Gimme a Break!

• Nell Carter as Nellie Ruth "Nell" Harper. Nell was a talented singer from Tuscaloosa County, Alabama who ran away from home when she was 18. She met and became friends with Margaret Kanisky and promised to look after her family after she had died from cancer. In keeping her promise, Nell took on the role of housekeeper and mother to the kids and remained in the series for the entire 6-year run. She later became a foster mother to Joey Donovan in Season 3. Nell moved to Greenwich Village in New York City in Season 6 with Joey and Addy and worked as an assistant editor for a publishing company.
• Dolph Sweet as Police Chief Carl "Chief" Kanisky (Seasons 1–4). Police Chief Carl Kanisky, known simply as "the Chief," was a widower with three teenage daughters. After Dolph Sweet's death on May 8, 1985, his character of the Chief was written out of the series as also having died, and the show continued with Nell taking over as head of the household.
• Kari Michaelsen as Kathleen "Katie" Kanisky (Seasons 1–5). The Chief's eldest daughter, portrayed as a typical "blonde" and being promiscuous. She decided not to go to college and opened a boutique called Katie's Corner. After her boutique went out of business, she was written out of the series in the final season as having obtained a job in San Francisco. Her last appearance was the first episode of Season 6, where she was now brunette.
• Lauri Hendler as Julie Kanisky Maxwell (Seasons 1–5). The Chief's middle daughter, portrayed as being very intelligent. She married Jonathan Maxwell at the end of Season 4 and became pregnant in Season 5. In the Season 6 premiere, after Nell Maxwell had been born, the new three-member Maxwell family moved to San Jose and was therefore written out of the series.
• Lara Jill Miller as Samantha "Sam" Kanisky (Seasons 1–5, recurring in season 6). The Chief's youngest daughter, portrayed as a typical tomboy in her preteen ages, but developed into a boy-crazy teenager. She moved to Warren County, New Jersey to go to Littlefield College and had a recurring role in Season 6.
• John Hoyt as Stanley "Grandpa" Kanisky (Seasons 2–6, previously recurring). The Chief's grumpy but lovable Polish immigrant father. After his wife died, Grandpa Kanisky came to live with his son and granddaughters in Season 3. In Season 6 he moved to New York City, into the same building as Nell.
• Joey Lawrence as Joey Donovan (Seasons 3–6), who eventually became Nell's foster son; before that he had been working as a con artist to raise money to join his uncle in Chicago. Later Joey became a key cast member. His father Tim Donovan appeared on the show in New Orleans and in New York City. Joey met his younger brother and moved in with Tim at the beginning of season 6 but soon afterwards was reunited with Nell and lived with her and Addy in New York City.
• Howard Morton as Officer Ralph Waldo Simpson (Seasons 3–5, previously recurring). A not very bright, but lovable police officer who was a subordinate of the Chief's.
• Telma Hopkins as Dr. Adelaide "Addy" Wilson (Seasons 4–6, previously recurring). Nell's childhood friend, Ph.D. and a Phi Beta Kappa, Addy was chief educational curriculum supervisor for postgraduate students who are studying for Doctorates in history, English and economic geography under the California university system and later moved to New York City; Nell eventually joined her there. Although Nell and Addy were friends, they were also constantly clashing.
• Jonathan Silverman as Jonathan Maxwell (Season 5, previously recurring). Julie's boyfriend and later husband, pizzaman and archeology student. Jonathan went to Mexico on a three-month dig. Jonathan, Julie, and their new baby left for San Jose after Season 5.
• Rosetta LeNoire as Maybelle "Mama Maybelle" Harper (Season 6, previously recurring). Nell's stern, bitter and critical mother who was introduced in Season 4 ("Alabamy Bound: Part 1"). Previously, in Seasons 1 ("Nell Goes Home") and 3 ("A Kanisky Christmas"), the character's name was Emma, was played by Hilda Haynes and was soft-spoken.
• Matthew Lawrence as Matthew Donovan (Season 6). Joey's younger brother who also lived with Nell and Addy in New York City.
• Rosie O'Donnell as Maggie O'Brien (Season 6). Nell's dental hygienist neighbor in New York City.
• Paul Sand as Marty (Season 6). The landlord of the building Nell, Addy, Joey, and Matthew lived in. He also owned the adjacent restaurant La Gazpacho, where he went by "Esteban."

• Alvernette Jimenez as Angie McDaniel. Nell's tall, skinny, and dim-witted friend, the typical airhead with a little girl's voice. The character was eventually written out of the show, but appeared in several episodes between seasons 1 and 4.
• Jane Dulo as Mildred Kanisky (née Wuchetzky). Stanley Kanisky's wife and Carl's mother. Also played by Elvia Allman in "Katie the Cheat" and Elizabeth Kerr in "Grandma Fools Around." Dulo played the role in season 2. The character died, leaving Stanley a widower in Season 3.
• Pete Schrum as Ed Kanisky, Carl's brother, an overweight mortician who loved to play practical jokes. Ed was a recurring character in Seasons 1 and 2, then got married and was written out of the series.
• Patrick Collins as Tim Donovan. Joey and Matthew's father was a merchant seaman. Joey reunited with Tim in New Orleans in season 4 (when Tim was played by Fred McCarren). Joey went to live with Tim and Matthew in the beginning of season 6 when Tim decided to get a job in New York City. After realizing he couldn't handle a 9-to-5 job, Tim decided he wanted to go back to sea and Joey returned to Nell and Addy along with Matthew.
• Jack Fletcher as Erwin J. Swackhammer. During the 1982–83 season, the family contended with this man who would annoy the Kanisky household in various ways, the most notable of which occurred when he was the manager of the telephone company and had Nell arrested and jailed. After 5 episodes, Swackhammer disappeared with no explanation.
• Harrison Page as Hamilton Storm. A news reporter that appeared occasionally during Seasons 1 and 2 who appeared more concerned with his appearance than giving the news.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment released a three-disc DVD of the complete first season of Gimme a Break! on February 14, 2006, available in the United States only. The Complete Series is now available in the US.

Visual Entertainment (under license from FremantleMedia) released the first two seasons of Gimme a Break! on DVD in Canada between 2006–07. In 2009, VEI announced that they plan on releasing the entire series in a complete series box set in 2010.[9] VEI released Gimme a Break! The Complete Series on DVD in Canada on July 20, 2010.[10] As of 2013, these releases have been discontinued and are out of print.

Simply Media TV Ltd released the first and second series in the UK, although the series has never been broadcast on British television.