If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s being a thirtysomething teenager — I’m currently watching three different teen dramas. And since I watch current teen television but also grew up on the teen television of my actual teen years, every once in a while, I really appreciate seeing former teen TV stars popping up in the parent roles.
So here are some familiar faces from our past who are playing parents in a cute nod to their iconic roles, in reboots of their classic shows or just because they’re now of parent age and that’s how time works:
1.
Rachel Blanchard played Cher in the 1996 Clueless TV series:
Now, she plays Susannah Fisher on The Summer I Turned Pretty:
In 2020, she played Kristy’s mom on The Baby-Sitters Club reboot:
In 2022, he played Miguel — a single dad — in Christmas with You:
4.
Raven-Symoné played Raven Baxter on That’s So Raven starting in 2003:
In 2017, she started playing the character again as an adult with kids on Raven’s Home.
5.
Kate Bosworth played surfer Anne Marie in Blue Crush (2002):
In 2022, she played Auden’s stepmother Heidi in Along for the Ride:
6.
Zac Efron played 17-year-old Troy Bolton in High School Musical in 2006:
In 2022, he played the telepathic father to a child with pyrokinesis in Firestarter:
In 2021, he voiced the role of Agustín Madrigal in Encanto:
In 2022, they reprised their roles — their characters are now married with a son named Jay Kelso:
9.
Jason Segel played Nick Andopolis on Freaks and Geeks in 2000.
In 2023, he starred as Jimmy Laird, a widowed father to a teenage girl on Shrinking:
10.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tiffani Thiessen played Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski on Saved by the Bell in the ’90s:
In 2020, they reprised their roles on the Peacock reboot.
11.
Riley Smith played Dean Talon in the Disney Channel Original Movie Motocrossed (2001):
Starting in 2019, he’s played Ryan Hudson on Nancy Drew (and IYKYK whose father he is):
12.
Speaking of Nancy Drew, Scott Wolf played Bailey Salinger on Party of Five:
And in 2019, he started playing the role of Nancy’s dad Carson Drew.
13.
Leighton Meester played THE Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl starting in 2007:
In 2018, she starred on ABC’s Single Parents as Angie D’Amato:
14.
Adam Brody played THE Seth Cohen on The O.C. from 2003–2007:
He appeared opposite his now-wife Leighton on Single Parents as Derek, the father of her child:
15.
Benjamin McKenzie played 16-year-old Ryan Atwood on The O.C. starting in 2003:
In 2022, he played the father of a 17-year-old in the rom-com I Want You Back:
16.
Kristen Bell played Veronica Mars on Veronica Mars starting in 2004:
In 2021, she played Anna in The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window:
17.
Barry Watson played Matt Camden on 7th Heaven starting in 1996:
In 2022, he played Naomi’s father Greg in Naomi:
18.
Chad Michael Murray played Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill starting in 2003:
In 2019, he played the role of cult leader Edgar Evernever on Riverdale:
19.
Mekhi Phifer played Odin “O” James in 2001’s O:
In 2020, he played Mia’s dad Harold on Love, Victor:
20.
Sophia Bush starred as Brooke Davis on One Tree Hill starting in 2003:
And she played Veronica, Mia’s stepmom, opposite Mekhi on Love, Victor:
21.
Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel played childhood sweethearts Cory and Topanga on Boy Meets World:
In 2016, we saw them all grown up, raising a family, and still together on Girl Meets World.
22.
Luke Perry played Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills, 90210 starting in 1990:
23.
Nia Peeples played Nicole Chapman on Fame starting in 1983…
In 2010, she started playing Emily’s mom on Pretty Little Liars.
24.
Skeet Ulrich played Billy Loomis in Scream in 1996:
In 2017, he started playing F.P. Jones on Riverdale:
25.
And finally, Molly Ringwald is THE iconic ’80s teen movie star who was in everything from Pretty in Pink to The Breakfast Club:
She pivoted to playing a mom in a ton of teen projects as well, including The Secret Life of the American Teenager, The Kissing Booth, and most recently, Riverdale.
