Whatever Happened to the Cast of ‘Boy Meets World’?
If you’re a Millennial like me, you probably grew up watching ABC’s TGIF lineup and grew up right alongside the cast of Boy Meets World. The series premiered in 1993 and followed Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) from middle school through college, with plenty of lessons from Mr. Feeny (Williams Daniels) along the way.
The show ran for seven seasons, ending in 2000, but the cast never really disappeared. Some returned for the Disney Channel sequel Girl Meets World, while others moved into directing, voice acting, theater, politics or podcasting. Here is what happened to the main cast from Boy Meets World.
Ben Savage (45) as Cory Matthews
ABC/Everett Collection; Ron Tom/Disney Channel/Everett Collection
Ben Savage was the center of Boy Meets World as Cory Matthews. He had already acted before the show, including a role in his brother Fred Savage‘s film Little Monsters and appearances on Dear John and The Wonder Years. After Boy Meets World, Savage continued acting and later took a break from film and television for several years. He graduated from Stanford University in 2004 with a degree in political science.
He later returned to TV with guest roles on shows such as Still Standing, Chuck, Without a Trace, Bones, Criminal Minds, and Homeland. Savage also returned to Cory in Girl Meets World, where Cory and Topanga were now married with children. The sequel ran from 2014 to 2017, and Savage also directed 10 episodes.
In recent years, he ran for West Hollywood City Council in 2022 and later ran as a Democrat for California’s 30th congressional district, though he was not elected in either race. He married Tessa Angermeier in 2023, and the couple welcomed their first child in late 2025.
According to other cast members, Savage has not kept in touch with his castmates in recent years and won’t return their calls and texts.
Danielle Fishel (45) as Topanga Lawrence
Touchstone Television/courtesy Everett Collection; Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival
Danielle Fishel became one of the most memorable faces of Boy Meets World as Topanga Lawrence. Fishel had early roles on Full House and Harry and the Hendersons before landing a role on Boy Meets World. After the series ended, she appeared in films including Longshot, National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze, National Lampoon’s Dorm Daze 2, The Chosen One and Boiling Pot.
She also spent time as a TV host, including MTV’s Say What? Karaoke and Style Network’s The Dish. In 2014, she returned as Topanga in Girl Meets World, which followed Cory and Topanga’s daughter Riley. Fishel also worked behind the scenes on the series as a co-producer, director, and writer.
Since then, Fishel has built a steady directing career, with credits including Raven’s Home, Sydney to the Max, Coop & Cami Ask the World, Lopez vs Lopez, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, and more. Since 2022, she has co-hosted the Boy Meets World rewatch podcast Pod Meets World with Rider Strong and Will Friedle.
In 2024, Fishel shared on Pod Meets World that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer but is now cancer-free. In 2025, she competed on Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars and was eliminated on Nov. 4.
Rider Strong (46) as Shawn Hunter
Touchstone Television/courtesy Everett Collection; Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival
Rider Strong played Shawn Hunter, Cory’s best friend. Strong had been acting since childhood and appeared in shows such as Julie, Home Improvement and Party of Five before and during his Boy Meets World years. After the series ended, he studied at Columbia University and later earned a Master of Fine Arts from Bennington College.
Strong also continued acting. He starred in Eli Roth’s horror film Cabin Fever and later appeared in projects such as Pepper Dennis, Bones, Castle, and Too Late. He also did voice work, including Brick Flagg on Kim Possible and Tom Lucitor on Star vs. the Forces of Evil.
Strong returned as Shawn on Girl Meets World and directed 18 episodes of the sequel series. He has also worked as a writer and director with his brother, Shiloh Strong, including the short film Irish Twins. Since 2022, he has co-hosted Pod Meets World with Fishel and Will Friedle. The three recently released Doc Meets World, which steps away from the microphone to chronicle their reunion with each other and their fans.
Will Friedle (49) as Eric Matthews
Bonnie Schiffman/TV Guide/ABC/Everett Collection; Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival
Will Friedle played Cory’s older brother Eric Matthews, who changed a lot over the show’s seven seasons. After Boy Meets World, Friedle became especially successful as a voice actor. He voiced Terry McGinnis/Batman in Batman Beyond, Ron Stoppable in Kim Possible, Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Lion-O in the 2011 ThunderCats reboot, Bumblebee in Transformers: Robots in Disguise, and Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy.
Friedle returned as Eric on Girl Meets World, though much of his later work has remained in animation, video games, and podcasting. He co-hosted I Hear Voices with Christy Carlson Romano from 2022 to 2023, and in 2024, he began co-hosting Magical Rewind with Sabrina Bryan. He has also been part of Pod Meets World since 2022, rewatching the original series with Fishel and Strong.
William Daniels (99) as George Feeny
Touchstone Television/courtesy Everett Collection; ReMIND Staff
William Daniels was already a respected actor long before he became Mr. Feeny. On Boy Meets World, he played Cory’s teacher, principal, neighbor, and moral guide. Before Boy Meets World, Daniels had a long career in stage, film, and TV. His credits include The Graduate, 1776, St. Elsewhere, and the voice of KITT on Knight Rider. He won two Primetime Emmy Awards for St. Elsewhere and served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1999 to 2001.
Daniels reprised Mr. Feeny on Girl Meets World, appearing in the pilot and later episodes. He also released the memoir There I Go Again: How I Came to Be Mr. Feeny, John Adams, Dr. Craig, KITT, and Many Others in 2017. In 2025, Daniels made a surprise appearance on Dancing with the Stars during Fishel’s season.
Betsy Randle (70) as Amy Matthews
ABC/Everett Collection; Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Betsy Randle played Amy Matthews, Cory and Eric’s mom. Before Boy Meets World, Randle appeared on shows such as Dear John, Family Ties, Baywatch and Home Improvement. After the series ended, she appeared in projects including The Nightmare Room, Charmed and The Beat.
Randle returned as Amy Matthews on Girl Meets World, appearing in three episodes. Her later credits include Adam Ruins Everything, Dirty 30, Eve of Abduction, Painter, To the Beat!: Back 2 School and a 2025 episode of Matlock.
William Russ (75) as Alan Matthews
Touchstone Television/Everett Collection; Dark Sky Films/Everett Collection
William Russ played Alan Matthews, Cory and Eric’s father. Russ had a long résumé before Boy Meets World. He appeared in films such as The Right Stuff, Pastime, and American History X, and on TV shows including Another World, Wiseguy, Miami Vice, and St. Elsewhere.
He also directed several episodes of Boy Meets World during the show’s later seasons. Russ returned as Alan on Girl Meets World and directed the episode “Girl Meets Hurricane,” making him one of the cast members who worked behind the camera on both shows. His later TV work includes The Young and the Restless, Boston Legal, Deadwood, The Sopranos, Bosch, 9-1-1, and Animal Kingdom.
Lee Norris (44) as Stuart Minkus
ABC/Everett Collection; CW/Everett Collection
Lee Norris played Stuart Minkus, Cory’s brainy classmate in the first season of Boy Meets World. Minkus was absent for much of the series after that, though he returned as a guest in Season 5.
Norris went on to become best known to a different generation of TV fans as Marvin “Mouth” McFadden on One Tree Hill. He appeared on the series from 2003 to 2012, beginning as a recurring character before becoming part of the main cast.
He also reprised Minkus on Girl Meets World. In the sequel, Minkus was a billionaire and the father of Farkle Minkus, played by Corey Fogelmanis. Norris’ other credits include Zodiac, Gone Girl, The Walking Dead, Greyhound and the TV movie A Christmas Wish.
Lily Nicksay (38) as Morgan Matthews
Touchstone Television/Everett Collection; Chelsea Guglielmino/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Lily Nicksay originated the role of Morgan Matthews, Cory’s little sister, in the first two seasons of Boy Meets World. The character was later played by Lindsay Ridgeway beginning in Season 3.
Nicksay continued acting after leaving the series. Her TV credits include Judging Amy, The Guardian, 8 Simple Rules, The Mentalist, and NCIS. She also appeared in films such as Up Close & Personal, The Negotiator, and The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle.
Nicksay also built a strong stage career. She appeared in Last Train To Nibroc, See Rock City, and Gulf View Drive at the Rubicon Theatre, all part of Arlene Hutton’s Nibroc Trilogy. She won a 2017 Ovation Award for See Rock City and was later nominated for Gulf View Drive. In 2017, she returned as Morgan in the Girl Meets World series finale, “Girl Meets Goodbye.”
Boy Meets World airs daily on Freeform and is available to stream on Disney +
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February 2021
1990s Rom-Coms
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