You probably remember the theme song. It was that upbeat, slightly frantic track that signaled the start of Peter Engel’s Saturday morning takeover on NBC. If you grew up in the late '90s, the cast of City Guys was basically your weekend squad. While Saved by the Bell was busy romanticizing the California suburbs, City Guys tried to do something a bit grittier—well, as "gritty" as a TNBC teen sitcom could get.
It was about Manhattan. It was about Manny High. Most importantly, it was about the chemistry between a group of kids who actually looked like they belonged in a public school in New York.
Looking back, the show was ahead of its time in terms of diversity. You had Chris Ramsey and Jamal Grant—the smooth talker and the rebel—navigating life under the watchful eye of Ms. Noble. But where did they go? Honestly, the trajectory of the cast of City Guys is a fascinating study in the "teen star" pipeline of the late 20th century. Some stayed in the spotlight, while others essentially vanished into normal lives.
The Duo That Defined the Show: Wesley Jonathan and Marc7
Wesley Jonathan played Chris Ramsey. He was the guy everyone wanted to be—charming, sharp, and always in a bit of trouble. If you’ve kept an eye on TV in the last two decades, Wesley is the one you’ve definitely seen again. He didn't just fade away after the show wrapped in 2001.
He moved straight into What I Like About You with Amanda Bynes and Jennie Garth. That was a massive jump. He played Gary Thorpe for four seasons, proving he had the comedic timing to survive the transition from teen-specific programming to mainstream sitcoms. Later, he took on the lead role of Burrell "Stamps" Ballentine in The Soul Man alongside Cedric the Entertainer. Wesley is a lifer. He’s one of those actors who consistently finds work because he’s reliable and has that effortless "cool" that he perfected on the cast of City Guys.
Then there’s Marc7 (born Scott Whyte). He played Jamal Grant.
Marc7 was the perfect foil to Chris. While Wesley Jonathan stayed in front of the camera, Scott Whyte took a wildly different path that many fans don't realize. He became a titan in the voice-acting world. If you play video games, you've heard him. He’s voiced characters in Ratchet & Clank, The Last of Us Part II, and even played Crash Bandicoot in Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. It’s a bit of a trip to realize that the kid from Manny High is now the voice of one of gaming’s most iconic mascots.
🔗 Read more: Blink-182 Mark Hoppus: What Most People Get Wrong About His 2026 Comeback
The Ladies of Manny High: Caitlin Mowrey and Dionne Gipson
Caitlin Mowrey played Dawn Tartikoff. She was the smart one, the overachiever, and often the moral compass of the group. After the show, Caitlin’s IMDb page doesn't have the 50+ credits that Wesley’s does. She did some voice work for The Wild Thornberrys and appeared in a few projects like Father of the Pride, but she eventually stepped away from the relentless grind of Hollywood acting.
It's a common story. Not everyone wants to spend their thirties auditioning for "Guest Star #3" roles after being a series regular on a hit show for five years.
Dionne Gipson, who played Al-B. (Alberto) and later joined the main crew, has stayed active in the creative arts, but with a heavy focus on music and stage performance. She’s a powerhouse singer. You can find her performing in high-end Los Angeles venues or doing specialized cabaret-style shows. She’s also popped up in shows like NCIS and Greenleaf. She has this incredible range that the writers of City Guys only barely scratched the surface of.
Ms. Noble: The Glue of the Cast
We have to talk about Lynne Thigpen.
She played Ms. Noble. To a generation of kids, she was already a legend because of Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? but on City Guys, she was the matriarch. She provided the "educational" weight that TNBC required. Tragically, Lynne Thigpen passed away in 2003, shortly after the show ended. Her death was a massive blow to the industry. She was a Tony Award winner and a brilliant character actress. When people revisit the cast of City Guys, there’s always a somber note regarding Thigpen, because she was truly the soul of that set.
Why the City Guys Chemistry Worked (And Why It Didn't Spawn a Reboot)
Why hasn't there been a City Guys reboot? We see Saved by the Bell come back. We see iCarly come back.
💡 You might also like: Why Grand Funk’s Bad Time is Secretly the Best Pop Song of the 1970s
The reality is that City Guys occupied a very specific niche. It was a bridge between the "wholesome" '80s sitcoms and the more cynical teen dramas of the mid-2000s. The cast of City Guys worked because they felt like real friends. There wasn't a "lead" in the traditional sense; it was an ensemble through and through.
The show also dealt with real issues—racism, peer pressure, and the socioeconomic divide in New York—without being as preachy as some of its contemporaries. Peter Engel, the executive producer, used the same multi-cam, laugh-track format he used for Bayside High, but the Manhattan setting gave it a different energy.
- Wesley Jonathan (Chris): Consistent TV veteran, still very active.
- Scott Whyte (Jamal): Major voice acting career in AAA gaming.
- Caitlin Mowrey (Dawn): Moved into private life/selective projects.
- Dionne Gipson (Al-B): Thriving in music and theater.
- Marissa Dyan (Cassidy): Transitioned into the jewelry and design world.
Marissa Dyan, who played Cassidy, is another great example of the post-fame pivot. She wasn't just another actress; she became an entrepreneur. She launched her own jewelry line, and if you look at her social media today, she’s clearly more focused on her business and her family than chasing a pilot season in Burbank. Honestly? Good for her.
The Forgotten Member: Steven Daniel
Steven Daniel played El-Train. He was the "muscle" with a heart of gold. Every teen show in the '90s needed a character like this—the big guy who was actually sensitive. Steven Daniel was hilarious. His comedic timing was often the highlight of the B-plots.
After the show, he had some roles in films like The Hub and Dark Blue, but he’s largely stayed out of the public eye in recent years. There’s a specific kind of peace that comes with being a "remember that guy?" actor. You get the love from fans at conventions or on the street, but you don't have the paparazzi outside your house.
Assessing the Legacy of the Manny High Crew
If you're looking for the cast of City Guys today, you aren't going to find a "Where Are They Now" special on Netflix. The show exists in that weird digital limbo. It isn't always easy to find on streaming services, which is a shame because it actually holds up better than many other TNBC shows.
📖 Related: Why La Mera Mera Radio is Actually Dominating Local Airwaves Right Now
The diversity wasn't a stunt. It was just New York.
The actors were actually diverse. They didn't just have one token character; the entire hierarchy of the school, from the students to the principal, reflected a real urban environment. That’s why the fans are still so loyal. If you go to any 1990s nostalgia forum, someone is talking about the "C-I-T-Y you can see why these guys..." theme song.
How to Follow the Cast Today
If you want to keep up with what they're doing now, here is the best way to do it without falling for fake "reunion" rumors:
- Follow Wesley Jonathan on Instagram: He’s very active and often posts throwbacks to his City Guys and Roll Bounce days. He’s the most "accessible" member of the original group.
- Check IMDB for Scott Whyte’s Voice Credits: If you see a new big-budget game coming out, check the credits. There’s a high chance "Jamal" is in there somewhere voicing a soldier, a monster, or a hero.
- Support Dionne Gipson’s Music: She frequently posts clips of her vocal performances. It’s a completely different side of her talent than what we saw on Saturday mornings.
The cast of City Guys represents a very specific era of television production. It was the end of the "educational sitcom" mandate, where shows had to have a "pro-social" message to air on Saturday mornings. Because of those constraints, the actors had to work harder to make the characters feel authentic. They succeeded.
Even if they aren't all A-list movie stars, the fact that we're still talking about the students of Manny High decades later says everything you need to know about the impact they had. They were the "city guys," and for a few years, they made us all feel like we were part of the crew.
To dive deeper into the history of '90s teen television, look for archived interviews with Peter Engel. He often discusses the casting process for City Guys and how they intentionally looked for actors who broke the "California" mold of the time. You can also find fan-run archives that track the specific filming locations in New York used for the show's exterior shots, providing a cool "then and now" look at the city itself.