20 A-list actors you didn’t realize once starred in a Disney movie

Brie Larson is best known for her work in Marvel films and her Oscar-winning performance in Room, but long before she was internationally recognized, Larson was working for Disney. The star had a role in the Disney Channel Original Movie Right On Track. 

If you don’t remember seeing Rosie O’Donnell in a Disney movie, perhaps you’ll remember hearing her. The comedic icon played Terk, the rambunctious monkey sidekick in the film Tarzan. 

The Disney Channel Original Movies cast some of today’s biggest stars when they were just beginning their acting careers. Before the Barbie movie, before Superstore, and even before Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, America Ferrera was in the film Gotta Kick It Up! Her character even made reference to the Disney film at the end of the Barbie movie. 

The Disney Channel has made so many movies that it’s impossible to keep track of them all. Mischa Barton was in one of its original films called A Ring of Endless Light, which also starred Ryan Merriman from Smart House and The Luck of the Irish. 

It can be tough to recognize someone’s voice when they’re playing an animated character, and such is the case for Maya Rudolph. The SNL icon has been in multiple Disney movies, including the animated films Luca and Big Hero 6. 

Not all Disney Channel Original Movies were as iconic as High School Musical. Some of them, like Tiger Cruise, faded into the background. For this reason, many people forget that Hayden Panettiere was one of the stars of the film. 

Kaley Cuoco’s acting career reached new heights with The Big Bang Theory, but long before that, she was in the Disney Channel Original Movie Alley Cats Strike. Disney Channel seemed to love producing films about more unpopular sports, which is perhaps why we got this film about bowling. 

Sandra Oh had a small part in a Disney movie, but it was iconic. The Grey’s Anatomy alum played the principal in the The Princess Diaries, and she reprises her role for various reasons any chance she can. Fans love her for it. 

Matthew Broderick has a long history with Disney. He played Simba in The Lion King and Inspector Gadget in the live-action adaptation of the same name. He’s an underrated Disney icon. 

Joaquin Phoenix has also been in multiple Disney films, but by far, the most iconic Disney film he’s been in is Brother Bear. He absolutely killed it in that role. 

If you’ve ever wondered just how talented Christian Bale is, watch Newsies. This early ‘90s Disney film showcases Bale’s musical abilities and is very fun to watch. Bale also voiced a character in Pocahontas. Another underrated Disney icon. 

Minnie Driver was killing it in the late ‘90s. She had a role in the iconic Oscar-winning film Good Will Hunting and voiced Jane in the iconic Oscar-winning film Tarzan . She also dated Matt Damon. An icon in every way. 

Though he’s best known for playing Mr. Bean, Rowan Atkinson has done so much more than just that character. For example, he voiced Zazu in The Lion King. That cast was seriously stacked. 

We weren’t kidding when we said the cast of The Lion King was stacked. Voicing Young Simba was none other than Jonathan Taylor Thomas of Home Improvement fame. 

You might know Tate Donavan best for his work in Argo or in The O.C. Maybe you even recognize him as one of Rachel’s boyfriends in Friends. But you probably didn’t realize that he also voiced the role of Hercules. 

Bryan Cranston’s career has taken all sorts of twists and turns. In the early 2000s, he was in the Disney Channel Original Movie ‘Twas the Night, which was quite different from Breaking Bad but legendary nonetheless.

If there’s any voice associated with Ratatouille , it’s Patton Oswalt’s. And rightfully so. He played the main character. But Will Arnett was in the film, too. He voiced one of the cooks in the restaurant’s kitchen. 

It’s easy to miss when celebrities are voices of Disney characters, and it was especially easy to miss who voiced Tarzan because much of the character’s lines were grunts. However, the role was played by none other than Tony Goldwyn, who was best known for his work in Scandal. 

Nicole Scherzinger might seem like a random choice for a Disney film, but she played a singing part, and she can definitely do that. Scherzinger voiced Sina in Moana, lending her melodious singing voice to the role. 

Chicken Little went under the radar big time, at least by Disney standards. It didn’t do well with critics. Many people didn’t even realize that it was made by Disney. And loads were unaware that it was Zach Braff who voiced the titular bird.