Gerald Johanssen

Gerald Martin Johanssen is a fictional character in the Nickelodeon animated television series '. He is 's best friend. He was voiced by Jamil Walker Smith throughout the entire run of the series, even as Smith went through puberty (the voice change was explained away when "Gerald's Tonsils" were removed).
Gerald has known Arnold for years (if the scenes from "Eugene's Bike", "Helga on the Couch" and "The Journal" are of any indication), and was great friends with his parents. Besides being Arnold's friend, Gerald also has a good deal of knowledge of many legendary stories in the city, or "urban legends" as he calls them ("Stoop Kid" was the first he told, while "Ghost Bride" was the last). He apparently gets these myths from a source he has nicknamed "Fuzzy Slippers", mentioned in many episodes as his reliable assistant. Also, until Arnold taught him, Gerald did not even know how to ride a bicycle ("Gerald's Secret"). Gerald's catchphrases usually were "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?", "You're a bold kid".
At school, Gerald is the class president ("Cool Party", "Mr. Green Runs"), and considers himself very cool, and apparently, so do his friends. When it was revealed that Arnold was on 's so-called "Cool List", and that Gerald was on her other list known as "The Geek List" (due to a grudge Rhonda had against him over running for class president), many classmates were surprised to find this out ("Cool Party"). He seems to know a great deal of children's street culture.
His most distinct features are his tall, -style hair (classmate Helga often calls him "Tall Hair Boy"), and his shirt with the number 33 on it (he also wears 33 on sports uniforms, probably as a reference to either NBA Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Patrick Ewing, or Scottie Pippen).
At times he is shown to apparently have a crush on Phoebe, Helga's best friend, feelings that she also seems to return. This is first evidenced in episode "Wheezin' Ed" (also "Operation Ruthless" hints at a developing attraction inside the tunnel of love).
Family
* Timberly Johanssen - Gerald's little sister. She is usually causing trouble due to her desire for attention or naturally childish behavior. Unlike all the other children on the show, Timberly seems to get older throughout the series: At her first appearance, she is mentioned to be four years old, but she already attends the first grade in "Timberly Loves Arnold".
* Jamie O. Johanssen - Gerald's older brother, who causes trouble for him. In "Jamie O in love", Jamie O was suddenly very nice to Gerald and Arnold because of his girlfriend. After Gerald revealed his girlfriend was using him, he reverted to his mean ways, although said he would be nicer to Gerald "when he felt like it".
* Martin Johanssen - Gerald's sometimes strict father, complains about wasting electricity. Served in Vietnam.
* Mrs. Johanssen - Gerald's very kind mother, keeps the family together.
Relationships
There has been some rumors that Gerald is dating Phoebe. In several episodes they have moments with Gerald and Phoebe that seem to be romantic.
*In the episode "Operation Ruthless" when Gerald and Phoebe go in The Tunnel of Love Gerald asks Phoebe if she is okay. She replies "I am now," which proves that Phoebe likes Gerald. Plus in the end of the same episode, they hold hands while walking out of the Cheese Fair (Festival).
*In the episode "Gerald vs. Jamie O", Gerald develops a crush on a new girl named Chloe who moved down the street from him. So there's no answer telling if Gerald likes Phoebe or not.
 
< Prev   Next >