From Mouseketeer to Movie Star: Ryan Gosling’s OMG Disney Beginnings You Totally Forgot About!
Okay people lets spill the tea! We are all living in a post Barbie world and we are absolutely obsessed with Ryan Gosling’s Kenergy. From his Oscar nominated performance as the perfectly plastic Ken to his iconic roles in The Notebook and La La Land Gosling is the definition of Hollywood A list. But hold on to your popcorn because we are about to take a trip back in time.
Before he was wooing Rachel McAdams in the rain or singing about being just Ken he was a kid with a dream and some seriously cool oversized 90s jackets. Get ready because we are diving deep into Ryan Gosling’s Disney beginnings on the one and only Mickey Mouse Club. This is the ultimate throwback!
A Canadian Kid's Disney Dream
Can you even picture it? A 12 year old Ryan Gosling from Cornwall Ontario dreaming of trading in hockey skates for mouse ears. It sounds like a movie plot but for real this was his life. Back in the early 90s The All New Mickey Mouse Club was THE place to be for any aspiring young performer. It was basically the Hollywood bootcamp for future superstars.
Gosling saw an open audition in Montreal and begged his mom to take him. Beating out thousands of other hopefuls our favorite Canadian kid landed a coveted spot on the show for its 1993 season. He packed his bags and headed to Orlando Florida ready to become a full fledged Mouseketeer. Talk about a glow up!
Welcome to the Club The Most Stacked Cast EVER
Now lets get to the really juicy stuff. This wasn't just any kids show. The cast of the 90s Mickey Mouse Club was seriously legendary. Forget the Avengers this was the OG super-team of future pop culture icons.
For two years from 1993 to 1995 Gosling performed in skits and musical numbers right alongside some people you might have heard of. We’re talking about the future princess of pop Britney Spears the powerhouse vocalist Christina Aguilera and a curly haired kid who would bring sexy back Justin Timberlake. And that’s not all! Future NSYNC member JC Chasez and Felicity star Keri Russell were also part of this ridiculously talented crew.
While Ryan appeared in 13 episodes he has hilariously admitted he wasn't exactly the star of the show. He once said that the other kids were such incredible singers and dancers that the producers didn't quite know what to do with him. It's wild to think that the man who would later dance his way to an Oscar nomination was once in the background of a Britney and Christina duet but it just makes his journey even more amazing.
The OG Hollywood Bromance with Justin Timberlake
The Disney connection gets even better. During his second year on the show Gosling's mom had to return to Canada for work. So who stepped in? None other than Justin Timberlake's mom Lynn Harless who became his legal guardian for about six months.
That’s right Ryan Gosling and Justin Timberlake lived together! They were like brothers causing trouble at Universal Studios and talking about their dreams. This was the ultimate 90s nostalgia bromance before bromances were even a thing. They were two kids with insane talent who would go on to rule Hollywood and the music industry. We are SO here for this origin story.
The Glow Up From Mouse Ears to Movie Roles
After the Mickey Mouse Club ended its magical run in 1995 Ryan didn't just disappear. He used that Disney platform as a launchpad. He honed his acting skills in shows like Breaker High and Young Hercules yes he played the demigod himself!
But it was his heart stopping role as Noah in 2004s The Notebook that officially turned him from a former child star into a global movie star and Hollywood's number one heartthrob. The rest as they say is history. From intense dramas like Drive to musical masterpieces like La La Land and now his iconic role as Ken Gosling has proven he has incredible range and staying power.
From a little kid dancing in a letterman jacket on a Disney stage to a bona fide movie star Ryan Gosling’s journey is pure Hollywood magic. It proves that sometimes the biggest dreams start with a pair of mouse ears. We just cant get enough of it!
By: koalafriend
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