Former Disney Channel Star Admits Lying About Age to Secure Role Opposite Miley Cyrus
A former Disney Channel actor has confessed to fabricating his age in order to land a pivotal role alongside Miley Cyrus in the iconic series Hannah Montana. Jason Earles, who portrayed Cyrus's older brother Jackson Stewart, recently disclosed that he was actually 28 years old when he auditioned for the part of a 16-year-old character.
The Audition Deception
During the inaugural episode of the Best of Both Worlds podcast, Earles recounted the elaborate ruse he orchestrated to secure the role. "I was desperately afraid that I was going to be fired and recast because I had a big secret," Earles revealed. "When I auditioned for the show, I lied to them and told them I was 18 years old."
Interestingly, the casting director, Lisa London, was complicit in the deception. Earles explained, "She was like, 'Hey, I know you're 19,' because I had lied to her in a different audition. And she was like, 'Would you be okay, when you go in there, would you lie and tell them that you're 18?' I was like, 'I think I can do that.'"
On-Set Secrets and Network Confrontation
The truth remained hidden for an extended period, with Earles noting that most of the cast and crew only discovered his real age "halfway through the first season." Writer-producer Douglas Danger Lieblein confirmed this timeline, stating, "I didn't find out until episode eight, and I think the network found out later than I did."
Eventually, a network executive confronted Earles about the discrepancy. "I remember one of the higher-up network executives showed up on show night and was like, 'Hey, you're, uh, 28? And you're married?'" Earles recalled. "I was like, 'Yeah, that girl I keep making out with…that's my wife.'"
The executive's response was surprisingly pragmatic, asking if there were any other secrets before advising, "Let's go ahead and keep it that way for a few years."
Timing with Anniversary Special
Earles's revelations emerge just days before the highly anticipated Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, scheduled to air on March 24 on Disney+. This special event, filmed before a live studio audience, features an exclusive interview with Miley Cyrus hosted by Call Her Daddy podcaster Alex Cooper, alongside never-before-seen footage from the beloved series.
Hannah Montana, which originally ran on Disney Channel from 2006 to 2011, followed teenager Miley Stewart as she navigated a double life as both a high school student and the world-famous pop star Hannah Montana. Earles's character, Jackson Stewart, served as her older brother throughout the show's successful run.
