Where the Cast of 'Boy Meets World' Is Now

Then: Ben Savage

We watched then-11-year-old Savage grow up as Cory Matthews. From first kisses to graduating high school, most of his character's big life moments were also milestones he was experiencing off-screen. "I had spent seven years on the series ... and so when [Mr. Feeny] said, 'Class dismissed,' it signified a lot. I knew as soon as they wrapped that [final scene], a few months later, I was off in college at Stanford, and it really signified the end of your childhood," he told Us Weekly.

Now: Ben Savage

While the actor reprised his iconic role in the 2014 spinoff, Girl Meets World, Savage seems ready to step away from his sitcom legacy. "At the end of our conversations, Ben said, 'I just don't think it's for me,'" Danielle Fishel told Us Weekly of her former costar declining to appear on her podcast about the show. "And we get it. So we're respecting his decision. And if he eventually wants to come on, we'll leave that door open."

In 2023, Savage announced plans to run for Congress, registering to run as a Democrat in California's 30th Congressional District.

Then: Danielle Fishel

As Topanga Lawrence, Fishel was the "it" girl of the '90s. Her on-screen romance with Savage's character, Cory, had fans swooning for seven seasons—but it almost never happened. At '90s Con in 2022, the actress revealed that her character was originally intended to appear on just one episode—but things changed after producers watched her performance. And good thing it did, because we can't imagine anyone else playing Cory's love interest.

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Now: Danielle Fishel

Fishel starred alongside Savage in Girl Meets World, but her ties to the show haven't stopped there. In 2022, she launched Pod Meets World, a podcast she hosts with fellow costars Will Friedle and Rider Strong. Together, they break down each Boy Meets World episode, revealing behind-the-scenes secrets and memories from set.

"I think we jumped into the deep end a little sooner than we thought we were going to," she told TV Insider. "I think we thought the first few episodes would be fluffy and light for us. In some ways they were, and in other ways, some really deep stuff came out."

Then: Will Friedle

The actor was 17 when he was cast to play Cory Matthew's zany older brother—but he almost didn't get the part. After falling sick and missing his audition, producers chose another actor for the role—and that actor went on to film the pilot episode as Eric Matthews.

"He was the same size as Ben, and they knew Ben was going to grow and they wanted an older brother so they recast," he told Entertainment Tonight. "But I always tell people, if that actor was five inches taller, I'm not sitting here right now."

Now: Will Friedle

Friedle had no problem stepping into Eric's shoes years later for an episode of Girl Meets World. "It felt like coming home, it really did," he told Entertainment Weekly.

Co-hosting Pod Meets World has been another therapeutic experience for the actor. "The conversations may have evolved a bit as we've gotten older, but it would be disingenuous for us to sit here and talk about how much we loved Boy Meets World and then not delve into the stories that affected us," he told TV Insider.

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Then: Rider Strong

As the bad boy of Boy Meets World, Strong's character, Shawn Hunter, was popular and rebellious. Strong's one issue with his role? "I hated my hair. I came to the audition with that hairstyle, got the part, and the director Michael Jacobs never let me cut it from there on out," he told Cosmopolitan.

Now: Rider Strong

Strong also appeared on (and directed some of) Girl Meets World, though he later shared why he believes it wasn't as big of a hit as the original. "We're on Disney Channel and they won't allow us to [go dramatic]. I think had Michael [Jacobs] had his way, Girl Meets World would have swung just as extreme [as Boy Meets World]," he said on Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show.

As for co-hosting Pod Meets World with Fishel and Friedle, the actor couldn't be happier. "The three of us trust each other," he told TV Insider.

Then: William Daniels

We can all agree that the show wouldn't be the same without Mr. Feeny. He shaped the lives of the younger cast members—both on-screen and off. "When we were kids, goofing off and having a good time, he was very much a Feeny-like presence, even when the cameras weren't there, in terms of knowing his lines, being a complete professional, being on time," Strong told PEOPLE. "Those were things that we needed to see, and had to learn to emulate in order to be professionals in the industry."

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Now: William Daniels

In 2022, the actor celebrated his 95th birthday with his wife of over 70 years (and actress) Bonnie Bartlett by his side. "I'm very happy having a comfortable way of life now without having to perform or do anything stressful," Daniels told Forbes. "I don't do anything that I don't want to do."

And yes, he keeps in touch with his former costars. "He's still giving [advice]," Friedle told PEOPLE. "Ninety-five years old and he still shoots out the pearls of wisdom. His wife, Bonnie, as well. Talking to them is still magical."

Then: Anthony Tyler Quinn

You can't mention Mr. Feeny without also bringing up Mr. Jonathan Turner. Quinn's character was another teacher-turned-mentor for the young group—despite abruptly being written off the show in Season Four. "I was upset, a little bit, because I felt like they were really starting to tap into something that I thought was important," he told The Frack & Friends Show of the growing bond between his character and the young character of Shawn.

Now: Anthony Tyler Quinn

Quinn reprised his role for a three-episode arc on Girl Meets World. As for what happened to his character after he left the original show, he apparently married the nurse who helped him after his motorcycle accident and became a superintendent in New York—and he never stopped thinking of Shawn as a son.

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Then: Alex Désert

Désert played Eli Williams, Mr. Turner's best friend and fellow teacher. Like Quinn, his character was also written off the show. "I thought that that was a real missed opportunity to have another teacher character and kind of give some of the adults an opportunity to have more adult interactions and people to talk to. And he's such a talent," Fishel told Us Weekly of the actor.

Now: Alex Désert

While he didn't appear on Girl Meets World, Désert's career is doing just fine. In fact, he went on to become a talented voice actor, lending his skills to animated hits, like The Simpsons, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and Spider-Man, to name a few.

Then: Betsy Randle

Before she booked the role of the Matthews matriarch Amy, Randle had a recurring role on Home Improvement. "She is a solid actress who was always showing up and helping create an incredible set environment," Strong told TV Insider.

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Now: Betsy Randle

In recent years, the actress reprised her role for three episodes of Girl Meets World, and chatted with Fishel, Friedle, and Strong on Pod Meets World. "To connect with her and say, 'I was the same age you were when you were doing the show. I can see it from your point of view now,' it has been really nice," Strong told TV Insider.

Then: William Russ

Back then, he was the wholesome TV dad who was always ready to offer up a lesson or piece of advice. The actor actually turned down the role at first, though, fearing he just "didn't understand" sitcoms enough. They filmed the pilot without him, but creator Michael Jacobs "wouldn't let it go." After some convincing, he finally agreed to play Alan.

In 2022, Betsy Randle, who played Russ's wife, admitted to having a "huge crush" on him throughout filming. "We had such fun chemistry," she said on Pod Meets World.

Now: William Russ

Russ has booked plenty of acting gigs in the years since, even appearing on two episodes of Girl Meets World and as a guest on Pod Meets World.

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Then: Lily Nicksay

The actress played the youngest Matthews sibling, Morgan. Two seasons in, however, Nicksay quit and was replaced with actress Lindsay Ridgeway. "It's a lot on your shoulders and she was 6 years old," explained Fishel. "I think eventually she just got to a point where she was like, 'This isn't as fun as you guys all think it is.'"

"I think there [were] some issues that had to do with growing up," her TV dad Russ added. "I'm not sure she was very happy at the time."

Now: Lily Gibson

"I feel like I have a foot in both worlds, kind of," Gibson once told Good Morning America, according to The List. "I'm a part of the show but also an audience member." She reprised her childhood role on Girl Meets World as Aunt Morgan.

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