The 15 Biggest 2000s Heartthrobs — Where They Are Now

The terms "heartthrob" and "movie star" often go hand in hand, as Hollywood was built on stories of young, attractive people. In most live-action projects on both the big and small screens, there is usually an actor meant to be the main eye candy, or at the very least, be pleasant for the audience to look at. Although this approach to casting is without a doubt shallow, as actors should be hired for their skill of the craft, heartthrobs still exist in modern cinema. But, thankfully, many viewers are sensitive enough not to objectify actors.

Hollywood heartthrob culture reached a fever pitch in the 2000s, when most films premiered exclusively in theaters and people still read magazines detailing the lives of their favorite celebrities. While pop culture has largely moved away from declaring which actors receive heartthrob statuses, it is essential to reflect on a time when an actor could center his career around his position as a teen idol. Sure, teen idols still exist today, but not in the pages of J-14 and Tiger Beat like they did in the 2000s.

15 Zac Efron

He's Still Acting, Mostly In Comedies

Zac Efron became a big star in the 2000s. The actor broke out with the Disney Channel film franchise High School Musical and the movie musical Hairspray. His roles in these projects cemented Efron as a talented actor and singer.Efron’s status as the romantic lead made him a sex symbol and secured his presence on both the big and small screen.

Since his debut in the 2000s, Efron has been a constant presence in film. While the actor has ventured into dramas, he gravitates toward comedy. Recently, Efron played Kevin Von Erich in the 2023 drama The Iron Claw. The actor has been open about his substance abuse issues and living with mental illness. In August 2024, Efron was found unconscious in a pool in Ibiza,Spain. He sustained minor injuries and was released from the hospital after one day.

14 Patrick Dempsey

He Is Both Acting And Auto-Racing

Patrick Dempsey is best known for his work on Grey’s Anatomy. He was a core member of the main cast when the show premiered in 2005, which brought him into the public eye as Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd, the love interest of Dr. Meredith Grey. Derek was killed off Grey's Anatomyin season 11 Along with Grey’s Anatomy, Dempsey starred in multiple romantic comedies in the 2000s, such as Made of Honor (2008) and Sweet Home Alabama (2002). He also played one of the male leads in Disney’s hit movie Enchanted (2007).

Dempsey left Grey’s Anatomy in 2015 and has since starred in a number of projects. Notably, he appeared in Bridget Jones’s Baby and Ferrari.The actor has alsobecome a prominent auto racer and has competed in prestigious events like 24 Hours of Le Man and Rolex 24. In 2023, Dempsey was crowned People’s Sexiest Man Alive.

13 Ryan Phillippe

He's Been In Legal Trouble

Although Ryan Phillippe first broke out on the Hollywood scene in the late 1990s with films like I Know What You Did Last Summer and Cruel Intentions, he became a full-blown heartthrob in the 2000s. He had supporting roles in films like Crash, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Clint Eastwood’s Flags of Our Fathers. Phillipe is also known for his marriage to actress Reese Witherspoon from 1999 to 2006.In the 2010s, Phillippe discussed his interest in directing and writing. He helped run a production company called Lucid Films.

Recently, Phillippe appeared in the ABC drama Big Sky where he played Cody Hoyt, a former detective turned private investigator. Phillippe’s personal life has been littered with issues. In 2017, two of Phillippe’s ex-girlfriends came forward about his alleged harassment. One girlfriend, Paulina Slagter, accused Phillippe of sending threatening text messages. Phillippe’s other ex-girlfriend, Elise Hewitt,sued him for domestic abuse (via People).

12 Taylor Lautner

He Recently Appeared In A Taylor Swift Music Video

Taylor Lautner’s career took off after his appearance in the Robert Rodriguez film, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl in 3-D as the titular Sharkboy. However, Lautner is best known for his role as one of Bella Swan's love interests, werewolf Jacob Black in the Twilight Saga. At the time, he was one of the highest-paid teenagers in Hollywood. Lautner is also a skilled martial artist, earning a black belt in karate when he was 10.

In the 2010s, Lautner appeared in two Adam Sandler films, Grown Ups 2 and The Ridiculous Six. Lautner’s career has cooled down in the wake of Twilight’s popularity, but he did deliver a comedic turn as Dr. Cassidy Cascade in Scream Queens. He also appeared in the music video for Taylor Swift’s song “I Can See You.” In 2022, Lautner married Taylor Dome.

11 Robert Pattinson

He Became An A24 Darling After Twilight

Like Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson’s career also didn’t begin with Twilight. The British actor first rose to prominence as the ill-fated Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. But, of course, Pattinson is best known for starring as the romantic leading man, vampire Edward Cullen, who marries Bella in the Twilight series. While the actor has discussed his distaste for the series, it is credited for launching his career to new heights.

Pattinson continues to work in major film projects, and has now solidified himself as an arthouse actor. In 2019, he appeared in the A24 film The Lighthouse alongside Willem Dafoe. Most notably, he played the titular character in 2022’s The Batman. Pattinson also works as a musician and has lent his vocal cords to many movie soundtracks.

10 Josh Hartnett

He Recently Appeared In M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap

Josh Hartnett achieved teen idol status after his appearance in ABC’s drama series Cracker. From there, his career exploded. Hartnett starred in several big movies in the 2000s, such as Pearl Harbor, O, Black Hawk Down, and 40 Days and 40 Nights.Hartnett was also considered to play Batman in the Christopher Nolan series; the role eventually went to Christian Bale.

After some time away, Hartnett’s career resurfaced with an appearance in Oppenheimer in 2023, playing nuclear physicist Ernest Lawrence. In 2024, Hartnett starred in M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller, Trap, in which he went against type and played a serial killer. The film was a box-office success that re-cemented his career. Hartnett is involved with multiple charity organizations like Global Cool. He has also been active in raising awareness about the East Africa droughts.

9 Orlando Bloom

He Has A Baby With Pop Star Katy Perry

Orlando Bloom has starred in some of thebiggest franchises in film history. He played the dreamy pirate Will Turner in Disney’s The Pirates of the Caribbean series and Legolas, the elf and archer expert, in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit series. In the 2000s, Bloom also starred in Ridley Scott’s war drama Black Hawk Down as PFC Todd Blackburn.

Bloom’s acting career slowed down after the 2000s. However, given the financial success of the franchises he starred in, Bloom doesn’t need to work constantly to stay afloat. But recently, Bloom starred in the Amazon Prime series Carnival Row Rycroft Philostrate. He also served as an executive producer for the show. Bloom has also been engaged to pop superstar Katy Perry since 2019. The couple has one child, Daisy, born in 2020.

8 Corbin Bleu

The Disney Channel Star Is Working On Broadway

Like Zac Efron, Corbin Bleu achieved heartthrob status through the High School Musical films, in which he played Chad Danforth. In 2007, Bleu starred in another Disney Channel Original movie, Jump In! Also, based on the singing talent he showcased in the High School Musical series, Bleu pursued a musical career. He released an album called Another Side, which featured the hit, Push it to the Limit.

However, unlike Efron, Bleu’s career did not take off in Hollywood after the success of High School Musical. However, Bleu has seen a lot of success in Broadway musicals. He starred in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights, and the 2019 revival of Kiss Me, Kate. Bleu has continued to work in film, though. He starred in 2015’s To Write Love On Her Arms, alongside Kat Dennings. Bleu also starred in 2023’s Camp Hideout.

7 Chad Michael Murray

He's Seen Success In Reboots

Chad Michael Murray starred in multiple teen classics back in the 2000s, notably playing the romantic leads in A Cinderella Story and Freaky Friday. Murray also starred in many teen series in the 2000s, like Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill, and Gilmore Girls. Needless to say, he became a teen idol almost overnight because of his appearances in the previously mentioned series.

Murray has made a return to television since the 2000s. He continues to appear in teen dramas like Riverdale, in which he played an over-the-top cult leader. He has also joined Netflix's unofficial roster of repertory actors, as his most recent projects saw him playing the love interests in the Netflix original films Mother of the Bride and The Merry Gentlemen. The actor will also reprise his Freaky Friday role in the 2025 sequel, Freakier Friday.

6 Jesse McCartney

He Is Still Making New Music

Jesse McCartney didn’t begin his career as a musician, as he actually started out as an actor. His first acting stint was on the soap opera, All My Children. McCartney went on to star in multiple television series like Summerland and Greek. He is also known for lending his voice to animated characters like Theodore from the Alvin and the Chipmunks series, Horton Hears A Who! and Kingdom Hearts.

However, McCartney is best known as a pop star. His hits “Leavin’”and “Beautiful Soul”, from his 2004 album, Beautiful Soul, topped the charts in the first decade of the new millennium. Also, McCartney co-wrote Leona Lewis’ hit “Bleeding Love”. Since the 2000s, McCartney has released multiple albums. His most recent album, the 2024 extended play All’s Well, featured Yung Gravy. McCartney also notably played the pirate Reed in Fear the Walking Dead.