Lizzie McGuire Star Carly Schroeder Joins the Army: See What the Cast Is Doing Now

The 28-year-old actress enlisted in the army in January

By Alyssa Morin Mar 15, 2019 10:55 PMTags
Lizzie McGuire, Carly Schroeder, Then and NowDisney Channel/Getty Images

If you grew up in the early aughts, then Disney Channel's Lizzie McGuire was your jam.

If anything, the first fashion police of our tween days was none other than Katherine "Kate" Sanders (Ashlie Brillault), who'd constantly tell Lizzie (Hilary Duff), "You are an outfit repeater."

Ouch, much!

But that's not why the cult-fave Disney show is tugging at our teen hearts this week.

Carly Schroeder, who played Melina Bianco (Matt's bestie and partner in crime), announced major news recently. She joined the army!

As she puts it, "Serving my country will give my voice more validity."

Sharing the wonderful news on Instagram, the 28-year-old star writes, "For 22 years, I've played dress up for a living." Adding, "That's excited and all, but in January I decided to raise my right hand and swear into the United States Army."

She says she was "accepted into Army OCS (Officer Candidate School)."

photos
See the Lizzie McGuire Cast, Then and Now

In another post, she explains why she decided to enlist.

"I swore in to the Army in January. Most of the training I've done was in preparation for action roles," she writes. "I head to basic training in April and then, since I have a college degree and passed the board, I will go to OCS."

Schroeder isn't the only Lizzie McGuire star to take a break from acting. Some of the cast, including Adam Lamberg, Clayton Snyder and Ashlie have gone on to do other things.

To see what the Disney Channel stars are up to now, scroll through our gallery below. Warning: It will give you major nostalgia.

Hilary Duff

The 33-year-old actress continues to dominate the entertainment industry. Aside from a recurring role in Gossip Girl to starring in Younger, Duff reigns supreme on the small screen.

She also portrayed slain actress Sharon Tate in the The Haunting of Sharon Tate and was set to reprise her iconic role in a Lizzie McGuire sequel series on Disney+, as well as serve as executive producer. However, in December 2020, Duff confirmed the reboot was dead. "The stars just didn't align," she said. 

In happier news, Duff married her longtime love Matthew Koma in an intimate backyard ceremony in December 2019 and the pair are expecting their second child together. The latest addition joins Banks Violet Bair, 2, and Duff's son eight-year-old son Luca from her previous marriage to Mike Comrie

Lalaine Vergara-Paras

While the actress has kept a low profile, she's appeared in several TV series, including Raymond & Lane, Off the Clock and Shane Dawson TV. Most recently, she appeared in the film Definition Please. She'll always be Miranda to us, though!

Adam Lamberg

Famous for playing Gordo (Lizzie's BFF), Lamberg only starred in two roles following the Disney series, When Do We Eat? and Beautiful Loser. In 2014, he was working in New York City as a developmental associate at the Irish Arts Center, Bustle reports.

But the Internet almost had a meltdown when it was revealed Lamberg would be reprising the role of Gordo for the revival

"Gordo was an essential piece of the puzzle to what made the original Lizzie McGuire so authentic and beloved," Duff said in a statement in November 2019. "I couldn't imagine the series without him. I can't wait for fans to see what he's up to 15 years later and how he fits into Lizzie's adult world."

The new Lizzie McGuire would've be his first on-screen credited role in more than 10 years.

Jake Thomas

Dubbing himself as an actor, photographer and director, Thomas continues to be in the public eye. More recently, he's appeared in the TV shows S.W.A.T, 20 Something and Triangle. Although, it seems his true passion lies in photography. Take one look at his Instagram and you'll see his talent. He not Lizzie's baby brother anymore!

Before the revival was ultimately shut down, Thomas was set to reprise his role and shared his excitement about the series on Instagram.

"Nearly 20 years have passed, I haven't changed a bit!" he wrote. "Where has Matt been??? Tell me what you guys think Matt would be doing today!!! He has always been the epitome of crazy confidence, so really, anything is possible. Who knows, maybe he's really mellowed out over the years..... naahhhhh. I'm so excited to bring this character that you all grew up with back to life, and I cannot wait for you guys to see it."

Hallie Todd

Todd continues to stay busy, despite forever being known as Lizzie's mom to us. She's starred in various TV roles and movies, including a film she co-wrote, The Last Champion. Along with acting, she's written two books, Being Young Actors and Parenting the Young Actor.

Married to director Glenn Withrow since 1991, the couple have one daughter, Ivy.

Robert Carradine

Carradine was famous well before he played Lizzie's dad. Hello, he was Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds. The 64-year-old star continues to work in the entertainment industry as an actor and producer. More recently, he produced Solitary Confinement and appears in the upcoming film High Holiday.

Carly Schroeder

Even though she had a recurring role as Melanie (Matt's BFF) on the Disney series, she later made appearances on General Hospital, Deadly Shores and Ghost Whisperer. More recently, the 30-year-old former actress graduated from army boot camp in 2019.

"Army life is very different from Hollywood," Schroeder told Business Insider. "There are some similarities, but Army life is very uniform. Everyone is very disciplined and everyone is treated equally."

Ashlie Brillault

Similar to Lamberg, the blonde beauty keeps a low profile and has remained out of the public eye. Despite being the queen bee on the Disney show, she's moved on to bigger and better things. MTV reports she quit acting and earned her B.A. in political science from California State University. After, she reportedly moved to Colorado, and there, she got her J.D and Certificate in law school and now works as a criminal defense attorney. 

Per US Weekly, she is married with one daughter, whom she welcomed in 2015.

Clayton Snyder

Not only did Clayton grow up to be even more of a hunk than he was on the Disney Channel show, but he played for the USA Men's National Team, the Olympic Club and Promogest Quartu (an Italian team). He continues to pursue acting and sometimes plays water polo.

And sorry ladies, but Snyder married his longtime girlfriend Allegra Edwards in October 2020 after proposing the previous year. 

"Humbled to be chosen by this woman, and to have created such an EPIC wedding together," he captioned a photo from their wedding. 

Kyle Downes

Known as Larry Tudgeman on the Disney series, Kyle has appeared on several TV series and movies, including The L Word, CSI: Miami and Life as We Know It.

Boy, does that take us down memory lane.