The Cast ofSchool of Rock: Where Are They Now?

Mar. 15, 2025

Jack Black (center) and the cast of ‘School of Rock,’ 2003.Photo:Courtesy Everett Collection

Courtesy Everett Collection

On Oct. 3, 2003, a little movie calledSchool of Rockpremiered, encouraging all of us to rock a little harder — and not just in the classroom.

In a 2023 interview with PEOPLE, Black called the film “a love letter to all the rockerswho haven’t hit the big time but have that dream in their hearts, because there are so many out there, and it’s a testament to the dreamers.”

Ahead, catch up with the cast, then and now.

01of 14Jack Black as Dewey FinnJack Black as Dewey Finn in ‘School of Rock’; Jack Black at an event.Getty; Courtesy Everett CollectionYou probably knew him then, and you still know him now. Jack Black had endless roles under his belt — fromThe Neverending Story III(1994) toShallow Hal(2001) —when he slipped into the (stolen) substitute teacher uniform of dejected rock star Dewey Finn.“I was really taking inspiration from my stepfather, because he was a substitute teacher,” Black once told PEOPLE. “He did bring some rap music and different elements to his teaching style. And I just always thought he was so funny and interesting and quirky.“In the decades sinceSchool of Rockpremiered,Black has continued his string of comedy hits, voicing Bowser inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie(2023), Po inKung Fu Panda 4(2024) and Claptrap inBorderlands(2024).Offscreen, he rocks out withKyle Gassas part of the bandTenacious D. In 2006, he wedTanya Haden, with whom he shares sonsSammy and Tommy.In an April 2023 interview, Black shared that theSchool of Rockcast was planning to reunite to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary. In various interviews through the years, too, the film’s former child stars have spoken fondly of their former “teacher” and how he’s stayed in their lives in the two decades since filming.While a sequel has been long-awaited but unconfirmed, Black did joke about a potential follow-up to the hit film during aMarch 2024 interview with JOE. When asked about the prospective sequel, the actor responded, “I’m ready.”“I wish there’d be aSchool of Rock 2: Electric Boogaloo,” he quipped, playing on the title of the dance musicalBreakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo(1984).

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Jack Black as Dewey Finn

Jack Black as Dewey Finn in ‘School of Rock’; Jack Black at an event.Getty; Courtesy Everett Collection

Getty; Courtesy Everett Collection

You probably knew him then, and you still know him now. Jack Black had endless roles under his belt — fromThe Neverending Story III(1994) toShallow Hal(2001) —when he slipped into the (stolen) substitute teacher uniform of dejected rock star Dewey Finn.

“I was really taking inspiration from my stepfather, because he was a substitute teacher,” Black once told PEOPLE. “He did bring some rap music and different elements to his teaching style. And I just always thought he was so funny and interesting and quirky.”

In the decades sinceSchool of Rockpremiered,Black has continued his string of comedy hits, voicing Bowser inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie(2023), Po inKung Fu Panda 4(2024) and Claptrap inBorderlands(2024).Offscreen, he rocks out withKyle Gassas part of the bandTenacious D. In 2006, he wedTanya Haden, with whom he shares sonsSammy and Tommy.

In an April 2023 interview, Black shared that theSchool of Rockcast was planning to reunite to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary. In various interviews through the years, too, the film’s former child stars have spoken fondly of their former “teacher” and how he’s stayed in their lives in the two decades since filming.

While a sequel has been long-awaited but unconfirmed, Black did joke about a potential follow-up to the hit film during aMarch 2024 interview with JOE. When asked about the prospective sequel, the actor responded, “I’m ready.”

“I wish there’d be aSchool of Rock 2: Electric Boogaloo,” he quipped, playing on the title of the dance musicalBreakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo(1984).

02of 14Joan Cusack as Rosalie MullinsJoan Cusack as Rosalie Mullins in ‘School of Rock’; Joan Cusack on the red carpet.Getty; Courtesy Everett CollectionLike Jack Black, Joan Cusack was quite well known (and had twoOscarnominations to her name) when she landed the role of uptight principal Rosalie Mullins inSchool of Rock(as casting director Ilene Stargerrevealed to Paramounton the film’s 15th anniversary in 2018, she didn’t even have to audition). Her earlier credits includedSixteen Candles(1984),Saturday Night Live,Working Girl(1988),Toy Story 2(1999) and her ABC series,What About Joan.She’s stayed busy since starring inSchool of Rock, appearing on shows likeThe Office,A Series of Unfortunate EventsandHomecoming.She also picked up fiveEmmynominations for her recurring role onShameless, winning outstanding guest actress in a comedy series.Sister of actorJohn Cusack, the comedian is married to Richard Burke, with whom she has two children.

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Joan Cusack as Rosalie Mullins

Joan Cusack as Rosalie Mullins in ‘School of Rock’; Joan Cusack on the red carpet.Getty; Courtesy Everett Collection

Like Jack Black, Joan Cusack was quite well known (and had twoOscarnominations to her name) when she landed the role of uptight principal Rosalie Mullins inSchool of Rock(as casting director Ilene Stargerrevealed to Paramounton the film’s 15th anniversary in 2018, she didn’t even have to audition). Her earlier credits includedSixteen Candles(1984),Saturday Night Live,Working Girl(1988),Toy Story 2(1999) and her ABC series,What About Joan.

She’s stayed busy since starring inSchool of Rock, appearing on shows likeThe Office,A Series of Unfortunate EventsandHomecoming.She also picked up fiveEmmynominations for her recurring role onShameless, winning outstanding guest actress in a comedy series.Sister of actorJohn Cusack, the comedian is married to Richard Burke, with whom she has two children.

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Mike White as Ned Schneebly

Mike White as Ned Schneebly in ‘School of Rock’; Mike White on the red carpet.Getty; Courtesy Everett Collection

Mike White both wrote and co-starred in the film, flexing the skills he’d developed onDawson’s Creek(for which he also wrote) and 2000’sChuck & Buck(in which he acted). His character, Ned Schneebly, was supposed to be substituting … until Dewey impersonated him and stepped in.

As he recalled to Paramount on the film’s 15th anniversary in 2018, “Jack was my next-door neighbor … and he would occasionally give me scripts that had been submitted to him to star in. They were invariably these flat comedies or he was like the John Belushi guy who gets drunk and falls through a sliding glass door or something.”

He continued, “I’m reading these scripts, and I was like, ‘I could do better than this.’ Obviously, music is a big passion of his; he has his band Tenacious D. I had the idea of him leading a band of little kids — somehow it just seemed like a funny visual. Then I got the idea that it would be fun to have him be more of a W.C. Fields a little bit, like a guy who isn’t really somebody you’d want around kids, but that’s part of the fun of it.”

White isan out bisexual. In 2021, hetoldEntertainment Weeklythat he and his boyfriend, Josh, had been living on the island of Kauai together with their pet bulldog, Peanut.

04of 14Sarah Silverman as Patty Di MarcoSarah Silverman as Patty Di Marco in ‘School of Rock’; Sarah Silverman on the red carpet.Getty; Courtesy Everett CollectionAccording to casting director Ilene Starger,Tina Feyauditioned for the role that would go toSarah Silverman, who was “hilarious” when she read for Ned’s beleaguered girlfriend, Patty Di Marco.“It was fun to play a character like that,” Silverman latertoldE! News. “I wanted to be a part of the movie more than anything, and this combination of Jack Black and Mike White, [director] Richard Linklater and Joan Cusack, I would’ve taken an eraser on [the] chalkboard.“Like her young costars, the two-time Emmy winner basically hasn’t stopped moving, leading her own sitcom (Sarah Silverman Program)and appearing in films likeBattle of the Sexes(2017),Ralph Breaks the Internet(2018), andMaestro(2023). In 2022, Silverman’s memoir,The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee, made its world premiere onstage as an Off-Broadway musical.

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Sarah Silverman as Patty Di Marco

Sarah Silverman as Patty Di Marco in ‘School of Rock’; Sarah Silverman on the red carpet.Getty; Courtesy Everett Collection

According to casting director Ilene Starger,Tina Feyauditioned for the role that would go toSarah Silverman, who was “hilarious” when she read for Ned’s beleaguered girlfriend, Patty Di Marco.

“It was fun to play a character like that,” Silverman latertoldE! News. “I wanted to be a part of the movie more than anything, and this combination of Jack Black and Mike White, [director] Richard Linklater and Joan Cusack, I would’ve taken an eraser on [the] chalkboard.”

Like her young costars, the two-time Emmy winner basically hasn’t stopped moving, leading her own sitcom (Sarah Silverman Program)and appearing in films likeBattle of the Sexes(2017),Ralph Breaks the Internet(2018), andMaestro(2023). In 2022, Silverman’s memoir,The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee, made its world premiere onstage as an Off-Broadway musical.

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Miranda Cosgrove as Summer “Tinkerbell” Hathaway

Miranda Cosgrove as Summer ‘Tinkerbell’ Hathaway in ‘School of Rock’; Miranda Cosgrove on the red carpet.Getty; Courtesy Everett Collection

School of RockwasMiranda Cosgrove’s big break. As class perfectionist Summer, she ultimately became the band manager.

Speaking to PEOPLE ahead of the film’s 20th anniversary in June 2023, the actress credited Jack Black as to why there were good vibes on set.

“He’s always been unbelievably nice,” she shared. “And I can honestly say one of the main reasons I love acting, and why I probably tried to keep doing it for so long, is because of what a great experience he made doingSchool of Rock.”

Apart from appearing in movies likeYours, Mine & Ours(2005),The Intruders(2015) andMother of the Bride(2024), Cosgrove has become most notable for voicing the character Margo in theDespicable Mefilm franchise.

AfteriCarlywrapped in 2012, Cosgrove took a break from acting to attend the University of Southern California, where she studied psychology after switching her major three times,according toSeventeenmagazine.

She returned to acting in 2016, joining the cast ofCrowded, and later starred on and executive produced aniCarlyrevivalfrom 2021 to 2023.

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Angelo Massagli as Frankie “Tough Guy”

Angelo Massagli as Frankie ‘Tough Guy’ in ‘School of Rock’; Angelo Massagli and Caitlin Hale posing together.Getty; Angelo Massagli Instagram

Getty; Angelo Massagli Instagram

In 2021, his name was in the news again, but not for acting — it’s because fans discovered he has beendatingSchool of Rockcostar Caitlin Halesince 2016. MassaglitoldInside Editionthat several years prior he learned Hale was moving to Florida, where he was living at the time.

“We have a group chatwhere all theSchool of Rockkids, we just hit each other up whenever someone moves somewhere new or is doing something different,” Massagli said.

“The rest is history,” Hale said, adding of their relationship, “This is locked down. Yes. This is it.”

Massagli largely left acting after the film, save for a recurring role onThe Sopranosfrom 2002 to 2007.

According to his LinkedIn page, the former actor is an admitted New York state attorney and has worked as a music product counsel at TikTok since October 2023.

He graduatedmagna cum laudefrom Northeastern University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature. He earned his juris doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law in 2019.

07of 14Caitlin Hale as Marta “Blondie"Caitlin Hale as Marta ‘Blondie’ in ‘School of Rock; Angelo Massagli and Caitlin Hale posing together.Getty; Angelo Massagli InstagramSave for two episodes ofBlue’s Clues,School of Rock— in which she sang lead vocals — was Caitlin Hale’s only acting credit.However, the film’s audition introduced Hale to her future costar (and now partner) Massagli, who recalled meeting her for the first time in a joint interview withInside Editionin 2021.“I get in there and the little blonde girl next to me, she gets called in first, and she starts singing show tunes and just blows the roof off the place. It was excellent,” Massagli shared.According to her website, Hale graduatedcum laudein 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She works as an OB-GYN sonographer,per her Instagram bio.

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Caitlin Hale as Marta “Blondie”

Caitlin Hale as Marta ‘Blondie’ in ‘School of Rock; Angelo Massagli and Caitlin Hale posing together.Getty; Angelo Massagli Instagram

Save for two episodes ofBlue’s Clues,School of Rock— in which she sang lead vocals — was Caitlin Hale’s only acting credit.

However, the film’s audition introduced Hale to her future costar (and now partner) Massagli, who recalled meeting her for the first time in a joint interview withInside Editionin 2021.

“I get in there and the little blonde girl next to me, she gets called in first, and she starts singing show tunes and just blows the roof off the place. It was excellent,” Massagli shared.

According to her website, Hale graduatedcum laudein 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She works as an OB-GYN sonographer,per her Instagram bio.

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Maryam Hassan as Tomika “Songbird”

Maryam Hassan as Tomika ‘Songbird’ in ‘School of Rock’; Maryam Hassan performing.Getty; Courtesy Everett Collection

As her nickname implied, Maryam Hassan sang lead vocals in the film, and like many of her young costars, she hadn’t worked in Hollywood beforeSchool of Rock.

She left movie-making soon after for music, and now performs as Mayhrenate,

09of 14Robert Tsai as Lawrence “Mr. Cool"Robert Tsai as Lawrence ‘Mr. Cool’ in ‘School of Rock’; Robert Tsai speaking at an event.Getty; Courtesy Everett CollectionMuch like his fellow young costars, pianist Robert Tsai had little acting experience beforeSchool of Rock— and little after. (Per Hassan’sVultureinterview, the casting directors looked for kids with musical experience, not necessarily robust acting résumés.)According toEntertainment Weekly,Tsai, who hasn’t acted since the film’s release, further pursued his musical passions at Dartmouth College, where heperformed concertsand “continued to kill it on the keys.”

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Robert Tsai as Lawrence “Mr. Cool”

Robert Tsai as Lawrence ‘Mr. Cool’ in ‘School of Rock’; Robert Tsai speaking at an event.Getty; Courtesy Everett Collection

Much like his fellow young costars, pianist Robert Tsai had little acting experience beforeSchool of Rock— and little after. (Per Hassan’sVultureinterview, the casting directors looked for kids with musical experience, not necessarily robust acting résumés.)

According toEntertainment Weekly,Tsai, who hasn’t acted since the film’s release, further pursued his musical passions at Dartmouth College, where heperformed concertsand “continued to kill it on the keys.”

10of 14Aleisha Allen as Alicia “Brace Face"Aleisha Allen as Alicia ‘Brace Face’ in ‘School of Rock’; Aleisha Allen on the red carpet.Getty; Courtesy Everett CollectionAleisha Allen played Alicia, another of the band’s star vocalists. Already busy with work onBlue’s Cluesand other kids’ programs prior toSchool of Rock,Allen stuck with acting, joining the casts ofAre We There Yet?(2005),Are We Done Yet?(2007) andYoung Adult(2011).The former child star has been working as a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) since 2017,according to her Expressable profile. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication science and disorders from Pace University and a master’s degree in the same field from Columbia University.

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Aleisha Allen as Alicia “Brace Face”

Aleisha Allen as Alicia ‘Brace Face’ in ‘School of Rock’; Aleisha Allen on the red carpet.Getty; Courtesy Everett Collection

Aleisha Allen played Alicia, another of the band’s star vocalists. Already busy with work onBlue’s Cluesand other kids’ programs prior toSchool of Rock,Allen stuck with acting, joining the casts ofAre We There Yet?(2005),Are We Done Yet?(2007) andYoung Adult(2011).

The former child star has been working as a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) since 2017,according to her Expressable profile. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication science and disorders from Pace University and a master’s degree in the same field from Columbia University.

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Rivkah Reyes as Katie “Posh Spice”

Rivkah Reyes as Katie ‘Posh Spice’ in ‘School of Rock’; Rivkah Reyes on the red carpet.Getty; Courtesy Everett Collection

School of Rockwas Rivkah Reyes' first role, and while they have happy memories from portraying bassist Katie, the years that followed weren’t easy for them.

As Reyestold theNew York Postin 2021, they “felt unsafe existing” because many grown men sexualized them, with many commenting on message boards how they couldn’t “wait ‘til she’s 18.”

Feeling pressured to land bigger roles than “the girl fromSchool of Rock” compounded their anxiety about not being able to find success after the film. Despite the film’s cult following, Reyes experienced bullying at school and wished for another major part that would make people “stop calling [me] Katie.”

Reyes described themself to thePostas “a raging addict” from age 14 to 24. They eventually dealt with “a lot demons” and became sober in 2017.

Fans will be happy to know that Reyes still shares their musical gifts with the world,posting song coversandsharing original musicon social media.

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Brian Falduto as Billy “Fancy Pants”

Brian Falduto as Billy ‘Fancy Pants’ in ‘School of Rock’; Brian Falduto on the red carpet.Getty; Courtesy Everett Collection

Twenty years afterSchool of Rock, Brian Falduto, who played band stylist Billy, remembered his audition in a 2023 interview with PEOPLE.

Like many of his young costars, Falduto has also entered the music business. In 2023, the up-and-coming country singer released his debut album,Gay Country, as a testament to his owning his sexuality after being ridiculed for his character’s “flamboyant, eccentric” personality.

“People seek to label something they don’t understand, and this was 2003. There wasn’t a lot of queer representation, so I think people just instantly labeled me gay,” Falduto told PEOPLE. “I didn’t even know what being gay was other than that you didn’t want to be called it.”

Though he didn’t act much afterSchool of Rock,according to his LinkedIn page,he graduated from Wagner College in 2014 with degrees in theater performance and arts administration. Falduto has worked as a mental health coach at Lyra Health since December 2021.

13of 14Joey Gaydos Jr. as Zack “Zack-Attack"Joey Gaydos Jr. as Zack ‘Zack-Attack’ in ‘School of Rock’; Joey Gaydos Jr. on the red carpet.Getty; Courtesy Everett CollectionJoey Gaydos Jr.’s string skills helped him step into the role of lead guitarist Joey, his lone acting role.In 2019, the former actor was arrested in Florida for stealing guitars from different stores across several different days,Varietyreported. He faced charges of grand theft and shoplifting.Since then, he’s continued to use music as a form of artistic expression, havingreleased multiple projectsavailable for streaming on Spotify, including 2024’sCat in the WindowandMoth Week.

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Joey Gaydos Jr. as Zack “Zack-Attack”

Joey Gaydos Jr. as Zack ‘Zack-Attack’ in ‘School of Rock’; Joey Gaydos Jr. on the red carpet.Getty; Courtesy Everett Collection

Joey Gaydos Jr.’s string skills helped him step into the role of lead guitarist Joey, his lone acting role.

In 2019, the former actor was arrested in Florida for stealing guitars from different stores across several different days,Varietyreported. He faced charges of grand theft and shoplifting.

Since then, he’s continued to use music as a form of artistic expression, havingreleased multiple projectsavailable for streaming on Spotify, including 2024’sCat in the WindowandMoth Week.

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Kevin Clark as Freddy “Spazzy McGee” Jones

Kevin Clark as Freddy ‘Spazzy McGee’ Jones in ‘School of Rock’; Kevin Clark at an event.Getty; Courtesy Everett Collection

School of Rockwas the first and only film for Kevin Clark, who portrayed drummer Freddy Jones. He went on to find his footing in music, performing with bands including Jessie Bess and the Intentions.

Miranda Cosgroveechoed the sentimenton Instagram, calling him an “amazing soul.”

“I’ll always remember your spirit and how kind you were to me,” she added. “I’ll never forget all the memories.”

Rivkah Reyeswrote on Twitter(now X): “Love you forever, spaz. I will never forget your hugs and your laugh and the sheer joy on your face when we’d run into each other in Chicago. Thank you for always showing up for me with that ‘big brother I never had’ energy.”

Paris C.

source: people.com