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  3. Adult Actors Who Played High Schoolers … and How Old They Really Were

Adult Actors Who Played High Schoolers … and How Old They Really Were

We do not know what we would have done if there were an adult Taylor Kitsch in our high school

By Maria Yagoda and Andrea Wurzburger Updated September 23, 2021 01:30 PM
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Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen

Ben Platt
Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty

Character: Evan Hansen, 17

Platt's Actual Age at Filming: 27

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Nina Dobrev in The Vampire Diaries

The Vampire Diaries
Credit: Tina Rowden/The CW

Character: Elena Gilbert, 17

Dobrev's Actual Age at Filming: 20

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Zendaya in Euphoria

Euphoria
Credit: HBO

Character: Rue, 17

Zendaya's Actual Age at Filming: 22

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Olivia Newton-John in Grease

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN IN GREASE
Credit: Everett

Character: Sandy, 18

Newton-John's Actual Age at Filming: 29

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Rachel McAdams in Mean Girls

RACHEL MCADAMS IN MEAN GIRLS
Credit: Paramount/Everett

Character: Regina George, high school junior

McAdams' Actual Age at Filming: 27

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Cole Sprouse on Riverdale

Riverdale
Credit: Dean Buscher/The CW

Character: Jughead Jones, 16

Sprouse's Actual Age at Filming: 24

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Stacey Dash in Clueless

STACEY DASH IN CLUELESS
Credit: Everett

Character: Dionne, high school junior

Dash's Actual Age at Filming: 27

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Stockard Channing in Grease

STOCKARD CHANNING IN GREASE
Credit: Everett

Character: Rizzo, 18

Channing's Actual Age at Filming: 34

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Taylor Kitsch on Friday Night Lights 

TAYLOR KITSCH IN FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Credit: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Getty

Character: Tim Riggins, high school junior

Kitsch's Actual Age at Filming: 28

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Bianca Lawson in Pretty Little Liars

BIANCA LAWSON IN PRETTY LITTLE LIARS
Credit: Randy Holmes/ABC Family/Getty

Character: Maya St. Germain, 16

Lawson's Actual Age at Filming: 31

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Henry Winkler on Happy Days

HENRY WINKLER ON HAPPY DAYS
Credit: Everett

Character: The Fonz, high schooler

Winkler's Actual Age at Filming: 29

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Darren Barnet in Never Have I Ever

Never Have I Ever
Credit: ISABELLA B. VOSMIKOVA/NETFLIX

Character:Paxton Hall-Yoshida, 17

Barnet's Actual Age at Filming: 29

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Shirley Henderson in Harry Potter

SHIRLEY HENDERSON IN HARRY POTTER
Credit: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Getty

Character: Moaning Myrtle, teenage high school student

Henderson's Actual Age at Filming: 37

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Keiko Agena on Gilmore Girls

KEIKO AGENA IN GILMORE GIRLS
Credit: Everett

Character: Lane Kim, 16

Agena's Actual Age at Filming: 27

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Gabrielle Union in Bring It On

GABRIELLE UNION IN BRING IT ON
Credit: Everett

Character: Isis, high school senior

Union's Actual Age at Filming: 28

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Charisma Carpenter on Buffy the Vampire Slayer

CHARISMA CARPENTER IN BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Credit: Everett

Character: Cordelia Chase, 16

Carpenter's Actual Age at Filming: 27

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Chase Stokes in Outer Banks

OUTER BANKS
Credit: COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Character: John B., 17

Stokes' Actual Age at Filming: 27

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Alexa Demie in Euphoria

Alexa Demie in Euphoria

Character: Maddy Perez, high school student

Demie's Actual Age at Filming: 29

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Shay Mitchell on Pretty Little Liars

Shay Mitchell
Credit: ABC Family

Character: Emily, 16

Lawson's Actual Age at Filming: 30

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Paul Wesley on Vampire Diaries

Paul Wesley
Credit: The CW

Character: Stefan Salvatore, 17

Wesley's Actual Age at Filming: 27

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Ian Somerhalder on Vampire Diaries

Ian Somerhalder
Credit: The CW

Character: Damon Salvatore, 17

Somerhalder's Actual Age at Filming: 31

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Ashleigh Murray on Riverdale

Shane Harvey
Credit: The CW

Character: Josie (of Josie & the Pussycats), high school student

Murray's Actual Age at Filming: 30

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Sean Patrick Thomas in Save the Last Dance

Sean Patrick Thomas
Credit: Paramount

Character: Derek Reynolds, senior in high school

Thomas' Actual Age at Filming: 31

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Sissy Spacek in Carrie

Sissy Spacek
Credit: Everette Collection

Character: Carrie White, 16

Spacek's Actual Age at Filming: 27

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Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing

Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey
Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection

Character: Baby Houseman, 17

Grey's Actual Age at Filming: 27

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John Heder in Napoleon Dynamite

Efren Ramirez, Jon Heder,
Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection

Character: Napoleon, high school student

Heder's Actual Age at Filming: 26

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Winona Ryder in Girl, Interrupted

ANGELINA JOLIE WINONA RYDER
Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection

Character: Susanna Kayson, 18

Ryder's Actual Age at Filming: 28

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Alan Ruck in Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Matthew Broderick And Alan Ruck
Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection

Character: Cameron, 17

Ruck's Actual Age at Filming: 30

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Selma Blair in Cruel Intentions

Selma Blaire
Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection

Character: Cecile Caldwell, 17

Blair's Actual Age at Filming: 27

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Parminder Nagra in Bend It Like Beckham

Parminder Nagra and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.
Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection

Character: Jess Bhamra, 17

Nagra's Actual Age at Filming: 27

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Ross Butler on 13 Reasons Why

ross-butler-13-reasons-why

Character: Zach Dempsey, high school student

Butler's Actual Age at Filming: 27

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Gabrielle Carteris on Beverly Hills, 90210

Actress Gabrielle Carteris
Credit: mikel roberts/Getty Images

Character: Andrea Zuckerman, 16

Carteris' Actual Age at Filming: 29

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Matt Damon in Behind the Candelabra

Matt Damon
Credit: HBO

Character: Scott Thorson, 17

Damon's Actual Age at Filming: 43

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Meredith Monroe on Dawson's Creek

DAWSON'S CREEK

Character: Andie McPhee, high school sophomore

Monroe's Actual Age at Filming: 29

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Kerr Smith on Dawson's Creek

DAWSON'S CREEK
Credit: Columbia TriStar Television/courtesy Everett Collection

Character: Jack McPhee, high school sophomore

Smith's Actual Age at Filming: 26

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Tammin Sursok on Pretty Little Liars

KEEGAN ALLEN, TAMMIN SURSOK
Credit: ABC

Character: Jenna Marshall, high school student

Sursok's Actual Age at Filming: 31

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Jason Earles on Hannah Montana

TCDHAMO EC001

Character: Jackson, high school student

Earles' Actual Age at Filming: 29

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Cory Monteith on Glee

CORY MONTEITH
Credit: Patrick Ecclesine/FOX

Character: Finn, high schooler

Monteith's Actual Age at Filming: 27-31

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Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man

Image
Credit: Sony Pictures

Character: Peter Parker, 17

Garfield's Actual Age at Filming: 28

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Ben Platt on The Politician 

Ben Platt THE POLITICIAN
Credit: Courtesy of NETFLIX

Character: Payton Hobart, high school senior

Platt's Actual Age at Filming: 26

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Lucy Boynton on The Politician 

Lucy Boynton
Credit: Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty

Character: Astrid, high school senior

Boynton's Actual Age at Filming: 25

41 of 41

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 41 Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen
    2 of 41 Nina Dobrev in The Vampire Diaries
    3 of 41 Zendaya in Euphoria
    4 of 41 Olivia Newton-John in Grease
    5 of 41 Rachel McAdams in Mean Girls
    6 of 41 Cole Sprouse on Riverdale
    7 of 41 Stacey Dash in Clueless
    8 of 41 Stockard Channing in Grease
    9 of 41 Taylor Kitsch on Friday Night Lights 
    10 of 41 Bianca Lawson in Pretty Little Liars
    11 of 41 Henry Winkler on Happy Days
    12 of 41 Darren Barnet in Never Have I Ever
    13 of 41 Shirley Henderson in Harry Potter
    14 of 41 Keiko Agena on Gilmore Girls
    15 of 41 Gabrielle Union in Bring It On
    16 of 41 Charisma Carpenter on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
    17 of 41 Chase Stokes in Outer Banks
    18 of 41 Alexa Demie in Euphoria
    19 of 41 Shay Mitchell on Pretty Little Liars
    20 of 41 Paul Wesley on Vampire Diaries
    21 of 41 Ian Somerhalder on Vampire Diaries
    22 of 41 Ashleigh Murray on Riverdale
    23 of 41 Sean Patrick Thomas in Save the Last Dance
    24 of 41 Sissy Spacek in Carrie
    25 of 41 Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing
    26 of 41 John Heder in Napoleon Dynamite
    27 of 41 Winona Ryder in Girl, Interrupted
    28 of 41 Alan Ruck in Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    29 of 41 Selma Blair in Cruel Intentions
    30 of 41 Parminder Nagra in Bend It Like Beckham
    31 of 41 Ross Butler on 13 Reasons Why
    32 of 41 Gabrielle Carteris on Beverly Hills, 90210
    33 of 41 Matt Damon in Behind the Candelabra
    34 of 41 Meredith Monroe on Dawson's Creek
    35 of 41 Kerr Smith on Dawson's Creek
    36 of 41 Tammin Sursok on Pretty Little Liars
    37 of 41 Jason Earles on Hannah Montana
    38 of 41 Cory Monteith on Glee
    39 of 41 Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man
    40 of 41 Ben Platt on The Politician 
    41 of 41 Lucy Boynton on The Politician 

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    Adult Actors Who Played High Schoolers … and How Old They Really Were
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