What happened to the forgotten stars of Disney? The varied fates of the child actors who faded from the spotlight – as fans celebrate Hannah Montana’s 20th anniversary

Fans of Hannah Montana have been enjoying a wave of happy memories this week, as Miley Cyrus revisited her iconic blonde look for a celebration of the show’s 20th anniversary.

Miley Cyrus recently revisited her days as Hannah Montana in a conversation with Alex Cooper. She was joined by her parents, Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus, and special guests Selena Gomez and Chappell Roan to share memories from that time.

The only real complaint from fans seemed to be the absence of other main cast members. Stars like Emily Osment, Mitchell Musso, and Jason Earles – who played Miley Stewart’s friends Lilly and Oliver, and her brother Jackson – weren’t involved in filming.

Forty-eight-year-old Jason attended the premiere with Moises Arias, who played Rico on the show, and Cody Linley, who played Hannah’s boyfriend Jake.

Watching these old shows feels like a nostalgic experience, a way to revisit what many consider the golden age of Disney Channel and relive cherished childhood memories.

Shows like Wizards of Waverly Place, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Sonny With a Chance, and That’s So Raven filled the TV schedule and became instant classics.

Disney launched the careers of many stars like Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and the Sprouse twins. But what happened to the actors who didn’t become household names?

Here we take a look at some of the forgotten stars of Disney.

David Henrie – Wizards of Waverly Place

I truly believe Selena Gomez is the most successful star we’ve seen come out of Wizards of Waverly Place. It’s amazing to see how far she’s come since then!

Selena Gomez starred as Alex Russo, alongside David Henrie and Jake Austin, who played her on-screen brothers Justin and Max.

After the Harry Potter films ended in 2012, David, who is now 36, has kept working in television, focusing on various smaller productions.

In 2018, he wrote, directed, and acted in the coming-of-age movie This Is The Year. Selena was an executive producer for the film and also appeared in it.

I was so thrilled to see David Henrie reprise his role as Justin Russo in the ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’ series! It was fantastic working with the team again on this Disney spin-off, which premiered in October 2024. It really brought back some magic!

Fifteen years after the events of the first series, the show catches up with Justin, who is now happily married with children. His peaceful life is disrupted when Alex reaches out for help with Billie, a young wizard learning the ropes.

The actor married Maria Cahill in 2017, and they have three children together: two daughters and a son.

He avoided a year in prison in 2018 by accepting a plea deal after being arrested for bringing a loaded 9mm pistol to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

According to TMZ, the celebrity didn’t fight the charge of having a weapon, and prosecutors dismissed the additional charges of carrying a loaded and hidden gun.

Okay, so here’s the deal – this actor, who grew up in California and Arizona, recently received a sentence involving two years of probation. As part of that, they’ll also be doing 20 days of community service, covering some court fees and fines, and importantly, they’re required to complete a gun safety course. It’s all about taking responsibility and making better choices, and I always advocate for personal growth through accountability.

In addition to his work as an actor and director, David is a deeply religious Catholic. He also lends his voice to the Theo.pray.app, narrating guided meditations designed for children.

Matthew Timmons – The Suite Life On Deck

Matthew Timmons is most famous for playing Woody Fink on the Disney Channel show, The Suite Life On Deck, where he starred with Dylan and Cole Sprouse.

The 33-year-old actor has taken on a few minor acting roles since the show finished in 2011 and appears to still be working as an actor.

I seriously almost didn’t recognize him! He’s changed so much. He ditched his gorgeous long, curly hair, and he’s lost a ton of weight. It’s amazing, but I had to do a double-take!

Matthew appears to have stepped back from public life and hasn’t been active on Instagram for over a year, since his post honoring his grandfather’s death.

Sabrina Bryan – The Cheetah Girls

Sabrina played Dorinda ‘Do’ Thomas in all three Cheetah Girls films from 2003 to 2008.

The 41-year-old actress then appeared in a variety of shows and movies, including Mrs. Santa Claus, Mostly Ghostly, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Gina Davis Show, The Jersey, and Grounded for Life.

She first competed on Dancing With The Stars in 2007, during season 5, and viewers voted to bring her back for the show’s All-Stars season in 2012.

In addition to her acting work, the actress has reported for several media outlets – including E! News, TV Guide, and abc.com – covering shows like Dancing With The Stars. She’s interviewed celebrities such as Nicole Scherzinger.

In addition to her performing career, Sabrina has started writing. She collaborated with bestselling author Julia DeVillers to co-write the novel Princess of Gossip.

She recently started her own clothing brand, Sabri Dance, which features athletic wear designed for dancers.

The actress married Jordan Lundberg in October 2018, and they now have two children: a daughter, Comillia Monroe, born in August 2020, and a son, Ledger Grey, born in May 2023.

Matt Prokop – Geek Charming

Matt Prokop is most remembered for playing Josh Rosen in the Disney Channel movie Geek Charming. He acted alongside Sarah Hyland, who is known for her role in Modern Family, and the two were dating at the time.

Matt hasn’t acted since 2013, when he appeared in the movie April Apocalypse. This followed legal trouble for the former Disney star.

Following their breakup in 2015, Sarah obtained a restraining order against her ex, alleging four years of verbal and physical abuse during their relationship. She stated that Julie Bowen, who played her mother on Modern Family, intervened to help her leave the relationship.

Let me tell you, as someone who talks about healthy relationships all the time, this is deeply concerning. In court documents, she described a frightening situation where Matt supposedly forced her up against a car and then choked her. It’s a truly disturbing account, and highlights the importance of recognizing and leaving abusive situations.

In court documents, Sarah stated that his grip was so strong it cut off her air and prevented her from speaking. She described being terrified and fearing for her life.

Matt was then arrested in May 2024 for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend.

The woman was injured during an altercation, and the investigation revealed she was allegedly pushed and had her head struck against an object, leading to the arrest.

Matt reportedly tried to pull away from officers and run as they arrested him.

Matt was arrested on Christmas Eve in 2025 and remains in jail in Victoria County, Texas, without bail as of January 10th.

He was first arrested for breaking the rules of his release from a prior case filed earlier this year, and for trying to avoid and fight against being arrested.

However, on December 31st, authorities added a charge of possessing or distributing child pornography after obtaining a warrant.

Allisyn Ashley Arm – Sonny With A Chance

Allisyn started acting on TV when she was just four years old. Her first major role was as the unique character Zora on the show Sonny With A Chance, where she starred with Demi Lovato.

The actress, who is now 29 years old, continued her career by appearing in the spin-off show, So Random!, and later played Heather Wilmore on NBC’s AP Bio in 2018.

Okay, so get this – my absolute idol didn’t just stop performing, they went behind the scenes! They actually started producing and co-founded their OWN production company, Watch The Footage Productions! I’m seriously losing it – they’re taking over the whole industry, I just know it!

The actress married her Disney co-star, Dylan Riley Snyder, in 2019. They first met as teenagers while working for the channel – she was on the show Sonny, and he was on Kickin’ It.

Allisyn is currently concentrating on her music, performing as the lead singer for the band Sensor Noise with Dylan.

Sterling Knight – Sonny With A Chance

Sterling Knight became well-known for playing the confident and self-centered Chad Dylan Cooper on Sonny With A Chance. He then went on to star in the Disney Channel Original Movie Starstruck and also appeared on the show So Random!

The 37-year-old actor later made guest appearances on the show Melissa & Joey and also appeared in several films, with his most recent role being in It Snows All The Time in 2022.

It seems Sterling has stepped back from public life recently, and has been creating videos for fans on Cameo.

Last year, people on TikTok noticed a significant change in his appearance, and many expressed their surprise.

The former Disney star has grown a long, unkempt beard in his recent Cameo appearances. His hair, once neatly styled and golden brown, is now long and curly.

TikTok user Josh Denney pointed out in a popular video that many people expected Sterling Knight to become a big star after leaving Disney Channel, but that hasn’t happened.

‘I could have sworn Sterling Knight was going to be the next big popstar to come out of Disney.’

His most recent Instagram post, from March 2025, shared an update with fans following emergency surgery to remove his gallbladder.

He also sadly remembered his friend and former co-star Michelle Trachtenberg, who passed away while they were working together on the movie 17 Again.

KayCee Stroh — High School Musical

KayCee Stroh, best known for her role as Martha Cox in the popular movie High School Musical, is still fondly remembering the franchise two decades later.

After her time with Disney, she continued her career as a dancer, choreographer, singer, and advocate for self-esteem.

The actress and Ben Higginson got married in 2009 and have two daughters together, named Zetta and Lettie.

She told Buzzfeed in January that ‘High School Musical’ completely altered the course of her life.

Ever since I was a little girl growing up in Salt Lake City, Utah, I’d dreamed of something like this, but I never imagined how it would actually happen. Then this film came along and completely changed my life.

Even now, it amazes me that I’m able to pursue my passion and that others enjoy it too. I feel incredibly lucky to have built a community of fans and followers who I cherish and who feel like family. Their support means the world to me.

I’m lucky enough to travel with my family, attend exciting events like red carpet premieres, and keep pursuing my passions for singing, dancing, and acting.

This movie is where it all began for me, and I’ll always be grateful for it. I’m a proud Wildcat, through and through.

Steven Anthony Lawrence – Even Stevens

Steven Anthony Lawrence became well-known in 2001 when he started appearing on the Disney Channel show Even Stevens, alongside Shia LaBeouf.

He portrayed Bernard ‘Beans’ Aranguren, the Stevens’ incredibly irritating neighbor. Beans would constantly drop by uninvited, act as if he lived there, and simply wouldn’t leave.

The 35-year-old actor first appeared in The Even Stevens Movie and later gained recognition for their role in Cheaper by the Dozen.

Before he even turned 10, he appeared in several well-known TV shows, including Married… with Children, The Amanda Show, and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.

Lawrence appeared in popular TV shows like Frasier, ER, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and That’s So Raven.

Lawrence last appeared on screen in the 2013 film Holly, Jingles and Clyde 3D, and he’s also been featured in several television commercials.

Just last January, Steven made news when he stated he was let go from Universal Studios because he reported someone he believed was a child predator.

He publicly accused someone in an Instagram post, sharing a photo of his work badge and name tag next to a Super Mario Toad costume.

He said he delayed posting because he was trying to resolve the issue with his previous company first.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen many workplace issues, and this one is particularly troubling. My client shared that he lost his job after claiming his boss and someone in HR retaliated against him for reporting concerns about a potential threat to children. It’s a really difficult situation, and highlights the importance of protecting whistleblowers.

He explained that although he was sad to leave his job, he couldn’t continue working with a company that didn’t prioritize the safety of performers and guests, especially given the ongoing injuries.

Universal has denied claims made by a former employee. A spokesperson told the Daily Mail that after looking into the concerns, they found them to be false and without basis.

Anneliese van der Pol – That’s So Raven

Anneliese van der Pol became famous for her role as Chelsea Daniels, the best friend of Raven Baxter, in the popular Disney series that aired from 2003 to 2007.

Besides appearing on the Disney Channel show Raven’s Home from 2017 to 2022, the 41-year-old actress has largely concentrated on performing in theater.

Anneliese landed her most significant role playing Belle in the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast. She’s also performed in stage versions of popular musicals like Sleeping Beauty, Grease, and Evita.

In 2023, the actress revealed she was engaged to Johnno Wilson, her co-star on Raven’s Home. They got married the following year and had a daughter in December.

Jake Thomas – Lizzie McGuire

Jake Thomas is known for playing Hilary Duff’s little brother on “Lizzie McGuire,” and he continued acting for Disney in “Cory in the House” until 2008.

I’ve been following this actor’s career since he was 36, and it’s been amazing to see him succeed! He’s been in a bunch of TV shows since then, but what a lot of people don’t know is he’s also a really talented commercial photographer and director – he’s a true multi-hyphenate!

Jake describes himself on his website as someone with many skills who enjoys collaborating with talented people and clients to share stories creatively.

The star also appears to be undergoing a house restoration, according to his Instagram.

2026-03-29 14:42