30 Disney Stars Who Disappeared Once Their Show Ended

#30: Clayton Snyder

"Lizzie McGuire" (2001-04)

Nearly every girl in school was swooning over Ethan Craft. Nice, Popular, athletic, and with a gorgeous head of hair, he was the full package. Of course, Ethan’s success comes from the actor who brought him to life, Clayton Snyder. Following “Lizzie McGuire’s” ending, Snyder stayed in the acting game with a sizable list of short films under his belt and even a guest appearance on “NCIS”. He was set to return for the planned “Lizzie McGuire” revival in 2020, but said plans fell through, so the world was once again denied the return of Ethan’s hair. However, Snyder also married fellow actress Allegra Edwards that same year, so we'd say he's doing alright for himself.

#29: Coco Christo

"Gabby Duran & the Unsittables" (2019-21)

One of the more overlooked Disney sitcoms is "Gabby Duran & the Unsittables,” which features the titular babysitter looking after a pack of alien children. Among the supporting characters is her little sister Olivia, played by young Coco Christo. This being her first major television role, Christo had previously been a theatre actor at age six. Following the show’s conclusion, it looked like Christo’s time with Disney had ended as she hasn’t been featured with them since. However, she was still a relatively new talent at the time, so her chances to expand her resume could only go up from there – hopefully without all the pitfalls that typically come with childhood fame.

#28: William Brent

"Lab Rats" (2012-16) & “Lab Rats: Elite Force” (2016)

Formerly known as Billy Unger, this handsome teen played Chase Devenport – the smartest member of the siblings... who clearly doesn’t know the meaning of the word “relax”. Once “Elite Force” was underway, he had his name legally changed to William Brent and was credited as such. It was the least they could do for his going-away present. Once the show ended, Brent retired from acting in 2016, choosing to focus on his music career. He also tied the knot and became a father of two. Hopefully, his time off set will allow him to do what Chase barely could – finally relax a little.

#27: Hutch Dano

"Zeke and Luther" (2009-12)

When Hutch Dano first entered the Disney Channel, he played Bailey's ex-boyfriend, Moose, on "The Suite Life on Deck". Not too long after, he became one half of the titular twosome, “Zeke and Luther”, as the brains of the group... not that that’s saying much. Once his time with Disney was over, he still found acting gigs. He guest-starred on shows like "White Collar" and "Law & Order: LA", but he also found himself down the slippery slope of alcohol use disorder. Fortunately, he was able to overcome his affliction and turn his attention towards painting and the arts, while still occasionally dabbling in acting.

#26: Dan Benson

"Wizards of Waverly Place" (2007-12)

While mostly playing smaller parts in TV, Dan Benson’s true rise to fame began when he was cast as Zeke in “Wizards of Waverly Place” - Justin’s nerdy-but-cool best friend and Harper’s love interest. While Zeke was good-natured and funny, Benson’s post-Disney career wasn’t so squeaky clean. He still had acting opportunities, such as voicing Ethan in “Rick and Morty”, but what surprised us was his setting up an OnlyFans account. He found success in being an adult model on the site, though he has stated the possibility of shutting his profile down. As long as he’s happy and not harming anyone, it’s not our place to judge.

#25: Lauren Taylor

"Best Friends Whenever" (2015-16)

It still stings how “Best Friends Whenever” had such wasted potential as a show concept. It’s especially sad given that the leading ladies - played by Landry Bender and Lauren Taylor - had genuine chemistry together. While Landry Miller would march onto more acting opportunities, Lauren Taylor seemingly vanished off the face of the earth — no notable acting roles since 2018, and no updates on social media for nearly as long. Many have speculated about where Taylor may have vanished, while we’re trying not to assume the worst scenario. Wherever you are, if you’re watching this video right now, we wish you luck wherever life takes you, Lauren.

#24: Kiely Williams

"The Cheetah Girls" Series (2003-08)

Originally a member of the R&B group 3LW, Kiely Williams was brought on to play Aquanette in the Disney Channel TV Film series, “The Cheetah Girls”. Sadly, 3LW disbanded in 2006, but The Cheetah Girls thrived with three TV movies and multiple albums, establishing themselves as an icon for multi-ethnic girl groups. Following the group’s disbanding, Williams stepped out of the superstar spotlight to focus on her solo career. These adventures included a guest spot on "Celebrity Family Feud" and competing in the reality show "BET Presents: The Encore", where she became part of a new R&B group, BluPrint. She also got married and had two kids, and continues to thrive outside the Disney spotlight.

#23: Nick Spano

"Even Stevens" (2000-03)

While not the brightest candle in the shop, Donnie Evans knew how to look after his two titular siblings and keep us laughing – all thanks to Nick Spano’s acting. Following the show’s conclusion, Spano continued to act, but less frequently than his Disney career - most notably for crime shows like “NCIS” and “Cold Case”. He's also the founder of a few Hollywood-bound businesses, such as the Hollywood Night Market and the Re/creation Café. While his acting career might have slowed down, it’s nice to know that Nick is still keeping busy without having to deal with Louis and Ren's zany antics.

#22: Will Friedle

"Boy Meets World" (1993-2000)

It’s impossible not to laugh while watching Will Friedle as Eric Matthews – Cory's pretty but dimwitted older brother. Behind the scenes, however, it wasn’t as funny for Friedle, as near the end of “Boy Meets World”, he started suffering from anxiety disorder, which made camera acting a nightmare for him. Following the show’s end, he stayed away from camera acting in favor of voice acting, where he continued making us smile as Ron Stoppable, among many others. You could just imagine how hard our jaws dropped when Friedle returned in front of the camera as Eric for the “Girl Meets World” spin-off, powering through his anxiety to bless the world with Plays with Squirrels when we needed him most.

#21: Dylan Sprouse

"Suite Life" Franchise (2005-11)

Throughout the 2000s, it was impossible to hear the name Dylan Sprouse without it being accompanied by that of his twin, Cole, on “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody”. The ongoing chaos they caused at the Tipton Hotel and SS Tipton became a staple for the Disney Channel. Once the franchise ended, both twins took a hiatus from acting to focus on college, but neither could give it up entirely. While Cole went on to play Jughead on “Riverdale”, Dylan became pickier with his roles, opting for characters such as Luke Hart in "Tyger Tyger" or Colin in “The Duel.” While life as a child star is never easy, it’s comforting to see Dylan try to continue his career post-Suite Life.

#20: Kay Panabaker

“Phil of the Future” (2004–06)

Remember Debbie Berwick from “Phil of The Future?” She wasn’t around for long, but Kay Panabaker’s character approaches life with a positive attitude — and then we learn she’s a cyborg. Unfortunately for her, Debbie doesn’t make it past the first season. Panabaker made multiple guest-star appearances in other series, such as “Weeds” and “Medium,” and could be seen in several TV movies afterward. She also had a central part in ABC’s short-lived “No Ordinary Family,” but ultimately retired from acting in 2012. Interestingly, while that chapter of her career ended shortly after leaving the Disney Channel, she remained in the House of Mouse’s world, in a sense. Indeed, in 2016, she reportedly was a zoologist at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

#19: Jake Thomas

“Lizzie McGuire” (2001-04)

We all know Matt, Lizzie McGuire’s mischievous younger brother. He’s pretty much always bugging his sister or playing pranks, to put it mildly. The actor who brought him to life is Jake Thomas. Still, you may not recognize his name and face from anywhere other than this hit series from the aughts — and perhaps “Cory in the House.” Thomas has had other, more minor roles in the years since he left Disney Channel behind, but none of them have been as recognizable. Still, if you miss seeing him on your screen, he did appear in one episode of “NCIS” in 2024! He flies under the radar, but he’s still in entertainment, also reportedly working as a director.

#18: Phill Lewis

“Suite Life” franchise (2005-11)

One of— if not the—most memorable hotel managers in the history of Disney Channel is Mr. Moseby. He’s stern, demanding, and well-spoken; refusing to put up with any of Zack and Cody’s shenanigans. Phill Lewis played the man in the nice suits from “Suite Life of Zack & Cody” and its spin-off, “The Suite Life on Deck.” He performed other important roles prior to this series, but it would be understandable to only associate Lewis’ face with Mr. Moseby. Even after his great run as Mr. Moseby in the “Suite Life” franchise, Lewis has made appearances here and there, but to nowhere near the same extent.

#17: Cara DeLizia

“So Weird” (1999–2001)

Both Disney and Nickelodeon seemed to have a knack for making kid-friendly versions of popular adult TV shows. Take, for example, “So Weird”, Disney’s version of “The X Files”. Like its adult sibling, the show centered around otherworldly things like aliens and ghosts. And its main character was Fiona Phillips or “Fi” for short, played by Cara DeLizia. After season three though, DeLizia left the show and never quite made it into the spotlight again. She’s had a few guest spots, like on “The West Wing”, and she voiced a character on Nickelodeon’s “All Grown Up”, but nothing quite so big as playing Fi. We like to think she’s happily retired from the acting life.

#16: Matthew Timmons

“The Suite Life on Deck” (2008–11)

“Dang it!” You may have heard that from Matthew Timmons’ character Woody in “Suite Life on Deck.” Woody is Cody’s cabin-mate on the SS Tipton. His gullibility, messiness, and overall silliness lead to some comical moments in the series. This includes attempting pick-up lines and testing his luck as a butler. Timmons, however, left the acting spotlight after this role, except for a brief one-episode appearance in the Disney series “Jessie.” It seemed “Suite Life on Deck” could have been a launching pad at the beginning of his young acting career. Unfortunately, based on his social media activity, the main reason Timmons backed out of the industry was facing harmful size stereotypes. Nowadays, you wouldn’t recognize Timmons as Woody.

#15: Mia Talerico

“Good Luck Charlie” (2010–14)

That adorable, innocent baby from “Good Luck Charlie” provides numerous fuzzy and funny moments. Charlie started the show in 2010 as a baby and grew to be several years old by the show’s conclusion in 2014. The girl who starred in this role is Mia Talerico. But what happened to the little actress since? Well, as of 2024, she’s a high schooler. She may only be Charlie to you, even all these years later. Although, who knows? As young as she still is, maybe she’ll find her way back to the screen at some point. Whatever she ends up doing, we say good luck, Charlie.

#14: Amy Bruckner

“Phil of the Future” (2004–06)

Pim is the sister of the title character in “Phil of the Future.” Clever, confident, and sassy at times, Amy Bruckner’s character is known to have a few tricks up her sleeve. Although she also appeared in the Disney animated series “American Dragon” during the mid-2000s, Bruckner is unquestionably most recognized in the television world as Pim. Following that role, you may not have seen her again, due to just her few minor film appearances. Nowadays, the former actress is an attorney. Surely, the resourcefulness and ingenuity that Pim possesses could be beneficial in Bruckner’s legal practice.

#13: Kyle Massey

“That’s So Raven” (2003–07) & “Cory in the House” (2007–08)

Cory Baxter is Raven’s little brother in the hit Disney series “That’s So Raven.” Played by Kyle Massey, Cory is a money-hungry young entrepreneur. Hence, his catchphrase is “cha-ching!” Having a pet rat named Lionel is definitely another thing to remember him by. After “That’s So Raven,” Massey featured as the main character in “Cory in the House.” After his promising Disney years, though, his acting career didn’t really take off. He did make an appearance in “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010, and has also dropped a few tracks as a rapper. In 2021 he was back in headlines, but not in a good way - charged with immoral communication with a minor.

#12: Doug Brochu

“Sonny with a Chance” (2009–11)

On the short-lived “Sonny with a Chance”, Grady Mitchell was a goofy side character and offered up the comic relief. And who played that lovable part so well? Why, none other than Doug Brochu. But if you don’t recognize his name, you aren’t alone. After “Sonny with a Chance” and its spin-off show were both over - along with a few other Disney shows he appeared in - Brochu has only had one noteworthy acting credit to his name. The 2014 short, “Obituaries” had him acting alongside James Franco and might have been a bump of fame. But Doug has reportedly decided to focus more on his health. And we understand; he looks great!

#11: Jason Earles

“Hannah Montana” (2006–11)

Jackson Stewart, the older brother of Miley in “Hannah Montana,” has a much different personality than his sister. The quirky, lazy character who earns plenty of laughs from the audience, is portrayed by Jason Earles. As siblings often do, Jackson and Miley bicker plenty, but the love between them is definitely evident. Earles’ performance in this Disney classic is without a doubt his most notable one, even with a few TV roles following “Hannah Montana.” So, to many people, Earles is and always will be Jackson and no one else.

#10: Jason Dolley

“Good Luck Charlie” (2010–14)

The eldest of the Duncans in “Good Luck Charlie” is PJ, portrayed by Jason Dolley. He adds a special comedic flavor to the show, which helped him win over a fair share of fans. However, those hoping to see more of Dolley after the finale of “Good Luck Charlie” in 2014 may have been disappointed. Since then, he has appeared on screen sparingly. His claim to fame is definitely “Good Luck Charlie.” The LA native did recently say in a podcast that he’s still getting young people’s recognition for his performance as PJ. Given his young age at the time and the positive reception of his character, it’s a bit surprising that Dolley hasn’t since stamped more claims to fame.

#9: Ashlie Brillault

“Lizzie McGuire” (2001–04)

She’s Kate Sanders, the frenemy of the title character in “Lizzie McGuire.” There are several memorable clashes between Kate and Lizzie throughout the series. Some fall under the category of dramatic while others may be considered, well, not pleasant. Although her character is depicted as the most popular girl in school, Brillault’s popularity as an actress never extended beyond this early 2000s role. Her acting career started and ended with “Lizzie McGuire.” Since then, she transitioned to a totally new profession: attorney.

#8: Bridgit Mendler

“Good Luck Charlie” (2010–14)

It’s sweet that Teddy Duncan produces video diaries of her baby sister in “Good Luck Charlie.” That’s a good big sis. Portrayed by Bridgit Mendler, the series' main character is depicted as caring, responsible, and likable. After shining in the Disney spotlight with this performance, it would’ve been reasonable to expect Mendler to continue shining in the industry for years to come. Even though she has appeared on screen a few more times after the 2014 conclusion of “Good Luck Charlie,” those roles haven’t garnered the same level of recognition. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that, while you may not have seen Mendler since her “Good Luck Charlie” days, you may have heard her great voice in the hit song “Ready or Not.”

#7: Lalaine

“Lizzie McGuire” (2001–04)

Like many on this list, Lalaine acted in a few roles before her big break with Disney. In this case, that was as the titular character’s best friend on “Lizzie McGuire.” As Miranda, Lalaine lit up every young girl’s life with her awesome outfits and general hilarity. But in 2007, the young star was charged with possession of methamphetamines. From 2010 to 2011, she took a swing at playing bass for the band, Vanity Theft, but the all-girl group never hit true fame. Since then, Lalaine has had a few acting credits to her name - even one in “Easy A” - but sadly, nothing as significant as her earlier roles.

#6: Jennifer Stone

“Wizards of Waverly Place” (2007-12)

Where would the world be without best friends to push us, laugh with us, and be a shoulder to cry on? Most of Disney Channel’s shows answer that with a resounding, ‘nowhere.’ And “Wizards of Waverly Place” is no different. The sweet but sly Harper was that best friend to Alex Russo. And Jennifer Stone played the role well. Almost immediately after the show was over, Nickelodeon scooped up the young star, wanting her to play the babysitter/storyteller on “Deadtime Stories.” After that, she’s had scattered acting gigs. More importantly, she’s done outreach for people living with diabetes after her own diagnosis. You go, girl!

#5: Tiffany Thornton

“Sonny with a Chance” (2009–11)

Demi Lovato’s Sonny from “Sonny with a Chance” not only had great friends; she had a queen bee frenemy as well. Tiffany Thornton played this character, Tawni, with an adorable and funny, albeit sometimes annoying flair. And for a short while after both the show and its spin-off were over, she was a radio personality for KLAZ 105.9 in Arkansas. But that was the last the world saw of the young blonde star, at least on any world’s stage. Don’t worry though; as evidenced by her Instagram, Tiffany prefers her quiet life, raising her children and working for Champion Christian College as a recruitment advisor.

#4: Orlando Brown

“That’s So Raven” (2003-07)

Oh, Orlando. With his ability to spit an awesome freestyle but still play up the goofy scenes as Eddie on “That’s So Raven,” he could have gone far in Hollywood. Even as his popular Disney show was ending, Brown seemed to have a music career that was picking up. So perhaps, he could have gone on to do wonderful things. In 2015, he even attempted a small comeback with a role in “Straight Outta Compton.” Unfortunately, though, fame took a bad turn for Orlando. In 2018,, he was arrested for drug possession and domestic abuse. We can say this star’s time with Disney has definitely come to an end.

#3: Mitchel Musso

“Hannah Montana” (2006–11)

Back in the days when he played Oliver Oken on “Hannah Montana”, Mitchel Musso seemed like he could have become a household name. He was in many Disney Channel films and had a voice that could rock a pop punk stage. Around the same time that his role on “Hannah Montana” was over, Disney offered him two other roles on “Pair of Kings” and “PrankStars.” But after a DUI, his time on both was cut short. And sadly, with only one full-length studio album to his name, his music career hasn’t gone far either. He has since patched things up with Disney though, having taken on the voice of Wally in “Milo Murphy’s Law.”

#2: Ricky Ullman

“Phil of the Future” (2004–06)

As the title suggests, “Phil of the Future” was another Disney channel show filled with fun, hilarity, and most of all, an off-the-wall concept. Ricky Ullman played the titular Phil with a carefree attitude but also, a certain sincerity. Since being on the show though, he’s gone back to his given name, Raviv, and has done a few guest spots on TV shows, like “Broad City.” But most importantly, he’s the drummer in a band called Reputante. And though they only have one album out so far, Michelle Williams did star in one of their music videos. Just give them a listen; they have a pretty cool sound.

#1: Adam Lamberg

“Lizzie McGuire” (2001–04)

Well, we mentioned Miranda, so of course Gordo has to be on the list too! And the lovable young Adam Lamberg played the guy in the best friend trio with ease and laughter. Upsettingly though - at least for the public - shortly after “Lizzie McGuire” and its accompanying movie were over, Lamberg said goodbye to Hollywood. And almost as easily as he slid into the role of Gordo, he slid into anonymity as well. According to LinkedIn, he now has his Bachelor’s degree in Geography and his Master’s in Public Communication. He’s also worked his way up to be the Development Officer at the Irish Arts Center in NYC. Bravo, Gordo. Bravo.

Did we miss any elusive Disney stars? Let us know in the comments, and pray that they’re alright.