Not many actors could claim a career trajectory that took them from relative obscurity to the star of a globally popular movie; fewer yet could add having three hit singles on the charts to that already impressive achievement. One who could lay claim was actor/singer/dancer Lucas Grabeel, whose role in the Disney Channel original movie “High School Musical” (2006) elevated him from obscure young actor with a smattering of solid credits to superstar in the eyes of countless teens and “tweens.” Like his “HSM” co-stars, Grabeel rode the “HSM” juggernaut to greater exposure while exploring other roles and possibilities.Born Lucas Stephen Grabeel (pronounced GRAY-beel) in Springfield, MO on Nov. 23, 1984, Grabeel was extremely active in performing throughout his school years; he was a member of the varsity choir at Kickapoo High School (which was Brad Pitt’s alma mater) and appeared in numerous musical productions, as well as singing and drumming with church groups. Grabeel also found time to learn to play piano and guitar and teach improv classes. During this time, Grabeel also traveled several times to Guatemala with his family as part of a church mission group.
In 2003, Grabeel relocated to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. According to interviews, he landed his first on-screen appearance in a television commercial shortly after arriving in LA; his first acting role came a year later in “Halloweentown High” (2004) – the third feature in the immensely popular “Halloweentown” original movies from the Disney Channel. He reprised his character, genial warlock Ethan Dalloway, in the fourth sequel, “Return to Halloweentown,” in 2006; the role, which had been the fifth or sixth lead in the previous feature, had been expanded to reflect his post-“High School Musical” fame.
After a spate of episodic television appearances – including a turn as the young Lex Luthor, complete with shaved head, on “Smallville,” (The WB, 2001- ) – and a lead in an offbeat independent film – “Dogg’s Hamlet, Cahoot’s MacBeth,” which was based on two plays by Tom Stoppard – in 2005 and 2006, Grabeel found himself on the receiving end of international attention, thanks to “High School Musical.” Though his part was not the largest, Grabeel made the most of Ryan Evans, the deeply loyal (and slightly slower) brother to uber-drama queen Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale). Grabeel lent a light comedic touch to what could’ve been a stereotypical role, and shined in his four musical numbers, especially “Bop to the Top,” a Latin-tinged duet with Tisdale that also showed off his dancing skills.
The popularity of “HSM” helped make Grabeel’s face a familiar one in households across the globe. In the U.S. alone, four of his songs from the soundtrack landed on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time – with “Bop to the Top” reaching #35 on the charts. And like his castmates, the majority of 2006 was spent promoting the movie on American television and around the world, including a national concert tour with most of the original cast.
Despite “HSM” fever, Grabeel found time to lend his talents to other projects as well. In addition to appearances on the pilot episode of “Til Death “ (Fox, 2006- ) and a second turn on “Veronica Mars” (The CW, 2004- ) in 2006, Grabeel also co-starred in “Alice,” a theatrical feature based on the popular book series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. He also began filming the highly anticipated sequel to “HSM,” which was slated for a 2007 release.
