21 Jump Street cast: Where are they now?
By Ricky Valero
As a young kid growing up, my teenage show was 21 Jump Street. Most people today, when they hear that title, the Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum-led movie comes to mind. However, the real fans know that the real 21 Jump Street is the 1987 series that starred Johnny Depp.
In this post, we are going to take a look at the cast of the series and where they are now.
What was 21 Jump Street about?
21 Jump Street was a show about an undercover police unit that was composed of young-looking officers specializing in youth crime. The series ran during 1987-1991. It starred Johnny Depp, Dustin Nguyen, Peter DeLuise, and Holly Robinson. The show is famously known for jumpstarting the career of Johnny Depp.
We also know it sparked the film adaptation that Phil Lord and Christopher Miller brought out with Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill starring in the lead roles. In the film, we saw Johnny Depp, Holly Robinson, and Peter DeLuise cameoed in the film reprising their roles from the series.
How many seasons of 21 Jump Street were there?
The series ran from April 12, 1987, to April 27, 1991, with a total of 102 episodes over five seasons. The show aired on Sundays from 7 p.m. on Fox for the first three seasons and Mondays at 8 p.m. for season four. The fifth and final season was on off-network syndication.
When did 21 Jump Street end and why?
The series came to an end in 1991 after five seasons. The season struggled once Johnny Depp left the show after four seasons. There was even a spin-off of the show Booker but that only lasted one season.
21 Jump Street cast then and now
Johnny Depp as Officer Thomas “Tom” Hanson
Seasons: Four
Episodes: 82 episodes
Also known for: Pirates of the Caribbean, Sweeney Todd, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
At the time of 21 Jump Street, Depp was just breaking onto the scene with roles in A Nightmare on Elm Street, Private Resort and Platoon. However, once he got cast in the role of Tom Hanson, his career took off and he never looked back.
After starring in the series, Depp went on to film movies like Finding Neverland, Sweeney Todd and Pirates of the Caribbean, all of which went on to garner him Academy Award nominations. Depp has become a global box office star and one of the best actors of his generation.
Peter DeLuise as Officer Doug Penhall
Seasons: Five
Episodes: 91
Also known for: Stargate franchise, Seaquest 2032, Robson Arms
Early in DeLuise’s career, he found himself making appearances on a bunch of the hits series including The Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes. After appearing on several other one-off movies, DeLuise landed the part of Doug Penhall where he could finally sink his teeth into something.
Life after Jump Street wasn’t all that glamorous for DeLuise. While he found himself working, nothing wasn’t groundbreaking until around 1994 when he landed the role of Dagwood/Wiggins on SeaQuest 2032. After a few season run of that, many years later he hopped onto Stargate but other than that, DeLuise has hopped in and out of smaller roles in film and TV.
Holly Robinson as Officer Judy Hoffs
Seasons: Five
Episodes: 102
Also known for: Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, For Your Love, Love, Inc.
Prior to landing the role of Officer Hoffs, Robinson played K.C. Cherry Bomb in the ever-popular cult-classic Howard the Duck. A fun fact about Robinson is she was the only member of the cast to appear in all 102 episodes of the series.
Robinson found success shortly after her time as a cop in Jump Street appearing in several successful TV series including over 100 episodes of Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper and 85 episodes of For Your Love. Robinson still continues to work with recent roles in the series Morning Show Mysteries, American Housewife and a short stint on Chicago Fire.
Dustin Nguyen as Officer Harry Truman Ioki
Seasons: Four
Episodes: 82
Also known for: Warrior, Little Fish, V.I.P.
Nguyen prior to landing the role of Officer Ioki appeared in several TV series for an episode or two like Magnum, P.I., The A-Team and General Hospital. He went on to play Ioki for four seasons leaving around the same time Depp did after season four.
Nguyen appeared in several different movies and tv series including starring opposite his 21 Jump Street co-star Peter DeLuise in SeaQuest 2032. After a 13-episode run on the series Die Gang, Nguyen found his next big series in playing Johnny Loh on the show V.I.P. starring next to Pamela Anderson.
Steven Williams as Captain Adam Fuller
Seasons: Five
Episodes: 97
Also known for: The Blues Brothers, The X-Files, IT
Williams had been acting for over a decade before landing the role of Captain Fuller. He had the second longest stint of anyone in the series behind only Holly Robinson, Williams played the role of Captain Fuller for 97 episodes.
Steven Williams has had no trouble finding work post-Jump Street. He has been acting for over 47 years now which has included appearances in the hit show The Chi, Locke & Key and playing Captain Erickson in Birds of Prey.
Sal Jenco as Sal ‘Blowfish’ Banducci
Seasons: Five
Episodes: 42
Also known for: The Blues Brothers, The X-Files, IT
Jenco wasn’t known for much prior to landing the role of Banducci and it is well known that he got the part because he was friends with Johnny Depp.
Post-Jump Street, Banducci worked on and off until playing in one last role in the 1998 film Living Out Loud and hasn’t been seen since.
Other famous people to appear in 21 Jump Street
The series also starred Josh Brolin, Bridget Fonda, Jada Pinkett Smith, Brad Pitt, Vince Vaughn, Christina Applegate, Thomas Haden Church, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
21 Jump Street last legacy?
Honestly, the show was a huge success back when it was on TV, and while Johnny Depp fans were aware of the series, the 2012 film 21 Jump Street opened the door to a new generation of fans. After Depp’s appearance in the Tatum/Hill film, people seemed out to watch the series.
Were there any spinoffs?
Yes, a short-lived series titled Booker was produced for the character Dennis Booker (Richard Grieco). It never found its footing, with the rankings causing it to last for only one season.
Where can you watch the 21 Jump Street series in 2022?
At the time of this writing, we found the series is streaming on The Roku Channel and Pluto TV.