Exploring the Romantic Past of 'High School Musical' Stars: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and Beyond

The romance between Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez in High School Musical led to a real-life relationship for the actors who portrayed them.

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, who played the roles of Troy and Gabriella in the 2006 movie, began dating not long after they finished filming the first installment. However, their relationship ended in 2010 after being together for five years.

During a June 2010 interview with Glamour, Hudgens shared that she and her then-boyfriend were fortunate to have started off together. She believed that people liked them because they fell in love with the characters they portrayed. Right from the start, there was a strong connection between them that everyone could see. During their audition, they were paired together, and Hudgens found him adorable, even though he was not the same person he is today and had a gap in his teeth.

On the other hand, Ashley Tisdale found love with Christopher French and the two got married in 2018. As they settled into married life, they made a conscious effort to avoid reliving Tisdale's role as Sharpay Evans in the High School Musical movies, including High School Musical 2 and High School Musical 3: Senior Year.

"I don’t watch that stuff myself and my husband really hasn’t seen that stuff either. If [our daughter is] watching with her friends one day, I might come across it. But I don’t think I would expose her to that stuff. I don’t know,” Tisdale exclusively told We in March 2021, referring to the pair’s first child, Jupiter, who was born later that month. “Maybe when the time comes, it will be different. I want her to be really grounded and hopefully live somewhat of a normal life.”

Scroll below for more on the High School Musical cast’s dating history through the years:

High School Musical Casts Dating History Through the Years

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The Dating History of the ‘High School Musical’ Cast Over the Years

The love story between Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez in High School Musical led to a real-life romance for the actors portraying them.

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, known for their roles as Troy and Gabriella in the 2006 DCOM, began dating shortly after filming the first movie. They ended their relationship in 2010 after five years together.

During a June 2010 interview with Glamour, Hudgens shared, “We were fortunate to start off together, so I believe people love us because they fell in love with the characters. We instantly clicked. Everyone could see it. When we auditioned, they put us together. He was charming, even though he was different back then. He had a gap in his teeth.”

Ashley Tisdale found love with Christopher French and they got married in 2018. As they started their life together, they made a conscious effort to move past her role as Sharpay Evans in the High School Musical movies.

In an interview with We in March 2021, Tisdale shared that neither she nor her husband watched the High School Musical films. They wanted to shield their daughter, Jupiter, born that same month, from that part of her mom's past. Tisdale expressed a desire for her daughter to have a grounded and normal upbringing, and mentioned the possibility of introducing her to the movies at a later time.

Scroll below for more on the High School Musical cast’s dating history through the years:

Stars Who Have Regretted Taking Certain Roles Over the Years

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Zac Efron

The actor known for his role in Down to Earth dated Vanessa Hudgens from 2006 to 2010, and they were famously called "Zanessa." After their breakup, Efron was romantically linked to Alexandra Daddario, Lily Collins, Michelle Rodriguez, a businesswoman named Miró, and Valladares. During a trip to Australia in June 2020, he met a model and they quickly became infatuated with each other, but they called it quits in April 2021.

In an interview with Men's Health in October 2022, Efron confirmed that he is currently single. He mentioned that he believes he will find the right person when he least expects it.

Vanessa Hudgens Wows in Hot Pink Bikini

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Vanessa Hudgens

Vanessa Hudgens dated Josh Hutcherson and Kyle Kuzma after her relationship with Efron. She then had a nine-year romance with Butler, but they split in January 2020. A few months later, she was seen with a Pittsburgh Pirates athlete and they got engaged in late 2022. The news of their proposal became public in February 2023. After getting married in Tulum in December 2023, Hudgens announced her pregnancy with their first child at the 2024 Oscars.

Ashley Tisdale Says This Workout Helped Her Mental Health Post-Baby

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Ashley Tisdale

Ashley Tisdale, like her High School Musical costars, had a romantic relationship with Jared Murillo, a backup dancer on the project. They dated for two years before breaking up in 2009. Following this, Tisdale was romantically linked to Scott Speer and Boys Like Girls’ Martin Johnson before meeting her current husband, French. They were introduced by mutual friends in 2012 and got engaged nearly eight months later. In March 2021, they welcomed their daughter, Jupiter.

High School Musical Casts Dating History Through the Years

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Lucas Grabeel

Lucas Grabeel, the actor known for his role as Sharpay's twin brother, Ryan, has always been private about his romantic life. He was in a relationship with Emily Morris in 2005 before later dating teacher Sammie Kate in 2020. Recently, he seems to be in a relationship with Riham El-Ounsi, as seen on his social media posts.

High School Musical Casts Dating History Through the Years

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Corbin Bleu

Corbin Bleu, known for his role as Chad Danforth in the original High School Musical films, dated Jamie Murray and Maiara Walsh before finding love with actress Sasha Clements. In July 2016, it was confirmed that Bleu and Clements got married nearly two years after their romantic proposal at Disney World.

High School Musical Casts Dating History Through the Years

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Monique Coleman

Monique Coleman, famous for playing Taylor McKessie in HSM, got married to Walter Jordan in a beautiful ceremony in Thailand in 2010. Sadly, in December 2021, she shared the heartbreaking news of experiencing a pregnancy loss.

High School Musical Casts Dating History Through the Years

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Olesya Rulin

Olesya Rulin, the Russia native known for her role as pianist Kelsi in the DCOM movies, has kept her love life private. She had been rumored to be dating Younger’s Nico Tortorella and Andrew Gray McDonnell before tying the knot with The Laundry Room founder Joseph Noel Pauline in February 2022. The couple later announced they were expecting their first child together, and in August, Olesya shared the news of the birth of their daughter, Ondine Michelle Pauline.

High School Musical Casts Dating History Through the Years

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Kaycee Stroh

Kaycee Stroh tied the knot with Ben Higginson in January 2009, a few years after gaining popularity for her role as brainy Martha in the musical. The couple became parents to daughters Zetta and Lettie in 2013 and 2015, respectively.

High School Musical Casts Dating History Through the Years

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Bart Johnson

Johnson, who portrayed Troy’s dad in the flicks, married actress Robyn Lively in September 1999. They share sons Baylen and Wyatt and daughter Kate.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the dating histories of the main cast members of the popular High School Musical franchise. It reveals that the on-screen romance between Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez, played by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, extended into real life but ended after five years. While some cast members, like Ashley Tisdale, have moved on to find love with non-industry partners, others, like Monique Coleman, have experienced heartbreak and loss.

The article also highlights the varying levels of privacy among the cast members regarding their personal lives. While some, like Lucas Grabeel, have kept their relationships under wraps, others, like Kaycee Stroh, have shared their family life with their fans. Overall, the article offers a glimpse into the personal lives of the individuals who brought the beloved High School Musical characters to life.. Regardless of their choices, the cast of "High School Musical" will always be remembered for their iconic roles and the impact they had on pop culture.