Past & Present: How is the High School Musical cast doing 16 years later?

Do you remember how you fell in love with Gabriella Montez and Troy Bolton? In High School Musical, we are talking about the leads, a part of the film that brought back memories of falling in love for the first time. With the Kenny Ortega directorial, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens became our favorite Disney pairing 16 years ago, and it's hard to believe how much they charmed the world.

Hudgens and Efron have carved a big name for themselves in Hollywood since High School Musical was released on January 20, 2006. The two actors defined the innocence of young love in the 2006 film, and it is still one of those films that leave you blushing as we see their romance today. The songs in High School Musical were a delight, as was the supporting cast. As we remember the movie 16 years after it was released, here is where the original stars are these days.

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Zac Efron (Troy Bolton)

In the 2006 movie Troy Bolton, Zac Efron played Troy Bolton and became instantly adored by many viewers. The actor went on to star in Hairspray, 17 Again, The Lucky One, and Dirty Grandpa, among other films, after appearing in the film. He's done a lot of big-budget films, including Baywatch with Dwayne Johnson and The Greatest Showman with Zendaya. The actor played Ted Bundy in Netflix's Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile (2019). He will also appear in Three Men and a Baby (2020).

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Vanessa Hudgens (Gabriella Montez)

The actress has continued to be one of the best singers in the industry since she sang in High School Musical. Her talent can also be seen in Andrew Garfield's recent Tick, Tick Boom! With projects including Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Hudgens continued to take her acting career forward after her High School Musical role. Vanessa appeared in Rent: Live as Maureen Johnson, a role she shared with fellow Disney star Selena Gomez. She also worked with Selena in 2012's Spring Breakers.

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Ashley Tisdale (Sharpay Evans)

As Sharpay Evans, Ashley Tisdale carried off sheer sass in a way we all wished to process. In addition to High School Musical, Ashley also worked on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, starring Cole and Dylan Sprouse. Ashley released a new album in 2009 and 2020 after the show ended in 2008, making her a prominent figure in the music industry. Her personal life includes her marriage to musician Christopher French in 2014 and the birth of her first child, Jupiter, in 2022.

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Lucas Grabeel (Ryan Evans)

After starring in High School Musical, Grabeel did some wonderful voice acting on Family Guy and Pinky Malinky. He also starred in the popular drama Swapped at Birth. His appearance in High School Musical: The Musical - The Series is one of the few original cast members in Disney+'s series appearances.

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Corbin Bleu (Chad Danforth)

The film featured Corbin Bleu, Troy Bolton's best friend Chad, who won him a huge fan base with his charming act. As a Broadway star, Bleu played several major roles, including In the Heights and Holiday Inn. He wasn't interested in films at all and instead became a star. In 2016, he married actress Sasha Clements.

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Monique Coleman (Taylor McKessie)

Monique, Gabriella's best friend, also came to her aid in the film, as Troy had Chad by her side. Her strong screen presence made her one of the most memorable characters in the film. Coleman did not take on any acting projects after High School Musical and was open about its years later as she noted that she had difficulty finding employment. Monique also earned the prestigious title of UN's first youth champion and contributed significantly to society through philanthropy.