Top 10 2000s Teen Heartthrobs You FORGOT Were Awesome
#10: Drake Bell
Before we had Drake the rapper, Drake Bell was the major Drake in our lives. Starting off as a child actor, Drake was first noticed for his comedic timing on “The Amanda Show,” as one of the show’s major players. His talent was undeniable and he was soon paired with Josh Peck on the hit Nickelodeon show, “Drake & Josh.” Besides his acting talents, Josh also proved to be a talented singer with songs like “I Know” and “Found a Way,” the theme song of his show. He’s seemed to have a hard time since the series ended with a DUI in 2009, but we’re hoping he’ll bounce back.
#9: Erik von Detten
With his floppy blonde hair and blue eyes, who wasn’t in love with this Cali boy way back when? Erik skated his way into our hearts with his role as Brink in the Disney Channel Original Movie of the same name. His laid-back demeanor and slightly goofy persona made him an easy object of affection for countless teenage girls. It didn’t even matter when he was playing a slightly jerky role like his character in “The Princess Diaries,” even though Robert Schwartzman’ Michael certainly gave him a run for his money He’s been largely absent from our screens since the early aughts, but at least we can listen to his voice as Sid from the “Toy Story” movies.
#8: Sean Patrick Thomas
We’d take dance lessons from this guy any day. Sean Patrick Thomas had one of his first major roles in the teen classic, “Cruel Intentions,” but it wasn’t until 2001’s “Save the Last Dance” that he had his true breakout role as a teen heartthrob. Watching him teach Julia Stiles how to dance was everything and Sean’s smooth moves and good looks didn’t go unnoticed. He later moved onto more adult parts in the “Barbershop” movies and the TV show, “The District,” but we miss the guy that danced his way into our hearts.
#7: Jesse McCartney
What a beautiful face, we mean soul, on this guy. Jesse may have started off as one of the younger members of the short-lived boy band, Dream Street, but he quickly made a name for himself as a teen heartthrob. His part in the drama series, “Summerland,” helped make this possible since it showed off just how cute and how much of a boy-next-door type Jesse was. He capitalized on that with his music and with songs like “Beautiful Soul” and “Leavin’” became big hits. During this time, he even co-wrote the Leona Lewis mega-hit, “Bleeding Love.” Jesse’s proven he’s a multi-talented guy and we wouldn’t be surprised if he made a comeback in either music or acting sometime soon.
#6: Jesse Metcalfe
With abs like this, it’s no wonder Jesse became a household name. He got his start in soap operas with a major role in “Passions.” His time on the series led to his casting as the hot high schooler Eva Longoria’s character has an affair with in “Desperate Housewives”. The role was basically just an excuse to see more of his abs, which no one had a problem with. His starring role in “John Tucker Must Die” did the same while also showing off his comedic skills. Then there was a bit of a lull in Jesse’s career due to some personal issues with substance abuse, though in 2012 he had a minor comeback with the short-lived “Dallas” reboot.
#5: Bow Wow [aka Lil’ Bow Wow]
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Say what you want about teen rappers, but Lil’ Bow Wow was the man back in the 2000s. Known for his undeniable hits like “Basketball,” “Like You,” and “Shortie Like Mine,” Bow Wow knew how to mix his precociousness with his good flow to make himself a big star. He proved that rapping wasn’t his only skill, as he starred in “Like Mike” and showed off his basketball skills. Going through that transition between childhood and adulthood took him out of the spotlight a bit, as he’s since dropped the “Lil’.” He now goes by his given name of Shad Moss and retired from rapping in 2016, but we’ll always remember that cute rapping adolescent on the b-ball court.
#4: Shane West
Shane will always be in the teen heartthrob hall of fame based off his crucial role as the love interest in “A Walk to Remember.” Before “The Fault in Our Stars” was such a major hit, “A Walk to Remember” was the teen cancer movie we couldn’t stop crying about. Shane was so charming and sincere here in contrast to the jerkier characters he previously played in teen movies like “Get Over It.” His film career hasn’t expanded much since, but he at least he has consistently worked in TV as a cast member in both “ER” and “Salem.”
#3: Chad Michael Murray
Chad was definitely one of the biggest names in teen Hollywood back in the early noughties. With recurring roles on “Dawson’s Creek” and “Gilmore Girls.” it was only a matter of time before he landed a TV in which he played the lead, as he did with “One Tree Hill” - one of the best teen dramas out there. He got to play a not-so-bad boy with a heart of gold, a role that’s perfect for his smoldering good looks. His roles as the romantic lead in teen movies like “A Cinderella Story” and “Freaky Friday” further helped to cement his status as a heartthrob.
#2: Adam Brody
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As Seth Cohen on “The O.C.,” Adam was the hunky nerd who stole our hearts. Quick-witted, quirky, and funny, Adam was arguably the true heart of the popular series. Like Chad Michael Murray, he got his start on “Gilmore Girls,” and quickly proved that he should be the star of his own show. Adam seemed pretty much like a lot of his characters, which made him a breath of fresh air in a sea of too cool for school types. Since “The O.C.” ended, he’s had a couple film roles, such as in “In the Land of Women” and “Scream 4.” We miss him on screen, but at least in real life he seems to be doing just fine, since he married Leighton Meester aka Blair Waldorf and is now a father. Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Chris Klein Hayden Christensen Jesse Bradford
#1: Tom Welling
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Our number one guy seems to be mostly MIA these days, and we couldn’t be more upset about it! After a recurring role on “Judging Amy,” Tom landed his breakout role as Superman’s alter ego on the hit show, “Smallville.” He portrayed Clark Kent for a whopping ten years on the small screen, which showed off his comedic timing, knack for action and super bod. Understandably, “Smallville” didn’t give him much time for film roles, so Tom has only been in a handful like the “Cheaper By the Dozen” movies. Following 2016’s “The Choice,” however, we can certainly hope we’ll get to see more of his chiseled good looks on either the big screen or the small screen. Do you agree with our list? Which heartthrob do you want to make a comeback? For more can’t miss Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.
