What Happened to the Wizards of Waverly Place Cast? Where Are They Now?

From Selena Gomez’s breakout role to a new generation of Russo wizards, here’s where the beloved Disney Channel cast has ended up.

August 12, 2026: Before Selena Gomez became a Grammy-nominated recording artist, Emmy-nominated actress and beauty entrepreneur, she was Alex Russo—the mischievous teenage wizard who could turn an ordinary day in New York City into complete magical chaos.

Wizards of Waverly Place premiered on Disney Channel in 2007 and became one of the network’s defining shows of the late 2000s. The series followed Alex, her older brother Justin and younger brother Max as they learned to control their magical abilities while growing up in the Russo family.

The original series ran for four seasons and ended in 2012. But the story did not completely disappear.

In 2024, Disney introduced Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, bringing David Henrie back as Justin Russo and eventually bringing several familiar faces into the new story. The revival’s third and final season concluded with a four-part finale event in August 2026.

HOLR breaks down what happened to the original Wizards of Waverly Place cast and where they are now.

Selena Gomez as Alex Russo

Selena Gomez’s career changed dramatically after Wizards of Waverly Place.

As Alex Russo, Gomez became one of Disney Channel’s biggest young stars. After the series ended, she successfully moved into music, film, television and business.

She released several solo projects, including Stars Dance, Revival and Rare, while also developing an acting career outside Disney. Her role as Mabel Mora in Only Murders in the Building introduced her to an adult audience and earned her major award recognition.

Gomez also founded Rare Beauty, which became one of the most recognizable celebrity-founded beauty brands.

But Alex Russo has remained an important part of her story.

Gomez returned to the character for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, where she served as an executive producer and guest-starred. She also made her directorial debut with the revival’s third-season premiere.

Her return demonstrated that she does not view her Disney years as something she needs to leave behind.

Instead, Alex has become one chapter in a much bigger career.

David Henrie as Justin Russo

David Henrie played Justin Russo, Alex’s older brother and the responsible sibling who usually tried to keep his family’s magical adventures under control.

After the original series, Henrie continued acting and expanded into writing, directing and producing.

He eventually returned to the Russo family in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, this time as an adult Justin who had stepped away from magic and was raising his own family.

The revival gave Henrie an opportunity to play the character at a completely different stage of life.

He also became an executive producer on the continuation alongside Gomez. Disney describes the new series as a continuation of the original story, with Justin serving as a mentor to Billie, a young wizard played by Janice LeAnn Brown.

With the third season now finished, Henrie has also discussed the possibility of continuing the franchise in another form, although no future project should be treated as officially confirmed unless Disney announces it.

Jake T. Austin as Max Russo

Jake T. Austin played Max Russo, the youngest Russo sibling.

Max was often the comic relief of the family, known for his goofy personality and unpredictable magical experiments.

After Wizards of Waverly Place, Austin continued acting and became known for roles including Jesus Adams Foster on The Fosters. He also provided voice work, including the character Jaime Reyes, better known as Blue Beetle, in animated DC projects.

However, Austin’s career has been much quieter than Gomez’s or Henrie’s.

That became particularly noticeable when Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premiered without him as a regular cast member.

In August 2026, Austin spoke publicly about not being included in the revival’s final chapter. He said he was disappointed that he did not get the opportunity to return as Max, explaining that he had been eager to reprise the role.

For longtime fans, Max remains an important part of the original Russo family, even though Austin did not participate in the revival.

Jennifer Stone as Harper Finkle

Jennifer Stone played Harper Finkle, Alex’s loyal best friend.

Harper was one of the show’s most recognizable supporting characters, known for her colorful fashion choices and unwavering friendship with Alex.

Stone’s life after Disney took a particularly unexpected direction.

She continued acting but also pursued nursing, eventually earning her nursing degree. She worked as an emergency room nurse, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rather than completely abandoning acting, Stone has balanced both careers.

That became especially clear in 2026 when she returned as Harper in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Stone recently thanked fans for supporting her return to acting while she continues working ER shifts.

Her journey is one of the most interesting examples of a former child star building a life outside entertainment while still maintaining a connection to the character fans remember.

Maria Canals-Barrera as Theresa Russo

Maria Canals-Barrera played Theresa Russo, the human mother of Alex, Justin and Max.

Theresa was the grounded parent in a family where magic was constantly creating problems. Her reactions often provided some of the show’s funniest moments.

After Wizards of Waverly Place, Canals-Barrera continued working consistently in television and voice acting.

Her credits include projects such as Cristela, Fuller House, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder and The Morning Show.

She also returned as Theresa in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, giving the revival another connection to the original Russo family. Disney confirmed her appearance as part of the third-season finale event.

Canals-Barrera has therefore remained a familiar face in television while continuing to expand her résumé beyond the Disney Channel.

David DeLuise as Jerry Russo

David DeLuise played Jerry Russo, the children’s father and former wizard.

Jerry served as the family’s magical teacher and often tried to keep his children’s powers—and their arguments—under control.

DeLuise continued acting after the show ended, appearing in television projects including This Is Us and That ’90s Show.

He also remained connected to the Wizards fan community through the Wizards of Waverly Pod podcast with Jennifer Stone.

DeLuise has made appearances in the revival franchise as well, although he was not part of the main cast of the final season.

Gregg Sulkin as Mason Greyback

Gregg Sulkin joined Wizards of Waverly Place as Mason Greyback, Alex’s werewolf boyfriend.

The character became a significant part of Alex’s romantic storyline and remains one of the show’s most remembered supporting characters.

Sulkin continued acting after the series, appearing in projects including Faking It, Runaways and other film and television productions.

In 2026, he returned as Mason for the Wizards Beyond Waverly Place finale event. Disney specifically highlighted his return alongside Jennifer Stone’s Harper and Maria Canals-Barrera’s Theresa.

His return gave fans another nostalgic connection to the original series.

The Russo Family Has Changed, But the Magic Remains

The most interesting part of looking back at the Wizards of Waverly Place cast is seeing how differently their careers developed.

Selena Gomez became a global entertainer and entrepreneur.

David Henrie continued acting while moving into producing and directing.

Jake T. Austin largely stepped away from the center of mainstream Hollywood.

Jennifer Stone built a second career in nursing while returning to acting.

Maria Canals-Barrera remained active across television and voice work.

David DeLuise continued acting and stayed connected to the franchise.

Gregg Sulkin developed an extensive television and film résumé and eventually returned as Mason.

Their paths could hardly be more different.

Why Wizards of Waverly Place Still Has a Special Place in Pop Culture

The show’s longevity is not only about magic.

At its heart, Wizards of Waverly Place was about siblings growing up, competing with one another and learning that family mattered more than winning the wizard competition.

That emotional foundation helped the series remain popular long after its original finale.

Disney’s decision to continue the story with Wizards Beyond Waverly Place also showed that the characters still had an audience. According to Disney, the revival accumulated more than 101 million views on Disney Channel’s YouTube content through February 2026 and performed strongly among several youth and young-adult audiences.

The revival has now reached its conclusion, but the original series remains available for fans who want to revisit the Russo family’s earliest adventures.

HOLR breaks down where the Wizards of Waverly Place cast is now, and their journeys show that childhood fame does not have to define an entire career.

Some stars became global celebrities.

Others chose quieter paths.

Some returned to their original characters decades later.

And for fans who grew up watching Alex, Justin, Max and Harper, seeing those characters again offers something especially nostalgic: a chance to revisit a little piece of the Disney Channel era that helped shape their childhoods.

FAQs

When did Wizards of Waverly Place end?

The original series ended in 2012 after four seasons on Disney Channel.

What happened to Selena Gomez after Wizards of Waverly Place?

Selena Gomez became a successful recording artist and actress, launched Rare Beauty and starred as Mabel Mora in Only Murders in the Building. She also returned as Alex Russo in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.

Did the original cast return for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place?

Several original cast members returned, including Selena Gomez, Jennifer Stone, Maria Canals-Barrera and Gregg Sulkin. David Henrie returned as a main cast member. Jake T. Austin did not return and recently discussed his disappointment about being excluded.

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