They were the faces on bedroom posters, the stars of unforgettable television shows, and the leading men who made millions of fans fall in love. Decades later, their appearances have changed — and some transformations are especially striking.
Remember the days when Beverly Hills, 90210, Dawson’s Creek, and The O.C. dominated television?
For millions of viewers, the actors who starred in these shows weren’t just celebrities. They were the heartthrobs who defined an era.
Their hairstyles became trends, their photographs filled magazines, and their characters inspired countless teenage crushes.
But time has passed, and the stars who once seemed permanently frozen in their twenties have grown older alongside their audiences.
Some have embraced gray hair and beards. Others have changed their signature hairstyles, stepped away from Hollywood, or reinvented their careers.
Here are 12 memorable heartthrobs whose before-and-after photographs show just how much can change over a few decades.
1. Jason Priestley — The Beverly Hills, 90210 Golden Boy
Then: The fresh-faced Brandon Walsh.
Now: A mature look with facial hair.
Few actors captured the spirit of 1990s television quite like Jason Priestley.
As Brandon Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210, he became one of the decade’s biggest teen idols.
His neatly styled dark hair, blue-green eyes, and charming smile helped make him a household name.
The series premiered in 1990 and followed a group of teenagers navigating friendships, romance, and family life in one of California’s most famous ZIP codes.
Priestley remained with the show for nine seasons.
Today, at 57, he looks noticeably different from the clean-shaven teenager viewers remember.
His hair is lighter, and he has frequently appeared with a salt-and-pepper beard.
Rather than trying to recreate his youthful image, Priestley has continued acting and directing, including starring in the Canadian series Private Eyes.
His transformation is a reminder that the boy-next-door heartthrob has grown into a seasoned television veteran.
2. Freddie Prinze Jr. — The Romantic Comedy Favorite
Then: The romantic lead of the late 1990s.
Now: Sporting a more mature style.
In the late 1990s, Freddie Prinze Jr. seemed to be everywhere.
He starred in I Know What You Did Last Summer, She’s All That, and Summer Catch, becoming one of Hollywood’s most recognizable romantic leads.
With his dark hair and easygoing charm, Prinze was a regular fixture in teen magazines.
His romance with actress Sarah Michelle Gellar also attracted enormous attention.
The couple married in 2002 and have two children.
Now 50, Prinze has embraced a more relaxed public image, often appearing with graying facial hair.
He has continued working in film, television, and voice acting, while also developing interests outside Hollywood.
His transformation may surprise fans who still picture him as Zack Siler from She’s All That.
3. Josh Hartnett — The Mysterious Movie Star
Then: The brooding young star of the late 1990s.
Now: A more rugged appearance.
When Josh Hartnett appeared in The Faculty, Pearl Harbor, and Black Hawk Down, Hollywood seemed ready to make him one of its biggest leading men.
His dark, slightly messy hair and reserved personality made him stand out from other young stars.
But instead of pursuing every blockbuster opportunity, Hartnett gradually stepped away from the constant attention of Hollywood.
He continued acting while choosing projects more selectively.
His return to major productions, including Oppenheimer in 2023 and Trap in 2024, introduced him to a new generation.
At 48, his fuller face, facial hair, and more relaxed style contrast with his youthful photographs.
4. Chad Michael Murray — The One Tree Hill Crush
Then: Lucas Scott, the teenage heartthrob.
Now: A mature look with facial hair.
In the early 2000s, Chad Michael Murray became a television sensation.
His portrayal of Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill made him a favorite among teenage viewers.
He also appeared in A Cinderella Story alongside Hilary Duff and Freaky Friday with Lindsay Lohan.
His tousled blonde hair and confident smile became defining features of his image.
Now 45, Murray has traded much of his boyish styling for a more mature appearance.
He returned as Jake in Freakier Friday in 2025, giving fans an opportunity to compare him directly with the young actor they remembered from the original movie.
5. Tom Welling — The Young Superman
Then: The fresh-faced Clark Kent.
Now: A noticeably different, bearded look.
For ten seasons, Tom Welling portrayed Clark Kent in Smallville.
When the series premiered in 2001, Welling was already in his twenties, but his youthful appearance made him convincing as a teenage future superhero.
His dark hair, strong jawline, and athletic build helped define the character for an entire generation.
Today, at 49, Welling often appears with facial hair and a more casual style.
He has continued appearing at fan conventions, where Smallville remains a major topic of conversation.
For fans who remember him running through the fields of Kansas, his more mature appearance is a striking reminder of how long the series has been off the air.
6. Jesse Metcalfe — The Desperate Housewives Favorite
Then: The young gardener who became a television sensation.
Now: A polished, more mature appearance.
When Jesse Metcalfe appeared as John Rowland on Desperate Housewives, audiences quickly took notice.
His character’s storyline with Gabrielle Solis, portrayed by Eva Longoria, made him one of the show’s most talked-about actors.
Metcalfe later starred in John Tucker Must Die, cementing his status as a mid-2000s heartthrob.
At 47, he continues to appear in films and television projects.
His appearance has matured, but his dark hair and recognizable features still remind viewers of his early Hollywood success.
7. Shane West — The Boy Who Broke Hearts in A Walk to Remember
Then: Landon Carter in the beloved romantic drama.
Now: An edgier, more mature style.
Few early-2000s romantic dramas inspired as many tears as A Walk to Remember.
Released in 2002, the film starred Shane West opposite Mandy Moore.
West played Landon Carter, a rebellious teenager whose relationship with Jamie Sullivan changes his life.
His slightly messy hair and rebellious image made him an instant favorite.
He later appeared in ER, Nikita, and Salem.
Now 48, West has embraced different hairstyles and facial hair over the years, giving him a noticeably different appearance from the young romantic lead audiences remember.
8. Adam Brody — The Lovable Seth Cohen
Then: The awkward but lovable Seth Cohen.
Now: The romantic leading man of a new generation.
When The O.C. premiered in 2003, Adam Brody became an unlikely heartthrob.
Unlike the traditional television bad boy, his character Seth Cohen was funny, awkward, and obsessed with comic books.
His curly dark hair and quick wit helped make him one of the show’s most beloved characters.
More than two decades later, Brody has experienced another wave of popularity thanks to Netflix’s Nobody Wants This.
Now 46, he has embraced a mature appearance, often sporting facial hair.
His career revival has given longtime fans the pleasure of seeing their former teenage crush become a romantic lead all over again.
9. Joshua Jackson — From Pacey Witter to Leading Man
Then: Pacey Witter in Dawson’s Creek.
Now: A distinguished television veteran.
In the late 1990s, Joshua Jackson won audiences over as Pacey Witter on Dawson’s Creek.
His character’s romance with Joey Potter became one of the most memorable relationships in teen television history.
Jackson’s boyish smile and relaxed style made him a fan favorite.
He later starred in Fringe, The Affair, and Dr. Death.
At 48, Jackson has a more mature appearance, with changing hairstyles and occasional facial hair.
His evolution reflects a career that has moved far beyond teenage drama.
10. Leonardo DiCaprio — The Titanic Heartthrob
Then: The unforgettable Jack Dawson.
Now: An Oscar-winning Hollywood veteran.
When Titanic premiered in 1997, Leonardo DiCaprio became an international phenomenon.
His portrayal of Jack Dawson transformed him into one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Fans admired his youthful features, blonde hair, and emotional performance.
But DiCaprio deliberately pursued more challenging roles instead of remaining a romantic leading man.
His collaborations with Martin Scorsese, along with films such as Inception, The Revenant, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, established him as one of his generation’s most respected actors.
Now 51, his appearance has naturally changed from the fresh-faced young man audiences remember from Titanic.
Yet his place in Hollywood remains secure.
11. Orlando Bloom — From Legolas to Hollywood Veteran
Then: The unforgettable Legolas.
Now: A mature actor and father.
In the early 2000s, Orlando Bloom became one of Hollywood’s biggest heartthrobs.
His breakthrough role as Legolas in The Lord of the Rings trilogy made him instantly recognizable.
He then portrayed Will Turner in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
With his dark hair, expressive eyes, and adventurous screen presence, Bloom quickly became a favorite among moviegoers.
At 49, his style is more understated than the dramatic fantasy costumes that first made him famous.
He continues acting and is a father of two.
12. Milo Ventimiglia — From Jess Mariano to Jack Pearson
Then: The mysterious Jess Mariano.
Now: A seasoned dramatic actor.
Before becoming one of television’s most beloved fathers, Milo Ventimiglia was known as Jess Mariano on Gilmore Girls.
His dark hair, rebellious personality, and complicated romance with Rory Gilmore made him a memorable early-2000s heartthrob.
He later starred in Heroes before reaching a new level of acclaim as Jack Pearson in This Is Us.
Now 49, Ventimiglia has moved far beyond his teenage-drama image.
His facial hair and more mature styling contrast with the young actor fans first met in Stars Hollow.
The Faces Changed, but the Nostalgia Remains
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Looking back at these stars is about more than comparing hairstyles, wrinkles, or facial hair.
Their photographs represent different chapters in television and movie history.
For many viewers, Jason Priestley will always be Brandon Walsh, Chad Michael Murray will always be Lucas Scott, and Leonardo DiCaprio will always be Jack Dawson.
But the actors themselves have continued to grow, change, and pursue new opportunities.
Some have returned to the spotlight after years away. Others have built successful careers behind the camera or found renewed popularity with younger audiences.
And perhaps the most surprising part of seeing these before-and-after photographs is realizing just how many years have passed since these familiar faces first appeared on our screens.
Their looks may have changed, but the memories they created remain as vivid as ever.
Photo comparisons use searches for archival and more recent editorial photographs; they are not all from the same year. Background references: AmoMama — ’90s and 2000s heartthrobs; BuzzFeed — Heartthrobs then and now; People — 2004 teen idols revisited.
From a surprising new look to headline-making headlines, there’s more celebrity news to catch up on – see Jennifer Love Hewitt’s stunning hair transformation, Nicole Kidman’s recent appearance, and the story behind Katy Perry’s mansion battle.
