Ryan Cooley ends his run on Degrassi following the murder of his character, J.T.

A school rivalry with students from Lakehurst results in J.T. being stabbed to death.

Degrassi character's murder a series first

Updated Fri. Jan. 12 2007 4:32 PM ET

While Degrassi has always been known for pushing the envelope, this week marks a new level of intensity in its drama-packed portrait of teen life.

After tackling rape, teenage pregnancy and even a school shooting where the gunman takes his own life, this week's episode of "Degrassi: The Next Generation" upped the ante as far as it has ever gone --with the first murder of one of its core characters.

The events leading up to the pivotal event were set in motion early in the season, when J.T. stuck up for Mia at a basketball game with Lakehurst, her former school. A feud with Mia's ex developed that culminated when J.T. was stabbed to death as he left a house party (on his way to tell Liberty he still loved her).

According to Chris Jackson, Director of Digital Media and Merchandising for Degrassi's Epitome Pictures, Ryan Cooley (who plays J.T.) was the only cast member who knew of the death well in advance. Everyone found out at an episodic read-through of the script before filming the episode.

Shane Kippel, who plays Spinner, said the cast members couldn't believe what they were reading.

"It just happened out of the blue," he told CTV Toronto on Tuesday. "It was just a pure shocker. No one knew and we all turned that same page... no one had any idea."

Cassie Steele (who plays Manny), said that after everything they'd gone through over the past six seasons, it wasn't hard to get emotional. After all, Cooley had been in the cast since the first season of "Degrassi: The Next Generation."

"All of the characters are so close and we go to the same school, and the cast members are so close as well, the emotions just kind of flowed though the script and it came out in our acting," she said, describing the episode as one that will make fans "laugh and cry at the same time." 

"It was really easy (to act out), but also heartbreaking."

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