Fans left STUNNED over former Disney Channel teen heartthrob's shocking transformation
Sixteen years ago, Sterling Knight stole the hearts of millions thanks to his role in the beloved series Sonny With a Chance.
Sterling played arrogant and egotistical teen idol Chad Dylan Cooper in the show, who eventually ended up becoming Demi Lovato 's love interest.
His confidence and charm, as well as his adorable smile and perfectly-swept hair, instantly propelled Sterling into the spotlight.
He soon scored a leading part in the Disney Channel original movie Starstruck and also was a lead in Disney's brief sketch comedy series So Random!
It seemed like it would be the beginning of a decades-long career for Sterling... but unfortunately, that wasn't the case for the actor.
Flash forward to now, a decade and a half later, and the once-beloved Disney star, now 36, has left the spotlight entirely.
He hasn't acted since 2022 and is no longer active on social media, leaving many to wonder: What exactly happened to Sterling?
After shying away from the public eye for some time, he began posting videos to the platform Cameo in recent years, and boy, does he look different from his Disney days.
Fans took to TikTok to discuss his appearance back in February, and many were shocked over how much he has changed.
The former Disney star had a long and scruffy beard in his recent Cameo videos. In addition, his once-perfectly sculpted golden brown locks are now long and curly.
'I think we all thought Sterling Knight's career was going to take off after he left Disney Channel, but it really hasn't,' TikTok user Josh Denney said in a now-viral video.
'I could have sworn Sterling Knight was going to be the next big popstar to come out of Disney.'
Josh noted that Sterling hadn't been in any 'notable projects' in nearly a decade, adding, 'He's continued to act in smaller projects throughout the years but nothing's really hit big for him.'
'Aside from acting, one of his main focuses in the last few years has been creating personalized messages for his fans and sending them on Cameo,' Josh continued.
'But in one of the most recent Cameos he's posted he looks unrecognizable. It's actually pretty crazy.'
Back in November, it was announced that Sterling was going to return to the screen to star in a new rom-com called 40 Dates and 40 Nights alongside Bailee Madison and Joel Courtney.
'Could we be witnessing Sterling Knight's big acting comeback, which we've been waiting for? I really hope so,' Josh concluded.
'Shoutout to Sterling Knight, thank you for shaping mine, and millions of other people's childhoods across the world.'
Many rushed to the comment section to discuss Sterling's surprising journey.
'Unlike a lot of other Disney actors, Knight had good comedic timing to his acting. He was ACTUALLY funny watch,' one user noted.
Another wrote, 'I really thought of him as the second Zac Efron! It's crazy he didn't have the same amount of success. Yet.'
'I honestly respect him for his career choices. I'm sure he is just living life how he wants to and at the pace he is comfortable with,' someone else added. 'Success [doesn't equal] happiness.'
'He was pretty good singer, Disney should have pushed him to that he could have been great to be honest,' a fourth comment read.
A fifth said, 'His comeback is on my bingo card.'
Sterling started his career off with minor roles in movies like Calm, Career Day, and Hi-Jinks.
In 2007, he was cast in one episode of Hannah Montana as Lilly's boyfriend.
After that, he landed his role in Sonny With a Chance, which really propelled him into the spotlight.
Soon after, he starred in the popular movie 17 Again alongside Zac Efron, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Matthew Perry.
Starstruck came next, followed by So Random!, which was unfortunately canceled after one season.
After that he parted ways with Disney, and went on to act in the action thriller Transit, the TV show Melissa & Joey, Hulu's The Hotwives of Orlando, and most recently, the 2022 drama film It Snows All the Time.
He stopped posting regularly on Instagram in September 2023, however, he did return to the platform earlier this year to share a tribute to his 17 Again costar Michelle following her death.
In the post, he gave an update on his own life, revealing that he had 'emergency gallbladder removal surgery.'
'Some quick thoughts. Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes, I ended up having emergency gallbladder removal surgery (would not recommend) but I'm healing up nicely,' he wrote.
'With the timing of that, and the passing of Michelle, who was so unbelievably kind to me, it made me think.
'Tomorrow is not guaranteed and it's important to tell those close to you that you love them and appreciate them as often as possible.'
He described Michelle as 'generous, kind, and beyond helpful to him' as he 'navigated his first big movie.'
'I had grown up watching her (as we all did) and she always had time for me if I had questions or was struggling,' continued the star.
'I'll never forget hanging out with Matthew and Michelle in her trailer, for hours, talking about life and work, lessons and wisdom they had picked up.
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