THE Princess Diaries star Erik Von Detten has switched up his look and his life after his iconic Disney film role.
The actor, 40, who played heartthrob Josh Bryant in the much-loved movie featuring Anne Hathaway, won the affections of fans back in 2001.
The Princess Diaries star Erik Von Detten looks unrecognisable after his heartthrob role
Erik played Josh Bryant, who was Mia Thermopolis’ crush, in the Disney movie
His character – who was Mia Thermopolis’ crush – until it was revealed he was using her, made his name in film.
Yet after he starred in The Mole, Malcolm In The Middle and Celebrity Mole Hawaii, followed by voicing Sid in Toy Story 3, the San Diego native’s film career was cut short.
Now the American is unrecognisable with his chin-length blonde locks and new job.
Instagram pictures show Erik dressing up as a cowboy as he entertains his kids, while he enjoys family life and hosting parties at his home.
He does amateur theatre in Santa Monica, California where he lives with his wife Angela and three-year-old daughter.
He has also taken on a sales manager role at a commodities brokerage firm.
Talking about his huge life switch, he told E!: “At that time, we didn’t have Netflix and all these expanded options with thousands and thousands of roles.
“I would literally go for a length of time without any roles that I fit the bill for.
“I mean, you’re either in the very top half a percent doing very well or, well…it’s just very competitive.
“Since I was a kid, I wanted to have a large family. And, in Los Angeles, that requires a consistent, realistic income.
“So, the fickle nature of employment as an actor just wasn’t consistent enough for me. Luckily, simultaneously when things started to slow down in acting in my early 20s, another opportunity presented itself for me with a company that I started working with at age 25. And I’ve been with that company ever since.
“It’s a sales position with a company working in finance. I’ve grown into a management position and it’s worked out really well.”
FAIRYTALE FILM
Yet Erik only has fond memories of his Disney film experience and heartthrob status.
He told the website: “I knew going into it that it was going to be a proper film with director Garry Marshall, Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway, et cetera. But when I went to the premiere and actually saw the finished product, I was like, “Wow, this is a really solid film. This is going to be timeless.
“I actually turned 18 when we first started shooting and I had a birthday party on the beach in Malibu.
“The whole cast came, which was pretty fun. It was kind of reminiscent of the beach party scene in Princess Diaries, come to think of it.
“The whole cast went in together and got me a surfboard.”
Erik is now a family man with two kids
The San Diego native is now sales manager at a commodities brokerage firm
He has ditched his floppy blonde hair for a smarter look
