Adored for his boyish charm and on-screen charisma, Freddie Prinze Jr. captured the hearts of audiences worldwide with performances that defined a generation of teen cinema.
Now, fans are completely stunned by the iconic romcom star, who over the past almost 30 years transformed from a dashing young heartthrob to a sophisticated 48-year-old man.
Before making a name for himself in Hollywood, Freddie Prinze Jr. had a powerful legacy to live up to as the son of the late comedian Freddie Prinze Sr., who was best known as Chico in Chico and the Man.
Freddie Prinze Jr’s career
Although his father’s life was tragically cut short, Prinze Jr. embarked on his own journey to carve out a successful career in film. His talent, combined with his magnetic on-screen presence, quickly attracted attention, leading to iconic roles that would forever shape his career.
His breakout performance in the teen slasher film I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and its 1998 sequel positioned him as a talented young actor capable of delivering suspense and emotion in one package.
It was on the set of this film that Prinze Jr. crossed paths with Sarah Michelle Gellar – the star of the hit TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997 to 2003).
But at the time, the two “really didn’t dig each other,” Prinze told People in 2000. “Then one day I gave her a ride to the gym. We talked on the way up, and she was a cool chick.”
Still, despite their chemistry, they remained just friends for the next few years, each pursuing their own paths in Hollywood.
In 1999 Prinze Jr. starred in the teen romcom, She’s All That, a role that leveraged his status to heartthrob. In the film, a modern twist on the classic Pygmalion story, Prinze Jr. starred as a popular high school athlete who rescues an “unpopular” girl, transforming her into prom queen.
With his effortless charm and likable persona, Prinze brought Zack to life in a way that resonated with audiences, making She’s All That one of the most iconic teen movies of the 90s.
The next year, Down to You actor and Gellar finally went on out on a real date and the Scooby-Doo stars were married in 2002, crushing the hearts of young women around the world.
Where is Freddie Prinze Jr now?
Over the past several decades, Prinze Jr. eased up his typically hectic schedule to focus his time on being a father to Charlotte (born September 19, 2009) and son Rocky, who was born September 20, 2012.
“For me being a father, not having a dad, it makes it my number one priority,” Prinze Jr. told E! News of his own father, who died in 1977 when Prinze Jr. was less than a year old. “…I became a full-time father. It’s not a job. It’s what I love to do.”
In fact, both parents intentionally stepped back from the spotlight to prioritize their kids. The star transitioned to more voice acting roles and took on projects that allowed him to spend time with his family.
And he said he has no regrets.
Yeah, I didn’t miss it at all when I walked away,” Prinze Jr. told People. “…It was always more important to me to be a present father.”
When he returned to the spotlight in with a recurring role on the Punky Brewster reboot in 2020 followed by his position as host of WWE Rivals (2022 to 2024), fans were completely stunned to see the classic, soft features of his youth were replaced by a more mature, rugged look.
More recently, Prinze Jr. strutted the red carpet as a silver fox for the premiere of the 2024 film The Girl in the Pool.
“I did not recognize Freddie Prinze Jr. at all,” tweets one user, while a second writes, “It doesn’t look like him.”
“Wow, he aged terribly….looks like a 60-year-old grandpa….sad,” another says.
Commenting on an Instagram photo shared by Gellar of the two celebrating their 22nd anniversary on September 1, one critic accuses the handsome actor of altering his face: “Why’d you ruin your face, man?” the user writes.
According to numerous reports, the actor has not had cosmetic surgery to his face and is aging naturally.
Disagreeing with the scathing remarks, other netizens jumped in with praise, defending the actor, who some call a “zaddy,” defined as “an attractive man who is also stylish, charming, and self-confident.”
“The two of you just don’t age. You look like kids,” pens one fan. A second, referring to Gellar’s role as the vampire slayer, writes, “Maybe they’re secretly vampires,” while a third suggests the couple is aging backwards: “Benjamin Buttons both of you.”
Another pens “I love how real you two are!! What a great example in Hollywood,
Love you both so much!” commented a second.
Prinze Jr. is reprising his role as Ray Bronson in the fourth installment of I know What You Did Last Summer, where he’ll reunite with his co-star Jennifer Love Hewitt. The film is expected to be released in 2025.
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