Colton Haynes — Teen Wolf
Haynes played one of the high schoolers on Teen Wolf during the first two seasons, during the same time period as when this photo was taken of him at age 24.
Oops: A previous version of this post listed Haynes' Teen Wolf co-star Tyler Hoechlin, who is one of the few actors on that show who actually played a character around their age.
Haynes played one of the high schoolers on Teen Wolf during the first two seasons, during the same time period as when this photo was taken of him at age 24.
Oops: A previous version of this post listed Haynes' Teen Wolf co-star Tyler Hoechlin, who is one of the few actors on that show who actually played a character around their age.
Haynes played one of the high schoolers on Teen Wolf during the first two seasons, during the same time period as when this photo was taken of him at age 24.
Oops: A previous version of this post listed Haynes' Teen Wolf co-star Tyler Hoechlin, who is one of the few actors on that show who actually played a character around their age.
Kristen Bell — Veronica Mars
Premiering in 2004, Veronica Mars told the story of a high school junior who did some work as a private investigator. High school juniors are around age 16-17. Kristen was 23 at the time.
Premiering in 2004, Veronica Mars told the story of a high school junior who did some work as a private investigator. High school juniors are around age 16-17. Kristen was 23 at the time.
Premiering in 2004, Veronica Mars told the story of a high school junior who did some work as a private investigator. High school juniors are around age 16-17. Kristen was 23 at the time.
Will Smith — The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
This picture of Will Smith was taken in early 1991, a few months after the premiere of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. At the time, he was 22 years old. His character was 17.
This picture of Will Smith was taken in early 1991, a few months after the premiere of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. At the time, he was 22 years old. His character was 17.
This picture of Will Smith was taken in early 1991, a few months after the premiere of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. At the time, he was 22 years old. His character was 17.
Gabrielle Carteris — Beverly Hills, 90210
As Andrea Zuckerman on Beverly Hills, 90210, Gabrielle Cateris was charged with playing a high schooler. This image of her, from two years after the show's premiere, shows a 31-year-old Carteris. 31 years old. Playing a high schooler.
As Andrea Zuckerman on Beverly Hills, 90210, Gabrielle Cateris was charged with playing a high schooler. This image of her, from two years after the show's premiere, shows a 31-year-old Carteris. 31 years old. Playing a high schooler.
As Andrea Zuckerman on Beverly Hills, 90210, Gabrielle Cateris was charged with playing a high schooler. This image of her, from two years after the show's premiere, shows a 31-year-old Carteris. 31 years old. Playing a high schooler.
Trevor Donovan — 90210
Continuing the original 90210's tradition of hiring actors who are way too old for the characters they are playing, the reboot had Trevor Donovan, seen on the left a month short of 31, playing a high schooler. AKA he was more than a decade older than his character.
Continuing the original 90210's tradition of hiring actors who are way too old for the characters they are playing, the reboot had Trevor Donovan, seen on the left a month short of 31, playing a high schooler. AKA he was more than a decade older than his character.
Continuing the original 90210's tradition of hiring actors who are way too old for the characters they are playing, the reboot had Trevor Donovan, seen on the left a month short of 31, playing a high schooler. AKA he was more than a decade older than his character.
Troian Bellisario — Pretty Little Liars
Bellisario is 24 in the image on the left, although when Pretty Little Liars premiered around the same time, her character is in the early stages of her high school career — around 15 years old.
Bellisario is 24 in the image on the left, although when Pretty Little Liars premiered around the same time, her character is in the early stages of her high school career — around 15 years old.
Bellisario is 24 in the image on the left, although when Pretty Little Liars premiered around the same time, her character is in the early stages of her high school career — around 15 years old.
Mark Salling — Glee
When Glee premiered in 2009, Salling was 26 years old, as seen on the left. His character was a high school sophomore — age 15 or 16. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
When Glee premiered in 2009, Salling was 26 years old, as seen on the left. His character was a high school sophomore — age 15 or 16. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
When Glee premiered in 2009, Salling was 26 years old, as seen on the left. His character was a high school sophomore — age 15 or 16. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Nicholas Brendon — Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The picture on the left is Nicholas Brendon during Season 2 of Buffy, when his character was a high school junior. Normally, that's a 16- or 17-year-old. Brendon, on the other hand, was 26 when this season premiered in 1997.
The picture on the left is Nicholas Brendon during Season 2 of Buffy, when his character was a high school junior. Normally, that's a 16- or 17-year-old. Brendon, on the other hand, was 26 when this season premiered in 1997.
The picture on the left is Nicholas Brendon during Season 2 of Buffy, when his character was a high school junior. Normally, that's a 16- or 17-year-old. Brendon, on the other hand, was 26 when this season premiered in 1997.
James Van Der Beek — Dawson's Creek
Mr. Van Der Beek is pictured here in 1999, during Season 2 of Dawson's Creek, when Dawson would have been a high school sophomore — about 15 or 16. On the other hand, this picture was taken when Van Der Beek was nearly 22.
Mr. Van Der Beek is pictured here in 1999, during Season 2 of Dawson's Creek, when Dawson would have been a high school sophomore — about 15 or 16. On the other hand, this picture was taken when Van Der Beek was nearly 22.
Mr. Van Der Beek is pictured here in 1999, during Season 2 of Dawson's Creek, when Dawson would have been a high school sophomore — about 15 or 16. On the other hand, this picture was taken when Van Der Beek was nearly 22.
Aasha Davis — South of Nowhere
The picture of Aasha Davis on the left was taken in late 2007, making her about 33 years old. And yet, on South of Nowhere, which was on the air through the end of 2008, she played a teen. OK, guys.
The picture of Aasha Davis on the left was taken in late 2007, making her about 33 years old. And yet, on South of Nowhere, which was on the air through the end of 2008, she played a teen. OK, guys.
The picture of Aasha Davis on the left was taken in late 2007, making her about 33 years old. And yet, on South of Nowhere, which was on the air through the end of 2008, she played a teen. OK, guys.
Tom Welling, Smallville
On the left is a 25-year-old Tom Welling, star of Smallville, in 2002, about a year after the show premiered. His character in the show was maybe 15 years old at that point.
On the left is a 25-year-old Tom Welling, star of Smallville, in 2002, about a year after the show premiered. His character in the show was maybe 15 years old at that point.
On the left is a 25-year-old Tom Welling, star of Smallville, in 2002, about a year after the show premiered. His character in the show was maybe 15 years old at that point.
Beau Mirchoff — Awkward
The only *awkward* thing here is that this 2011 photo shows a 22-year-old Beau Mirchoff, even though his character was about 15 or so at the time.
The only *awkward* thing here is that this 2011 photo shows a 22-year-old Beau Mirchoff, even though his character was about 15 or so at the time.
The only *awkward* thing here is that this 2011 photo shows a 22-year-old Beau Mirchoff, even though his character was about 15 or so at the time.
Liza Weil — Gilmore Girls
Weil's character Paris Geller would have been a high school senior in January, 2003, when this picture of Weil was taken. Weil, alas, was 25 years old at the time, not 17 or 18.
Weil's character Paris Geller would have been a high school senior in January, 2003, when this picture of Weil was taken. Weil, alas, was 25 years old at the time, not 17 or 18.
Weil's character Paris Geller would have been a high school senior in January, 2003, when this picture of Weil was taken. Weil, alas, was 25 years old at the time, not 17 or 18.
Chad Michael Murray — One Tree Hill
Season 4 of One Tree Hill, which chronicled the end of the characters' senior year in high school, ended in June, 2007. Chad Michael Murray, however, was 25 at the time — not 18, like most graduating seniors.
Season 4 of One Tree Hill, which chronicled the end of the characters' senior year in high school, ended in June, 2007. Chad Michael Murray, however, was 25 at the time — not 18, like most graduating seniors.
Season 4 of One Tree Hill, which chronicled the end of the characters' senior year in high school, ended in June, 2007. Chad Michael Murray, however, was 25 at the time — not 18, like most graduating seniors.
Stacey Dash — Clueless
Taken the same week as the series finale of Clueless in 1999, the photo on the left shows a 32-year-old Stacey Dash. Her character on the show, however, was just graduating from high school.
Taken the same week as the series finale of Clueless in 1999, the photo on the left shows a 32-year-old Stacey Dash. Her character on the show, however, was just graduating from high school.
Taken the same week as the series finale of Clueless in 1999, the photo on the left shows a 32-year-old Stacey Dash. Her character on the show, however, was just graduating from high school.
Note: The comparison photos are stock images of teenagers, to show how different actual teenagers look from their TV counterparts.