World, and as a guest star in an episode of the fifth season. Although Cory and Shawn often bullied Minkus, the boys also looked to him for advice on girls and life, and Stuart was good friends with Topanga, later becoming a fierce rival, which carries over to this series. Making his return in "Girl Meets Maya's Mother", it is revealed that he is Farkle's father. He appears at Career Day at school, whereupon he instantly renews his rivalry with both Cory and Topanga, and is proud to mention his position as the CEO of Minkus International. In "Girl Meets I Am Farkle", it is revealed that Stuart is married to Jennifer Bassett, an ex-girlfriend of Shawn's. He will return in the season three finale.^[2]

Harley Keiner

Harley Keiner (Danny McNulty) is Cory's good friend and former high school bully. In Boy Meets World, Harley was much older than the rest of the students due to being held back. He now works as the janitor^[3] at John Quincy Adams Middle School, as seen in "Girl Meets the Forgotten". He mentions in "Girl Meets Flaws" that Cory helped him get the job. Reminiscent of the original series, Harley likes to address Cory by the nickname Johnny Baboon. Harley is regretful for his past behavior and looks to steer kids from going down the wrong path. However, it is mildly implied that Harley's aggressive side isn't entirely gone as he mentions that without music, he's prone to do things. He will return in the season three finale.^[2]

Alan Matthews

Alan Matthews (William Russ) is Cory, Eric, Joshua, and Morgan's father, Topanga's father-in-law, and Riley and Auggie's grandfather. Alan has a close relationship with Cory and owns a wilderness store which he originally ran with his eldest son Eric in Boy Meets World. He appeared along with his wife Amy and younger son Joshua in "Girl Meets Home for the Holidays". He will return in the season three finale.^[2]

Amy Matthews

Amy Matthews (Betsy Randle) is Cory, Eric, Joshua, and Morgan's mother, Topanga's mother-in-law, and Riley and Auggie's grandmother. Amy has a close relationship with her children, especially Morgan, who is her only daughter. She would often disagree with Cory and Topanga as a couple when they made important decisions even though she is fond of them. She appeared along with her husband Alan and younger son Joshua in "Girl Meets Home for the Holidays". She will return in the season three finale.^[2]

Joshua Matthews

Joshua Matthews (Uriah Shelton) is Cory, Eric, and Morgan's teenage brother, and Riley and Auggie's uncle. He was born premature, underweight, and almost died just hours after his birth. He first appears with his parents in "Girl Meets Home for the Holidays", where he is 17 years old and is still living with them in Philadelphia. Maya has a major crush on him, although Joshua tries to make their three-year age difference clear to her. He visits his brother's home throughout the series, and enrolled at New York University prior to the end of season two. In the season three, two-part episode "Girl Meets Ski Lodge", he helps Cory chaperone his class's field trip. During the trip, he tells Maya that there could be a possibility for them in the future. He will return in the season three finale.^[2]

Joshua was the only member of the immediate Matthews family never to have a prominent role in Boy Meets World; he was originally portrayed by creator Michael Jacobs's son Daniel in Boy Meets World.

Shawn Hunter

Shawn Hunter (Rider Strong) is Cory's best friend since childhood, Topanga's close childhood friend, and uncle figure to Riley and Auggie. Since the end of Boy Meets World, Shawn has traveled around as a writer and a photographer. He first appears in "Girl Meets Home for the Holidays" and later forms a friendship with Maya, and develops feelings for her mother Katy. Cory and Shawn have a close relationship with each other that, as shown in Boy Meets World, is at times even stronger than the relationship between Cory and Topanga.

In the season three episode "Girl Meets Upstate", it is revealed that he has a cabin in Upstate New York. At the end of the episode, he gets engaged to Katy.

In "Girl Meets I Do", Shawn gets married to Katy. He will return in the season three finale.^[2]

Eric Matthews

Eric Matthews (Will Friedle) is Cory, Joshua, and Morgan's older brother, and Riley and Auggie's uncle. He first appears in "Girl Meets Mr. Squirrels". Like in the original series, Eric is a goofball and lovable, but is quite dimwitted sometimes. Now a full-grown adult, he appears to have matured a little, but is still considered to be the fun uncle in the Matthews family. As evidenced in the original series, Eric has good people skills. Since leaving Philadelphia, Eric has gone on to become the Mayor of St. Upid Town, New York, a fictional community near the borders of New York State and the Canadian Province of Quebec, after all those who would have supported his mayoral opponent died in a landslide, according to Eric.

To blend in with the locals, he wears a hermit costume, an homage to his faux alter ego, Plays with Squirrels, that was seen in the Boy Meets World episode "Seven the Hard Way". A running gag is that he tends to mispronounce Maya's name. He eventually is elected senator and is faced with a decision involving his friend, Jack Hunter. He will return in the season three finale.^[2]

Angela Moore

Angela Moore (Trina McGee) is Shawn Hunter's former high school girlfriend. Her father has since died and she has been married to a soldier for four years and is looking to potentially become a mother. Angela makes an appearance in "Girl Meets Hurricane", where she not only reveals to Shawn the tragic news that her father Sgt. Moore (Julius Carry) died in a fishing accident, but also that she has gotten married to a man in the service. Her reason for meeting up with Shawn is to get some advice and counseling about her fears of becoming a mother because she is worried that she may end up like her own mother. Shawn encourages Angela to start a family with her husband and experience the joy of being a parent. After this, Angela encourages Shawn to pursue a relationship with Katy and leaves to go back home.

Chet Hunter

Chet Hunter (Blake Clark) is Shawn's late father who died of a heart attack in the sixth season of Boy Meets World. During his lifetime, he was in and out of his children's lives. Since his passing, he occasionally returns to Shawn as a spirit guide as seen near the end of "Girl Meets Hurricane".

TJ Murphy

Thomas Jonathan Murphy (J.B. Gaynor) was an orphan whom Eric met while he was playing Santa Claus at the mall one Christmas. After Eric gave Tommy a toy for Christmas, Tommy became convinced that Eric was really Santa Claus and asked Eric for parents for Christmas. Eric, touched by the boy's request, decided to volunteer as Tommy's big brother. The two spent a great deal of time together, leading Eric to consider adopting him, but he later changed his mind so Tommy could go live with a family who could provide better support for him.

Many years later, he resurfaces in "Girl Meets Mr. Squirrels Goes to Washington" as a political activist and founder of a website called Thorn in Your Side that reports on political scandals with the latest one being about Senator Jefferson Davis Graham. He volunteers to help when Eric is nominated to run for senator of New York, though the others are unaware of his identity. Later at a debate against Eric's opponent Senator Jefferson Davis Graham, Tommy reveals his identity and speaks of Eric's compassion and how Eric had sacrificed himself for Tommy's future. Eric joyfully reunites with Tommy who expresses his desire to continue working with Eric's campaign.

Mr. Turner

Jonathan Turner (Anthony Tyler Quinn) was an English teacher who taught Cory, Shawn, and Topanga in high school. He was a laid back teacher who wore a leather jacket and rode a motorcycle. At one point, he became a father figure to Shawn and admits to loving him like a son. After his motorcycle accident, Jonathan fell in love with his nurse and married her.

Mr. Turner returns in "Girl Meets the New Teacher", where he is now a superintendent who personally hired Cory Matthews to teach history at John Quincy Adams Middle School. He is called in to oversee the class of Harper Burgess to see if she is worth keeping around after Principal Yancy threatened to fire her and Cory; like Mr. Turner in Boy Meets World, Harper uses comic books in her lessons and rides a motorcycle to work. Riley sees Mr. Turner as an uncle figure as he has formed an even closer affinity with the Matthews family than before, visiting their home often. Although thankful to him for being a good educator, Topanga holds a grudge against Turner because he gave her an A- in high school. He will return in the season three finale.^[2]

Jack Hunter

Jack Hunter (Matthew Lawrence) is Shawn's paternal half-brother and was Eric's best friend in college. Jack competed with Eric for the affection of Rachel McGuire. He and Rachel joined the Peace Corps at the end of Boy Meets World, but Jack eventually left while Rachel stayed behind. The two have since lost touch, while Eric and Rachel still talk often.

Reappearing in "Girl Meets Semi-Formal", Jack now works for a corporation that is not environmentally friendly and has been assigned to persuade Senator Eric Matthews to allow his company to build a pipeline somewhere. Eric takes it upon himself to try and show Jack a simpler time to change his ways by taking him to the semi-formal dance where he meets Riley.

Jennifer Bassett Minkus

Jennifer Bassett Minkus (Kristanna Loken) was once Shawn Hunter's girlfriend back in high school. However, she was an extremely arrogant and vindictive person who tried to keep Cory and Shawn apart. She returned in "Girl Meets I Am Farkle" where it is revealed that she is married to Stuart Minkus, and is Farkle's mother.^[4] It is shown that Jennifer is a changed woman proving herself to be a sweet, caring mother of Farkle and wife of Stuart. She supports her son while waiting to find out if he is diagnosed with Asperger syndrome.

Morgan Matthews

Morgan Matthews is the younger sister of Cory and Eric, older sister of Joshua, and Riley and Auggie's aunt. She will return in the season three finale. Both actresses who played Morgan in Boy Meets World, Lily Nicksay (who portrayed Morgan in seasons one and two) and Lindsay Ridgeway (who portrayed Morgan in seasons three through seven), will return in the season three finale. However, it is unconfirmed which actress will be portraying Morgan in the episode.^[2]

Notes

References

General references

The episodes of Girl Meets World that have aired are the source of most of the information in this article.