What Is the Cast of 2007’s ‘Hairspray’ Up to Now? Zac Efron and More

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See What the Cast of 2007’s ‘Hairspray’ Movie Musical Are Doing Now: Zac Efron and More

Playing Link Larkin in the 2007 movie musical Hairspray is one of Zac Efron’s most iconic roles — that’s a fact. However, he’s not the only notable name that appeared in the legendary film. Nikki Blonsky starred as Tracy Turnblad, an overweight high school student who wants nothing more than to be on local dance program, The Corny Collins Show. When a spot opens up and she auditions for the show, Tracy is ridiculed by students at her school but her crush on Link only gets stronger. Not only does Tracy become the show’s star, but succeeds in racially segregating The Corny Collins Show. It’s been nearly a decade since the film premiered, but Blonsky and Efron formed a close friendship on the set. “Not to make every woman and gay man jealous, but he was my best friend on the set of Hairspray,” Blonsky revealed during a 2020 interview. “Even when we weren’t filming, we were together on the weekends. [He was] constantly at my apartment and I was always at his, doing his laundry when he didn’t do it.” Keep scrolling to see what the Hairspray cast is doing now:

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Nikki Blonsky

Blonsky’s starring role as Tracy in Hairspray marked her first-ever movie. Since then, she’s appeared in both TV and film, including Queen Sized, Ugly Betty, Waiting for Forever, Smash, Huge, Geography Club and more.

In 2020, Blonsky came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, announcing her engagement to partner Hailey Jo Jenson two years later.

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Zac Efron

Not only has Efron continued his acting career after his role as Link, but he’s become more of a heartthrob since the years have gone on. Fans have watched Efron reprise his High School Musical role as Troy Bolton for the film’s two sequels. He’s also starred in 17 Again, Charlie St. Cloud, New Year’s Eve, The Lorax, The Lucky One, The Paperboy, Neighbors, That Awkward Moment, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, The Greatest Showman, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile and The Iron Claw.

The actor has also starred in and executive produced his Down to Earth With Zac Efron series on Netflix.

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Amanda Bynes

Bynes played the role of Tracy’s best friend, Penny Pingleton, and went on to star in a few films before stepping out of the spotlight. Following Hairspray, she appeared in Sydney White and Easy A.

In April 2024, Bynes revealed that she returned to school to become a manicurist after receiving an associate’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) years prior.

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Elijah Kelley

After Kelley played Seaweed in Hairspray, he also continued to become a star in his own right. The actor has appeared in Red Tails, The Butler and Strange Magic. He was also cast as recurring character Andy in the show Star from 2017 to 2018. In April 2022, it was announced that Kelley would star as Sammy Davis Jr. in an upcoming limited series.

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Brittany Snow

Snow played the villainous Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray before going on to star as Chloe Beale in all three Pitch Perfect movies years later. The actress has also starred in Prom Night, Someone Great, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Almost Family before making her directorial debut in 2019.

As for her personal life, Snow was married to Selling the OC star Tyler Stanaland from March 2020 until September 2022.

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John Travolta

Travolta starred as Tracy’s mom, Edna Turnblad, in the film. He’s continued to nab leading roles in Hollywood including Bolt, The Taking of Pelham 123, Savages, Gotti, Paradise City and more. He also starred as Robert Shapiro in the 2016 TV series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story.

Travolta was married to Kelly Preston from 1991 until her death in 2020 from breast cancer. The couple shared three kids, the late Jet who died in 2009 at age 16, Ella Bleu, 24, and Benjamin, 13.

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Michelle Pfeiffer

Pfeiffer played the role of Velma Von Tussle, just one of the fictional icons in her filmography. After the musical movie, she appeared in New Year’s Eve, People Like Us and Murder on the Orient Express before appearing as Janet Van Dyne / Wasp in various Marvel movies including, Ant-Man and the Wasp. In 2022, she starred as Betty Ford in The First Lady miniseries.

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Queen Latifah

The actress and singer appeared in Hairspray as Motormouth Maybelle before going on to appear in movies like What Happens in Vegas, The Secret Life of Bees, Valentine’s Day, Just Wright, Joyful Noise, 22 Jump Street, Hustle and more.

Latifah has also released one album since appearing in Hairspray titled Persona, which was released in 2009.

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James Marsden

Marsden appeared as Corny Collins in Hairspray. The following year, the fan-favorite 27 Dresses premiered with Marsden as the male lead. He can also be seen in Death at a Funeral, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Disenchanted and more. He also famously starred as himself in the 2023 series Jury Duty following other TV show roles in 30 Rock, Dead to Me and The Stand.

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Allison Janney

Janney had a smaller role in Hairspray, playing Prudy Pingleton. That same year, she appeared in Juno, before going on to star in The Help, The Oranges, The Duff, Finding Dory, I, Tonya, The Addams Family and Bombshell, among others. As for TV, Janney had notable roles in Masters of Sex, Mom, F Is for Family and Duck Tales.

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Christopher Walken

Hairspray starred Walken as Wilbur Turnblad, Tracy’s dad. He’s continued an extensive acting career, starring in Seven Psychopaths, Jersey Boys, Eddie the Eagle, The Jungle Book and, most recently, Dune: Part Two.