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Today marks fifteen years since Disney Channel Original Series Even Stevens made its debut and carved a place in the world for Shia LaBeouf to be, well, Shia LaBeouf. But the paper bag-wearing, self-proclaimed motivational speaker isn’t the only child actor who got his big break on the channel, which is famous among millennials for its bizarre, supremely entertaining original programming.
In addition to LaBeouf, some former Disney Channel stars include Hilary Duff and Katherine Heigl, but not all the beloved tween and teen talents of the nineties and aughts successfully made the leap into the next decade. See who stayed on the acting path, who left the spotlight behind, and who is desperate to stay relevant no matter what.
CLAIM TO FAME: Susie Q (1996)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: After starring in one of Disney Channel's more underrated original movies, Johnson stuck with TV, starring alongside Keri Russell in Felicity before making appearances on crime dramas Wildfire, Flashpoint, and Covert Affairs. [Where to stream Susie Q]Photos: YouTube, amyjojohnson.com
CLAIM TO FAME: So Weird (1999-2001)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Spooky adventure drama So Weird was arguably the smartest series to grace Disney Channel, but it came and went after just three seasons. DeLizia hasn't been featured in much since the supernatural drama wrapped other than landing bit parts on since-cancelled JAG and Ghost Whisperer. [Where to stream So Weird]Photos: YouTube, IMDB
CLAIM TO FAME: Johnny Tsunami (1999)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Known for his role as surfer dude Johnny Kapahaala in Johnny Tsunami, Baker guest-starred on Even Stevens. If you love scoping for laughably bad movies on Netflix, you might have seen him in the sports comedy The Formula. [Where to stream The Formula]Photos: YouTube, Facebook
CLAIM TO FAME: Even Stevens (1999-2003)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: We all thought Romano, better known as Ren Stevens, would make it big after the Disney Channel series wrapped back in 2003. But Louis Stevens' (Shia LaBeouf) hot older sister stepped behind the camera for a successful career in voiceover work, including voicing the titular Kim Possible of the hit animated series. [Where to stream Even Stevens]Photos: Everett Collection, Getty
CLAIM TO FAME: Lizzie McGuire (2001-2004), The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: The dashing Disney heartthrob is all grown up and still pretty darn sexy. Though he's starred in a slew of short films and TV movies since his Lizzie McGuire days, Snyder has made a name for himself as a water polo player and a must-follow face on Instagram. [Where to stream The Lizzie McGuire Movie]Photos: Everett Collection, iamwaterpolo.org
CLAIM TO FAME: Escape to Witch Mountain (1995), Brink! (1998), So Weird (1999-2001)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Von Detten has stayed remained in the Disney family after his various TV movie appearances and voicing evil Sid in the Toy Story franchise. [Where to stream Brink!]Photos: Everett Collection
CLAIM TO FAME: Lizzie McGuire (2001-2004), The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Unlike some of her fellow Disney breakout stars (we're looking at you, Lindsay Lohan), Duff stayed on the straight and narrow, keeping up a wholesome, girl-next-door rep and taking on family-friendly roles before venturing into indie dramas and making her way back to TV with the hit dramedy, Younger. [Where to stream The Lizzie McGuire Movie]Photos: Everett Collection
CLAIM TO FAME: Wish Upon a Star (1996)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: The former Disney Channel star went on to become the go-to gal for rom coms and network dramas. But after becoming too much of a diva and sparking a feud with Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, Heigl had to bounce back from being one of the most despised actresses on television. [Where to stream Wish Upon a Star]Photos: YouTube, Getty
CLAIM TO FAME: Halloweentown (1998)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: The Halloweentown star has made a slow and steady career for herself, starring in long-standing soap The Guiding Light followed by AMC crime drama Low Winter Sun. [Where to stream Halloweentown]Photos: YouTube, Getty
CLAIM TO FAME: Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: After becoming America's "Supernova Girl" as Zenon, a super hip intergalactic tween heroine, Storms switched to soaps and became a staple on both Days of Our Lives and General Hospital. [Where to stream Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century]Photos: YouTube, Getty
CLAIM TO FAME: Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999), The Cheetah Girls (2003), That's So Raven (2003-2007)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Raven-Symoné technically got her start on The Cosby Show as Olivia Kendall before starring in Disney Channel fare. The actress-singer has stayed busy since The Cheetah Girls, recently guest-starring as Olivia Lyon on network phenomenon, Empire and taking a gig as a co-host on The View. [Where to stream The Cheetah Girls]Photos: Everett Collection, Getty
CLAIM TO FAME: Smart House (1999), The Luck of the Irish (2001)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Merriman has been fairly successful after playing a basketball-dunking leprechaun in Disney's The Luck of the Irish. You've seen him in horror sequels, The Ring Two and Final Destination: 3. If you're a Pretty Little Liars fan, you know him better as Ian Thomas. [Where to stream The Luck of the Irish]Photos: Everett Collection, Getty
CLAIM TO FAME: Even Stevens (1999-2003), The Even Stevens Movie (2003)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Despite having a few very public meltdowns in recent years, followed by a bizarre string of head-scratching music videos and, uhh, self-help PSAs, LaBeouf has been tireless in his film endeavors since his Disney days, starring in blockbusters like Transformers and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps to controversial indie phenomenons like Nymphomaniac. Maybe he is on to something with his "DO IT!" rant. [Where to stream Even Stevens]Photos: Everett Collection, Youtube
CLAIM TO FAME: Even Stevens (1999-2003)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Steven Anthony Lawrence, better known as Louis Stevens' sidekick Beans, has had accumulated a resume of bit parts in everything from blockbusters like Cheaper by the Dozen to bizarre music videos. [Where to stream Even Stevens]Photos: Everett Collection, YouTube
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