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Disney Channel Stars Then & Now: Photos of the Celebrities Grown Up

By:
June 28, 2025 8:44PM EDT
Disney Channel Stars Then & Now: Photos of the Celebrities Grown Up
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Will we ever stop feeling nostalgia? Nope! So, let’s look back at all of our favorite Disney Channel stars from their days on the network to now.

We can’t believe how much time has passed since we hunkered down and watched some of our favorite DCOMs and Disney Channel classics. The stars of these series and movies have gone on to bigger things since their time at the House of Mouse, and it’s so exciting to see how far they’ve come. Some stars have gone on to become bankable Hollywood heartthrobs like Zac Efron. Others have made huge strides in their personal endeavors and weren’t afraid to shake things up with their careers, like Miley Cyrus, who continues to fearlessly change her sound.

Most of all, we feel like we’ve grown up alongside these stars! Even Selena Gomez who starred on Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place and went on to be a recording artist, businesswoman and Emmy Award nominee.

Take a look through the gallery for more Disney stars then and now!

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Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez
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We can’t believe how much time has passed since we hunkered down and watched some of our favorite DCOMs and Disney Channel classics. The stars of these series and movies have gone on to bigger things since their time under the Mickey Mouse moniker and it’s so exciting to see how far they’ve come. Some stars have gone on to become bankable Hollywood heartthrobs like Zac Efron. Others have made huge strides in their personal endeavors and been incredibly honest about their transformations into young adulthood, like Miley Cyrus.

 

Most of all, we feel like we’ve grown up alongside these stars! Even Selena Gomez who starred on Disney’s ‘Witches of Waverly Place’ and went on to be a huge recording artist. Selena has also been in some artistic films like 2012’s Spring Breakers and ‘The Fundamentals of Caring’ (2016). Selena has a huge fan base that consistently support her creative endeavors whether they are in front of the microphone or in front of the camera. Take a look through the gallery for more Disney stars then and now!

November 11, 2019, 3:16PM
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Zac Efron

Zac Efron
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Zac Efron also burst onto the scene with ‘High School Musical’ before his star rose to being a leading Hollywood man with some surprising comedic chops! After the ‘HSM’ trilogy, Zac appeared in a number of films before finding a resurrgence with ‘Neighbors’ and ‘Neighbors 2’ alongside Seth Rogen. Since then, Zac has gone on to act alongside Hugh Jackman in ‘The Greatest Showman’ and Matthew McConaughey in ‘The Beach Bum.’

November 11, 2019, 3:16PM
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Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus
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Miley Cyrus starred on the Disney series ‘Hannah Montana’ from 2006-2011 with a feature length film in 2009. Since then, Miley has gone on to release a number of albums and star in projects such as ‘Black Mirror,’ ‘LOL,’ and ‘The Last Song.’

November 11, 2019, 3:16PM
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Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato
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Demi Lovato burst onto the scene with appearances in Disney shows and films ‘Sonny With a Chance’ and ‘Camp Rock.’ Now, Demi has turned her focus to music, releasing hits like ‘Sorry Not Sorry,’ ‘Confident’ and ‘Cool for the Summer,’ among others. She’s also opened up about her history with addiction and substance abuse and become a champion of changing the conversation. 

November 11, 2019, 3:16PM
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Bella Thorne

Bella Thorne
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Bella Thorne broke through on Disney Channel from 2010-2013 with the series ‘Shake It Up.’ Once the series wrapped, Bella went on to star in projects including ‘The Duff,’ ‘The Babysitter,’ and ‘Assassination Nation.’

November 11, 2019, 3:16PM
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Cole Sprouse & Dylan Sprouse

Cole Sprouse & Dylan Sprouse
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Cole and Dylan Sprouse made their appearance on Disney Channel with two shows! Their first was ‘The Suite Life of Zack & Cody’ from 2005-2008, followed by ‘The Suite Life On Deck’ from 2008-2011. Both brothers attended college following their time at Disney, and Cole eventually caught the acting bug again, joining the cast of CW’s ‘Riverdale.’

November 11, 2019, 3:16PM
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Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff
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Hilary Duff starred in ‘Lizzie McGuire’ as the titular character from 2001-2004 with a 2003 feature film! Hilary also starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie, ‘Cadet Kelly’ in 2002. After her time on Disney, Hilary took some time to build her personal life and had two children. She also has appeared as a regular cast member on the TV Land series ‘Younger.’ Now, Hilary is returning to Disney to reprise her role as Lizzie once again!

November 11, 2019, 3:16PM
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The Jonas Brothers

The Jonas Brothers
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While the Jonas Brothers are known internationally for their music talent, they did get their start thanks in part to Disney. The three brothers also appeared in the Disney Channel Original Movie ‘Camp Rock’ in 2008 as well as its sequel ‘Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam’ in 2010. Since then, the three brothers have each gotten married and explored their solo career paths before reuniting again in 2019!

November 11, 2019, 3:16PM
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Vanessa Hudgens

Vanessa Hudgens
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Vanessa Hudgens came to fame with 2006’s ‘High School Musical.’ The actress and singer also appeared in the sequel, as well as the final film in 2008. Since then, Vanessa has taken to Broadway, performing in the musical ‘Gigi’ while still exploring film with projects like 2012’s ‘Spring Breakers.’ Vanessa will next star in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut of Jonathan Larson’s show ‘Tick Tick Boom!’

November 11, 2019, 3:16PM
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Zendaya

Zendaya
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Zendaya rose to fame alongside Bella Thorne on the series ‘Shake It Up’ from 2010-2013. Once the series wrapped, Zendaya led her own show on Disney Channel called ‘K.C. Undercover.’ Since her Disney years, Zendaya has gone on to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ and ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home.’ She also starred alongside her fellow Disney alum, Zac Efron, in the film ‘The Greatest Showman.’ But her biggest role to date has been the starring role of Rue on HBO’s series ‘Euphoria,’ for which Zendaya has received wide acclaim. 

November 11, 2019, 3:16PM
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Raven Symone

Raven Symone
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Raven Symone stole hearts playing a psychic teen on Disney Channel’s ‘That’s So Raven’, from 2003-2007. She was a member of the iconic group The Cheetah Girls, and starred in two movies, in 2003 and 2006. Raven was a co-host on The View for one year, leaving in 2006 to reprise her role of Raven Baxter in the Disney Channel spin-off ‘Raven’s Home’.

May 6, 2020, 9:54AM
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Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter
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Sabrina Carpenter became a Disney Channel star by playing Maya Hart on ‘Girl Meets World’ from 2014-2017, and the DCOM ‘Adventures in Babysitting’. Outside of Disney, she starred in the movies ‘Horns’ (2013) and ‘The Hate U Give’ (2018). She released her debut EP, ‘Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying’ in 2014, and three albums since. ‘Singular: Act II’ dropped in 2019.

May 6, 2020, 9:54AM
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Dove Cameron

Dove Cameron
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Dove Cameron played both roles on Disney Channel’s ‘Liv & Maddie’ from 2012-2015, for which she won a Daytime Emmy. But she’s a superstar for playing Mal in the ‘Descendants’ trilogy. Her debut EP, ‘Bloodshot / Waste’ dropped in 2019.

May 6, 2020, 9:54AM
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Christy Carlson Romano

Christy Carlson Romano
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Christy Carlson Romano is a true Disney Channel powerhouse. She started three iconic projects simultaneously in 2000: playing Ren Stevens in ‘Even Stevens’, starring in ‘Cadet Kelly’ alongside Hilary Duff, and voicing ‘Kim Possible.’ Since then, she’s gone on to star on Broadway, including as Belle in ‘Beauty and the Beast’

May 6, 2020, 10:26AM
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Britney Spears

Britney Spears
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Britney Spears got her start on ‘The Mickey Mouse Club’ in the mid-1990s. The Princess of Pop, of course, went on to release multiple hit albums over the course of 20 years, producing hits like ‘Baby One More Time’, ‘Slave 4U’, and ‘Toxic’. She performed over 200 shows as part of her residency in Las Vegas, from 2013 to 2017, and is now the mother of two. 

May 6, 2020, 10:29AM
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Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling
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Ryan Gosling also starred in ‘The Mickey Mouse Club’, and went on to have an incredible film career. He’s been in such hits as ‘La La Land’, ‘Blue Valentine’, ‘Blade Runner 2049’, and ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’. He has two children with his longtime partner, Eva Mendes. 

May 6, 2020, 10:39AM
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Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera
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Christina Aguilera is another ‘Mickey Mouse Club’ alum. She was one of the reigning top pop stars alongside Britney Spears in the 2000s, with hits like ‘Dirrty’, ‘Lady Marmalade’, and ‘Genie In a Bottle’. She starred in the cult classic ‘Burlesque’ with Cher, too! 

May 6, 2020, 10:40AM