From Teen Heartthrobs to Silver Foxes in Their 40s: See Your Fave Early-2000s Actors Then vs. Now!

Bad-boy attitudes, hit songs and good hair were all key requirements to becoming a 2000s heartthrob, and these actors and singers stole our hearts the moment they stepped into the limelight. Everyone who lived through this decade will know at least one of these names (if not all), and we never forget a crush.

Dreamboats like Zac Efron, Chad Michael Murray and Tom Welling had all of the necessary components for making this list and will forever hold a place in our hearts (and as posters on our walls). Catch up with a few favorite 2000s heartthrobs we’ll always be obsessed with—now hotter than ever in their 30s, 40s and beyond. 

Zac Efron

He stole our hearts as Troy Bolton in the High School Musical trilogy, but Zac Efron, now 37, was an iconic Disney Channel crush. And with Vanessa Hudgens by his side, the two instantly became the It-Couple of Disney. (And we’ll never forget Troy Bolton’s iconic hairstyle).

Paul Walker

It was impossible not to fall in love with those bright blue eyes and as soon as he booked The Fast and the Furious (2001), he became an instant 2000s crush. And as if we weren’t in love enough, Walker became a girl dad to daughter Meadow Walker in 1998, which just added to the love. Tragically, Walker died in a car accident in 2013—and he remains forever in our hearts.

Milo Ventimiglia

He might’ve been the bad boy on Gilmore Girls, but that’s exactly what we loved so much about Milo Ventimiglia, 48. Even though he had no time for any of the residents of Stars Hollow, he always made time for Alexis Bledel’s character, Rory. And then the two began dating in real life and became one of our favorite couples of the early 2000s. He later stole our hearts as Peter in Heroes (2006-2010) and as Jack Pearson in This Is Us (2016-2022).

Chris Pine

When he stepped onto our screens as the sly Nicholas Devereaux in The Princess Diaries 2 (2004), we knew he’d be our newest obsession. Chris Pine, 44, swept us off our feet with his good looks, charm and humor, and we were quick fans of the actor.

Jesse McCartney

If you watched Disney in the early 2000s, you certainly know Jesse McCartney, now 38. The “Beautiful Soul” singer was featured in every popular film and series at the time, including Ella Enchanted (2004), Stuck in the Suburbs (2004), The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (2005) and Return to Halloweentown (2006). But McCartney wasn’t only the star of Disney — he was the star of our hearts!

The Jonas Brothers 

They began as three brothers from New Jersey, but their whirlwind of a career started when they joined the Disney Channel. The Jonas Brothers—Joe Jonas, 35, Nick Jonas, 32, and Kevin Jonas, 37—quickly became the heartthrobs of the channel, enhanced by smash hits like “Year 3000,” “S.O.S” and “Hold On.” Known for their hairstyles and stage presence (and good looks), everyone had a crush on the Jonas Brothers in the early 2000s (and now!) 

Chad Michael Murray

He commenced his 2000s streak as the bad boy in shows like Dawson’s Creek and Gilmore Girls and instantly became our obsession. Chad Michael Murray, 43, went on to charm us as Lucas on One Tree Hill and, of course, as Austin Ames in A Cinderella Story. Nobody who lived through the early 2000s can claim they didn’t love him. 

Shane West

Even though he tried to be the cool guy as Landon Carter in A Walk To Remember (2002), it was Shane West’s ability to be the sweet and sensitive boyfriend to Mandy Moore’s Jamie Sullivan that easily won him a spot as one of our 2000s heartthrobs. And he’s now hot as ever at 47.

Jonathan Bennet

Every time he turned around to speak to Lindsay Lohan in Mean Girls (2004), our hearts stopped! Jonathan Bennet, 44, had the charm as Aaron Samuels in the film, but we stayed obsessed with the actor over the years.  

Channing Tatum 

His sweet dance moves in Step Up (2006) and soccer skills in She’s the Man (2006) were just a part of his charm, but Channing Tatum certainly earned heartthrob status early on in his career. And that didn’t die down over the years, especially when he became Magic Mike in 2012. He’s now hunkier than ever at 45.

Jesse Metcalfe

Jesse Metcalfe, 46, might have been a cheating jerk in John Tucker Must Die (2006), but that didn’t stop fans from obsessing over this 2000s heartthrob. With that charming smile and hazel eyes, it was impossible not to fall in love with him.

Taylor Lautner

You might know him best as Jacob in Twilight (2008), but Taylor Lautner, 33, was on the scene long before that in The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl (2005) and Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005). Lautner became every teen girl’s obsession in the early 2000s and let’s be honest, he still is.

Tom Welling

You simply cannot have a list of 2000s heartthrobs without Tom Welling on it. The star first snagged our attention as Clark Kent in Smallville (2001-2011) and his status only rose when he was booked as the oldest brother in Cheaper by the Dozen (2003). And, yes, we’ll love him forever—especially now at 48.

Ryan Gosling

Although he’d already been a star thanks to the series Breaker High (1997-98) and Young Hercules (1998-99), everyone instantly knows Ryan Gosling for his role as Noah in The Notebook (2004). If you don’t recall being obsessed with the 44-year-old actor when the film came out, this scene might help to remind you.