You probably remember the theme song. It was that bouncy, 1960s-inspired "only in America" vibe that defined Sunday nights for a brief, shining moment in the late 1980s. When Rags to Riches premiered on NBC in 1987, it wasn’t just another family dramedy. It was a musical. It was a period piece. It was basically Annie meets The Brady Bunch, but with more doo-wop and a lot more hairspray.
The rags to riches cast had this weird, infectious chemistry that made the premise—a wealthy bachelor adopting five orphan girls to improve his corporate image—actually work. People loved it. Then, suddenly, it was gone. Cancelled after two seasons, leaving a trail of catchy covers and "Where are they now?" questions that have lingered for decades. Honestly, looking back at the lineup, it’s wild to see how different their paths became. Some stayed in the spotlight. Others basically vanished into normal lives.
Joseph Bologna: The Man Who Made Nick Foley Likeable
Nick Foley was the heart of the show, even if his character started out as a cynical businessman just looking for a tax break or a PR boost. Joseph Bologna played him with this perfect mix of grit and warmth. He wasn't your typical TV dad. He was a guy from the Bronx who made it big and didn't really know what to do with five girls in a mansion.
Bologna was already an established name before the show, having been nominated for an Oscar for writing Lovers and Other Strangers. After the rags to riches cast went their separate ways, he just kept working. You might remember him as Adam Sandler’s dad in Big Daddy or his voice work in Ice Age: The Meltdown. He passed away in 2017, but he remained a fixture in Hollywood until the very end, always bringing that specific "tough guy with a heart" energy he perfected as Foley.
Tisha Campbell: The Breakout Star
If you’re looking for the most successful alum of the group, it’s Tisha Campbell. Period. She played Marva, the street-smart, talented leader of the girls. Even back then, her voice was clearly on another level.
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Post-show, she didn't just survive; she dominated 90s television.
- She became Gina on Martin.
- She starred in My Wife and Kids.
- She voiced characters in Harley Quinn.
Campbell is the gold standard for child actors transitioning into long-term careers. She’s been open about the struggles of the industry, but her talent was always too big for a single 80s musical show to contain.
The Foley Girls: Life After the Mansion
The rest of the rags to riches cast had a much more "hit or miss" relationship with fame. It’s kinda fascinating. You have Bridget Michele, who played the blonde, fashion-obsessed Diane. She was the one most people expected to become a massive starlet. She did some guest spots on Saved by the Bell and Santa Barbara, but she eventually stepped away from the grind of acting. Last anyone checked, she moved into the business side of things, specifically in the fitness and wellness space.
Then there’s Heidi Zeigler, who played the youngest, Mickey. She was the "cute" factor of the show. She did a few more projects, like the TV movie The Adventures of Mickey Matson, but by the early 90s, she was out. She traded the soundstage for a classroom and became a teacher.
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What Happened to Rose?
Kimiko Gelman played Rose, the shy, artistic one. Of the girls not named Tisha, she’s probably stayed the most active in the industry, though often in smaller roles. She showed up in The Hunger Games as Venia (part of Katniss’s prep team). It’s one of those "I know that face!" moments for fans of the original show. She also does a lot of theater in Los Angeles. She’s a great example of a working actor who values the craft over the celebrity.
Why the Show Still Has a Following
Why do people still care about the rags to riches cast?
It’s the music. The show took 50s and 60s hits and rewrote the lyrics to fit the plot. It was Glee before Glee was a thing. But unlike Glee, it had this gritty, pre-digital aesthetic that felt more authentic. They weren't singing to autotune; they were just belting out Motown covers in a kitchen.
There was also a bit of a "lost media" vibe to it for a long time. It wasn't on streaming. It wasn't on DVD for years. That created a cult following of people who had taped episodes on VHS and traded them like contraband. When the DVD finally dropped in the mid-2000s, it sold surprisingly well.
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The Canceled Too Soon Curse
The show was expensive to produce. Licensing music isn't cheap. Filming musical numbers takes twice as long as standard scenes. NBC moved the show’s time slot around, which is usually a death sentence. By the time season two ended, the ratings had dipped just enough for the network to pull the plug.
The fans were devastated. There were letter-writing campaigns, but back then, you couldn't just start a hashtag and trend on Twitter. Once a show was gone, it was usually gone for good.
Fact-Checking the Rumors
You’ll often see weird rumors online about the rags to riches cast.
- "They hated each other." Not true. Most interviews with the surviving cast members suggest they were actually quite close, mostly because they were all young and experiencing this weird "instant fame" together.
- "There was a reunion movie in the works." There have been talks over the years, but nothing ever got past the "wouldn't it be cool?" stage. At this point, with Bologna gone, a full reunion is impossible.
- "The show was a ripoff of Annie." While the "grumpy rich man adopts orphans" trope is similar, the creators always maintained it was more about the clash of 1960s counter-culture and the old guard.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive back into the world of Nick Foley and his daughters, here's how you actually do it today.
- Track down the DVD: The 2012 complete series release is the only way to get high-quality versions of the episodes. Digital versions are notoriously hard to find because of music licensing issues.
- Follow the cast on social media: Tisha Campbell is very active on Instagram. Kimiko Gelman often posts about her theater work. It’s the best way to see what they’re up to without relying on tabloid gossip.
- The Soundtrack Search: There was an official soundtrack released on vinyl and cassette. If you’re a collector, check Discogs or eBay. It features the cast singing the hits from the first season and it’s a total nostalgia trip.
- Check the Guest Stars: Keep an eye out for young guest stars. A very young Brian Austin Green (pre-90210) actually appeared in an episode. It’s like a time capsule for 80s Hollywood.
The legacy of the show isn't just the kitschy music. It’s about that specific moment in TV history where networks were willing to take a weird, expensive risk on a musical. The cast did their jobs—they made us believe that five random kids and a grumpy millionaire could actually be a family. And honestly? That’s more than most modern sitcoms manage to do.
To get the most out of your nostalgia trip, start by watching the pilot episode again. It’s the most cohesive part of the series and perfectly sets up the dynamic that fans still talk about today. Look for the small details in the background of the Foley mansion; the production design was actually quite impressive for its time.