# List of Community characters
*Community* is an American television sitcom created by [Dan Harmon](https://www.edgepedia.org/dan-harmon), set at Greendale Community College, where a disbarred lawyer, Jeff Winger, forms a study group to impress a fellow student and becomes its reluctant leader.[1](https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/community) The series ran for six seasons and 110 episodes from 2009, and its characters fall into three main groups: the core study group of students, the Greendale faculty and administration around them, and the recurring campus figures who fill out the school.[1](https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/community)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Series | American sitcom created by Dan Harmon, set at Greendale Community College; 6 seasons, 110 episodes, premiered 2009[1](https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/community) |
| Premise | Jeff Winger, a lawyer whose college degree is challenged as fake, returns to school and leads a misfit study group[1](https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/community) |
| Study group cast | Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Donald Glover, Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Chevy Chase, and Yvette Nicole Brown, joined by Ken Jeong and Jim Rash[1](https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/community) |
| Character design | The leads begin as sitcom stereotypes (vain lawyer, hypocritical activist, overachiever, athlete, bigoted rich old man, nurturing mother) but, unlike classic sitcom characters, are written so they can change[2](https://kau.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A558088/FULLTEXT01.pdf) |
| Main departures | Donald Glover (Troy) left in season 5; Pierce Hawthorne was killed off when Chevy Chase left; Brown, Chase, Glover, Jonathan Banks, and John Oliver were all absent from season 6[3](https://www.etonline.com/donald-glover-confirms-the-community-movie-script-is-done-exclusive-218962) • [4](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/comedy-movies/community-movie-got-very-close-to-filming-but-one-stars-schedule-caused-a-delay-we-dont-want-to-do-an-arrested-development-netflix-season-situation/) • [5](https://time.com/3665984/community-yahoo-returns/) |
| Season 6 additions | Paget Brewster as administrator Frankie Dart, with the show moving to Yahoo[5](https://time.com/3665984/community-yahoo-returns/) |
| Follow-up film | A Community movie was announced by Peacock in September 2022 and, as of October 2026, had yet to film[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/1296402/community-reunion-movie-update-nycc-2026-exclusive-interview-joel-mchale-danny-pudi-ken-jeong-jim-rash/) |
## The study group
The core cast is the study group Jeff assembles in the pilot, played by [Joel McHale](https://www.edgepedia.org/joel-mchale), Danny Pudi, Donald Glover, Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Chevy Chase, and [Yvette Nicole Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/yvette-nicole-brown).[1](https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/community) An academic analysis of the series describes each lead as beginning from a sitcom stereotype while retaining, unusually for the genre, the ability to change; in a classic sitcom, stereotypical characters lack the ability to change themselves or their circumstances despite constantly trying.[2](https://kau.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A558088/FULLTEXT01.pdf)
**Jeff Winger (Joel McHale).** A fast-talking lawyer forced back to school when his degree is challenged as fake; he reluctantly becomes the leader of the study group.[1](https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/community) The archetype analysis characterizes him as the vain, narcissistic player and typical lawyer, chauvinistic, conniving, and opportunistic.[2](https://kau.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A558088/FULLTEXT01.pdf) Across the series his arc moves from misanthropic disgraced lawyer to, by season six, a slightly jerky teacher at Greendale.[7](https://time.com/3744573/review-community-season-6-yahoo/)
**Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs).** Described in the archetype analysis as a typical blond, somewhat stupid and clumsy character, but also hypocritical in that she does not always live up to her high convictions.[2](https://kau.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A558088/FULLTEXT01.pdf)
**Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi).** A pop-culture-obsessed student who functions as the show's engine of genre parody. The archetype analysis casts him as somewhat less stereotypical than the others: a typical nerd who also stands in for both the viewer and the whole show, self-aware and self-referential, able to be an observer and to take action.[2](https://kau.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A558088/FULLTEXT01.pdf) His pop culture obsession is central to the series' famous "six seasons and a movie" mantra, which he repeated throughout the run.[4](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/comedy-movies/community-movie-got-very-close-to-filming-but-one-stars-schedule-caused-a-delay-we-dont-want-to-do-an-arrested-development-netflix-season-situation/)
**Troy Barnes (Donald Glover).** The archetype analysis describes him as fulfilling the prejudice of [African Americans](https://www.edgepedia.org/african-americans) being good at sports, while also standing in for a character who wants to be a typical strong male but is an emotional kid inside.[2](https://kau.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A558088/FULLTEXT01.pdf) Glover left the series in its fifth season.[3](https://www.etonline.com/donald-glover-confirms-the-community-movie-script-is-done-exclusive-218962)
**Annie Edison (Alison Brie).** A high-strung overachiever and teacher's pet in the archetype reading, who also fills the religious stereotype of Jewish people being smart.[2](https://kau.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A558088/FULLTEXT01.pdf)
**Pierce Hawthorne (Chevy Chase).** The proverbial rich old white money, prejudiced against all he can, always finding something offensive to say without realizing how offensive it is.[2](https://kau.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A558088/FULLTEXT01.pdf) Chase is the only lead member of the original cast not signed on for the follow-up film; his character was killed off when he left the show.[4](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/comedy-movies/community-movie-got-very-close-to-filming-but-one-stars-schedule-caused-a-delay-we-dont-want-to-do-an-arrested-development-netflix-season-situation/) Series creator Dan Harmon has said publicly why Chase will not appear in the movie.[8](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/dan-harmon-reveals-why-chevy-chase-wont-be-in-community-movie/)
**Shirley Bennett (Yvette Nicole Brown).** The plus-sized nurturing mother type, with her Christianity and love of baking as an extension of that stereotype.[2](https://kau.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A558088/FULLTEXT01.pdf) Brown returned as a guest star for the sixth season's premiere and finale.[5](https://time.com/3665984/community-yahoo-returns/) • [14](https://www.tvguide.com/news/community-season-6-finale-yvette-nicole-brown-returns/)
## Faculty, administration, and later additions
**Dean Craig Pelton (Jim Rash).** The school's dean, whose embodiment of Greendale itself is noted in scholarship on the series' genre pastiche.[9](https://academic.oup.com/screen/article/65/1/160/7632061) He is credited as a main cast member in the show's cast listings.[10](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/318/community/cast)
**Ben Chang (Ken Jeong).** Listed among the main characters, credited as Señor Ben Chang in the cast listings.[10](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/318/community/cast)
**Frankie Dart (Paget Brewster).** An all-business new administrator assigned to ride herd on the committee, introduced when the show moved to Yahoo for its sixth season. Abed immediately parses her arrival meta-style, worrying she is "not distinct enough from Annie, both in terms of physicality and purpose."[7](https://time.com/3744573/review-community-season-6-yahoo/) Brewster was one of the season six additions; the season also dropped Brown, Chase, Glover, Jonathan Banks, and [John Oliver](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-oliver) from the returning cast.[5](https://time.com/3665984/community-yahoo-returns/)
**Professor Buzz Hickey (Jonathan Banks).** A Greendale professor played by [Jonathan Banks](https://www.edgepedia.org/jonathan-banks), the veteran character actor whose film and television credits include *Beverly Hills Cop*, *48 Hours*, and *Reign Over Me*.[11](https://www.nbc.com/community/credits/character/professor-buzz-hickey) Banks was among those absent from the sixth season.[5](https://time.com/3665984/community-yahoo-returns/)
## Where the characters stood after the series
By the end of the sixth season, the review record describes the former study group in new circumstances: Jeff teaching at Greendale, and the show asking, in its final episode's framing, what a hypothetical seventh season would hold for each of them.[7](https://time.com/3744573/review-community-season-6-yahoo/) • [12](https://time.com/3904887/community-finale-review/) A follow-up film was announced by Peacock in September 2022 to reunite the study group, with Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Jim Rash, and [Ken Jeong](https://www.edgepedia.org/ken-jeong) attached alongside original series creator Dan Harmon; [Donald Glover](https://www.edgepedia.org/donald-glover) confirmed the script was done, and the film's premise is described as the original Greendale Community College study group getting back together for a reunion.[3](https://www.etonline.com/donald-glover-confirms-the-community-movie-script-is-done-exclusive-218962) • [13](https://mande.net/es/production-listings/film/community-the-movie) As of the cast's October 2026 New York Comic-Con reunion, the movie had still not filmed, though the team said it remained on the way.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/1296402/community-reunion-movie-update-nycc-2026-exclusive-interview-joel-mchale-danny-pudi-ken-jeong-jim-rash/)
## References
1. [Community, Peacock series page](https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/community)
2. [Bachelor's thesis on Community and the sitcom genre, Karlstad University (DiVA portal)](https://kau.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A558088/FULLTEXT01.pdf)
3. [Donald Glover Confirms the 'Community' Movie Script 'Is Done' (Exclusive), Entertainment Tonight](https://www.etonline.com/donald-glover-confirms-the-community-movie-script-is-done-exclusive-218962)
4. [Community movie got "very close" to filming, but one star's schedule caused a delay, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/comedy-movies/community-movie-got-very-close-to-filming-but-one-stars-schedule-caused-a-delay-we-dont-want-to-do-an-arrested-development-netflix-season-situation/)
5. [Community Returns March 17 on Yahoo, Time](https://time.com/3665984/community-yahoo-returns/)
6. ['Community' Reunion: The Cast Gives Movie Update at NYCC 2026, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/1296402/community-reunion-movie-update-nycc-2026-exclusive-interview-joel-mchale-danny-pudi-ken-jeong-jim-rash/)
7. [Review: Community Comes to Yahoo, the Same But Different, Time](https://time.com/3744573/review-community-season-6-yahoo/)
8. [Dan Harmon Reveals Why Chevy Chase Won't Be in 'Community' Movie, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/dan-harmon-reveals-why-chevy-chase-wont-be-in-community-movie/)
9. [Genre pastiche and Community, Screen (Oxford Academic)](https://academic.oup.com/screen/article/65/1/160/7632061)
10. [Community – Cast, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/318/community/cast)
11. [Professor Buzz Hickey: Community character, NBC.com](https://www.nbc.com/community/credits/character/professor-buzz-hickey)
12. [Six Seasons and a Movie? Community's Touching (Possible) Goodbye, Time](https://time.com/3904887/community-finale-review/)
13. [Community: The Movie, Production List (M&E)](https://mande.net/es/production-listings/film/community-the-movie)
14. [TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/news/community-season-6-finale-yvette-nicole-brown-returns/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Sitcom and comedy series › Sitcom and comedy-series characters › Per-series character lists*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license