Whatever Happened To The Cast Of Even Stevens?
Even though "Even Stevens" only ran for three seasons on the Disney Channel from 2000 to 2003 (and had a made-for-TV movie), the series became a launchpad for a future movie star and a beloved voice actor. "Even Stevens" is looked back on fondly now by millennials as a nostalgic source of timeless characters and sitcom antics. The show followed the Sacramento-based family of five who were almost perfect: two successful, optimistic parents and their star athlete son, Ivy League-bound daughter, and ... Louis, the prankster and slovenly little brother. And don't forget Beans, the creepy-cute neighbor boy that followed Louis into every jam.
The names Shia LaBeouf and Christy Carlson Romano might ring some bells, but what happened to the rest of the Stevens clan and their friends after the show's run ended? Read on to find out where these actors found themselves in a post-pandemic era. By the way, wouldn't that make a great episode? Watching what the Stevens family would do mid-lockdown? We need a reunion special.
Shia LaBeouf has had his ups and downs in the spotlight
Shia LaBeouf stole the show as Louis Stevens, the annoying-yet-lovable black sheep little brother who was always dreaming, scheming, and stealing the spotlight from his two "perfect" older siblings. His signature scream is nostalgic now to fans of a bygone Disney Channel era. After packing up his child-sized Hawaiian shirts when the show ended in 2003, LaBeouf transitioned quickly from TV star to movie star, starring in Disney's "Holes" the same year (via IMDb). LaBeouf became a leading man in the blockbuster "Transformers" franchise, as well as in "Disturbia," "Eagle Eye," and "Fury" alongside Brad Pitt. The actor also found success as a writer with his semi-autobiographical 2019 film "Honey Boy."
According to Time, the man behind Louis Stevens has found himself entangled with the law on multiple occasions since 2009, when he faced criminal trespassing charges for an incident that happened on his 21st birthday. The actor has also spent nights in jail for various disorderly conduct and public intoxication charges over the years.
On December 11, 2020, former girlfriend and artist FKA Twigs filed a lawsuit against the former Stevens accusing the actor of "sexual battery, assault and infliction of emotional distress" in Los Angeles Supreme Court, as reported by The New York Times. According to Radar Online, FKA Twigs and LaBeouf agreed to postpone their next scheduled trial hearing until May 2, 2022. In the meantime, the actor and his on-again, off-again significant other, actress Mia Goth, have welcomed their first child together, according to Entertainment Tonight.
Christy Carlson Romano is a YouTuber now
Christy Carlson Romano dominated as Ren Stevens, the perfect student and daughter, though maybe not quite perfect sister. When she wasn't the target of Louis' ongoing pranks and schemes, she serenaded us with timeless bangers like "Another Perfect Day" and "My Sacramento Girl." Who else passed their history test by humming "We Went to the Moon in 1969"? Just us?
After "Even Stevens" ended, Carlson continued to be a Disney darling as the voice of Kim Possible from 2002 to 2007 and by co-starring with Hilary Duff in the Disney Channel Original Movie "Cadet Kelly," as noted by her IMDb page. She later starred in more Disney projects, including "Big Hero 6: The Series." Romano's vocal chops even got her all the way to Broadway! According to Playbill, she starred as Belle in "Beauty and the Beast." She also performed in Broadway's puppet-filled "Avenue Q" as Kate Monster and Lucy in 2008.
Today, Romano has her own YouTube Channel, for which she has reconnected with her former TV family (with the exception of LaBeouf), and co-hosts a podcast, "I Hear Voices," with Ron Stoppable himself, actor Will Friedle.
According to People, Romano and her family relocated from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas during the pandemic. She and her husband, Brendan Rooney, have two daughters together, Isabella and Sophia.
Steven Anthony Lawrence isn't neighbor Beans anymore
Bernard "Beans" Aranguren, the little neighbor boy that snuck into the Stevens' lives (and our hearts) and refuses to leave, was a standout character. Played by Steven Anthony Lawrence, the character subsided solely off bacon and tagged along with Louis with his weekly schemes.
As a child actor, Lawrence kept busy with many major films, including "The Cat in the Hat," "Cheaper by the Dozen," and "Kicking & Screaming." Today, Lawrence co-hosts a podcast, "The Rice and Beans Show," a nod to his breakout "Even Stevens" role, alongside Max Rice and Matt Stoner. The podcast is a bipartisan political talk show between Rice and Lawrence, aka Beans.
According to IMDb, his most recent acting credits include the 2020 film "I Wrote This for You," and he can be seen as the piano player in the Phantoms music video "Lay With Me," which also features fellow Disney alum Vanessa Hudgens.
Tom Virtue has appeared in some big projects
Tom Virtue played Steve Stevens (ha, we get it, Disney), the upbeat, quirky lawyer and patriarch to the Stevens clan. You could always find him trying to keep the family calm and together when he isn't losing his last nerve at Louis.
According to his IMDb page, you may recognize him from his well over 200 acting credits, as his acting career dates back to the early '80s. Virtue can be seen like a "Where's Waldo" figure in various movies and TV shows, including family sitcoms such as "That's So Raven" and "Drake & Josh," as well as "American Horror Story" and "This Is Us." After "Even Stevens," Virtue was featured as Reverend Stone from 2008 to 2013 in the ABC Family drama "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," starring Shailene Woodley. Notably, Virtue played Morgan Anderson in the 2018 Academy Award-winning movie "Green Book."
As of 2022, Virtue is keeping busy with multiple roles in television series like "NCIS: Los Angeles" and "S.W.A.T."
Nick Spano is a businessman
Nick Spano played the athletic and muscle-bound, but not-so-brainy, eldest sibling, Donnie Stevens. When he wasn't pumping iron and scoring another medal, Donnie bumbled his way through school and his brother and sister's antics in the house. Since the show's end, Spano has been featured in guest spots on multiple popular TV series, including "Monk," "Alias," and "NCIS," as noted by his IMDb page.
Spano stepped away from acting for the most part to pursue other ventures, including working as an acting coach and founding two businesses, the Hollywood Night Market and Re/Creation Cafe in Los Angeles, California. According to an interview he did with VoyageLA, Spano wanted to get back to his roots as an artist. "Over time I was pulled further and further away from the artist life, and really wanted to spend more time painting, so in 2015 I made the shift," he shared. "My intention was to dedicate my time to painting, but I also wanted to surround myself with more art and music which eventually [led] to Re/creation Café, a loosely based concept that we recreate ourselves through play."
Donna Pescow hasn't slowed down
Donna Pescow portrayed Eileen Stevens, the family matriarch who ran the show both in her family and in politics. In the series, she was a state senator for California who later ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. Not only did she act, but according to her IMDb page, Pescow also directed three episodes of "Even Stevens."
According to an interview with Parade, Pescow said she got her big break in acting by starring in the 1977 film "Saturday Night Fever," in which she played Annette opposite John Travolta's disco-dancing Tony Manero. Pescow then went on to star in her own TV show in 1979 as the titular character in "Angie" and continued to be featured in iconic primetime '70s and '80s television, including "The Love Boat," "Fantasy Island," and "Murder, She Wrote."
After "Even Stevens" wrapped, Pescow continued to act for television. She can be seen in various roles on "The Sopranos, "New Girl," and "The Flash." She told Parade, "I've been really so blessed and lucky in my career that I've worked more than I haven't."
A.J. Trauth has a podcast
Alan Twitty — who just went by Twitty in the show — is Louis' very best friend and partner-in-crime. Portrayed by A.J. Trauth, Twitty (aka "Lars Honeytoast") was the guitar-shredding, vocal counterpoint to Ren in the kids' band The Twitty-Stevens Connection (remember that epic rooftop music video?). He played sports, had better luck with girls than his best friend, and usually made it his mission to get Louis out of his weekly jams.
Outside of "Even Stevens," Trauth acted in other Disney projects, such as the Disney Channel Original Movie "You Wish!" and "Kim Possible." According to his IMDb, Trauth continued acting throughout the 2000s, appearing in shows like "House," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," and "Numb3rs."
Trauth's most recent ventures include voice acting and podcasting. His vocal talent is featured in the "Wolfenstein" video game series as Probst Wyatt III. He also co-hosts the podcast "The Coogan Chronicles" with Chris Marquette, interviewing fellow former child actors.
You can still find Margo Harshman on TV
We have a theory: You either wanted to be Tawny or you had a crush on Tawny. Or both. Tawny Dean, played by Margo Harshman, was Louis' best girl friend and later girlfriend. She was a cool, no-nonsense chick who tried to be the voice of reason in the midst of Louis' hijinks, however fruitless her advice may have been.
Since her time on "Even Stevens," according to her IMDb page, Harshman has had a steady career on television. She has been featured in shows such as sitcom smash hit "The Big Bang Theory" as Alex Jensen, Sheldon Cooper's student assistant, and in "NCIS" as Delilah Fielding. Harshman has also been featured on other shows, including "House," "Modern Family," and "Bones."
Notably, Harshman appeared on the Hulu series "How I Met Your Father," the "How I Met Your Mother" spinoff starring fellow Disney Channel alum Hilary Duff.
Fred Meyers has disappeared from Hollywood
Poor Tom Gribalski. He was the dorky friend in Louis Stevens' posse and was constantly the butt of Louis and Twitty's jokes and pranks. Portrayed by Fred Meyers in the show, Tom excelled in science class, spoke intellectually, and dabbled in documentary filmmaking (in a totally not creepy way). He also called his mother by her first name, Doris. What was that about?
After "Even Stevens," Meyers' acting career was short and sweet. According to his IMDb page, he has been featured in films such as "Suspended Animation," "Confession," and "Raise Your Voice," starring fellow Disney darling Hilary Duff. Meyers also appeared on an episode of "Boston Legal" and the Disney Channel show "That's So Raven."
Judging by his IMDb page, Meyers appears to have retired from acting in the 2000s, with his last role being a voice acting gig for the video "Hallowed Ground" in 2007.