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Kurt Russell & Son Wyatt's Hilarious Rapid-Fire Quiz
Before these stars' careers could reach today's lofty heights, they had to go sky high.
Quite literally, as many of the stars from the Disney superhero movie Sky High have seen their careers soar in the 20 years since the movie’s July 2005 release in theater. (Yes, 20 years. We also feel old.)
The movie followed high school students with superpowered abilities as they’re sorted into either superheroes or sidekicks, depending on the magnitude of their powers. When Will Stronghold (played by Michael Angarano) enters as a freshman, he’s expected to become a superstar—after all, his parents Steve Stronghold (Kurt Russell) and Josie Stronghold (the late Kelly Preston) are some of the most famous superheroes around.
So, it’s to everyone’s surprise when Will, whose abilities haven’t quite manifested yet, is sorted into the “Hero Support” side of the school—a.k.a., he’s a sidekick.
But while the categorization feels like an embarrassment to the Stronghold name, Will soon finds a group of unlikely friends—and eventual heroes—among his fellow sidekicks, including glow-in-the-dark Zach, played by none other than Nicholas Braun.
Indeed, one of Nicholas earliest roles was in Sky High. And he continued on in the Disney family with DCOMs like Minutemen and Princess Protection Program before roles in The Perks of Being a Wallflower and, of course, Succession.
And while it was there that Nicholas won over the hearts of America as the lovable but dangerously naïve Cousin Greg, true fans will always first remember him as Zach, bleach blonde and glowing in an air duct.
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But Nicholas isn’t the only then-rising star that helped Will—who ultimately follows in both his parents’ footsteps by developing super strength and the ability to fly—defeat his crush turned super villain Gwen Grayson (Mary Elizabeth Winstead).
Other familiar faces who aid him in his efforts include Danielle Panabaker as the plant-wielding Layla Willams and Steven Strait as the burning hot (literally) Warren Peace.
And though they don’t play heroes in this story, Sky High also featured Malika Haqq and Khadijah Haqq—yes, Khloe Kardashian’s IRL BFFs—as Penny, the evil senior cheerleader who can duplicate herself.
But they’re not the only celebrities who flew onto our screens twenty years ago. To see where the many stars of Sky High are today, keep reading.
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Michael Angarano as Will Stronghold
Before he was Will Stronghold, Michael appeared in Cover Me and as Elliott in Will & Grace. But in the time since he soared onto Disney screens, he's appeared in so much more.
In This Is Us, Michael played the younger version of Nicky Pearson, brother to Jack (Milo Ventimiglio) and recently starred in Peacock's Laid.
Michael also starred in the 2024 film Sacramento, where he met his girlfriend Maya Erskine. After meeting on set, Maya cast Michael as drama teacher Greg Rosso in her show Pen15.
Buena Vista/courtesy Everett Collection & Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Nicholas Braun as Zach
Glow-in-the-dark Zach walked so that Cousin Greg could walk. And while it's true his role in Succession is perhaps what Nicholas is most widely known for now, he's appeared in countless onscreen projects since his superhero days.
To name a few, Nicholas also appeared in Disney's Minutemen and Princess Protection Program, in addition to How to Be Single, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Saturday Night and Splitsville, in which he appeared alongside Dakota Johnson.
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Danielle Panabaker as Layla Williams
Danielle was a staple on Disney throughout the early aughts, starring in films such as Stuck in the Suburbs, Read It and Weep and the 2005 remake of Yours Mine and Ours.
But after Sky High, Danielle—who tied the knot with husband Hayes Robbins in 2017—wasn't totally ready to leave her superhero days behind her. She'd go on to star in The Flash as Caitlyn Snow and the character's alter ego, Killer Frost.
She and Hayes share two children, whom they welcomed in 2020 and 2022.
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Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Gwen Grayson
After she was the villainous Royal Pain, Mary went on to star in films such as Scott Pilgrim vs The World, Final Destination 3 and 10 Cloverfield Lane.
She also acted in series such as Love Death + Robots, Passions and Fargo, the latter of which is where she met now husband Ewan McGregor. The couple then went on to star alongside each other in 2024's A Gentleman in Moscow.
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Steven Strait as Warren Peace
In the years since Steven burned himself permanently into memories as Warren Peace, he's been no stranger to television screens.
One year after Sky High, Steven—who married Daria Zhemkova in 2019, and was previously married to Lynn Collins between 2007 and 2013—starred in the supernatural movie The Covenant, going on to work on 10,000 BC and Life Like.
He also starred as Jim Holden in the series The Expanse and portrayed Flynn Calhoun in Chicago Fire.
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Khadijah Haqq & Malika Haqq as Penny
While both Khadijah and Malika have worked on other projects since Sky High—20 Years After, ATL and You People—to name a few, they're perhaps best known in their reality TV work.
Good friends of Khloe Kardashian, the twins were frequent fliers on Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Khloe and Lamar and were even given their own show, Side by Side with Malika and Khadijah, which had one season in 2020.
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Kelly Preston as Josie Stronghold
Long before she was the ultimate, super-powered matriarch in Sky High, Kelly was a beloved figure on screens.
Some of her projects over the years included Jerry Maguire, For Love of the Game, The Cat in the Hat, What a Girl Wants and Mischief.
In 2020, Kelly—who was married to John Travolta since 1991—passed away at the age of 57 two years after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
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Kurt Russell as Steve Stronghold
Kurt has been a superhero in the film and TV industry for decades.
In addition to his work in Sky High, Kurt—the longtime partner of Goldie Hawn—has starred in films such as The Thing, Tombstone, The Hateful Eight and Overboard.
He even made a return to the superhero landscape in 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, where he played the all-powerful (and not so benevolent) Ego, father to Peter Quill (Chris Pratt).
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Lynda Carter as Principal Powers
Before she was Principal Powers, Lynda was already known for her superpowered abilities as Wonder Woman in the 1970s TV series, her career launched after winning the Miss World USA pageant in 1973.
In addition to Sky High, Lynda has acted in Dukes of Hazzard, Hawkeye, Super Troopers and Super Troopers 2.
She also returned to her super hero roots in the Wonder Woman films helmed by Gal Gadot, and the TV series Supergirl.
Walt Disney Pictures/Alamy & Michael Tullberg/Getty Images
Jim Rash as Stitches
Since portraying Mr. Grayson and Stitches in Sky High, Jim is best known for his work as Dean Craig Pelton in Community, alongside actors Joel McHale, Alison Brie and Gillian Jacobs.
He's also acted in The Way, Way Back, Fly Me to the Moon and The Descendants, which he co-wrote and won an Academy Award for in 2011.
Walt Disney Pictures/Alamy & Mireya Acierto/Getty Images
Kevin Heffernan as Ron Wilson
Before he was "Ron Wilson, Bus Driver," Kevin was Trooper Rod Farva in 2001's Super Troopers and its 2018 sequel.
In 2019, he reunited with his Super Trooper costar Steve Lemme for TV series Tacoma FD, a sitcom which followed the local fire department in one of the country's rainiest cities. The series lasted four seasons before its 2023 cancellation.
Buena Vista/courtesy Everett Collection & Brian Birzer/WireImage
Jake Sandvig as Lash
In addition to playing the stretchable Lash, Jake has worked in another of projects over the years, including A Bag of Hammers, Fired Up, and Cracking Up.
He also portrayed Hugh Pyne in Twenty Good Years, alongside Jeffrey Tambor and John Lithgow.
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