30+ 2000s Heartthrobs Who Absolutely Had Us Smitten In Our Younger Years: How They Looked Then Vs Now
Zac Efron when he was in High School Musical just hits different—even today.
The 2000s were packed with pop culture moments that still live rent-free in people’s heads, and the decade also gave us a long list of heartthrobs who made every movie, music video, and TV appearance feel a little more memorable.
From teen comedies and rom-coms to Disney Channel favorites and blockbuster stars, these actors and singers became the crushes of a generation. Their looks, roles, and on-screen charm helped define what so many people remember most about growing up in the 2000s.
Now, here’s a look back at 30-plus of those heartthrobs, then and now.
1. Chad Michael Murray then:
Frank Micelotta / Getty ImagesChad Michael Murray now:
chadmichaelmurray/Instagram / Via instagram.comHe was one of the biggest teen heartthrobs of the era.
2. Zac Efron then:
High School Musical, anyone?
Jason Merritt / FilmMagic / Getty Images
Zac Efron now:
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3. The Jonas Brothers then:
Right after gawking at one of the stars from High School Musical, it's only natural to gush over the boy band guys from Camp Rock, right? Right.
Dave Hogan / Getty Images
The Jonas Brothers now:
Rich Fury / Getty Images for dcp
Their rise was hard to miss.
4. Omarion then:
Mychal Watts / WireImage / Getty Images
Omarion now:
Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images
5. Taylor Lautner then:
Let your inner Twilight fan back out to howl at the moon.
Kevin Winter / Getty Images
Taylor Lautner now:
Mike Coppola / Getty Images
6. Usher then:
Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images
Usher now:
thisisRnB
That kind of star power stuck with people for years.
7. Orlando Bloom then:
Amanda Edwards / Getty Images
Orlando Bloom now:
Gregg Deguire / FilmMagic / Getty Images
8. Channing Tatum then:
Jeffrey Mayer / WireImage / Getty Images
Channing Tatum now:
Karwai Tang / WireImage / Getty Images
9. Shane West then:
Robin Platzer / Getty Images
Shane West now:
theshanewest/Instagram / Via instagram.com
10. Corbin Bleu then:
Another opportunity to remember High School Musical.
Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images
Corbin Bleu now:
Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for Disney
A few of these names were everywhere back then.
11. Jesse McCartney then:
Peter Kramer / Getty Images
Jesse McCartney now:
Fox / FOX Image Collection via Getty Images
12. Raviv Ullman then:
Mark Mainz / Getty Images
Raviv Ullman now:
Paul Archuleta / Getty Images
13. Tom Welling then:
Scott Gries / Getty Images
Tom Welling now:
Axelle / FilmMagic / Getty Images
14. Oliver James Hutson then:
Warner Bros. / Via youtube.com
Oliver James Hutson now:
oliverjhutson/twitter / Via Twitter: @oliverjhutson
15. Sean Faris then:
Noel Vasquez / Getty Images
Sean Faris now:
i_am_seanfaris/Instagram / Via instagram.com
16. Adrian Grenier then:
John Shearer / WireImage / Getty Images
Adrian Grenier now:
adriangrenier/Instagram / Via instagram.com
Some of these faces were tied to very specific eras.
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17. Enrique Iglesias then:
Samir Hussein / Getty Images
Enrique Iglesias now:
It's nice to see he's still sporting caps regularly.
Kevin Winter / Getty Images
18. Robert Schwartzman then:
Walt Disney Pictures
Robert Schwartzman now:
Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images
19. Jonathan Bennett then:
Kevin Winter / Getty Images
Jonathan Bennett now:
Stefanie Keenan / Getty Images for GLAAD
20. Penn Badgley then:
Jamie Mccarthy / WireImage / Getty Images
Penn Badgley now:
Randy Holmes / ABC via Getty Images
21. Robert Pattinson then:
Vera Anderson / WireImage / Getty Images
Robert Pattinson now:
Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images
22. Mark Ruffalo then:
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
Mark Ruffalo now:
Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images
The nostalgia only gets stronger from here.
23. Chris Pine then:
Jim Spellman / WireImage / Getty Images
Chris Pine now:
Steve Granitz / FilmMagic / Getty Images
24. Ashton Kutcher then:
Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images
Ashton Kutcher now:
James Devaney / GC Images / Getty Images
25. Mario then:
Ethan Miller / Getty Images
Mario now:
Paras Griffin / Getty Images
26. Patrick Dempsey then:
Matthew Peyton / Getty Images
Patrick Dempsey now:
Rosdiana Ciaravolo / Getty Images
27. Heath Ledger then:
Bob Riha Jr / WireImage / Getty Images
Heath Ledger in 2007:
Kevin Mazur / WireImage / Getty Images
28. Daniel Radcliffe then:
Eamonn Mccormack / WireImage / Getty Images
Daniel Radcliffe now:
Mike Marsland / Mike Marsland / WireImage / Getty Images
29. Ryan Gosling then:
Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images
Ryan Gosling now:
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic / Getty Images
30. Bow Wow then:
Denise Truscello / WireImage / Getty Images
Bow Wow now:
Marcus Ingram / Getty Images
31. Joseph Gordon-Levitt then:
Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic / Getty Images
Joseph Gordon-Levitt now:
David Livingston / Getty Images
32. Nick Cannon then:
Michael Buckner / Getty Images
Nick Cannon now:
Cindy Ord / Getty Images for SiriusXM
33. Milo Ventimiglia then:
Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images
Milo Ventimiglia now:
Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images
They may have inevitably aged, but nothing could ever change the fact that these men have truly captured our hearts back then, until now! We have a special place in our hearts for them; after all, they played a pivotal role in our lives when we watched them as kids and teens.
Which one was your favorite then and now? Comment down your thoughts, or share this article for all your family and friends to see!
Some crushes never really leave the spotlight.
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