20 Former Teen Actors Who Are Now Famous TV Parents

Teen TV stars have a way of sticking with us long after the credits roll. One minute they are playing high school heartbreak, and the next they are showing up on screen as parents with kids of their own.

This list rounds up former teen actors who grew up in front of audiences and later landed TV parent roles in movies and series. Some look almost unchanged, others are nearly unrecognizable, but all of them prove how far a career can go after teen fame.

The real surprise is how many familiar faces are now playing moms and dads. Read on.

1. Benjamin McKenzie

Then: 16-year-old Ryan Atwood on Welcome to The O.C., Bitch!

Now: Dad in I Want You Back.

Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection/Amazon

2. Zac Efron

Then: 17-year-old Troy Bolton in High School Musical.

Now: Dad in Firestarter. 

Disney Channel/Everett Collection/Universal Pictures

3. Raven-Symoné

Then: Raven Baxter on That's So Raven.

Now: Mother of two in Raven's Home.

Disney Channel / Everett Collection, Bob D'amico / © Disney Channel / Courtesy Everett / Everett Collection

4. Sarah Drew

Then: Featured as Hannah, a high schooler, on Everwood.

Now: Jeanette's mother in Cruel Summer.

Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection, Freeform/ Courtesy Everett Collection

5. Nicole Bilderback

Then: Whitney in the 2000 film Bring It On.

Now: Jeanette's lawyer in Cruel Summer.

Universal Pictures, Freeform

Some of these former teen stars have barely changed at all.

6. Chad Michael Murray

Then: Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill.

Now: Edgar Evernever on Riverdale.

Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection, CW

7. Winona Ryder

Then: 17-year-old Veronica Sawyer in Heathers.

Now: Joyce Byers on Stranger Things.

New World Pictures/Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

8. Scott Wolf

Then: 16-year-old Bailey Salinger on Party of Five.

Now: Nancy Drew's father on Nancy Drew.

Fox/CW/Courtesy Everett Collection

9. Minka Kelly

Then: Lyla Garrity on Friday Night Lights.

Now: A mom on Euphoria.

NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection/HBO

10. Alanna Ubach

Then: Serena in Legally Blonde.

Now: Cassie and Lexi's mom, Suze, on Euphoria. 

MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection

That middle stretch is where the nostalgia really kicks in.

It’s the same kind of awkward tension as when Kaley Cuoco says a Hollywood star overlooked her on the Charmed set.

11. Mekhi Phifer

Then: Odin "O" James in O.

Now: Mia’s dad on Love, Victor.

Lions Gate / Courtesy Everett Collection, Greg Gayne / Hulu

12. Sophia Bush

Then: Brooke Davis on One Tree Hill.

Now: Mia's stepmother on Love, Victor.

Warner Bros/ Courtesy Everett Collection, Greg Gayne / Hulu

13. Meredith Monroe

Then: Andie McPhee on Dawson's Creek.

Now: Alex’s mom on 13 Reasons Why.

WB/Courtesy Everett Collection, Netflix

14. Wilson Cruz

Then: Rickie Vasquez on My So-Called Life.

Now: The Bakers' lawyer, Dennis Vasquez, on 13 Reasons Why.

ABC / Courtesy Everett Collection, Netflix

15. Molly Ringwald

Then: Teen star in Pretty in Pink.

Now: Archie’s mom in Riverdale.

Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection, CW

By now, the glow-up timeline is impossible to ignore.

16. Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel

Then: Played childhood sweethearts Cory and Topanga on Boy Meets World.

Now: They have kids in Girl Meets World. 

ABC Photo Archives / Walt Disney Television via Getty Images, Ron Tom / Disney Channel via Getty Images

17. Luke Perry

Then: Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills, 90210.

Now: Archie's dad, Fred Andrews, on Riverdale until he passed in 2019. 

Aaron Spelling Productions / Aaron Spelling Productions / Courtesy Everett Collection, CW

18. Nia Peeples

Then: Nicole Chapman on Fame.

Now: Emily's mom on Pretty Little Liars.

MGM / Courtesy Everett Collection, Jaimie Trueblood / Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

19. Skeet Ulrich

Then: Billy Loomis in Scream.

Now: F.P. Jones on Riverdale.

Dimension Films / Courtesy Everett Collection, CW Network / Courtesy Everett Collection

20. Alicia Silverstone

Then: Cher in Clueless.

Now: Kristy's mom in The Baby-Sitters Club reboot.

Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection, Kailey Schwerman/ Netflix

You're probably wondering how they're all so old now. Remember how many years ago you watched them in those teen movies or TV series?

Now, this is your cue to digest how much time has gone by. Take it all in.

Which of these stars was your favorite while growing up? Tell us in the comment section below!

Time really did move fast.

Want another TV wardrobe controversy? See why Danielle Fishel “couldn’t show her arms” in Boy Meets World’s last season.