Disney Channel stars all grown up

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The Disney Channel has been a career launch pad for a lot of Hollywood celebrities.

From Ryan Gosling to Demi Lovato, you’re likely familiar with the career path some old Disney Channel stars have followed. But what about some of the more under-the-radar actors?

Check out this list to see what your favorite Disney Channel stars are doing today.

Kimberly J. Brown

Brown is known both for her role as Marnie Piper in the “Halloweentown” movies and her part as big sister Jamie Grover in “Quints.” Where is she now? Not only is Brown still acting — with roles in both television and film — but her love life seems to be blooming as well. Rumor has it she’s been dating Daniel Kountz for several months, if not longer. Kountz played Kal in “Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge.”

Getty Images | Christopher Polk

Christy Carlson Romano

You probably know Romano as perfectionist middle sibling Ren on “Even Stevens,” which ran from 2000 to 2003. The actress who played Shia LeBeouf’s older sibling is now married with a child of her own. Her daughter, Isabella, was born on Christmas Eve in 2016. Christy is still acting as well as directing and running her own lifestyle website.

Getty Images | Matt Winkelmeyer

Jake T. Austin

Austin is best known as Max Russo, the adorable youngest sibling on “Wizards of Waverly Place.” The show ran from 2007 to 2012. Since then, Jake has gone on to appear as Jesus on “The Fosters.” In addition, he’s working in the fitness industry and has been dating Danielle Caesar (a fan who followed him persistently on social media before finally meeting him) for more than three years.

Getty Images | Gustavo Caballero

Cara DeLizia

From 1999 to 2000, DeLizia played main character Fiona “Fi” Phillips, a paranormal investigator on the Disney Channel show “So Weird.” Now married, DeLizia dropped out of the spotlight and goes by Cara DeLizia Rich. Along with being a mom to three little boys, she is also the executive director of the Pou Timoun Foundation. She’s involved in running the organization, which supports children and families in Haiti. The photo from the organization’s Facebook page shows DeLizia on the job.

Courtnee Draper

Draper played Morgan Hudson on “The Jersey,” a popular Disney Channel show in which a group of friends became famous athletes when they put on a magic shirt. Since then, Draper has done voice acting for several video games, including BioShock and Disney Infinity. In 2018, she received an alumni award from La Mirada’s Phantom Projects, a teen theatrical group she began performing with when she was 11 years old. She married producer Kevin Hoiseth in 2016 and their first child is due in December 2018.

Getty Images | Frazer Harrison

Michael Galeota

Galeota was also in Disney’s “The Jersey.” He played Nick Lighter for the entirety of the show’s run, which ran from 1999 to 2004. According to his Facebook page, Galeota had more recently been working as a sales consultant. Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly in 2016. The official cause of death was heart disease, which he and his family were unaware he had. He was 31 years old.

Elisabeth Harnois

From 1992 to 1994, Harnois played Alice on Disney Channel’s “Adventures in Wonderland.” Harnois continues to act. Most notably, she portrayed crime scene investigator Morgan Brody on “CSI.” She has also had roles in several made-for-TV movies, including the holiday romance titled “Christmas Cupid.”

Getty Images | Peter Kramer

David Henrie

On “Wizards of Waverly Place,” David played Justin Russo, eldest of the Russo siblings. Still acting, David is also a screenwriter, producer and director. He and his wife Maria Cahill are currently expecting their first child, a baby girl. On September 10, 2018, David was arrested at LAX for carrying a gun, which he said was an embarrassing accident.

Getty Images | Alberto E. Rodriguez

Omri Katz

You may remember Katz as Max on “Hocus Pocus,” or as weirdness investigator Marshall Teller on “Eerie, Indiana.” Katz seems to have since retired from acting. He is not publicly active on social media, although he does show up now and then. In 2015, his “Hocus Pocus” costar Vinessa Shaw shared this shot of herself with Katz and Thora Birch, who played Dani in the Disney Channel film.

https://www.instagram.com/p/9ibTl5lxbD/

Sterling Knight

Knight played Chad Dylan Cooper, also known as CDC, Chaddy or simply Chad on “Sonny with a Chance.” And Knight is still acting. His most recent role is pretty dark. He’ll be appearing in the psychological thriller series “Tell Me a Story” starting next month. He’s also musically inclined. He sang on the “Starstruck” soundtrack and still sings and plays the guitar.

Getty Images | Matt Winkelmeyer

Adam Lamberg

Lamberg was David “Gordo” Gordon, Lizzie’s male BFF in the Disney Channel series “Lizzie McGuire.” He has since left the acting world, but Lamberg is certainly still active. He has become the Development Officer at the Irish Arts Center NYC. If you follow the center on Twitter or Instagram, you might get lucky and see Adam now and then. Can you spot him? He’s all the way to the left in that bottom photo.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ214sejAbS/

Joey, Matthew And Andy Lawrence

The three real-life Lawrence brothers played Joe, Matt and Andy Roman on the Disney show “Brotherly Love,” which ran from 1995 to 1997. It later aired in syndication on the Disney Channel. Matt and Andy both made appearances on their brother’s show, “Melissa and Joey,” which ran from 2010 to 2015. In 2017, the brothers stated that they were working on a new television show together, which has yet to be announced.

Getty Images | Jesse Grant

Kyle Massey

Massey played Cory Baxter on “That’s So Raven” and its spin-off, “Cory in the House.” He has continued acting, as well as singing and rapping. In August 2018, it was announced that Massey would step into the reality television world. He is set to join the cast of “The Hills: New Beginnings,” a reboot of the MTV show.

Getty Images | Rachel Murray

Aaron Michael Metchik

You might recall this actor as the athletic, second-oldest sibling Steven Floyd Torkelson on “The Torkelsons.” Metchik went on to be an assistant director, writer and producer, as well as an actor, although his most recent film was in 2012. He is also an acting coach, and the founder and head instructor of Actor’s Edge. He has taught, coached or directed many actors, including Tiffany Thornton, Kathleen Rose Perkins and Zac Efron.

Getty Images | Michael Tullberg

Aly Michalka

You might remember Michalka as Keely Teslow in the Disney Channel series “Phil of the Future,” where she played the titular character’s best friend. Michalka has been a busy lady since her Disney Channel days. She’s still acting (did you recognize her on “iZombie”?), directing, costume design, music and more. In 2015, she married cinematographer Stephen Ringer.

Getty Images | John Sciulli

Tahj Mowry

Tahj was the adorable TJ on Disney’s “Smart Guy.” Real-life brother to “Sister, Sister” twins Tia and Tamera Mowry, Tahj is staying busy both acting and singing. He has also appeared with his father on his sister Tia’s show “Quick Fix.

Getty Images | Jason Merritt/TERM

Lee Norris

Along with his role as Stuart Minkus on “Boy Meets World,” Lee Norris played Chuckie Lee Torkelson on “The Torkelsons.” Norris is still in show business. He played grown-up Stuart Minkus on “Girl Meets World” and has had small roles in films such as “Gone Girl,” and shows such as “The Walking Dead.” He married his wife, Andrea, in 2011.

Getty Images | Frederick M. Brown

Emily Osment

You knew Osment as Lilly Truscott on the Disney Channel series “Hannah Montana.” These days, Osment is still acting and singing. Her show “Young and Hungry” was canceled after five seasons, much to the dismay of fans. She is currently working on her third album.

Getty Images | Alberto E. Rodriguez

Dylan And Cole Sprouse

The twins had roles in films like “Big Daddy” and TV shows like “Friends,” but perhaps you know them best as the title characters on “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.” The brothers have grown up, and now enjoy unique, separate interests. While they both enrolled at New York University, Dylan majored in video game design and Cole majored in archaeology. In addition, the Sprouses continue to act, though not necessarily together.

Getty Images | Michael Kovac

Kirsten Storms

Whether you remember her as Emily on “Johnny Tsunami” or the titular character on “Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century,” you likely have fond memories of this actress. Storms has worked steadily since her Disney days. She spent four years as Belle Black on “Days of Our Lives” and another 13 on “General Hospital” as Maxie Jones. Storms married and divorced Brandon Barash, with whom she has a daughter named Harper. She is currently in a relationship with Elias Paul Reidy, whom she dated prior to her marriage.

Getty Images | Jason Kempin

Jake Thomas

Thomas played Lizzie’s bothersome little brother Matt McGuire on “Lizzie McGuire.” These days, Thomas is a photographer, actor and director. His credits include advertising, entertainment and editorial, as well as snapshots and shorts. He is also a screenwriter for both film and television.

Getty Images | Paul Archuleta

Lee Thompson Young — Then

Young was the star of the Disney Channel show “The Famous Jett Jackson.” Young continued acting after “Jett,” with roles in “Friday Night Lights,” “Akeelah and the Bee” and “Rizzoli & Isles.” He also attended the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. Sadly, Young died by suicide in 2013. He was 29 years old. His family created the Lee Thompson Young foundation to promote mental health literacy.

Getty Images | Peter Kramer

Tiffany Thornton

Thornton played self-absorbed Tawni Hart on “Sonny with a Chance.” Pictured here with Demi Lovato, who was also on the show. On her Instagram profile, Thornton describes herself as an actress/singer/songwriter/worship leader/wifey/mommy. In 2015, her first husband, Chris Carney, with whom she had two sons, died in a car accident. She wed her second husband, Josiah Capaci, in 2017.

Getty Images | Alberto E. Rodriguez

Raviv Ullman

You knew Ullman as Phil Diffy on “Phil of the Future.” Since “Phil,” Ullman has been deeply involved in theater, music and film. Sometimes credited under the name Ricky Ullman, he has had roles on “House,” “Criminal Minds” and “Cold Case.” In addition, his stage credits include “The Bad Guys,” “Dead End” and “The King and I.”

Getty Images/Roy Rochlin

Anneliese van der Pol

Do you recognize van der Pol as Chelsea Daniels on “That’s So Raven?” Since her “Raven” days, van der Pol has continued acting and singing in a major way. Case in point: She portrayed Belle in the Broadway version of “Beauty and the Beast.” In the fall of 2018, she will star as Lucille Ball in the off-Broadway show “The Cuban and the Redhead.”

Getty Images | Neilson Barnard

Lalaine Vergara-Paras

You might recognize the face of Lizzie’s BFF Miranda Sanchez on “Lizzie McGuire.” Lalaine — who goes only by her first name these days — is still an actress, as well as a singer. She’s made appearances on a number of TV shows, as well as some film shorts, including “Raymond & Lane” in 2015 and “Off the Clock” from 2009 to 2013.

Getty Images | Vince Bucci

Jermaine Williams

Williams played Coleman “The Slaw” Galloway on “The Jersey.” These days, Williams is both acting and producing. His credits include “The Great Debaters,” “Stomp the Yard” and “Fat Albert.”

Getty Images | E. Charbonneau

Originally published on The Delite.

Celebrities, Entertainment, Movies & TV
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About the Author
Tricia Goss
Tricia Goss is a Texas-based writer and editor with nearly two decades of experience. She is passionate about helping readers improve their skills, gain knowledge and attain more happiness in life. When she’s not working, Tricia enjoys traveling with her husband and their dog, especially to visit their five grandchildren.

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