Disney Channel Stars: Then and Now (2024)

Rodrigo was on another Disney show before she was on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. The actress played comedic songwriter Paige Olvera on the Disney series Bizaardvark from 2016 to 2019.

She was later cast as Nini on the Disney+ series about a high school putting on the Disney musical,High School Musical.

The Disney star has been making headlines ever since the release of her single “Driver’s License” in 2021. Fans speculate that the song points to a real-life love triangle between Rodrigo, her ex-boyfriend and HSMTMTS co-star Joshua Bassett and Girl Meets World star Sabrina Carpenter.

In 2021, Rodrigo further fanned the gossip flames with the release of her song "Deja Vu."

Hu began her Disney career as the recurring character Marci on the 2015 show Best Friends Whenever. Theseries ended in 2016.

After, Hu starred on the Disney series Bizaardvark from 2016 to 2019. She played comedic songwriter Frankie Wong.

The Texas-born actress played Jessica on the 2018mini-series The Misadventures of Psyche & Me. In 2020, she appeared inRemnants of the Fallen.

In 2021, she played Anda in the filmVoyagers.

Blanchard played Topanga and Cory’s daughter, Riley Matthews, on the Boy Meets World spin-off series, Girl Meets World. The series ran from 2014 to 2017.

Before her breakout Disney role, she played Caitlin on the TV seriesDance-A-Lot Robot.

Post-Disney, the California-born actress had recurring roles on The Goldbergs and Splitting Up Together. In 2019, she had a role in the adventure movie A World Away.

Blanchard has been playing Alexandra Cavill on the series Snowpiercer since 2020.

Before starring on Girl Meets World, the actress had roles on the Disney animated series Phineas and Ferb. She also appeared on the Disney sitcom Austin & Ally.

Carpenterlent her voice to the character Princess Vivian on Sofia the First.

In 2020, Carpenter appeared in the Netflix movie Work It and the Disney movie Clouds.

In 2021, Carpenter was thought to be part of a love triangle between Disney stars Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett, after Rodrigo referenced an older, “blonde girl” in her song “Driver’s License.” Weeks later, Carpenter, who is also a singer and song-writer, released a single called “Skin” and fans speculated that it had something to do with the romantic situation.

Carpenter took to Instagram to share a message with her fans, and address feud rumors pitting herself against Rodrigo. "I wasn’t bothered by a few lines in a (magnificent) song and wrote a diss track about it," Carpenter shared. "I was at a tipping point in my life for countless reasons. So I was inspired to do what I usually do to cope, write something that I wish I could have told myself in the past."

Pettis got her first Disney role at the age of eight on the TV series Hannah Montana. In 2007, she played the daughter of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in the Disney comedy, The Game Plan. That same year, Pettis joined the cast of Cory in the House as bratty Sophie Martinez.

In 2011, Pettis starred on the sitcom Life with Boys. She later had a recurring role on the Disney XD series Lab Rats and on the Freeform series The Fosters.

The busy actress has never slowed down. From 2016 to 2019, she played the voice of Zuri on the animated series The Lion Guard and had a recurring role on the drama Five Points.

Her upcoming project He’s All That is an updated remake of the 1999 film She's All That.

The Georgia-born actress is best known among Disney fans for her character Chyna Parks on the network’s series A.N.T. Farm. The series airedfrom 2011 to 2014. A.N.T. Farm was not McClain's only Disney role.

The actress has been in many Disney projects, including: Jonas, Wizards of Waverly Place, How to Build a Better Boy and in Disney’s Descendants franchise.

In 2020, McClain appeared in the Adam Sandler Netflix Halloween movie, Hubie Halloween. That same year, the actress said goodbye to her character Jazmine Payne on the series House of Payne.She had been playing the role since 2006.

She currently plays Jennifer Pierce on the series Black Lightning.

Jeffery played Cameron Parks on Disney’s A.N.T. Farm. Before his Disney career,the actor appeared on variousTV shows.

He played Damon Dawson on Heroesand Chris onIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

In 2014, Jeffery had a role on the TV movie Cloud 9 and on the TV series Kickin’ It. The actor is involved in an upcoming project titled Puzzled.

His Instagram bio lists him as a father, actor, acting coach and MC.

McCormick had roles on Hannah Montana, Curb Your Enthusiasm and CSI. In 2011, she got started her breakout Disney role asOlive Doyle onA.N.T. Farm.

While appearing on the series, the actress also has a recurring role on the Disney TV show Jessie.

In 2019, the North Carolina-born actress starred in the sci-fi movie Vast of Night. The title was considered one of the best movies of 2020.

Her upcoming projects include the movies Camp and We Need to Do Something.

The Indiana-born actor started his Disney career with various roles on Disney XD, including Zeke and Luther and Kirby Buckets. From there, he starred on A.N.T. Farm with co-stars Sierra McCormick and China Anne McClain. Short played Oliver on the Disney XD series Mighty Med from 2013 to 2015.

The actor also appearedon the Lab Rats spin-off show, Lab Rats: Elite Force, in 2016.

In 2020, Short starred in the British sports comedy The First Team. That same year, he played Mikey in the David Henrie directedfilm,This Is the Year.

His upcoming projects include a movie called Supercool, about a teen who makes a wish that comes true. It is set for a 2021 release.

Miley's Disney careerbegan with the Hannah Montana series. The successful series spawned albums, tours and even a movie.

TheTennessee-born actress began dating Jonas Brothers star Nick Jonas and the duo became Disney's "it" couple.

Miley married actor Liam Hemsworth in 2018. The couple later divorced that same year. In 2020, Cyrus released her seventh studio album, Plastic Hearts.

In honor of the fifteenth anniversary of Hannah Montana, Cyrus penned a heartfelt letter to her alter ego. "You were like a rocket that flew me to the moon and never brought me back down," she wrote.

Lizzie McGuire was a hit for the Disney Channel, and the titular role rocketed Hilary into a household name. After the Lizzie McGuire movie, Duff started in a handful of family-friendly films.

The blonde actress starred in A Cinderella Story and Raise Your Voice.

Since her time on the show, the star has recorded five studio albums and currently stars on TV Land’s Younger. In 2019, Duff married Matthew Koma. The couple have two children.Duff shares her son Luca, with ex-husbandMike Comrie.

In 2021, it was announced that the Lizzie McGuire actress will star in the How I Met Your Mothersequel series, How I Met Your Father.

The actor played mischievous Louis Stevens on Even Stevens from 2000 to 2003.The popular Disney Channel series even had its own TV movie, but that was only the beginning of LaBeouf's movie career.

The curly-haired actorwent onto star in such blockbusters as Transformers and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

La Beouf's movie career is still going strong. His recently movies include Honey Boy, The Peanut Butter Falcon and Pieces of a Woman. Unfortunately, the star has been plagued with substance abuse problems. In July 2017, he was arrested in Savannah, Georgia, for public drunkenness, obstruction and disorderly conduct.

The actor has also been the subject of abuse allegations by artist and ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs.

The actor appeared in the films If Tomorrow Comes and A.I. Artificial Intelligence before joining the Disney Channel. Thomasplayed Lizzie Maguire's annoying little brother Matt.

The beloved younger brother characterwas always coming up with crazy schemes and annoying his sister and her friends.

After Lizzie McGuire, the actor had a roll on the Disney series Cory in the House. These days, the 27-year-old actor stars in the popular YouTube seriesStorytellers.

Heis also a professional photographer.

The twins had some TV and film success before their Disney careers. They both played Julian,the little boy who stole hearts in the Adam Sandler movie,Big Daddy. They also played Ross Geller's son, Ben, on the sitcom Friends. They began starring onThe Suite Life of Zack and Codyin 2005.

They would continue playing Zack and Cody on the spin-off series,The Suite Life on Deck, in 2008.

Both boys graduated with honors from New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study in 2015. As a joke, they received each other’s diplomas during their graduation ceremony.

Cole currently stars as Jughead in the CW’s Riverdale.Dylan is back in front of the camera with the movieAfter We Collided.

Although her first TV role was on Barney &Friends, her first Disney role was on As the Bell Rings. The actress and singer was also the lead of Sonny With a Chance.

Lovato's Disney career was defined by her starring role alongside Joe Jonasin the DCOM, Camp Rock. She and Jonas were also the stars of Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.

After a difficult few years that included suffering from bulimia, substance abuse and self-harm, the "Sorry Not Sorry" singer is now stronger than ever and has become an advocate for those suffering from the same issues, all while becoming a venerable pop star in her own right.

She recently released an intimate series on YouTube about her life, career, trauma, and struggles with addictiontitledDemi Lovato: Dancing With the Devil.

Efron's first-ever TV appearance was on an episode of Firefly in 2002.The young actor playedCameron Bale on the series Summerland from 2004 to 2005.

In 2006, Efron got hisbreakthrough role as Troy Bolton in the DCOM original,High School Musical.The movie musical franchise included a TV movie sequel and a theatrically released three-quel.

After his Disney Channel stardom, the actor went on to become an evenbigger movie star. Efron had starring roles inmovies such as Neighbors, Baywatch and the movie musical The Greatest Showman. In 2019, Efron portrayed American serial killer Ted Bundy in the Netflix crime dramaExtremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.

In 2020, the celeb hosted the Netflix travel series Down to Earth with Zac Efron. Efronis anticipated to star in the Disney+ remake of Three Men and a Baby. The title is set for 2022 release.

The former Disney darling's first-ever TV gig was onBarney & Friends. Gomez's first Disney appearances includedThe Suite Life of Zack & Cody andHannah Montana.

The Texas-born star became Alex Russo on the Disney series Wizards of Waverly Place in 2007.

The "It Ain't Me" singer has been focusing on her music career. In 2020, she released the album Rare,and launched her beauty line Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez. In 2021, shereleaseda Spanish-language album, Revelación.

Gomez currently stars on the HBO Max cooking series, Selena + Chef. She will have a role in the 2021 TV showOnly Murders in the Building.

Palmer's first role was as Gina's niece inBarbershop 2: Back in Business. The Illinois–born actress was the star of the spelling bee film,Akeelah and the Bee.

Keke made her Disney debut in Jump In!, a movie about double dutch that also starred High School Musical's Corbin Bleu.

Since the series wrapped in 2011, Palmer had starring roles on the 90210 reboot (2013), Scream Queens (2015), Berlin Station (2017), Star (2017) and Scream: The TV Series (2019). In 2019,she starred alongside Jennifer Lopez in the movieHustlers.

It was announced that she will join the Proud Family revival series on Disney+.

You may remember her as Andrew Garfield's character's overbearing girlfriend in The Social Network or as ditzy hotel heiress London Tipton on Disney's The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, but this California-born actress has been on the small screen since 1994. She's had roles on some of your childhood favorites, including Small Talk, MADtv, 7th Heaven and The Bernie Mac Show.

Throughout her teen years, Song starred in many Disney original movies and TV series including Get a Clue, Stuck in the Suburbs, Phil of the Future, Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior and Yay Me! Starring London Tipton.

Song went on to have roles on Scandal, New Girl, Dads and Station 19. Although she was publicly upset about not getting to audition for Crazy Rich Asians, the former Disney darling is now a lead on the Hulu original series Dollface. In 2019, she was the star of the Netflix movie Secret Obsession.

The former child star has been candid about what it’s like to work with other former kid stars. "Child actors, we don't even get to talk about it, you just look each other in the eye and you nod and we know," the actress told ET at Disney Channel's fanfest at California Adventure Park in 2019.

In 2021, Song had her first child with boyfriend Macaulay Culkin.

Though she got started as a model, Zendaya got her big break as Rocky Blue on the Disney seriesShake It Up. The actress also had roles on the Disney series A.N.T. Farm and the Disney sitcomK.C. Undercover.

Although she had always made music with Disney, Zendaya got to show off her vocal chops in the 2017 movie musicalThe Greatest Showman.

The Oakland-born actress had leading roles inSpider-Man: Homecomingand Spider-Man: Far from Home. She iscurrently the star of the HBO series Euphoria.

In 2021, she was one of the stars of the dramaMalcolm & Marie. Her upcoming projects includeSpider-Man: No Way HomeandSpace Jam: A New Legacy.

Before she was Gabriella Montez in Disney'sHigh School Musical, the actress had several TV and movie roles. Her first-ever TV performance was on a 2002 episode of the seriesStill Standing. In 2003, she played Noel in the Evan Rachel Wood dramaThirteen.

In 2006, she played Corrie on multiple episodes ofThe Suite Life of Zack & Cody.

Vanessa is still taking the stage regularly, having starred as the title role in Gigi on Broadway and as Rizzo in Fox’s Grease: Live. In 2019, she played Maureen for TV's Rent: Live. She is also anticipated to appear in another Jonathan Larson musical, this time for Netflix'sLin-Manuel Miranda-directed 2021 feature,tick, tick...Boom!.

The actress, who is also the star of the Princess Switch holiday movies,is currently dating MLB player Cole Tucker.

Acting since the age of seven, Jake was best known as Max Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place. The Disney Channel star was also the voice of Diego on the animated kids' series Dora the Explorer andGo, Diego! Go!

Austin later played Jesus Adams Foster on the drama series The Fosters.

Jake became one of many Disney kids to compete on Dancing With the Stars (Zendaya did too!), though his time on the competition show was short-lived -- he was the first to be eliminated with his partner Jenna Johnson in Season 23.

In 2020, the actor had a role in the crime drama Adverse. In 2021, he playedAngel Ramirez on the series The Rise.

Before he was on Disney, Earles had roles on Malcolm in the Middle and Still Standing. He even had a partin the 2004 film National Treasure.

The actor rose to fameplayingMiley Cyrus’ 16-year-old brother Jackson Stewart on the Disney seriesHannah Montana -- despite the fact that he was 29 years old at the time!

Post-Hannah Montana, the actor was a part of the Disney XD seriesKickin’ It, which ran for four seasons. His career continued with roleson the shows WTH: Welcome to Howler,Hotel Du Loone andMood Swings.

In 2020, he playedSkeeter Swindell on the showJust Roll With It.

Thorne's journey tostardom did not start with the Disney seriesShake It Up. She had roles on The O.C.,My Own Worst Enemy andBig Love before hitting itbigas CeCe Jones on the Disney series.

After her breakout role, the Florida-born actresswent on to star in the Disney Channel movie Frenemies and released two solo singles.

Thorne continues to act, but she’s becoming more known for her Snapchat as well as her openness when it comes to talking about cyberbullying and her sexuality. Her biggest roles as of late were in Famous in Love and Scream: the TV Series. She was also revealed to be theSwan on The Masked Singer.

In 2021, she announced that she is engaged to her boyfriend Benjamin Mascolo. She currently plays Lily Mayflower on the TV showParadise City.

Ryan was the star of many Disney Channel original movies, including Smart House, The Luck of the Irish and A Ring of Endless Light.

Before his Disney fame, theOklahoma-born celeb appeared on many TV shows. Merriman was on The Mommies from 1993 to 1995. From 1996 to 2000, he had a role on the showThe Pretender.

He has since continued to spend time on the small screen. The actor has had roles onPretty Little Liars and appeared in movies such asThe Ring Two, Final Destination 3 and 42.

In 2021, he was in the film Diamond Rose. The actor's upcoming projects include Out of Exile and Model House.

Before Bieber or One Direction, there were the Jonas Brothers. When thisband of brothers guest starred on Hannah Montana, they stole hearts across the world.The bandtoured with Miley Cyrus, andNick even dated Miley for a bit in 2009.

After the boys starred in the DCOMs Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, they got their ownDisney Channel show, Jonas.

Guess who got back together! The Jonas Brothers put out a new album in 2019 and even went on tour.Joe Jonas married actress Sophie Turner in May 2019. They welcomed a daughter, Willa, in 2020.

Nick Jonas married actress Priyanka Chopra in December 2018.

Kevin Jonas is still married toDanielle. The couple have two daughter.

The actress joined The Cosby Show in 1989 when she was just four years old, then had roles on Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, My Wife and Kids and in the 1998 movie Doctor Dolittle. She became widely known for her performance as Raven on Disney Channel's series about a teen psychic called That's So Raven, and for her work in The Cheetah Girls films.

The actress’ early career is largely defined by her Disney work, which includes many titles such as Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, The Proud Family, Zenon: Z3, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Kim Possible, and the That’s So Raven spinoff series Cory in the House.

Life has become busy for the That's So Raven star. She has most recently been a host on The View, a contestant on The Masked Singer, guest-starred on Black-ish and is now starring on the That's So Raven reboot, Raven's Home. The actress also got married in 2020.

Also in 2020, the former child star hinted that she might be “helping out” on Cheetah Girl pal Adrienne Houghton’s talk show series, The Real. “I'll never say no to a cool job," she told ET. "I don't mind helping out where they need me to. As long as we're corona safe, I'm down for the cause."

Although he was best known for his role as Rico in Hannah Montana, Arias had small roles in other Disney Channel shows. The pint-sized child star appeared onThe Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Wizards of Waverly Place.

He also voiced the character Fred on Phineas and Ferb.

The Disney Channel alum has still got the acting bug. His film, The Kings of Summer, premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. In 2020, he had a major rolein the Judd Apatow movieThe King of Staten Island.

His upcoming projects include titles such asSamaritan andAmerican Murderer.

Before he played Beans, the annoying neighbor on Even Stevens, Lawrence had a bevy of TV roles. His instantly recognizable face was seen onSabrina the Teenage Witch, ER,Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Frasier.

The Disney actor also had a role on the Disney seriesThat's So Raven.

After the Disney series that made him a celeb, Lawrence appeared in the filmsThe Cat in the Hat,Cheaper by the Dozen,Kicking & Screaming and Bratz. Since then, the actor has had a smattering of roles including on Weeds andEagleheart.

In 2015, the news that the actorwas working as a Santa’s helper at a mall in Concord, California, went viral. Lawrence appeared in the 2020 film,I Wrote This for You.