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

It has been a week of blissful nostalgia for Hannah Montana fans after Miley Cyrus returned to her blonde roots for a 20th anniversary special of the Disney hit show. 

Reminiscing on the Best of Both Worlds, Miley sat down with presenter Alex Cooper for a look back at her time as Hannah as she was joined by her parents, Tish and Billy Ray, as well as guest stars Selena Gomez and Chappell Roan. 

However, perhaps the fans’ only critique was that the rest of the show’s cast were missing, with the likes of Emily Osment, Mitchell Musso and Jason Earles – who played her best friends Lilly and Oliver and brother Jackson respectively – absent from filming. 

Jason, now 48, was present at the show’s premiere alongside Moises Arias, who played Rico in the series, and Cody Linley, who played Hannah’s on-screen boyfriend Jake. 

And as fans enjoy a throwback to their youth, it feels like a rite of passage is to walk down memory lane in what was the greatest era of Disney Channel. 

From Wizards Of Waverly Place and The Suite Life Of Zack and Cody to Sonny With A Chance and That’s So Raven, the TV schedule was packed with iconic shows. 

Branding stars including Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato and the Sprouse twins, Disney was a springboard for a host of successful careers, but what about those who didn’t hit the big time. 

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

David Henrie – Wizards of Waverly Place

Undoubtedly Selena Gomez is the biggest star to have come from the hit series Wizards Of Waverly Place. 

Playing Alex Russo, the budding wizard was cast alongside her on-screen brothers Justin and Max, who were played by David Henrie and Jake T Austin respectively. 

And since they shut the door on the wizarding world back in 2012, David, now 36, has continued to work in the TV industry on a range of smaller projects.

In 2018 he also co-wrote, directed, and starred in a coming-of-age film, This Is The Year, reuniting with Selena, who was also executive producer on the film. 

The pair also collaborated again on spin off series Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, which premiered on Disney in October 2024, as David stepped back into his role as Justin. 

Set 15 years after the original, the show followed Justin living a normal life with his wife and sons when Alex asks for his help with Billie, a young wizard in training.  

In his personal life, the star tied the knot with his girlfriend Maria Cahill in 2017 and the pair share three children, two daughters and a son. 

In 2018 he avoided a year in prison by cutting a plea deal after he was arrested for bringing a loaded M&P Shield 9mm pistol to LAX Airport.

The star pled no contest to possessing a weapon, but the LA City Attorney dropped the other charges of carrying a loaded firearm and carrying a concealed firearm – according to TMZ.

The Cali-born, Arizona-raised actor was sentenced to two years probation, 20 days of community labour, pay fees/fines, and enroll in a gun safety course.

Aside from his acting and directing endeavours, David is also a devout Catholic and is a partner of the Theo.pray.app, where he narrates meditations for children. 

Matthew Timmons – The Suite Life On Deck 

Matthew Timmons is best known for his role as Woody Fink in The Suite Life On Deck alongside Dylan and Cole Sprouse.

The actor, 33, has had a few small acting credits since the series ended in 2011 and is thought to still be pursuing acting. 

However the star looks completely unrecognisable now after bidding goodbye to his curly long locks and shedding several stone.  

It seems Matthew has somewhat retreated from the limelight and hasn’t posted to Instagram in over a year since he paid tribute to the passing of his grandad.  

Sabrina Bryan – The Cheetah Girls

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

The actress, 41, then went on to bag numerous roles in 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 appeared in season 5 of Dancing With The Stars in 2007 and was chosen by the public to be invited back for an All Stars season of the show in 2012. 

The actress has also served as a correspondent for Dancing With The Stars for E! News, TV Guide and also abc.com, interviewing the likes of Nicole Scherzinger. 

As well as performing, Sabrina has also branched into writing and teamed up with popular author Julia DeVillers to co-write the novel Princess of Gossip.

Most recently, she has launched her own clothing brand Sabri Dance, championing her own dance athletic apparel line. 

The star tied the knot with her husband Jordan Lundberg in October 2018 and they have since gone on to welcome a daughter, Comillia Monroe, in August 2020 and a son named Ledger Grey in May 2023.

Matt Prokop – Geek Charming

Matt Prokop was best known for his role as Josh Rosen in the Disney Channel Original Movie Geek Charming where he starred alongside Modern Family star and his then girlfriend Sarah Hyland. 

However, Matt’s last acting credit was back in 2013 for the film April Apocalypse after the Disney star found himself on the wrong side of the law. 

After splitting in 2015, Sarah filed a restraining order against him after she claimed that he was verbally and physically abusive for four years of their relationship, until her Modern Family onscreen mother Julie Bowen stepped in and helped her end things.

In her legal filing she recounted an incident in which Matt allegedly pinned her against a car and choked her.

‘His grip was so tight that I could not breathe or speak,’ Sarah said in the court documents. ‘I was scared and in fear for my life.’

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

The woman sustained enough injuries to warrant an arrest, as the investigation found that he allegedly pushed her and slammed her head into something.

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

On Christmas Eve 2025, Matt was arrested again and as of January 10 he is being held without bail at a jail in Victoria county in Texas. 

He was initially booked for violating his bond conditions from a previous set of charges filed in 2024, as well as evading and resisting arrest.

But an additional charge for ‘possession or promotion of child pornography’ was tacked on after a warrant was signed on December 31.

Allisyn Ashley Arm – Sonny With A Chance

Allisyn was only four years old when she began her TV career, and her first big break came when she landed the quirky role of Zora in Sonny With A Chance alongside Demi Lovato. 

The actress, now 29, went on to star on the show’s spin off series So Random! and later starred as Heather Wilmore on NBC’s AP Bio in 2018. 

However, the star switched performing for producing and became the co-owner of Watch The Footage Productions. 

The star tied the knot with fellow Disney star Dylan Riley Snyder in 2019 after the pair met as teenagers on the channel while Allisyn was on Sonny and Dylan was in Kickin’ It. 

Now Allisyn appears to be focusing on her music career as the lead singer of cosmic rock band Sensor Noise alongside Dylan. 

Sterling Knight – Sonny With A Chance

After bagging a role as the arrogant and egotistical Chad Dylan Cooper in Sonny With A Chance, Sterling Knight went on to score the leading part in the Disney Channel Original movie Starstruck and also starred in So Random! 

The actor, 37, went on to appear as a guest star in Melissa & Joey and also had a few film roles with his last acting credit recorded in 2022 in It Snows All The Time. 

Since then it appears Sterling has retreated from the spotlight and has been posting videos to Cameo in recent years. 

And last year fans took to TikTok to discuss his appearance and many were shocked over how much he has changed.

The former Disney star had a long and scruffy beard in his recent Cameo videos. In addition, his once-perfectly sculpted golden brown locks are now long and curly.

‘I think we all thought Sterling Knight’s career was going to take off after he left Disney Channel, but it really hasn’t,’ TikTok user Josh Denney said in a now-viral video.

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

His last Instagram post is from March 2025, where the star updated fans after undergoing emergency gall bladder removal surgery. 

He also reflected on the tragic death of his friend Michelle Trachtenberg who he starred alongside in 17 Again. 

KayCee Stroh — High School Musical

KayCee Stroh played the iconic Martha Cox in High School Musical, and 20 years later the star is still reminiscing on the successful franchise. 

And following her Disney days the star has gone on to work as a dancer, choreographer, singer and self esteem advocate. 

The star married her husband, Ben Higginson, in 2009 and the couple share two daughters, Zetta and Lettie. 

Speaking about how the film’s changed her life, she told Buzzfeed in January: ‘I always say High School Musical really did change the trajectory of my life. 

‘This was my dream since I was five years old, and I never knew how it was going to happen for me, being a little girl in Salt Lake City, Utah. This film came into my life and turned everything upside down.

‘To this day, I’m baffled that I get to do what I love and that other people love what I do. I have the opportunity to have a family of fans and followers that I love and welcome into my home and into my life, and they mean so very much to me.

‘I get to travel with my kids and my wonderful husband, go to red carpet events, and still continue on my path of singing, dancing, and acting. 

‘It all started with this movie, and that’s why I will never turn my back on it. I’m very proud to be a Wildcat through and through.’

Steven Anthony Lawrence – Even Stevens

Steven Anthony Lawrence found fame when he bagged a recurring role alongside Shia LaBeouf on the Disney Channel original series Even Stevens in 2001.

He played Bernard ‘Beans’ Aranguren, the Stevens’ extremely annoying neighbour, who comes into their house uninvited, makes himself at home, and refuses to leave.

The star, 35, also starred in The Even Stevens Movie before going on to land a role in Cheaper by the Dozen.

He also landed roles in popular television shows, such as Married… with Children, The Amanda Show and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, all before the age of 10.

Lawrence also starred in well-known series including Frasier, ER, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and That’s So Raven.

Lawrence’s last movie appearance was in Holly, Jingles and Clyde 3D, in 2013 and he has also appeared in various TV commercials.

More recently, in January, Steven hit headlines after he claimed he was fired from his job at Universal Studios in retaliation for reporting an alleged paedophile.

He made the allegations in an Instagram post, sharing an image of his work ID and name tag propped against a Super Mario Toad costume.

He explained that he waited to post because he was hoping to reach a solution with his former employer.

However, he claimed that his job came to an end after his boss and her HR representative allegedly retaliated against him for ‘reporting a suspected pedofile [sic] around children.’

‘While I will truly miss my job I cannot be associated with an organization or people that don’t care about performer or guest safety while numerous people continue to get hurt,’ he wrote.

A spokesperson for Universal denied the allegations, telling the Daily Mail, ‘We have investigated and reviewed the concerns brought forward by this former employee and they were found to be inaccurate and without merit.’

Anneliese van der Pol – That’s So Raven

Anneliese van der Pol was best known for playing Raven Baxter’s best friend Chelsea Daniels in the classic Disney series from 2003 to 2007. 

And, aside from a return to Disney for the show’s spin off series Raven’s Home from 2017 to 2022, the actress, 41, has mainly focused her career on theatre. 

Securing her biggest part as Belle in the Broadway version of Beauty and the Beast, Anneliese has also starred in productions of Sleeping Beauty, Grease and Evita. 

In 2023 the star announced her engagement to her Raven’s Home co-star Johnno Wilson. The pair married a year later and welcomed their daughter in December. 

Jake Thomas – Lizzie McGuire

Jake Thomas starred as Hilary Duff’s annoying younger brother on McGuire and he continued his Disney run with a role in Cory In The House until 2008. 

The actor, 36, has since appeared on multiple TV shows and also works as a commercial photographer and director. 

According to his website, Jake describes himself as a ‘bit of a “Jake” of all trades, committed to working with talent and clients to help bring their stories to audiences in a creative way’.  

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