Biography of high school musical now
The year was 2006. The Disney Channel was riding a wave of tween popularity, thanks to shows like That's So Raven, Hannah Montana, and Kim Possible. It was the perfect time to try something ambitious, something different. Something like...a musical. Enter: High School Musical.
Yes, it's really been 10 years since the world was first introduced to Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. Yes, 10 years ago, we were told — in song — to remember that we're all in this together. And yes, 10 years ago, we saw some of the worst 2000s fashion choices ever made. I mean, feathers and bedazzled shirts? Bless their hearts.
To celebrate this milestone, we've decided to check up on the actors from the original High School Musical. Where are they now? What are they doing? Do they still call themselves "Wildcats"? Okay, so maybe we can't find information about that last question, but it's no less important.
Ahead, 15 of the stars from the original High School Musical and how they've changed since the TV movie's premiere. Go Wildcats!
Ever since the first High School Musical movie premiered in 2006, fans have been obsessed with the Disney Channel film series. Starring Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Zac Efron, Corbin Bleu, Lucas Gabriel, Monique Coleman and more, the musical movie — which followed the love story between a popular basketball player named Troy Bolton and a nerdy girl named Gabriella Montez — went on to spawn two sequels and, years later, a TV show.
After the final flick hit theaters in 2008, the entire cast went their separate ways and have since accomplished a lot over the years — like starring in new movies, getting married and starting families of their own. Despite their super busy lives, the HSM cast has all managed to stay pretty close! They’ve actually hung out a lot over the years, and every time they do it brings on a major wave of nostalgia.
In fact, Ashley opened up about her experience with the films during an episode of Dear Media’s “Looking Up” podcast with Dr. Deepika Chopra.
“It’s almost actually looking back on your high school years in a weird way, like high school experience twice. And just one was like super successful,” the actress explained. “It was such an innocent moment in time to where people were accepting of that type of movie. I don’t know, like I always say, I don’t know if it would work right now, you know? Cause it’s just like different time, but it’s just that cast and everything was, it’s very hard to find a project where there was a lot of innocence and a lot of people excited and passionate about what we were going to do.”Good Morning America
While appearing on Good Morning America in August 2021, Ashley even explained the difference between her character, Sharpay, and Vanessa’s character, Gabriella.
“The entire time, she was just business-driven. She just wanted to work and do the musicals,” she said. “Gabriella was off with Troy just wanting to chase a relationship.”
Monique also reflected on her time on the fi It sure was the "Start of Something New" for Vanessa Hudgens (a.k.a. Gabriella Montez) when she met baseball player Cole Tucker on a Zoom meditation group during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pair made their red carpet debut in 2021 and by the end of the 2022 the two were engaged. After tying the knot in December 2023 in Tulum, Mexico, Hudgens hit the carpet at the 2024 Oscars showing off a growing baby bump and revealed the two were expecting their first child together. On July 4, 2024, Hudgens announced her baby had arrived and that "mom dad and baby are happy and healthy." After years of crushing on Troy Bolton as Sharpay Evans, Ashley Tisdale found her real-life love with composer Christopher French. When the two wed in 2014, Tisdale tapped none other than her HSM castmate Hudgens to step in as a bridesmaid. Tisdale and French share one daughter, Jupiter, whom they welcomed in 2021, and in March 2024 the pair announced they were expecting their second child. When asked "how cool" it was to be pregnant at the same time as Hudgens during a Q&A on her Instagram Stories in May, Tisdale replied: “It’s very cool! I’m so excited for her and this new chapter in her life.” Corbin Bleu, who played Troy Bolton's best friend and teammate Chad Danforth in all three of the High School Musical films, wed fellow actress Sasha Clements in 2016 after first meeting at a grocery store in 2011. "Getting married to Sasha was the best moment of my life," Bleu told PEOPLE of their Santa Susana, California, nuptials. Bart Johnson, who played Troy's dad and coach Jack Bolton, has been married to actress Robyn Lively for more than 20 years. Lively (sister to Blake Lively) and Johnson are proud parents of three, though Mom Subscribe Newsletters This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? . He was the most popular guy at East High, equally talented at singing and playing basketball. Troy fell in love with Gabriella after meeting her at a ski resort and reluctantly being paired up for karaoke. It's unclear when Efron and costar Vanessa Hudgens began dating in real life, but they split in 2010. Since "HSM," Efron showed off his smooth moves as Link Larkin in the 2007 movie "Hairspray." He also led R-rated films like "That Awkward Moment," "Neighbors," "Dirty Grandpa," "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates," and "Baywatch." In December 2017, the actor starred in "The Greatest Showman" alongside Zendaya and Hugh Jackman. The actor also voiced the character Gary on the animated Facebook Watch series "Human Discoveries." He played real-life serial killer Ted Bundy in Netflix's 2019 movie "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile." Efron has a YouTube channel, where he posts fitness and travel videos, too. His love for adventure led to a Netflix travel series titled "Down to Earth With Zac Efron," which debuted on the streamer in 2020. The show returned for a second season in November 2022. Efron also starred as Andy McGee in a 2022 reboot of Stephen King's "Firestarter" and played Chickie Donohue in the 2022 film "The Greatest Beer Run Ever,
Meet the Real-Life Loves (and Cute Kids!) of the High School Musical Cast
Vanessa Hudgens and Cole Tucker
Ashley Tisdale and Christopher French
Corbin Bleu and Sasha Clements
Bart Johnson and Robyn Lively
THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'High School Musical,' 17 years later
Zac Efron starred as Troy Bolton.
Efron plays real-life former wrestler Kevin Von Erich in A24's new biopic "The Iron Claw."