High School Musical’s Chris Warren Shares 5 Things You Never Knew About the Iconic Disney Movies (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens and Chris Warren.Photo:DISNEY CHANNEL/FRED HAYES

DISNEY CHANNEL/FRED HAYES

Chris Warren is looking back on his time as a Wildcat.The actor, 34, appeared as Zeke Baylor in all threeHigh School Musicalfilms starting with the first Disney Channel movie in 2006. Now — nearly 20 years later — the actor just wrapped filming season eight of Tyler Perry’sSistasand is a proud father to his two children, whom he shares with wife Layla Warren.Though its been many years since he hung up his Wildcats jersey, Warren took a trip down memory lane with PEOPLE during a recent chat and revealed five secrets even the biggestHigh School Musicalfans might not know.

Chris Warren is looking back on his time as a Wildcat.

The actor, 34, appeared as Zeke Baylor in all threeHigh School Musicalfilms starting with the first Disney Channel movie in 2006. Now — nearly 20 years later — the actor just wrapped filming season eight of Tyler Perry’sSistasand is a proud father to his two children, whom he shares with wife Layla Warren.

Though its been many years since he hung up his Wildcats jersey, Warren took a trip down memory lane with PEOPLE during a recent chat and revealed five secrets even the biggestHigh School Musicalfans might not know.

01of 05

There’s a Reason Zeke’s Voice in the First ‘High School Musical’ Sounded Familiar

Zac Efron, Drew Seeley and Chris Warren.Getty(3)

Getty(3)

While it iswell documented that Drew Seeley was the the singing voice behind Troy Bolton’s epic solosin the firstHigh School Musicalfilm, Warren saysZac Efronwas not the only one whose voice was dubbed.

“Drew Seeley was Zac’s, mine, and I think someone else’s as well,” Warren recalls to PEOPLE.

Warren had previously starred in the national tour ofThe Lion King,so for the second and third films, he and Efron sang their own parts.

“I got onHigh School Musical2 and 3 soundtrack, which I was very proud of just because it was such a cool thing to do and I wanted to do it properly. You know? So I was glad I got to do that,” he says.

02of 05

Chris Warren Originally Auditioned for Chad in High School Musical

Corbin Bleu and Chris Warren.Disney Chan/Everett/Shutterstock

Disney Chan/Everett/Shutterstock

“I go to the callback and they tell me, ‘Wow, you’re taller than we thought you were,'” Warren remembers. “I’m like, 5-ft.-10.5-in., but I’m 15, so I guess for a 15-year-old maybe that’s tall.”

He ended up coming back a week later to read for Zeke, “a tall basketball player that likes to bake.”

“I go in, there’s like 20 people in this room, I do my bit. I say my ‘creme brûlée.’ That was a wrap,” he says, referencing his character’s famous line.

03of 05The Most Challenging Dance Number to Learn Was “Night to Remember” in HSM 3Chris Warren and Ashley Tisdale in ‘High School Musical 3’.DisneyThough all three films had their share of intricate choreography (just ask Efron about “Get’cha Head in the Game”) Warren remembers one song in particular that was the toughest for the cast to learn.“As far as challenging, Kenny [Ortega] and Chucky [Klapow] were such great choreographers that they made everything easy,” he says. “But I remember forthe prom number inHigh School Musical 3, it was partner dancing and waltzing, and I never waltzed before.““So it was cool learning withAshley [Tisdale,]” he says of the actress who played Zeke’s crush, Sharpay Evans. “We both had to learn how to waltz together, so that was a really fun experience, learning a new dance style.”

03of 05

The Most Challenging Dance Number to Learn Was “Night to Remember” in HSM 3

Chris Warren and Ashley Tisdale in ‘High School Musical 3’.Disney

Disney

Though all three films had their share of intricate choreography (just ask Efron about “Get’cha Head in the Game”) Warren remembers one song in particular that was the toughest for the cast to learn.

“As far as challenging, Kenny [Ortega] and Chucky [Klapow] were such great choreographers that they made everything easy,” he says. “But I remember forthe prom number inHigh School Musical 3, it was partner dancing and waltzing, and I never waltzed before.”

“So it was cool learning withAshley [Tisdale,]” he says of the actress who played Zeke’s crush, Sharpay Evans. “We both had to learn how to waltz together, so that was a really fun experience, learning a new dance style.”

04of 05Someone Crashed a Golf Cart on the Set of ‘High School Musical 2’Lucas Grabeel, Ashley Tisdale and Chris Warren in ‘High School Musical 2’.Disney/Everett/ShutterstockWhen thinking back to his time on set, Warren says he remembers one incident on the set ofHigh School Musical 2, which was shot at a resort n St. George, Utah.“We played golf,” he remembered of the set, which he described as “like a vacation.” “And some of them had a golf cart and they crashed the golf cart. I remember that. I wasn’t there for that, but that happened.“Who was the cart-crashing culprit? Warren claims he can’t recall.

04of 05

Someone Crashed a Golf Cart on the Set of ‘High School Musical 2’

Lucas Grabeel, Ashley Tisdale and Chris Warren in ‘High School Musical 2’.Disney/Everett/Shutterstock

Disney/Everett/Shutterstock

When thinking back to his time on set, Warren says he remembers one incident on the set ofHigh School Musical 2, which was shot at a resort n St. George, Utah.

“We played golf,” he remembered of the set, which he described as “like a vacation.” “And some of them had a golf cart and they crashed the golf cart. I remember that. I wasn’t there for that, but that happened.”

Who was the cart-crashing culprit? Warren claims he can’t recall.

05of 05The Cast Got Disneyland All to Themselves For a Special VisitThe cast of High School Musical 2 and director/choreographer Kenny Ortega at the premiere of ‘High School Musical 2’ at Disneyland in 2007.Steve Granitz/WireImageAs members of one of Disney Channel’s biggest franchises, it’s no surprise that there were some perks that came along with that title.While the exact timeframe is a bit fuzzy all these years later, Warren remembers a time — likely ahead of theHigh School Musical 2premiere — where the cast got to have Disneyland all to themselves.“They emptied the entire park for the cast ofHigh School Musicalto just enjoy the day at Disneyland,” he says.“My first time going to Disneyland I got to have the entire park empty and I got to go with all our castmates and just ride the same rides over again,” he says. “And then they did the fireworks and it was just us there … I’ll always remember that that was such a magical thing.”

05of 05

The Cast Got Disneyland All to Themselves For a Special Visit

The cast of High School Musical 2 and director/choreographer Kenny Ortega at the premiere of ‘High School Musical 2’ at Disneyland in 2007.Steve Granitz/WireImage

Steve Granitz/WireImage

As members of one of Disney Channel’s biggest franchises, it’s no surprise that there were some perks that came along with that title.

While the exact timeframe is a bit fuzzy all these years later, Warren remembers a time — likely ahead of theHigh School Musical 2premiere — where the cast got to have Disneyland all to themselves.

“They emptied the entire park for the cast ofHigh School Musicalto just enjoy the day at Disneyland,” he says.

“My first time going to Disneyland I got to have the entire park empty and I got to go with all our castmates and just ride the same rides over again,” he says. “And then they did the fireworks and it was just us there … I’ll always remember that that was such a magical thing.”

source: people.com