Then and Now: Here’s What Happened to Some of Disney’s Brightest Child Stars

FameJune 7, 2019

Every now and then, you’ll see familiar face or name that you just can’t seem to point your fingers on, thinking there’s something that utterly feels like home. Suddenly, nostalgia swallows you as you reminisce and remember that it was a Disney star, whom you’ve grown up watching.

The moment when you have to run when your siblings say the commercial’s over or to make sure you tune in at the exact time slot of your fave TV show or film — these are just some of the things that will surely bring back memories.

Going back, you would always imagine how fabulous Disney child stars’ lives were because everyone practically idolized them. Although some of them have careers that flourished even more thanks to the doors opened by the big House of Mouse, others ventured into other paths. Here’s an update on where they are now:

David Henrie

“Wizards of the Waverly Place” revolves around the Russo family – the father used to be a wizard until he had to give up his supernatural powers when he married a mortal being, the mom. The story mainly focused on the adventures of the three children with David Henrie’s Justin as the eldest. The show has had a good run, premiering in 2007 and concluding in 2012.

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David Henrie recently welcomed her first child with wife Maria Cahill

After this project, he was notably missing from the follow-up film “The Wizards Return: Alex vs Alex” but he did appear in bigger ones like “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” and “Grown Ups 2.” David also went on to focus on his private life as he got married to Miss Delaware Maria Cahill two years ago and they welcomed their first child Pia Francesca Philomena in March this year after three miscarriages.

Christy Carlson Romano

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Christy Carlson Romano voiced Kim Possible and was known as Ren Stevens in “Even Stevens.”

Christy Carlson Romano is arguably one of the most multi-faceted artists of Disney. She has also enjoyed quite a career in the network, who could forget Ren Stevens of “Even Stevens” or Kim Possible? She also went on to star with Hilary Duff in “Cadet Kelly” and in 2004, she went on for a 31-week run as Belle in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” in Broadway.

Apart from her acting credits, Christy also wrote “Grace’s Turn,” directed “Christmas All Over Again,” and got a Film Studies degree from Barnard College. She wed producer Brendan Rooney in 2013 and have two kids with him. The 35-year-old went back to the network for a live-action of “Kim Possible” and recently, she revealed the struggles she had as a child star and narrated that she suffered depression at one point.

Bridgit Mendler

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Bridgit Mendler is starring in the upcoming “Merry Happy Whatever” in Netflix

Bridgit Mendler played Teddy Duncan in “Good Luck Charlie” and after this, she joined “Undateable” season 2 in 2015 until it got canceled. She also starred in the 2011 film “Lemonade Mouth.” The 26-year-old went on to appear in “Father of the Year” and “Nashville” and her recent project is a Netflix series called “Merry Happy Whatever,” which she will co-star with Disney alum Ashley Tisdale and Dennis Quaid.

Apart from releasing two albums, the actress also has an impressive educational background, having studied anthropology at USC, announcing she began an MIT graduate program, and recently, studying at Harvard Law School.