The star of a 20-year-old hit movie changed his name – This is how other actors are doing now

High School Musical was the breakthrough for many movie actors. AOP

American High School Musical -film series can be considered a generational experience of one era. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first film in the series.

The series raised young acting talents to great popularity. We found out what the stars are up to today.

Zac Efron

High School Musical opened the door to Hollywood, especially for Zac Efron, who played the main role Troy Bolton. Efron was 18 at the time of the first film.

Even in the first High School Musical movie, Efron didn’t sing his parts himself, they were replaced by Efron’s colleague Drew Seeley. However, in later parts of the film series, Efron sang himself.

High School Musical made Efron a name and he has since been seen in several movie musicals, such as Hairpsray and The Greatest Showman.

Now 38, Efron has continued to forge a career as an actor. In addition to his acting career, Efron has been seen in a TV series Down to Earth with Zac Efronwhere Efron toured the world while focusing on different themes such as travel, nature and sustainable choices.

Efron is silent about his private life. She has been linked to, for example, Alexandra Daddario and Lily Collins, but Hello! magazine according to Efron apparently enjoys being alone.

Vanessa Hudgens

Another star who had a big breakthrough was Vanessa Hudgens. Hudgens, who played Gabriella Montez, was only 16 years old when the first film was shot.

After the High School Musical movies, Hudgens has been seen in movies, for example Spring Breakers, Gimme Shelter and Freaks of Nature. He has also starred in many Netflix romantic films.

Hudgens dated her co-star Zac Efron from 2005 to 2010. The breakup was announced in February 2011.

In 2011, Hudgens started dating actor Austin Butler. The couple divorced in 2020.

Hudgens married baseball player Cole Tucker in 2023. The couple welcomed their first child in July 2024. The second child was born in December 2025.

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Ashley Tisdale

Ashley Tisdale played Sharpay Evans in the High School Musical movies. Tisdale was 20 years old at the time of the first film.

Tisdale has since carved out a career as an actress. He is especially remembered for the series Hellcats and Merry Happy Whatever. In addition, he has voice acting Phineas and Ferb in the series.

In addition to her acting career, Tisdale has made a career as a musician. He has released three albums, the latest in 2019.

In 2013, Tisdale got engaged to Christopher French, who composes music for TV series and movies. The couple has two daughters, one born in 2021 and the other in 2024.

The actress changed her name to Ashley French at the end of 2025.

You can see a couple of pictures below.

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Corbin Bleu

Cordin Bleu played Troy Bolton’s best friend Chad in the movies.

After appearing in the hit movie series, Bleu has created a career especially on the stage and played many musical roles. He recently received an Olivier Award nomination for his role The Great Gatsby – in the musical. The nomination came in the category of best supporting actor in a musical.

Bleu is married to a Canadian, Lost girl with Sasha Clements, known from the series.

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Lucas Grabeel

Lucas Grabeel played Ryan, the twin brother of Tisdale’s Sharpay Evans in the High School Musical movies. After the popular films, Grabeel has continued to act, but mainly in smaller roles.

In the sister series of the High School Musical films High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Grabeel introduced himself.

Based on Grabeel’s social media, he has seen at least Cordin Bleu in the next few years. The two posed together at Walt Disney World in Florida last year.

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