Entertainment
Then & Now Pics of the Guys You Loved In The Early '00s Will Make You Feel Really Old — PHOTOS
I am a child of the early '90s, but my fondest pop culture memories are definitely from the early '00s. My childhood heroine was Britney Spears. I took sides on the great Backstreet Boys vs. NSYNC debate, wanted to be Mia Thermopolis, and swooned over Josh Hartnett. You know the drill.
But as I grew up through the early '00s, so did the celebrity guys that we all collectively had crushes on. Like fancy cheese, these guys only got better with age... and I have the photos to prove it. Feast your eyes on these dudes from the early '00s who looked great then, and even better now.
Now: Justin Timberlake
Not only is the “Suit & Tie” singer a bonafide superstar in the music biz, he’s also the funniest guest star on Saturday Night Live, starred in an Academy Award-nominated film, and is married to Jessica Biel. Things are good for JT.
Then: Nick Carter
The other boy band fan favorite from competing boy band the Backstreet Boys. Apparently blondes really do have more fun.
Now: Nick Carter
His career hasn’t skyrocketed in the years following the decline of the Backstreet Boys, but he has made some positive changes in his life following his earlier struggles with drug abuse, and he seems happier and better than ever.
Then: Ashton Kutcher
The That ’70s Show star had us wishing we could romance Kelso IRL.
Now: Ashton Kutcher
He has his own production company, a starring role on Two and a Half Men, and a baby on the way with his That ’70s Show co-star, Mila Kunis.
Then: Usher
I really felt for Usher, even as he faux-confessed to impregnating his “chick on the side.” (What can I say, that was a really great album!)
Now: Usher
Usher’s still got it. Voice, style, swag… basically everything about this guy has improved with age, so much so that I can forgive him for giving the world Justin Bieber.
Then: Jesse McCartney
Another Summerland youngin’, he also sang the perfect (not at all cheesy) love anthem “Beautiful Soul.”
Now: Jesse McCartney
You can tune into ABC Family’s sitcom Young & Hungry to see how he looks with glasses, if that’s your thing.
Then: Josh Hartnett
The Virgin Suicides and Pearl Harbor star was the face to have on your bedroom walls.
Now: Josh Hartnett
He’s baaack! Hartnett has returned to us with the spooky Showtime series Penny Dreadful .
Then: Wilmer Valderrama
He played Fez on That ’70s Show and dated basically every starlet under the sun.
Now: Wilmer Valderrama
He’s Demi Lovato’s beau. And they’re actually kind of sweet.
Then: Pharrell
Pharrell wore an unfortunate amount of trucker hats during his N*E*R*D days.
Now: Pharrell
It’s all about the Arby’s hats these days.
Then: Scott Foley
The Felicity star was one third of a love triangle back then.
Now: Scott Foley
Now that he’s on Scandal, not much has changed… except for the fact that he gets impossibly more handsome year after year.
Then: Ryan Reynolds
The Van Wilder star wore track suits. In public.
Now: Ryan Reynolds
Today, Reynolds has classed up his look — probably with help from his fashion icon wife, Blake Lively.
Then: Shane West
The Walk to Remember star made us sob uncontrollably… and still does whenever the movie comes on ABC Family.
Now: Shane West
The former Nikita star is now defending witches on the new WGN series Salem.
Then: James van der Beek
Sure, he was Dawson from the Creek, but I’ll always remember him as Sean Bateman from the dark college flick The Rules of Attraction.
Now: James van der Beek
JVDB was the best part of the two sadly canceled (and terribly titled) sitcoms Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23 and Friends With Better Lives.
Then: Aaron Carter
Remember when this guy kissed Lizzie McGuire and then proceeded to start a feud between Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan? GOOD TIMES.
Now: Aaron Carter
Well, he has definitely grown up physically, but considering that he’s still pining for Duff, I’m not so sure he’s really out of the ’00s.
Then: Chad Michael Murray
The Freaky Friday and A Cinderella Story star never really looked like a teenager, even when playing one for years on One Tree Hill.
Now: Chad Michael Murray
The hair is SUCH an improvement.
Then: Jesse Bradford
Oh, hey, remember him? Of Swimfan, Clockstoppers, Bring It On, Romeo & Juliet… I could go on, because, essentially, if a teen movie was made between 1997 and 2004, he was in it.
Now: Jesse Bradford
He continues to look like a hybrid of Justin Theroux, Jason Biggs, and Freddie Prinze Jr. A+, Bradford.
Then: Chris Klein
The American Pie star really knew how to wear a leather jacket.
Now: Chris Klein
Klein has a recurring role on Wilfred and definitely has a Don Draper vibe.
Then: Zac Efron
This charming cutie got his start on Summerland before moving on to his role in the High School Musical trilogy.
Now: Zac Efron
One word: Damn.