Everyone remembers when Zac Efron shot to superstardom thanks to the phenomenon that was high school musicalor when Disney Channel put Grammy-nominated vocal sensations like Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato on the map, or when Miley Cyrus conquered the world as Hannah Montana. But at over 100 Disney Channel Original Movies Under the magic network belt, they sometimes play some unexpected notable names.
Whether it was one of their very first works or just another addition to the resume, many big celebrities have appeared in and starred in DCOMs over the years, by some Saturday night live Become a one day superhero in the stars MCU.
Debbie Reynolds – “Halloween Town” (1998)
The legend that was Debby Reynoldswho starred in everything sing in the rain 1952 to guest appearances on shows such as will and grace, carpets and Kim Possible, also had a very memorable stint in a DCOM film series.
Reynolds played Aggie Cromwell in it Halloween town, the Piper children’s grandmother who doubled as a beloved witch in their magical, spooky town. The actress went on to reprise her endearing role in the following three sequels, Halloween Town II:Kalabar’s revenge, Halloweentown HighandReturn to Halloweentown.
Taran Killam – “Stuck In The Suburbs” (2004)
actor Taran Killam is best known for his six seasons on Saturday Night Live and is the other half of to How I met your mother and The Avengers star Cobie Smulders. But long before the actor was any of those things, he starred in a popular DCOM alongside a few other notable names.
Killam played a cocky pop star named Jordan Cahill Stuck in the suburbswho accidentally befriends two of his biggest fans – played by Brenda song and Danielle Panabaker – after he and Panabaker’s fangirl character end up swapping phones.
Brie Larson – “Right On Track” (2003)
Although she started her career at the age of 9, it wasn’t until 2019 that the actress Brie Larson made headlines as Marvel’s newest superhero, Captain Marvel, who starred in four films and counted for the film franchise. But long before she joined the MCU, the Carol Danvers cast member appeared on Disney Channel.
Larson played alongside 7th heaven alum Beverly Mitchell in Exactly on the right track,A 2003 DCOM based on a true story about two sisters who achieved success in a so-called “man’s sport” and won a national drag racing title as teenagers.
Tim Meadows – “The Even Stevens Movie” (2003)
Tim Wiesen‘ long and impressive career ranges from mean girls to The Goldbergs one of the longest-running cast members on Saturday Night Live. And in between, the actor starred in a memorable DCOM.
Meadows played Miles McDermott The Even Stevens filmthe companion DCOM to the Disney Channel sitcom Even Stevenswho followed the Stevens family on a vacation to paradise where everything that could go wrong does go wrong, but Miles is one of the few to get a secret surprise.
Kristen Stewart – “The Thirteenth Year” (1999)
Kristen Stewart She rose to fame in 2008 when she was cast to play the popular book character Bella Swan in the dusk Saga, but her time as a vampire was a long way from her debut as an actress, starting with her first-ever role in a Disney Channel Original Movie.
Stewart began her acting career when she landed a small, non-speaking role in 1999 The Thirteenth Year, a film about a boy who begins to grow scales and fins on his 13th birthday and learns of his heritage as a mermaid. Stewart’s character is known as Girl in Fountain Line, although she was uncredited in the film.
Katey Sagal – “Smart House” (1999)
Katey Sagal is known to each generation as a different character; Peggy Bundy next married, with children, Leela is futuramaLouise further The Connors, and so many more. But to millennials, Sagal is most likely known simply as The Smart House.
The actor played Pat, the face of a computerized house, in 1999’s DCOM Connected Home versus DCOM alum Ryan Merriman in a film about a family that wins a computer household that suffers a bug that turns them into an overbearing mother who takes over her life long before Alexa ever existed.
America Ferrera – “Got to take it to the extreme!” (2002)
America Ferrera got her biggest break while starring on ABCs Ugly Betty for four seasons and later won new fans with her starring role ABC‘s Supermarket. But one of the actor’s very first roles was in the 2002 film on Disney Channel Gotta open it!.
Ferrera played Yoli in this film about a group of young Latina girls who, thanks to their dance team, learn to overcome the obstacles of society and learn the rhythm of their roots after convincing their new teacher to teach them.
Bryan Cranston – “Twas The Night” (2001)
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Despite his remarkable career Bryan Cranston got a revival in 2008 after playing the lead role AMC‘s Breaking Bad. But one of the actor’s lesser-known works comes in the form of a 2001 Christmas-themed DCOM.
Cranston had a starring role as Uncle Nick in It was nightwhich follows an irresponsible uncle and his young, mischievous niece and nephew as they take Santa’s sleigh for a spin and end up accidentally jeopardizing Christmas when they decide to deliver all the presents while Uncle Nick has an ulterior motive, Santa’s job to try.
Mickey Rooney – “Phantom of the Megaplex” (2000)
Mickey Rooneys long and colorful career has spanned television, movies, silent films, stop motion Christmas specials, Broadway and more. But one of his hundreds of credits, which you may not remember, was a role in a DCOM.
Phantom of the Megaplex Premiered on Disney Channel in 2000, it followed a young cinema worker who discovers that during a special film premiere, a phantom is haunting his workplace when strange events occur and his colleagues begin disappearing, including Rooney’s senile character, Movie Mason.
Justin Timberlake – “Model Behaviour” (2000)
Whether you know him as the “SexyBack” pop star or as a one-fifth ’90s boy band NSYNCchances are you’ve heard Justin Timberlake‘s voice at one time or another. But many may not know that the singer also doubles as an actor, with one of his earliest roles included in it model behavior.
Although Model Behavior is not technically a DCOM, it was aired as part of ABC‘s Wonderful World of Disney — and later ran on Disney Channel — and followed a geeky girl and a popular model whose similar looks allowed them to swap places, causing some unexpected mishaps for Timberlake’s male model character Jason.
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