Stars You Never Realized Got Their Start on Disney Channel: Kristen Stewart, Brie Larson, Nicholas Braun And More

Updated on: July 2, 2024

Brie Larson

Before she won an Academy Award for her role in Room, the Marvel star had her start in the 2003 Disney Channel original movie Right on Track.

Stars You Never Realized Got Their Start on Disney Channel

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Nicholas Braun

Before Braun starred in HBO's Succession, which earned him an Emmy nomination, he appeared in Princess Protection Program alongside Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato.

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Finn Wittrock

Wittrock stole the screen with his various roles on American Horror Story, but that wouldn't have happened if he hadn't made his film debut in a DCOM — Halloweentown High in 2004.

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Kat Dennings

The WandaVision star has proven that she can tackle any genre from comedy to drama. Dennings began her career with a role on the 2002 Disney Channel original movie, The Scream Team.

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Hayden Panettiere

The Nashville alum has found success on projects including Heroes, Remember the Titans and One Live to Live, so some may have forgotten she starred in the 2004 Disney Channel original movie, Tiger Cruise.

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Danielle Campbell

Campbell flexed her acting muscles on The Originals and Tell Me a Story, but she also found success in Disney Channel's Starstruck in 2010.

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Kristen Stewart

The Happiest Season star didn't even receive credit for her appearance on 1999's The Thirteenth Year from Disney Channel, but it still set the course for her future as an actress.

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Ryan Gosling

Gosling spent his childhood starring in projects like the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse alongside familiar faces like Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears in the early '90s. These days, the Canada native has appeared in The Notebook, La La Land and Blade Runner 2049.

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Emmy Rossum

The Shameless star starred in Disney Channel's Genius in 1999.

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Mischa Barton

The O.C. star first found her stride in the Disney Channel film A Ring of Endless Light, which also starred future Gilmore Girls alum Jared Padalecki.

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America Ferrera

The Superstore star got her start in Disney Channel's film Gotta Kick It Up. From there, she became a household name after projects such as Ugly Betty and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

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Jonathan Bailey

Long before becoming a Bridgerton heartthrob, Bailey got his start on Disney Channel. Bailey starred in the U.K. series Groove High alongside Broadway veteran Samantha Barks.