If you’ve been watching the new season of 90210, then you’ve probably noticed Beverly Hills’ newest piece of eye candy, Teddy Montgomery, played by Days of Our Lives hunk Trevor Donovan (even his real name sounds like a soap name). Besides edging in on Navid and Adrianna’s love life, West Bev’s new guy is also entangled in Annie’s hit-and-run mess and will probably get even more involved, if last night’s episode was any indication.
A few weeks in and he’s already deep into the high school drama, which seems pretty standard for a former soap actor, but a quick IMDB search revealed that Donovan is way too old for these school time shenanigans. He’s 30 years old–turning 31 on Oct. 11!
I know older actors go young all the time (Gabrielle Cateris was 29 when the original 90210 debuted), but Donovan’s example sticks out to me. Perhaps it’s because he was locking lips with a not-even-21-yet Jessica Lowndes on last night’s episode, or maybe it’s because he looks so obviously more grown-up (see: chiseled looks) than the rest of the cast.
Either way, it makes me wonder how these 30-somethings like being around younger actors. Do they feel totally superior to their presumably less-experienced counterparts, or does it not matter, because it’s Hollywood, where youth is king anyway?
Have you noticed Teddy’s older-than-thou looks? Who are some other older actors who’ve played young? Which were believable and which were so bad they took you out of the story?
Photo: Jaimie Trueblood/The CW
Stockard Channing was in her 30′s when she was in ‘Grease’, so it has been done.
Tom Welling is well into his 30′s on Smallville and that guy from Hannah Montana is like 40 playing a kid.
YOur talking about Jason Earles, hes 33.
Emma Thompson was 35 when she played the 19-year-old Elinor in “Sense and Sensibility,” and it’s definitely noticeable, but I don’t actually mind. From what I’ve heard, she wasn’t actually planning to play the role when she first wrote the screenplay, but the producers weren’t happy with any of the younger actresses who auditioned.
OMG she was supposed to be 19?!? i always thought the script called for an “old spinster” type, and thought it swell she got to hook up with Hugh Grant!
I’m pretty sure ALL of Rydell High was 21+ when they filmed the movie. LOL
the new 90210 is still on the air. Ha! I thought it was cancelled.
You failed to be funny.
Maybe he is really older?Just undercover or something.
I was pretty shocked when I learned that Kristen Bell was in her mid 20′s on “Veronica Mars”. And Keiko Agena was in her late 20′s/early 30′s on “Gilmore Girls”.
Kristen Bell was perfect!
The moment he popped up on the show, I couldn’t believe that he was supposed to be in high school. I actually thought they’d make him a college guy and couldn’t believe it when he introduced himself as the new kid.
He definitely looks much older than the rest of the cast, and I find it distracting. I’ve watched a lot of teen shows, and usually, I don’t notice because either the actors look young enough or all the actors are around the same age, so it’s not as noticeable. Teddy is the first time that it’s become an issue for me.
That’s what bothers me too. I don’t care how old an actor is in real life as long as they can pull of the character’s age. But this guy looks way older than the rest of the cast.
Yeah I agree, he looks like he could be the FATHER of some of these kids (slight exaggeration!)
Couldn’t they find AAAANNNNYYYONE more age appropriate?
He looks older than Ryan who is only supposed to be fresh out of college. Whoever cast Trevor must have been asleep at the wheel. When he is in scenes with Dixon, Silver, Annie or Adrianna he looks so out of place like he should be asking them for a hall pass instead of joining them at the Peach Pit. Maybe he is an undercover cop looking for the person who ran over the homeless person. Oh no wait, they had the undercover cop pretending to be a student storyline last year. OOPS (insert sarcasm).
it’s funny cuz ryan eggold is only 25 he’s closer in age to the Kids playing the kids tan he is to Trevor….
His birthday is tomorrow? I believe that is when he is qualified for his AARP card too! YES, he looks like he is in his late 20s/early 30s. You are right though, Andrea somehow pulled it off. Actually Andrea looked her best her last year on the show when her hair was longer & blonde. Oh yeah Steve was 26 and Dylan was actually 25. When Luke returned for the final season of 90210 he looked his age (late 30s) while everyone else was “supposed” to be 22/23.
Sorry, he’s too old looking! I just laugh because he looks older and I think he really is than Ryan Eggold who is playing a teacher. What were the producers thinking? Also he’s not that great an actor so, why cast him in the first place?
My middle school crushes on Jason Priestley and Luke Perry ill-advised, but this is a thousand times inappropriate.
It happens all the time. This has been happening since Hollywood was established. This was also the case on One Tree Hill, which is why they were able to jump ahead 4 years and have the actors play adults so easily. They are Adults!!
Its also easier on production time and cost because children actors can only work a certain amount of hours a day. Adults work for hours without any law being broken.
Nobody knew how old James Marsters was (mid-30′s) when he started playing Spike on Buffy because he looked so young. But current crown should probably go to Jason Earles on Hannah Montana – 32 playing 16 or 17.
Doesn’t Jason Earles keep his age a big secret or something? I had heard that he refused to reveal how old he is.
From Wikipedia:
Earles’ birth year has been the subject of conflicting reports. Earles was 29 years old in January 2007, per USA Today, corresponding to a birth year of 1977. Earles’ resume gave a birth date of April 26, 1985. A story in the Houston Chronicle in July 2007 stated that he was 19 years old. A story in the Associated press in April 2009 stated that he was 32 on his birthday of April 26.
I was just going to give Jackson Rod Stewart a shout out… that’s the one that has surprised me the most.
Yes, but Spike was NOT supposed to be in high school. William the Bloody was turned whenn he was in his 20s so James could def pull it off.
HOLY CRAP I had no idea that kid on HM was so old….I can’t decide whether that sucks or is awesome for him
that is bananas. he’s 32?!!
But speaking of Grease – wasn’t Lorna Luft 30 years old playing Paulette in Grease 2?
I think half of the actors in the Grease movies were well into their 30s in those movies. Most unconvincing high schoolers ever!
Yeah, the Grease actors were all well over high school age. But I thought that was part of a weird camp joke.
Sadly, I’m not sure Grease was ever intended to be camp. I think it just turned out that way.
Weren’t John Travolta and Gabe Kaplan nearly the same age on “Welcome Back, Kotter”?
It dont matter to me he is doing a great job in the show .
Isn’t Matt Lanter (Liam on 90210) in his mid- to late-20s as well?
The worst offender in recent memory was that horrid Nicholas D’Agostino, who played Claire’s ‘teenage’ love interest in the second series of Heroes. He was clearly pushing thirty but made this infuriating kissy-mouth, saucer-eyes face ostensibly to keep the lines in his face from showing, and delivered all his lines as if he were a retarded eight-year-old. I only kept watching the show to see if he would DIE, but eventually just lost interest. I really hope he did.
Yikes! That’s some serious hatred right there. What’d he do to you?
So… Nicholas D’Agostino is a hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Nicholas D’Agosto was on Heroes as West (Claire’s love interest). Just helping you out.
West was a damn good character on Heroes
I was definitely fooled by Keiko Agena on Gilmore Girls. I remember being shocked when I found out how old she was. And I had no idea Jason Earles was that old! Ew, I can’t believe Lily had a crush on him! Yes, I watch Hannah Montana. Don’t judge.