#TBT to Disney Channel’s golden years, when we couldn’t stop watching Even Stevens and That’s So Raven (or listening to the latest Disneymania soundtrack, of course). It was an era of back-to-back original movies (Smart House, anyone?) and living vicariously through the cartoon version of Lizzie McGuire—not to mention way too many moments spent practicing our “I’m (insert your name here), and you’re watching Disney Channel!” voices in the mirror.
Have you ever felt so nostalgic that you’ve woken up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat wondering what happened to your favorite Disney Channel stars? (Okay, maybe that’s just me.) Here are 15 Disney actors that seemingly fell off the face of the earth—and where they are now.
1. Anneliese van der Pol
Best known for her role as Chelsea Daniels, Raven’s best friend on That’s So Raven, van der Pol moved on to play Belle in Beauty and the Beast on Broadway in 2007 and now has plans to return to the small screen as Chelsea in—wait for it—the That’s So Raven sequel series.
2. Christy Carlson Romano
After playing Jennifer in Cadet Kelly and voicing the title character in Kim Possible, Romano attended Barnard College and also made her Broadway debut as Belle in Beauty and the Beast in 2004. Now, 32-year-old Romano is focusing on being a new mom to her first daughter, Isabella.
3. Jason Earles
A post shared by Jason Earles (@realdukeofearles) on
Hannah Montana star Jason Earles was 29 years old when he started playing Miley Stewart’s 16-year-old brother, Jackson. Earles is now 40 (yes, 40!) and recently got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Katie Drysen. Though he mostly stepped out of the spotlight after Hannah Montana, based on his Instagram it appears that he, too, has moments of nostalgia for his Disney Channel days.
4. Moisés Arias
Remember Rico from Hannah Montana, the goofy manager of Rico’s Surf Shop who always had some antics up his sleeve in an attempt to win over Miley? After a few post-Disney Channel acting gigs, Arias moved on to pursue his passion for photography; he’s now a 23-year-old, self-proclaimed “iPhone Artista.” He’s also pretty tight with the Jenner sisters.
5. Raviv (Ricky) Ullman
Ullman played the titular Phil of the Future in this show about a time-traveling teen from 2121. The actor’s real name is Raviv Ullman, but he used the stage name “Ricky” until 2006, when Phil of the Future ended. After Disney Channel, he starred in a few small TV and Off-Broadway roles and hosted the Raviv Ullman Podcast, where he interviewed celebrities such as Penn Badgley and Zoë Kravitz. His role as Phil Diffy is still his main claim to TV fame, but based on his adorable smile, this 31-year-old looks happier (and more handsome) than ever.
6. Steven Anthony Lawrence
Steven Anthony Lawrence is best known as Beans, Louis’s annoying, lovable, havoc-causing neighbor from Even Stevens. We all know what happened to Shia LaBeouf, who played Louis, but what has Beans been up to? In 2015, Steven Anthony Lawrence told The Huffington Post that after his Disney Channel career, he starred in the movies Kicking and Screaming and Rebound and taught classes at universities and high schools in California (including the University of Southern California and Berkeley, among others). Rumor has it that “Beans” has also been spotted working as a Santa’s helper at a mall in San Francisco.
7. Adam Lamberg
What about our beloved David Gordon, aka Lizzie McGuire’s bushy-haired, nerdy-and-adorable best guy friend, Gordo? It seems as though his roles in Lizzie McGuire and The Lizzie McGuire Movie were his acting career highlights. After Disney Channel, Lamberg earned his bachelor’s degree in geography from UC Berkeley and later studied at Baruch College for his Master of Public Administration degree. He now works as a Development Associate at the Irish Arts Center in New York City—and he’s on LinkedIn. You go, Gordo.
8. Clayton Snyder
Speaking of Lizzie McGuire, whatever happened to Lizzie’s crush, Ethan Craft? Actor Clayton Snyder, whose Instagram bio says, “One time I was Ethan Craft,” played water polo at Pepperdine University and even went pro, continuing his water polo career in Europe. One of his Insta captions says he is “chill, but motivated”—which, if you ask me, is a very Ethan Craft thing to say.
9. Hallie Todd
Todd, who played Lizzie McGuire’s mom, was basically the OG “cool mom.” CNN even listed her as one of the “Top Ten TV Moms.” She moved on to become a successful acting coach, and in 2013, she and her husband wrote and produced the thriller movie The Mooring. However, Todd embodies the idea that once you’re a Lizzie McGuire cast member, you’re always a Lizzie McGuire cast member; check out this picture she posted on Instagram in January, where she wishes a happy birthday to actor Jake Thomas, who played Lizzie’s little brother, Max!
10. Jake Thomas
And what ever happened to Lizzie’s brother? Jake Thomas continued his acting career with occasional TV appearances on CSI: Miami, Criminal Minds and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Now, he has a mustache and is an artsy LA-based photographer. They grow up so fast!
11. Phill Lewis
Proud Dad. #highschoolgraduate @piperrlewis pic.twitter.com/wQ59bk8NOm
— Phill Lewis (@ThePhillLewis) May 29, 2017
After checking out of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, everyone’s favorite hotel manager pursued a successful career as a director. Lewis directed a variety of Disney Channel shows, such as A.N.T. Farm, Austin & Ally and Jessie, as well as the sitcoms 2 Broke Girls, Mike & Molly and Melissa & Joey, among others. (This family man will always be Mr. Moseby to us, though.)
12. Brenda Song
Let’s not forget the one and only London Tipton, the wealthy, vivacious and glamorous heiress to the Tipton Hotel, where The Suite Life of Zack and Cody took place. Song has continued her acting career; she’s appeared in The Social Network and many TV shows, including New Girl, Scandal, Pure Genius and Superstore, and she also spends her time modeling. London, you’re killin’ the game, girl!
13. A.J. Trauth
Trauth, who played Louis’ best friend Twitty on Even Stevens, had a few notable post-Disney Channel acting gigs on shows such as House and CSI but has since laid low from the spotlight. He isn’t active on social media, but his wife, Leah Pipes, keeps the world updated on the grown-up version of Twitty with lots of adorable pics via Instagram.
14. Kyla Pratt
Pratt, also known as Penny from The Proud Family, also appeared in the Dr. Dolittle series, Fat Albert and the TV show Let’s Stay Together. The Proud Family star now spends her time being a proud mother to two beautiful girls, 6-year-old Lyric and 3-year-old Liyah.
15. Frankie Ryan Manriquez
Remember William, Corey’s adorable friend and accomplice from That’s So Raven? Frankie Ryan Manriquez didn’t do much on the acting front after his Disney Channel career; he moved on to play baseball and study sociology and criminal justice at Northwestern College in Iowa. We feel the love, William!
It seems like just yesterday that these actors lit up our lives with good ol’ Disney Channel lessons and laughs. Now that we know what some of our favorite childhood TV stars are up to nowadays, there’s nothing left to do except treat ourselves to a DCOM marathon.