If you grew up in the mid-2000s, Cassie Steele was probably your icon. As Manny Santos on Degrassi: The Next Generation, she was the girl who essentially invented the blue thong trend and navigated some of the heaviest storylines on teen TV. But if you’re a fan of adult animation, you know her for something way more sinister.
Honestly, it’s still wild to think that the same woman who played the sweet-but-tough Manny is the voice behind Cassie Steele Rick and Morty legend Tammy Gueterman.
Tammy started as a background character. She was just a high schooler, a friend of Summer Smith, hanging out at parties. Then she married a bird, shot him at the altar, and became a high-ranking galactic dictator. It's quite the career pivot.
Who Exactly Does Cassie Steele Voice?
A lot of people don’t realize that Cassie Steele actually voices two different characters in the Rick and Morty universe. While everyone remembers Tammy, she also lends her voice to Tricia Lange.
Tricia is another one of Summer’s classmates, known for being... well, very honest about her attraction to Summer’s dad, Jerry. It’s a hilarious, awkward contrast to the cold-blooded Tammy. While Tricia is mostly there for comic relief and high school drama, Tammy became the centerpiece of the show’s first major serialized arc.
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The Tammy Gueterman Betrayal Explained
The "Wedding Squanchers" episode changed the DNA of Rick and Morty forever. Before that, the show felt like a series of disconnected, chaotic adventures. But then Tammy happened.
Watching Tammy reveal herself as a deep-cover agent for the Galactic Federation was a genuine "jaw on the floor" moment for the fandom. She didn't just arrest the guests; she murdered Birdperson, Rick’s best friend, right after saying her vows.
What makes Steele’s performance so good is the vocal shift. She goes from this breathy, somewhat airheaded "cool girl" persona to a sharp, clinical, and authoritative commander in a matter of seconds.
Why the Tammy Character Matters So Much
Tammy wasn't just a villain of the week. She represented the first time Rick Sanchez actually lost.
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- She broke Rick’s spirit: By killing Birdperson, she took away one of the few people Rick truly respected.
- She forced the Smith family into hiding: Her actions led to Earth being annexed by the Federation.
- The Phoenixperson Fallout: Even after she "killed" Birdperson, she brought him back as a cyborg weapon, proving she was just as manipulative as Rick himself.
Cassie Steele’s Journey from Degrassi to Adult Swim
It's kinda funny how the path from Canadian teen drama to intergalactic sci-fi worked out. Cassie Steele was originally set to voice the lead in Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, but she was eventually replaced by Kelly Marie Tran.
While that was a bummer for fans, it didn't slow her down. Her work on Rick and Morty has given her a massive second life in the industry. She’s become a staple of the voice acting world, proving she has the range to do more than just live-action drama.
Honestly, the "Degrassi-to-Rick-and-Morty" pipeline is real. If you look closely at the credits of various Adult Swim or modern animated projects, you’ll see several Canadian actors who cut their teeth on those Toronto sets. Steele just happens to play the character everyone loves to hate.
What Happened to Tammy?
If you aren't caught up, Tammy’s story reached a pretty definitive end in Season 4, Episode 10, "Star Mort Rickturn of the Jerri."
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She was tracking down "Space Beth" (the clone/not-clone version of Beth Smith) when Rick finally got his revenge. It wasn't a grand, cinematic showdown. It was quick and brutal. Rick killed her for the sham wedding and for what she did to Birdperson.
Even though the character is dead, her shadow hangs over the show. Birdperson—now resurrected and trying to find himself—is still dealing with the trauma of their relationship and the daughter they had together.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into Cassie Steele's work or the Tammy lore, here is what you should do next:
- Rewatch the "Tammy Trilogy": Watch Ricksy Business (S1E11), Get Schwifty (S2E5), and The Wedding Squanchers (S2E10) back-to-back. You can hear Steele slowly evolving the character's voice before the big reveal.
- Listen to her music: Cassie is an incredible singer. Check out her albums How Does It Feel and Destructo Doll. You can hear that same versatility there.
- Check out Tricia Lange scenes: Next time you watch a school-based episode, listen for Tricia. It’s a fun game to try and hear the "Manny Santos" in her voice compared to the "Tammy" voice.
Tammy Gueterman might be gone, but Cassie Steele Rick and Morty history is permanent. She took what could have been a forgettable background character and turned her into the most hated—and most effective—villain in the series' history.
To see the full impact of her character, you should check out the Season 5 episode Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort, which explores Birdperson's memories of Tammy and provides a lot of much-needed context on whether their love was ever actually real.