Corbin Bleu is instantly recognizable to Disney Channel fans as Chad Danforth from the popular
High School Musical franchise.
But the actor's other on-screen appearances have been scattered and infrequent, especially
in recent years.
So what happened to Bleu's career?
Here are a few reasons Hollywood may not want to cast him anymore.
Hanging on
Outside of his tween-targeted work, Bleu's acting credits in the past decade include
small guest spots on a smattering of TV shows, from Blue Bloods to Drop Dead Diva ...
"I didn't lie at trial, and I'm not going to start now."
… as well as a regular role in 2009 on CW's short-lived The Beautiful Life alongside Mischa
Barton.
He also landed a one-season gig on soap opera One Life to Live in 2013, appeared in a few
forgettable direct-to-DVD horror movies, and did some voiceover work here and there.
So why can't he break into the A-list like some of his former High School Musical co-stars?
One reason may be that Bleu, unlike a lot of other Disney stars, has chosen not to sever
ties with his childhood work, and is still largely associated with it.
The actor has stayed connected to the High School Musical franchise, even appearing at
an audition for High School Musical 4 in 2016 to cheer on the hopeful actors.
His long-term commitment to the franchise could be leaving the door open for a potential
return in the next installment, which would definitely make fans of the original series
pretty happy.
However, returning to that role could make it even more difficult for him to break out
into more serious roles.
Reality bites
Like plenty of former stars struggling to stay in the spotlight, Bleu appeared on Dancing
With the Stars in 2013, showing off his killer moves with partner Karina Smirnoff.
He was a favorite among the judges and the fans, making his way to the finals and earning
four perfect scores.
"You killed it, you merciless assassin!"
Although he lost in the last round, Bleu was an impressive performer who demonstrated that
his moves in High School Musical were only the start of what he had to offer on the dance
floor.
It's always a plus to succeed in the world of reality show competitions, but joining
that realm often leads to more reality TV time, not to A-list opportunities.
Case in point?
Bleu participated in the Battle of the Network Stars revival in 2017, alongside fellow B-to-D-listers
such as Joey Lawrence and Tom Arnold.
Priorities
After recording two solo albums and three High School Musical soundtracks as a teen
idol, Bleu has most famously used his pipes for musical theater, which makes perfect sense,
even if it doesn't translate into Hollywood headlines.
Bleu took over the lead role in Lin Manuel Miranda's In the Heights in January 2010,
staying with the production through August of that year.
That show won three Tony Awards during its run and was also nominated for a Grammy and
a Pulitzer.
He then joined the Broadway revival of Godspell, replacing Weeds star Hunter Parrish in the
lead role from April 2012 to the show's close in June 2012.
In 2016, Bleu originated the leading role in Holiday Inn, a musical based on the 1942
Fred Astaire film of the same name.
In Spring of 2017, Bleu joined the cast of Mamma Mia! at the Hollywood Bowl.
Clearly, Bleu is happy finding consistent, challenging work on the stage, which may be
keeping him from raising his profile in Tinseltown.
But he may not mind, especially considering his amazing ...
Love life
Weddings take time and effort to plan, and Bleu said he invested plenty of both preparing
a dream wedding with his wife, actress Sasha Clements, on July 23, 2016.
Bleu told Soap Opera Digest about the special day: "She was the most stunning, beautiful
person I had ever seen in my whole life.
I almost lost it in the middle of my vows, just crying, because I was just so happy."
The duo even appeared on TLC's Say Yes to the Dress …
"It doesn't matter what you wear.
You're going to look absolutely stunning."
With a love like that, plus a thriving theater career, who needs the hassles of Hollywood?
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