List of Switched at Birth characters
Switched at Birth is an American television drama series the centers around two girls – Bay Kennish and Daphne Vasquez – who learn that they were switched at birth. The Kennish family must struggle with the fact that their biological daughter is deaf from having meningitis as a child and must accept the character of Regina Vasquez, Daphne's "mother." Bay Kennish attempts to find out how her life would have been if she hadn't been switched at birth. The one-hour long series premiered on June 6, 2011.
Main characters
Bay Madeline Kennish
Played by Vanessa Marano, Bay Kennish is the artistic, headstrong daughter of John and Kathyrn Kennish, and she is Regina's biological daughter. She is a talented graffiti artist, and has a wild streak. In the first episode, she is arrested for attempting to buy a beer with a fake ID. She questions her entire upbringing, as she tries to integrate herself into the life she would've had with Regina. She becomes attracted to Ty, an old friend of Daphne’s and Regina's, and they start a relationship in the second episode. Bay often clashes with Daphne, especially when it comes to Daphne's romantic relationship with Bay's ex-boyfriend, Liam. She is curious about her father and tries to find out who he is, to little avail. In the fifth episode, she gets caught sneaking around with Ty by her dad. Instead of punishing Bay, her parents invite him over for dinner. There, Ty reveals that he has enlisted in the army, much to Bay's surprise and sadness. Bay gives him a painting of her trademark, "Axe Girl", in an army helmet when she tells him goodbye. The two almost end up engaging in sex, but Bay decides not to go through with it, saying that she just came to say goodbye and leaves the house in tears. In the following episode, she joins up with Emmett to find her dad and quickly bonds with him. After doing a lot of searching, they find Daphne's birth certificate in Emmett's garage, and Bay sees that the name of her father is Angelo Sorrento. In the episode after that, she searches for him online and is positive she has found him when she finds a man named Angelo Sorrento, who is a DJ at a nightclub. She invites Emmett and Daphne to come along, and when they arrive, they discover much to their disappointment that he is not Bay's father or the man who abandoned Daphne and Regina (he is also gay). Bay appears to have given up the search and curious about the contents of the guitar case that Emmett had mentioned to her. At the end of the episode when leaving school, she finds Emmett waiting for her outside. There he tells her that he likes her before sharing a kiss with her and walking away from a stunned Bay. The two later meet up again and decide to become boyfriend and girlfriend. She gets into n argument over Daphne and leaves. Bay becomes horrified when it's discovered that Regina knew about the switch for over a decade, and did not wish to become part of her life. This causes Bay to close off from Regina and seek comfort from Emmett.
Daphne Paloma Vasquez
Played by Katie Leclerc, Daphne Vasquez is the deaf daughter of Regina, and she is John and Kathryn Kennish's biological daughter. Daphne lost her hearing at a young age due to meningitis, but she is able to hear ambient noise with the help of hearing aids. Daphne likes Nicki Minaj and claims that she is agnostic. Daphne is the long-time best friend of her fellow deaf classmate, Emmett Bledsoe, who drives her to school every day on his motorcycle. It is clear that Emmett has a crush on Daphne, but she is unaware of this. Daphne is also close with Ty, a boy from her neighborhood, and says that he is "like her big brother”. According to her mother, Daphne's father abandoned her and Regina when Daphne was little. Later in the show, Daphne joins an advanced cooking class at Buckner Hall, Bay's high school, but after some incidents, she becomes the object of ridicule of the whole class. She reveals to Bay that when she first went to a hearing school that she was alone and ridiculed by a group of other schoolmates, which was how she met Emmett. He confronted Daphne’s bullies one day and then took her home to his mother, Melody. There, Daphne witnessed the use of sign language for the first time, and Melody introduced it to Regina. In a later episode, Emmett and Bay invite Daphne to go to a bar where the two believe the DJ is Bay's dad. Daphne is furious at first, not wanting to see the man who abandoned her and Regina. She refuses to come at first, but after some coaxing from Emmett, she hesitantly accepts. But to their disappointment, they find out that the DJ is not the right guy (as it is a gay bar). Earlier that same day, Daphne is shown to be clearly upset when discovering the large amount of time Emmett and Bay have been spending together. Later she confronts Emmett at their school, asking Emmett what’s going on between him and Bay. He insists nothing is going on between Bay and him, but Daphne is still left unconvinced. At the end of that episode, she sneaks Regina's guitar case out of her room after she gives Daphne a vague answer about why she still has it. Daphne spends days trying to figure out the lock code and finds out it is "Bay" (in a number code) and opens it to see a large amount of photos of Bay. Some are of Bay when was little and others of more present times. Some were taken clearly at a distance as well as from bushes. Other findings such as report cards leave Daphne shocked in realization that Regina has always known of the switch and has been keeping track of Bay ever since. She confronts Regina about this, but they are soon interrupted by Kathryn, and Daphne is forced to leave for school with her questions unanswered. While attending the cooking class at Buckner Hall, she runs into Wilke (who is currently suspended), Toby's good friend and her cooking class partner, who offers to take her away from school so they can take a break and hang out for the day. Daphne agrees, and they eventually end up getting drunk and having an affair together. They almost have sex but Daphne changes her mind by telling him 'not tonight', he offers to drop her home but she refuses and asks Emmett to come pick her up. But her anger for Regina does not end, and she later decides to move in with the Kennish family.
Regina Vasquez
Played by Constance Marie, Regina is the mother of Daphne Vasquez, but the biological mother of Bay Kennish. Regina claims she is an Atheist. Before moving into the Kennish’s guest house, Regina, Daphne, and her mother Adriana lived in a working-class neighborhood in Riverside, Missouri. There, Regina was a hair stylist who worked at home. She often clashes with John and Kathryn, but tries to make things work for Daphne's sake. Regina doesn't hesitate, however, when she sees that the Kennishs’ are trying to co-parent Daphne. In the episode "American Gothic" Regina opens up about being an alcoholic and collecting AA chips as rewards for staying sober. Her relatives were also alcoholics, and she tells Bay that she's trying to keep her from going down the same path. Regina's best friend is Melody Bledsoe, the mother of Emmett. Melody points out that Regina and Bay share some traits—they're smart, strong-willed, and they both have a passion for art. By the end of the episode "Dance Amongst Daggers" Regina accepted the invitation to go on a date with a guy she met, Bruce, at the Kennishs’ fundraiser. In the episode "The Stag Hunt" Daphne finds out that Regina knew about the switch ever since it happened. When Daphne finally cracks the code on the lock of the old guitar case in Regina's closet, she finds numerous pictures and even a report card of Bay's inside. During a meeting with the hospital lawyers, John and Kathryn discover that Regina knew of the switch back in 1998. Confronted, Regina says that her then-husband always accused her of having an affair that produced Daphne and when the girl was hospitialized, he took a DNA test to prove it and left them. Regina then discovered the truth but was afraid that coming forward would lead to Daphne and Bay both being taken from her so went into AA to try and be a good parent. Bay is furious her true mother knew all these years and stayed away and Daphne is also angry at being lied to. At the end of the episode, Regina leaves the house to, "stay with Melody for a couple of days".
John Kennish
Played by D. W. Moffett, John is the father of Bay and Toby Kennish, but the biological father of Daphne Vasquez. He used to play professional baseball and he and Daphne share a love for athletics. This leads him to press Daphne too hard to succeed on her high school basketball team, and she snaps at him for it. However, the two make up and John becomes friends with Daphne's basketball coach, Melody Bledsoe. They frequently socialize during the Kennishes' fundraiser in "Dance Amongst Daggers", which makes Kathryn become possessive of John. John intensely pursues a lawsuit on the hospital for the switch, wanting them to admit fault for denying him his true daughter all these years. However, during the desposition, it is discovered that Regina knew of the switch, causing a furious John to demand she leave the house.
Kathryn Kennish
Played by Lea Thompson, Kathryn is the mother of Bay, but the biological mother of Daphne. At first she wasn't too excited about telling her friends that Bay and Daphne were switched at birth for the sake of keeping her reputation, but after some pressing from Regina, she finally comes clean at a fundraiser. She was also against Daphne riding a motorcycle with Emmett, but it was again Regina who defended Daphne's actions. Regina tells Kathryn that Daphne was not the child Kathryn raised, so she and John should not try to co-parent Daphne. Kathryn and Regina more often clash than compromise with each other, but they have their moments of grace. In result of a conversation between the two mothers, she decided to commence learning Sign Language and is shown to be improving. Given how close she and Regina become, Kathryn is stunned when it's discovered that Regina knew of the switch for years and kept quiet.
Toby Kennish
Played by Lucas Grabeel, Toby is the brother of Bay, but the biological brother of Daphne. Toby is in a band called Guitar Face with his friend Wilke and Daphne's best friend, Emmett. Emmett joined the band in the episode "Dance Amongst Daggers". In the episode "Dogs Playing Poker" Toby is proven to be an avid poker player, but it has gotten him into some finacial trouble in the past. He tells his parents that he's 'playing miniature golf' with his friends when he goes to play poker. He has Daphne and Emmett help him win a few poker games to help him get out of debt with Wilke, but after Daphne misreads Wilke's body language, Toby loses a lot of money and is furious with Daphne. He subsequently goes to sell his band equipment in order to help him pay off the debt. In the latest episode, he admits he has a problem and goes to get help after talking to his parents about it as well has getting rid of his "lucky" deck.
Emmett Bledsoe
Played by Sean Berdy, Emmett is the longtime best friend of Daphne. He is also deaf, but doesn't speak verbally, preferring only to communicate with gestures (aside from ASL) to hearing people. He rides a motorcycle and usually drives Daphne to their school, which briefly concerns the Kennishs’. Regina tells them that Emmett is a very good driver despite being deaf. He is very protective of Daphne, not wanting to see her get hurt. It is hinting at the beginning that Emmett is in love with Daphne, but he doesn't make his feelings known to her. He has grown up in an all-deaf family, and has trouble relating to people who hear. He describes his perfect girlfriend as "hot, smart, funny, into motorcycles, and deaf”. He shows a strong dislike for Liam, and often tries to discourage Liam’s relationship with Daphne. At the Kennishs' benefit party he takes the place of Toby's band drummer, showing a real talent for the drums. Later on he leaves while Daphne tries to stop him, demanding to know why he is so uncomfortable. Emmett argues with Daphne, telling her that she is desperate to fit in with the Kennishs’ and their lifestyle. Daphne defends them and Liam, not caring whether or not Emmett approves. Emmett leaves, angry at Daphne. The two make up in the following episode when Toby invites them to play poker (only to help him get out of debt with a friend). However, Emmett is uncomfortable cheating, and he leaves in the middle of a game. He helps Bay locate her father in "The Persistence of Memory," and spend time with her throughout the episode. Following this in "The Stag Hunt," he continues to help Bay find her father and bond with her and it is suggested that something more is going on between them. When Daphne senses this she confronts him and demands to know what is going on with him and Bay. He insists that nothing is going on, but Daphne is still left unconvinced. However, at the end of the episode he meets Bay at her school where he signs to her that he likes her before sharing a kiss with her and walking away from Bay, who is clearly stunned. In the next episode, Bay confronts him about the kiss and they become more romantically involved. However, prodded by a wall full of pictures and texts to Emmett from Daphne, she becomes upset at him, and leaves. However, after discovering Regina's secret, Bay seeks comfort from him.
Recurring characters
Wilke
Played by Austin Butler, Wilke is a rich friend of Toby's. At the benefit which takes place at the Kennishes house, Toby and Wilke's band called "The Guitar Face" perform the song called "All I want" and Emmett saves the day by being their Drummer. In the episode "Dogs playing poker" Wilke outrageously flirts with Daphne, in a poker game when she sits beside him. Later in the show, He joins the cooking class to get his grades high and his partner turns out to be Daphne. He defends her when Clover and her friends mock her and that's when they unexpectedly become friends right away. After their class together, She almost gets run over by a car since she can't hear it but Wilke saves her. Afterwards, Toby and Wilke draw up and enact a plan to steal a chemistry test in order to pay off their poker-playing debts. He takes the blame for stealing the papers and gets suspended. Daphne runs into Wilke at school and apologises, he jokes by saying he's used to girls throwing themselves at him. She asks him wasn't he suspended, he says he came to collect his books reminding her that they have got some homework to do. He notices the sad look on her face and asks if she's okay, she responds by asking him if he wants to get out of school with her. He agrees and offers a ride to her which Daphne agrees while they are hanging out, they become close, get drunk and share a pretty intimate moment. They almost have sex in the back seat of his car when Daphne changes her mind.
Ty
Played by Blair Redford, Ty is the love interest of Bay Kennish. He is an old friend of Regina's and Daphne's. Daphne considers him her older brother. In the episode "Dogs Playing Poker," Ty admits he has enlisted into the army during dinner at the Kennishs'. This news was a surprise to everyone, especially Bay. Ty says his goodbyes to everyone then leaves soon afterwards.
Liam Lupo
Played by Charles Michael Davis, he is Bay Kennish's ex- boyfriend and becomes Daphne's love interest. He goes to Buckner Hall with Bay and Toby. His family owns a restaurant called Fondo Di Lupo. In the episode "American Gothic," he takes Daphne to a music store, and all goes well until a couple of his friends show up and begin ridiculing Daphne. Daphne becomes offended and leaves. Liam later brings fried zucchini to Daphne, knowing it's her favorite, but she takes the zucchini without any forgiveness for him. However, she meets with Liam again, and they begin a romantic relationship. She breaks up with him at the end the episode "Dance Among Daggers" in order to strengthen her relationship with Bay. He has not made an appearence in the show since.
Adriana Vasquez
Adriana is the mother of Regina and the grandmother of Daphne, but the biological grandmother of Bay. She also lives in the Kennishs' guest house, although absent for a few episodes while she is visiting her sister.
Other characters
Melody Bledsoe
Played Marlee Matlin, Melody Bledsoe is the mother of Emmett Bledsoe, the guildence councelor in Daphne Vasquez's school, and the best friend of Regina Vasquez. Her family is deaf. She tells Regina during dinner one night that she and her husband, Cameron, plan to separate, but that it is still unknown to Emmett.
Bruce
Bruce becomes the new love interest of Regina during a fundraiser held at the Kennish's house. Kathryn warns her to not get involved with him(calling him a player), but Regina ignores Kathryn, saying that it doesn't really matter since she has no interest in becoming his wife. Bruce has had three ex-wives and has cheated on them all. One evening Bruce confesses to Regina that he is still sleeping with his last ex-wife, Denise, which turns Regina off and she breaks up with him.