Every decade has its iconic shows. These shows leave an impression on you and have you quoting the characters long after the final episode. In the 2000s, it seemed like there was a whole slew of these epic shows, and from them, we have garnered some of our biggest stars. Wonder where your favorite stars are today? From John Krasinski to Raven-Symone, check out what your favorite actors from those 2000s sitcoms are doing, and what they look like now!
Zach Braff – J.D. (Scrubs)
Medical dramas were all the rage in the 2000s (and still are), but there were very few medical comedies. That might be why Scrubs did so well. Well, that and the fact that Zach Braff’s character J.D., along with the rest of the cast, was hilarious.
Zach Braff has had several big roles on television shows after the show ended. Along with his voice-over work, he has several projects set to be released in 2022.
Kaley Cuoco – Penny (The Big Bang Theory)
Being a nerd used to be so uncool, but sometime in the 2000s that all changed. It could well be because of shows like The Big Bang Theory. The show cast Kaley Cuoco as Penny, the love interest of head nerd Leonard.
The show lasted over a decade, just recently wrapping up taping in 2019. This allowed viewers to watch as the young actress matured. After the show, Kaley has kept busy. She voiced Harley Quinn in the animated television show and recently starred in The Flight Attendant.
Julie Bowen – Claire (Modern Family)
For 11 years, we were all invited into the multi-home lives of the Dunphy/Pritchett clan. One of those beloved family members was Claire, played by Julie Bowen. The classic stay-at-home mom, she kept things (mostly) together while trying to find her place in the world.
Julie Bowen had already had a good career before the show, having starred in Weeds and Boston Legal. After the show ended last year, she has done some voice-over work and several other projects.
Chris Pratt – Andy (Parks and Recreation)
Quirky workplace sitcoms were pretty prominent in the 2000s. The ensemble cast of Parks and Recreation was chock-full of talented actors and actresses. One of the actors who really shined was Chris Pratt, who played Andy Dwyer.
Slightly goofy, but sweet, the character was just the beginning of the actor’s career. For the entire six years, Chris worked on other projects which included his break-out role in Guardians of the Galaxy. He continues to work and has a whole slew of projects set to hit the screen in 2022.
Frankie Muniz – Malcolm (Malcolm in the Middle)
There seems to be nothing funnier than dysfunctional families, or at least that was the case in the 2000s. Malcolm in the Middle followed the trials and tribulations of the young Malcolm, played by Frankie Muniz. This child actor definitely changed a lot in front of our eyes over the show’s six-year run.
After the show ended, he continued working with small roles in television shows and movies. He has matured and appears to be continuing to work as hard as he ever did.
Jaime Pressly – Joy (My Name Is Earl)
Following the journey of a tragic mess-up, My Name is Earl starred Jason Lee and Jaime Pressly. Jamie Pressly played the role of Earl’s ex and the potential love interest.
Since the show ended, Jaime has had some success on TV with other sitcoms like I Hate My Teenage Daughter and Mom. Currently, she is filming a new project called The Re-Education of Molly Singer.
Jason Bateman – Michael (Arrested Development)
When a family is highly dysfunctional and dealing with losing all their money, the story is rife for comedy. Playing Michael Bluth, Jason Bateman was just one of the many talented actors on the hit show Arrested Development.
Jason Bateman over the last two years of the show was doing double duty as he was also starring in the acclaimed drama, Ozark. After Arrested Developmentended in 2019, he continued on Ozark, and just recently also did a little stint on The Outsider.
Mila Kunis – Jackie (That 70s Show)
For those longing for a little nostalgia, That 70s Show was probably a must-see weekly experience. Mila Kunis may have been a big part of the appeal. Playing Jackie, the love interest of both Kelso and Fez, Mila was a pivotal part of the cast.
Since the show wrapped in 2006, Mila has had success in film and does a lot of voice-over work. In particular, she voices the character of Meg on the hit animated show Family Guy.
Kat Dennings – Max (Two Broke Girls)
Following the lives of two very different women, Two Broke Girls ran for six seasons. As one-half of the odd couple, Kat Dennings played Max. This character was brash and in your face, and everybody loved it.
Kat has continued to work in television as well as appearing in several films. She even found her way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe on multiple occasions as Darcy Lewis, a supporting character in the film Thor. She also just wrapped up season two of her Hulu Original Dollface.
Niecy Nash – Raineesha (Reno 911)
Niecy Nash made a mark with her role as Deputy Raineesha in Reno 911. The show was a parody sitcom that followed seven sheriff deputies who may not have been the best at their jobs. Full of off-color humor, it found a place on several lists of the best sitcoms of the 2000s.
The show is still running, and in between showing up there, Niecy has kept quite busy. In 2020 and 2021 she has been working on the Netflix series Never Have I Ever and as a guest host on The Masked Singer.
Raven-Symoné – Raven (That’s So Raven)
In the 2000s, Disney was on a roll with a variety of hit television series. However, very few of them were as iconic as That’s So Raven. Following the life of a girl with the power to predict the future, the show starred Raven-Symoné as the teenage soothsayer.
Raven has kept busy after her run on the Disney channel came to an end. Not only did she co-host The View for a while, but her recent project has been to revive her role as Raven Baxter in Raven’s Home.
Rupert Grint – Harry Potter
The Harry Potter kids were also incredibly famous at a young age. The faces of Ron, Harry, and Hermione were plastered on billboards all over the world. Each time a new movie was released, fans eagerly rushed to theaters. That’s why it’s so strange to think of Ron Weasley as a father.
English actor Rupert Grint has a daughter with English actress Georgia Groome. Little Wednesday G. Grint arrived in 2020. The couple prefers to stay out of the limelight.
Ariel Winter – Modern Family
This comedy drama is loved by many, and while many famous actors have come out of this show, there’s one glow up that certainly stands out. Airing from 2009-2020, this show just ended, but it’s clear that 11 years leaves enough time for a drastic transformation.
Ariel Winter was only 11 when this show premiered, and her role as Alex Dunphy is definitely wholesome and memorable. However, this young gal is definitely a woman now, and has proved her talent time and time again. Obviously, she’s also undergone a pretty incredible glow up, too.