Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 12, 2025 · Entertainment

From Lizzie's Brother to Video Game Hero: Jake Thomas' Unexpected Career Shift

You may remember actor Jake Thomas for his role as Lizzie McGuire's mischievous little brother, Matt, on the hit 2001 Disney show - but it turns out that he's not so little anymore

Lizzie McGuire Star Jake Thomas Spills Tea on His Wild Career Pivot

Get ready for a dose of nostalgia, folks! Remember Matt Trueman, the mischievous little brother from Disney's hit show Lizzie McGuire? Well, buckle up because our beloved childhood star Jake Thomas has undergone a stunning transformation. Gone are the days of adorable freckles and messy brown hair – today, Thomas is all grown up and sporting a drastically different look.

We caught up with Thomas in an exclusive interview with TheScholarlyNote.com, where he dished out the deets on his latest projects and what's been going on since his Disney days. So, grab your favorite snack, get comfy, and let's dive into the juicy details!

In an exclusive interview with FEMAIL, Thomas revealed what he's up to these days, and how his life has changed since being on the show all those years ago

It's hard to believe that Thomas was just 11 years old when he landed the role of Matt Trueman in Lizzie McGuire back in 2001. The show ran for two seasons from 2001 to 2004, and he reprised his role in the beloved 2003 film. Who would have thought that this adorable kid would grow up to be a talented actor with a passion for video games?

Fast-forward to today, Thomas is now 35, residing in Los Angeles, and exploring a multitude of projects. He's traded in his acting shoes for a career pivot into the world of video games – talk about a dramatic transformation! Thomas is currently working on MindsEye, an action-adventure game set in a near-future fictional desert city. As both the voice and performance capture artist for character Marco Silva, he's bringing this complex role to life.

"This honestly isn't much different from on-camera acting," Thomas shared with TheScholarlyNote.com. "You have to use your imagination way more because you're on a small soundstage, and you just kind of have to imagine everything that's happening." With MindsEye, players will have to figure out the enigmatic Silva – is he a hero or villain? You'll just have to play the game to find out!

Fans might be surprised to know that the actor is now dedicating his focus to MindsEye, which is an action-adventure video game set in the near-future fictional desert city

But what's truly fascinating is Thomas' experience with video games goes way back. "The first video game I was in was probably 20 something years ago," he revealed. "It was a PlayStation two game called Brave: The Search for Spirit Dancer, and I played the title character." However, this new project is a whole different ball game – literally! Thomas worked on MindsEye with advanced technology that tracked every facial movement, capturing even the tiniest detail from his performance.

So, what's next for our beloved Lizzie McGuire alum? Well, in addition to video games, Thomas is also exploring other creative outlets. "I have been directing commercials with a lot of Nickelodeon promos, toy commercials – stuff like that," he shared. With his background as a child actor, Thomas knows exactly what it takes to create an enjoyable experience for young talent on set.

"I want to encourage an environment where the kids can just have fun," Thomas emphasized. "Nothing should ever be too serious while on set. Just remember: have fun, keep attitudes great, and make it a fun experience for the kids." Ah, we couldn't agree more, Jake!

'All the cars are his own companies, all of the robots that are throughout the whole city are of his own companies, and he's a little bit of, I would say, maniacal asshole, but you kind of have to play the game to find out if he's a good guy or a bad guy,' he shared

As for his Lizzie McGuire castmates? Well, let's just say they're all doing their own thing – quite literally! "Everybody from the cast is really kind of doing their own stuff," Thomas shared. "We've got lawyers, people who are now just doing filmmaking and writing, singing, and real estate... Everybody's doing a little bit of everything." Talk about a mixed bag!

There you have it, folks – Jake Thomas has officially traded in his childhood charm for a grown-up career pivot into the world of video games. We can't wait to see what's next from this talented actor!

In addition to acting in MindsEye, Thomas is still pretty involved in the children's television world

'I kind of rely on my background as a as a child actor,' he said. 'I know what it's like to, you know, be a kid on set and make that a fun and enjoyable experience. It's really been a blessing'

'I mean, we've got lawyers, we've got people who are now just doing filmmaking and writing and then and singing and then real estate,' he continued