California cool! Summerland lasted only two seasons, but it launched many of its actors into stardom and continues to be a memorable show for its fans.
The WB series, which ran from 2004 to 2005, centered on Ava Gregory (Lori Loughlin), who became the guardian to her two nephews Bradin (Jesse McCartney) and Derrick Westerly (Nick Benson) and her niece Nikki (Kay Panabaker) after their parents died in a tragic car accident. The Westerly kids left their home in Kansas to live with their aunt in Summerland, California.
Ava, who was a struggling fashion designer, had some help from her roommates and friends in taking care of the trio. She lived with her BFF and business partner Susannah Rexford (Merrin Dungey), former boyfriend, Johnny Durant (Shawn Christian) — who never stopped loving her — and former pro-surfing pal Jay Robertson (Ryan Kwanten).
The cast was rounded out with Taylor Cole, who played Erika Spalding, Jay’s love interest — and later Bradin’s — and Zac Efron’s Cameron Bale, who dated Nikki. Efron didn’t become a series regular until season 2, but he made a big impression on fans. For his part, Efron was excited to act alongside his costar crush, Loughlin.
“I look up to her so much,” the High School Musical alum told Entertainment Tonight in March 2018. “She was like something out of Sports Illustrated every time I saw her. I really love her.”
Loughlin, who was already a household name before the project, reminisced about her time on Summerland to Us Weekly exclusively in May 2018. After reuniting with McCartney at Super Bowl LII in February of that year, she had the drama on her mind.
“I wish it was on longer,” the Full House alum told Us at the time. “I helped create that show so it was my baby.”
Loughlin was a co-creator, producer and writer on the teen drama, but that doesn’t mean she wants to see it rebooted.
“I suppose anything is possible, but I don’t know who would even take it up and do it. So many years have gone by,” she said in 2018. “I loved it too.”
The When Calls the Heart actress did, however, have a few ideas of what her character would be doing now. “Maybe Johnny and Ava would be married,” Loughlin told Us. “I think we were sort of heading in that direction. So maybe they would be together.”
McCartney told Us exclusively in May 2020, that he hasn’t ruled out a Summerland reboot.
“Never say never,” the Masked Singer alum told Us. “I love Summerland, it was such a fun time in my life, it was right when I first moved to L.A. I was the bright eyed, green young actor out to do it and we worked in Malibu. It was the picture-perfect time. I have such fond memories of that show
Scroll down to see what the cast of Summerland has been up to since 2005:
Professionally, Loughlin has been one of the biggest successes from the show’s cast, playing Debbie Wilson in 90210 for five seasons, before becoming a Hallmark Channel regular. Beginning in 2014, she played Jennifer Shannon in a series of Garage Sale Mystery TV movies, and from 2014 to 2019, she had a leading role on When Calls the Heart. She reprised her role as Aunt Becky on Fuller House from 2016 to 2018. Personally, the New York native came under fire after she and her husband Mossimo Giannulli, with whom she shares two daughters, were linked to the college admissions scandal in 2019. In May 2020, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. She was sentenced to two months in prison, completed 100 hours of community service and paid a total of $400,000 in fines along with Giannulli. Loughlin was released in December 2020, and her husband finished his five-month sentence in April 2021. After the scandal, Loughlin's returned to acting in December 2021 with an appearance on GAC’s When Hope Calls: A Country Christmas, a spinoff of Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart. Ann Johansson/AP/Shutterstock; Shutterstock
While filming Summerland, Dungey was also seen on Alias from 2001 to 2006. She starred as Kelly Palmer on The King of Queens for 9 seasons, ending in 2007. The Sacramento, California, native’s TV career didn’t end there. She’s appeared on Hollywood Heights, Chasing Life, Conviction, The Resident and Big Little Lies as Detective Adrienne Quinlan in both seasons of the HBO hit. The actress married Matthew Drake in 2007 and they share two daughters. Shutterstock (2)
After two seasons on the series, Kwanten made appearances on a few shows before landing the role of Jason Stackhouse on HBO’s True Blood for seven seasons. His other credits include The Hurricane Heist, and a leading role on The Oath, Sacred Lies and 2021's Them. Kwanten has been dating Ashley Sisino since 2014. Shutterstock; YouTube
The New York native landed a recurring role on Greek in 2009 and voiced Theodore in the Alvin and the Chipmunks movies in addition to starring on Army Wives in 2013 and voicing Dick Grayson on Young Justice for nine years. He also competed on The Masked Singer in 2020. Musically, McCartney has been equally as successful, releasing three albums since 2004’s Beautiful Soul record. In 2018 he dropped the singles “Better With You” and “Wasted.” McCartney released his fifth studio album, New Stage, in September 2021. Us confirmed in September 2019 that the singer got engaged to actress Katie Peterson after dating for seven years. Though the COVID-19 pandemic delayed their nuptials, they married in an October 2021 ceremony in California. Damian Dovarganes/AP/Shutterstock; Shutterstock
The Michigan native has gone on to play Daniel Jonas on Days of Our Lives since 2008. He also starred on Venice the Series and Famous in Love. In 2019, Christian reunited with Summerland costar Taylor Cole for Ruby Herring Mysteries: Silent Witness. The Love in the Sun actor split from his wife of 17 years, Deborah Quinn, in 2013. They share son Kameron. YouTube; Shutterstock
During the same timeframe, the former child star appeared on Phil of the Future and starred in Disney Channel’s Read It and Weep alongside her big sister, Danielle Panabaker. Kay had 42 acting credits to her name, including No Ordinary Family and a recurring role on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, before she left the acting world in 2012. The Texas native went on to graduate from UCLA and is currently a zookeeper. Shutterstock; Courtesy Kay Panabaker/Instagram
The Missouri native followed up his Summerland performance with a role on Swingtown in 2008 and appeared on True Jackson, VP and Mad Men for one episode each, before leaving Hollywood. In 2016, Benson graduated from MIT. Courtesy Dan Benson/Instagram; YouTube
Summerland was the Texas native’s first acting credit. Since then, the former model’s career has grown over the past two decades with recurring roles on Heroes: The Recruit, CSI: Miami, The Glades and The Originals. In 2019, Cole landed her own Hallmark Movies and Mysteries series, Ruby Herring Mysteries, made up of numerous TV movie installments. In June 2020, Cole married longtime love Cameron Larson. Shutterstock; YouTube
One year after his stint on Summerland, Efron became a megastar after playing Troy Bolton in High School Musical. He reprised his role in two sequels of the Disney Channel hit. The California native made his way to blockbuster films with roles in Charlie St. Cloud, Neighbors, Baywatch and The Greatest Showman. After playing love interests on screen, Efron dated Vanessa Hudgens from 2005 to 2010. He was later linked to Lily Collins, Sarah Bro and Halston Sage. Us confirmed in April 2021 that he split from Vanessa Valladares after 10 months of dating. Shutterstock (2)
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