If you close your eyes and think about the early 2000s, you probably see a crimped-haired Hilary Duff and a pestering little brother with a spiky blonde blowout. That kid was Matt McGuire. He was the king of the "bustas," the ultimate prankster, and the reason Lizzie had to lock her bedroom door.
But today? The man behind the mischief, Jake Thomas, is 35 years old.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a trip for those of us who grew up watching him. We remember the kid who tried to sell his sister’s secrets for five bucks. Now, he’s a professional photographer, a director, and he just finished playing a tech billionaire in a major video game. He’s lived a whole life outside that suburban house in California.
The Lizzie McGuire Jake Thomas Connection: More Than Just a Sibling Rivalry
When we talk about Lizzie McGuire Jake Thomas was the secret sauce that made the family dynamic work. He wasn't just a side character. He was the catalyst for half the drama. Matt McGuire was the kid we all either had or were—loud, slightly annoying, but weirdly loyal when the chips were down.
Did you know he almost wasn't on Disney at all? Before he was Matt, Jake was doing high-level drama. He was in The Cell with Jennifer Lopez and played a robotic kid in Steven Spielberg’s A.I. Artificial Intelligence. He actually won a Young Artist Award for that one.
Moving from Spielberg to Disney Channel was a huge shift. He went from "serious actor" to "the kid who puts lizards in your cereal."
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People always ask if the cast actually liked each other. The answer is kinda heartwarming. They really were a family. Even now, decades later, they still talk. When the show ended in 2004 after The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Jake didn't just vanish. He stayed in the Disney circle for a bit, popping up as the eccentric Jason Stickler in Cory in the House.
What Really Happened with the Canceled Reboot?
This is the part that still stings for fans. In 2019, the world stopped because Disney announced a Lizzie McGuire revival for Disney+.
Jake was all in. The original cast—Hilary Duff, Hallie Todd, Robert Carradine—they all came back. They even filmed two full episodes. Jake has talked about how surreal it was walking onto the rebuilt McGuire house set. It was like stepping into a time machine, only the house felt a little more "affluent" and modern.
So why did it die? Basically, it was a clash of visions. Hilary wanted an adult Lizzie who dealt with adult things. Disney wanted the PG-rated version they remembered from 2001.
Jake has been pretty open about how he found out it was over. He didn't get a formal corporate phone call at first. He found out from Hilary Duff's Instagram post like the rest of us. It sucked. He had been under contract for over a year, unable to take other jobs, waiting for the green light that never came.
"I’m bummed you all don’t get to see how Matt grew up," Jake shared on social media after the cancellation. "He was pretty chill. Still a bit of a cocky asshole, but a good dude."
In the version we never saw, Matt McGuire would have been a tech-savvy guy who spoke fluent Japanese and was a total Elon Musk fanboy. It would have been a massive departure from the kid who just wanted to blow things up in his backyard.
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From Child Star to Tech Billionaire (Digitally)
If you’re looking for where Jake Thomas is in 2026, don't look on the Disney Channel. Look on your Xbox or PS5.
In June 2025, Jake made a massive career pivot. He starred as Marco Silva in the high-octane action game MindsEye. This wasn't just a voice-over gig. He spent years doing full performance capture. They scanned his face, his movements, and his expressions to create a digital version of him.
It’s a gritty, cinematic world—a far cry from the bright colors of a 2000s sitcom. He told People that seeing a digital, slightly aged-up version of himself doing stunts was "wild."
Life Behind the Lens
While acting is still in his blood, Jake found a different kind of peace in photography. He isn't just a celebrity who bought a nice camera. He’s a legitimate commercial and wildlife photographer.
He’s spent years traveling between Los Angeles and Knoxville, Tennessee, capturing everything from high-end headshots to birds in the wild. He even has a dedicated site for his creative work that shows off a portfolio most professional artists would envy.
He’s also leaned into his "meme-ability." He knows we all remember him as the "busta" kid, and he doesn't run from it. He embraces the nostalgia while quietly building a career that doesn't rely on his 12-year-old self.
The Legacy of Matt McGuire
It has been nearly a quarter of a century since the show premiered. Think about that. 25 years.
The Lizzie McGuire Jake Thomas era defined a specific slice of time for millennials. It was the era of butterfly clips, chunky highlights, and orange-tinted sets. Jake’s performance as Matt gave the show its edge. Without him, it would have been just another teen drama. He brought the chaos.
Even though the reboot is currently "cursed" (Jake’s own words), he remains optimistic. He pointed out in a recent interview that there were 17 years between the original movie and the reboot attempt. Hollywood loves a comeback.
Why We Still Care
We care because Jake Thomas feels like a friend who actually made it out of the child-star machine okay. He didn't have a public meltdown. He went to college, learned new skills, and became a multi-hyphenate creative.
He’s a reminder that you don't have to be defined by who you were at 13. Even if millions of people still associate you with a specific haircut and a very loud sister.
If you’re looking to keep up with Jake or dive deeper into the McGuire nostalgia, here’s what you can do right now:
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- Check out MindsEye: If you want to see the "adult" version of Jake's acting, his performance as Marco Silva is a great place to start. It’s available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
- Follow his Photography: Search for "Jake Thomas Creative" to see his professional portfolio. It's a great look at how he’s transitioned his "eye" from being in front of the camera to being behind it.
- Re-watch the Classics: Disney+ still has the original series. If you haven't seen the "Aaron Carter" Christmas episode in a decade, it’s time. It still holds up, mostly for the cringe factor.
- Stay Tuned for 2026 Projects: Jake is increasingly involved in directing and writing. Keep an eye on indie film circuits where he's beginning to make a name for himself as more than just a performer.
The "busta" might be grown up, but the talent is still very much there.