For many “Lizzie McGuire” fans, Ethan Craft was the ultimate Disney Channel crush. Played by Clayton Snyder, the floppy-haired heartthrob became one of the show’s most memorable teen characters. Like the 90s child star who played Jim Carrey’s son in “Liar Liar,” Snyder has remained a nostalgic favorite for fans of the era. Now, 25 years after his debut, the actor looks very different from his days as Ethan.
Clayton Snyder Looks Very Different Today
According to Hello!, the 38-year-old actor looks worlds away from his breakout role. His famous blonde hair has been replaced with slicked-back brown hair. He also now wears a neatly trimmed beard, with some natural gray showing through.
The transformation is especially noticeable for anyone who remembers Ethan’s signature look. The character was known for his long, blonde hair and laid-back teenage style.
After “Lizzie McGuire”
After “Lizzie McGuire” ended, Clayton Snyder stepped away from acting. According to Hello!, he earned a BA in Film Studies from Pepperdine University in 2010.
He also developed another serious passion during those years. Snyder was a star water polo player throughout high school and college. He later trained with the USA National Water Polo Team. He competed internationally and played professionally in Italy, Hungary and Montenegro.
In 2011, Clayton Snyder represented the United States at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China. His team finished fourth.
Clayton Snyder Found a New Career
Snyder eventually moved into real estate in California after graduating from Pepperdine. His celebrity past occasionally followed him into his professional life.
Hello! reported on comments the actor previously shared with E!, in which Clayton Snyder explained that he wanted clients to value his work rather than his childhood fame.
“I would really like it to be you want to work with me because I’m really good at what I do.”
He recalled clients recognizing him while he was showing them homes. Snyder said they sometimes realized who he was halfway through the process.
Snyder eventually moved on from real estate. According to Hello!, he now works as an account executive.
Family Life and a Return to Acting
The actor’s life away from the screen also looks very different from his teenage heartthrob days.
Clayton Snyder is married to actress Allegra Edwards. She is known for roles in “Upload” and “Briarpatch.” The couple married in 2010.
They welcomed their son, Howard, in 2022.
When announcing his son’s arrival, Clayton Snyder shared photos from Howard’s first days in the hospital. He wrote that they had welcomed their “precious son Howard Douglas Snyder” into the world.
Clayton Snyder has also returned to acting in smaller roles. According to Hello!, those credits include an episode of “NCIS” in 2014 and the 2017 film “The Reunion.”
For longtime “Lizzie McGuire” viewers, though, Clayton Snyder will likely always be associated with Ethan Craft. His appearance has changed dramatically over the past 25 years, and his personal life has changed even more. Yet he is one of many stars from that era, including “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” star Beth Broderick, who remain recognizable to longtime viewers.
