American Dreams

American Dreams was an American television drama program broadcast on the NBC television network. It debuted on September 29th, 2002. It initially aired on Sundays at 8:00pm but moved to the same time on Wednesdays starting March 9, 2005. Season 3 began on September 26, 2004. It was officially cancelled by NBC on May 16, 2005.

Characters

Major Characters

• John J."Jack" Pryor (Tom Verica) - head of the Catholic household, Jack is a tough-but-loving husband, father, and owner of Pryor's TV and Radio Store. Also represented his district in the Philadelphia City Council. - See Jack Pryor
• Helen Pryor (Gail O'Grady) - Jack's wife, also employed at the Pine Street Travel Agency. - See Helen Pryor
• John J. "JJ" Pryor Jr. (Will Estes) - See John J. Pryor, Jr.
• Margaret "Meg" Pryor (Brittany Snow) - See Meg Pryor
• Patricia "Patty" Pryor (Sarah Ramos) - See Patricia Pryor
• Will Pryor (Ethan Dampf) - an elementary school student whose leg was crippled with polio, but underwent an operation to fix it in the show's second season. - See Will Pryor
• Henry Walker (Jonathan Adams) - a black employee in Jack's store who later became a partner/owner in the store, who also heads a family.
• Sam Walker (Arlen Escarpeta) - Henry's son, a bright college student and track star at University of Pennsylvania. In season 1, he went to East Catholic High.
• Elizabeth " Beth" (Mason) Pryor (Rachel Boston) - JJ's girlfriend, whom he marries in the third season shortly after returning from Vietnam. They have an infant son "Johhny" (see below).
• Roxanne Bojarski (Vanessa Lengies) - See Roxanne Bojarski

Minor Characters

Pryor Family

• Pete Pryor (Matthew John Armstrong) - Jack's younger brother, an officer with the Philadelphia Police Department. He is addicted to alcohol and gambling. Almost married in Season 2 to Nancy (Helen's coworker and friend), but got cold feet at the last minute.
• Ted Pryor (Christopher Cousins)- Jack and Pete's older brother, a successful businessman who has a strained and distant relationship from the rest of the family. He is only seen in a couple of episodes, but dies from a car accident late in Season 3.
• Melissa Pryor (Natalie Marston) - Ted's 18 year old daughter, niece of Jack and Helen. She enetered Vassar College in the fall of 1966.
• John J. "Johnny" Pryor III - JJ and Beth's son, born in Season 3.

Walker Family

• Gwen Walker (Adina Porter) - Henry's wife and a housekeeper, who died in Season 2 of cancer.
• Angela Walker (Aysia Polk) - Henry and Gwen's daughter, roughly Patty's age.
• Nathan Walker (Keith Robinson) - Henry's outspoken nephew. Spent some time in jail; eventually rehabilitated himself and now operates a delivery service.

Meg and Roxanne's Friends

• Luke Foley (Jamie Elman) - a record store clerk with an affinity for all things Dylan. Originally Meg's boyfriend in the first season, after they broke up Luke and Roxanne developed a relationship and began living together in the third season.
• Jimmy Riley (Jesse Hutch) - an American Bandstand dance partner of Meg's who eventually leaves to fight in Vietnam (he would later return to American Dreams in the second season, in a wheelchair).
• Drew Mandel (Sam Page) - A college student at the University of Pennsylvania; he and Meg have several dates during the show's second season.
• Lenny Beeber (Johnny Lewis) - Roxanne's second season boyfriend. Head of the band Lenny and the Pilgrims.
• Chris Pierce (Milo Ventimiglia) - Shelly Pierce's son, who becomes Meg's new love interest in the third season.

JJ's Friends

• Danny O'Connor (Rodney Scott) - Quarterback of the East Catholic football team in the first season. His older brother was declared missing in action in Vietnam.
• Tommy DeFelice (Paul Wasilewski) - JJ's macho friend and former football teammate.
• Kenny Keegan (Kevin Sheridan) - JJ's East Catholic friend and teammate; a mediocre athlete.

Bandstand Characters

• Michael Brooks (Joseph Lawrence) - the original floor producer of American Bandstand. His character left after the show's first season.
• Colin (Michael E. Rodgers) - Floor producer of Bandstand who took over after Michael Brooks' departure.
• Gus (Peter Spellos) - witty production assistant of American Bandstand.
• Teresa McManus (Michelle Morgan) - A regular dancer on Bandstand who does not like Meg.

Other Minor Characters

• Willie Johnson (Nigel Thatch) - Charismatic neighborhood agitator in North Philadelphia who played a major role in instigating the (1964 Philadelphia race riot).
• Rebecca Sandstrom (Virginia Madsen) - Helen's friend from a book club. Her character was dropped after the first season.
• Nancy (Alicia Coppola) - After meeting Helen while working at the same travel agency, she became one of Helen's confidantes. Nancy dated and then became engaged to Pete Pryor, only to be left standing at the altar.
• Donald Norville (Hank Stratton) - Helen's colleague at the travel agency. He is later fired for being a homosexual.
• Father Conti (Steve Ryan) - The Pryor family's strict Catholic priest who also serves as the headmaster of East Catholic high school.
• Mr. and Mrs. George Mason (James Read and Barbara Alyn Woods) - Beth's well-to-do parents. Estranged from Beth after she became pregnant with JJ Pryor's child, although some reconciliation was attempted in the show's third season.
• Mr. Greenwood (Art Garfunkel) - The bohemian owner of the Vinyl Crocodile record store. Appeared sporadically during the first season; in the second season he is said to have gone "on a worldwide tour with his friend," an allusion to Art Garfunkel's singing partnership with Paul Simon.
• Shelly Pierce (Daphne Zuniga), a single mom who works at a nearby Playboy Club and is the Pryors' next door neighbor (starting at the beginning of Season 3).
• Murray (Murray Rubenstein) - Barber shop owner whose business is next to Pryor's TV and Radio. A frequent visitor to the store, though he rarely buys anything.