News | Entertainment
12 Nov 2025 19:28
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Lucas Grabeel was called "grandpa" on the set of 'High School Musical'

    The 40-year-old actor starred as Ryan Evans in the hit Disney Channel movie in 2006 alongside Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale and while most of his co-stars were in their mid to late teens, he was in his early twenties at the time


    Speaking as part of a panel at MegaCon in Orlando, Florida, he said: "I always had some physical ailment or something and talking in Olde English slang, so everyone called me 'grandpa."

    The 'Little Women' star appeared in all three films that made up the 'High School Musical' franchise as singer and dancer Ryan but initially auditioned for the part of basketball player Troy Bolton, a role that eventually propelled his co-star Zac to worldwide fame.

    Former 'Suite Life' actress Ashley played Ryan's ambitious twin sister Sharpay Evans, and he admitted he was "p***** off" when he was paired for her because she was exactly like her character in that she would insist on running lines over and over again.

    He said: "I met Ashley at the callback. We had originally had our normal audition ... then we had the callback and met with the director. We had originally had our normal audition ... then we had the callback and met with the director.

    "That's when I auditioned for Troy. The director] was like, 'Oh Lucas, You are amazing but you are no Troy. But you are a Ryan.

    "I was paired with Ashley and she really p***** me off.

    "This girl. I mean, this is why she got the job - she was so Sharpay. She literally, we did the scene, we came out and she's like 'Hey, so I really wanna, like, rehearse and go over it again.

    "And I was like, 'I'm kinda good, cause I did my homework and I'm ready to go.' And she's like 'No, please,' And I'm like, 'Okay, cool.' ... So we do the scene outside, by ourselves, and she's like 'Okay, so, when I say this line I want you to go over here and make this face. And then at this point, I'm gonna add this line and I want you to react to that.' And I'm like 'Whoa, she's giving me notes.

    "I went to the callback and I had this, like 'Bro, be professional.' And that is exactly who Ryan is. He has this thing of like, 'I have to perform, she's driving me nuts, but I'll keep it all inside.' So thank you, Ashley for giving me notes."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     11 Nov: Hilary Duff insists Disney weren't "willing" to embrace Lizzie McGuire in her 30s
     11 Nov: Kelsey Grammer says his family are "ecstatic" about his new baby boy
     11 Nov: Millie Bobby Brown won't be revealing her daughter's name to the world
     11 Nov: Sam Smith had liposuction at 13 after being mercilessly "teased" about their weight
     11 Nov: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is returning to acting for the first time in almost a decade
     11 Nov: Aimee Lou Wood has described Los Angeles as "emotionally bulimic"
     11 Nov: Ariana Grande has made it clear that her music career is far from over, despite her growing presence in Hollywood
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    International hockey is inbound for Dunedin this summer More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Andrew Mountbatten Windsor shuts down royal business venture Pitch@Palace More...



     Today's News

    Health & Safety:
    Christmas is coming early for some Kiwis, with Pharmac confirming five new approved treatments for conditions including cancer - from December 18:57

    Basketball:
    Breakers guard Reuben Te Rangi's admitting their ANBL basketball woes are starting to leave a mental imprint on the team 18:37

    Law and Order:
    ‘Leadership is morality magnified’ – what police must learn from the McSkimming scandal 18:17

    International:
    Louvre heist ‘detective’ Pedro reveals inspirations behind viral look 18:07

    Law and Order:
    Auckland International Airport's seized 15 million dollars worth of hidden meth - including in a fake book - in one week 18:07

    Netball:
    Absent Silver Ferns assistant coach Liana Leota could still rejoin the Ferns for their three-test series against England starting on Sunday 17:47

    International:
    Not introverted or extroverted? You could be an otrovert 17:17

    Law and Order:
    An 18-year old's been arrested - after a fire at a Palmerston North building last month 16:57

    Business:
    Andrew Mountbatten Windsor shuts down royal business venture Pitch@Palace 16:37

    Politics:
    A new Bill aiming to speed access to medicines has passed its third reading 16:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd