The Disney Channeland its children and teen-based content is a staple in many viewers' childhoods. Many channel alumni have maintained a career in the industry, with recognizable Disney regulars likeKimberly J. Brown(Halloweentown) appearing now on the soapGeneral HospitalorLucas Grabeel(High School Musical) lending his voice regularly onFamily Guy.
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However, A-list names likeRaven-SymonéorZac Efronwere launched into stardom from their time on Disney, but that’s not where they got their start. Raven’s acting career started onThe Cosby Showin 1989 withThat’s So Ravennot making it to screen until 2003, and Efron’s career picked up from TV’sSummerland(2004-2005) beforeHigh School Musicalin 2006. Before the Oscar, Grammy, or Emmy nominations, these A-listers got their beginning acting credits from either aDisney Channel Original Movie or TV Showand have since risen to reputable stardom.
Keri Russell
Before she was getting Emmy Nominations for her role inThe Americans,Keri Russellwas a Disney Channel star. Russell is widely known for her role as Felicity Porter in the seriesFelicity, created byJ.J. AbramsandMatt Reeves, and her starring role in 2007’sWaitress.
Russell’s show biz career started in 1991 with her casting inThe All New Mickey Mouse Club.She’d appear for five episodes from 1991 through 1993. In that time, she’d also go on to star in Disney’s 1992Honey, I Blew Up the Kidand appear in one 1993 episode of the hit showBoy Meets World.
Selena Gomez
This pop starmay have stepped into the entertainment businessonBarney and Friends, but Disney Channel put her on the map. Before she was topping Billboard and streaming charts,SelenaGomezstarted her Disney casting with a small role onThe Suite Life of Zack and Cody, playing the love interest Gwen in “A Midsummer’s Nightmare.”
Gomez would go on to land the lead role of Alex Russo in another Disney Channel original showWizards of Waverly Placefrom 2007 to 2012. During her time as a Disney darling, Gomez would star in guest roles on popular shows likeHannah Montanaand feature roles in Disney Channel original movies likePrincess Protection Program.
Ryan Gosling
Hollywood heartthrob and critically acclaimed actorRyan Goslingis another big-name talent who got his start with the mouse-house. His stardom began with his casting and appearance in three episodes ofThe All New Mickey Mouse Clubfrom 1993 until 1995.
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Years later, Disney would cast him again in their feature filmRemember the Titans. His charisma and charm from his Disney days would shine through the brightest in his 2016’sLa La Landwhere he would sing and dance for the camera once again, earning his second Oscar nomination.
Demi Lovato
Musical powerhouse and actressDemi Lovatois another star whose musical talents were first utilized on the Disney Channel. Making their first appearance in 2007, Lovato starred in the comedy shorts seriesAs the Bell Ringsthat followed a group of students and their hallway conversations between classes.
Disney would match up Lovato’s talented voice alongside theJonas Brothersin the Disney Channel original movieCamp Rockand the sequelCamp Rock 2: The Final Jam. Becoming a channel favorite, Lovato landed the role of Sonny inSonny With A Chance(2009-2011). They would later team up with Disney alum Selena Gomez inPrincess Protection Program.
Hilary Duff
A true Disney sweetheart,Hilary Duffbrought to life the true trials and tribulations of being a preteen girl for millennials. While her first film credit goes to the TV movieCasper Meets Wendy, the movie itself was not a Disney production despite it finding a regular home during Disney Channel’s Halloween season. Duff would join the mouse-house family in 2001 with her casting as title characterLizzie McGuire.
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The fan-favorite show would run from 2001 until 2004, with Duff starring in the channel original movieCadet Kellyin 2002. Lizzie McGuire would get her feature filmThe Lizzie McGuiremovie in 2003. After her time at Disney, Duff showcased her singing and acting talents with multiple pop albums and in feature films. Currently, she stars in Hulu’sHow I Met Your Fatheras Sophie.
Justin Timberlake
Before he was playing through every radio and streaming platform,Justin Timberlakewas hanging out on the Disney Channel. The music superstar was cast among other A-listers onThe All New Mickey Mouse Clubfrom 1993 to 1995, appearing in four episodes. He would meetfuture *NSYNC boy bandmateJC Chasezon theMickey Mouse Clubas Chasez spent starred in six episodes from 1991 to 1995.
Timberlake would return to his Disney roots in 2000 with a role in the TV movieModel Behaviorplaying oppositeMaggie Lawson. The movie aired on the anthology seriesThe Wonderful World of Disney. Timberlake’s stardom not only led to a successful solo music career but would continue in the film industry with various roles in movies likeThe Social NetworkandTrolls.
Taking the cinematic world by storm,Zendayais another Hollywood starlet with Disney roots. Before becoming a fashion icon and award-winning actress, she was appearing alongsideBella Thorneon Disney’s Channel’sShake It Upin 2010. The show followed the dreams of Rocky (Zendaya) and Cece (Thorne) as they land roles as dancers on a show.
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Zendaya’s time at Disney would continue afterShake It Upended in 2013 withK.C. Undercoverfrom 2015-2018. After leaving Disney he would go on in 2020 to win a Primetime Emmy for her portrayal of Rue Bennett in HBO’sEuphoria, making her the youngest actress to win for a drama series at age 24.
Christina Aguilera
Her voice needing no introduction, this pop princess took the world by storm. Before her chart-topping days,Christina Aguilerawas a young hopeful onThe All New Mickey Mouse Clubfor three episodes from 1993 through 1995 alongside other now-famous Disney alums. She would also lend her voice to Disney in 1998 forReflections on Ice: Michelle Kwan Skates to the Music of Disney’s ‘Mulan’, a TV movie featuring clips of the animated film. This credit would come full circle as Aguilera would perform “Reflection” for the 2020 remake ofMulan.
Outside her music career and success, Aguilera took on music-driven roles inBurlesqueand the TV seriesNashville. She’s appeared as a judge on talent competition shows likeThe Voicefrom 2011 to 2018.
Miley Cyrus
Perhaps one of the biggest names to exit the Disney Channel isMiley Cyrus. With her fatherBilly Ray Cyrusalready established as a country musician and series lead on the TV seriesDoc, Miley debuted full talent alongside her father in 2006 withHannah Montana. Playing a teen girl, Miley Stewart who lives a double life as pop sensation Hannah Montana, she was able to showcase her vocal and acting talent.
The show would air from 2006 to 2011, with multiple crossover events with other channel shows likeThe Suite Life of Zack and Cody. The songstress would also lend her voice to Disney’s animated featureBolt(2008). After cutting ties with the mouse-house, Cyrus would launch a successful music career with a few acting credits like in the 2019 episode “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too” ofNetflix’s sci-fi seriesBlack Mirror.
Britney Spears
Surprisingly enough, music iconBritney Spearsfound her start with Mickey Mouse from 1993-1995. She is yet another name to appear for three episodes onThe All New Mickey Mouse Club. A few short years later, in 1998, “Hit Me Baby One More Time” was released catapulting this teen into the spotlight and instant stardom.
Even as Spears struggled with growing pains of fame at a young age and a long, grueling conservatorship, her success never wavered as she released hit after hit, finding small acting roles along the way in movies likeLong Shotalongside other Mouse Club stars like Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez. She’d also snag a feature role in 2002’sCrossroadswritten byShonda Rhimes.
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