You probably remember the face even if the name takes a second to click. Johnny Pacar was basically the "it guy" for a very specific generation of TV viewers. If you spent your Saturday mornings watching Discovery Kids or your weeknights glued to ABC Family in the mid-2000s, he was everywhere.
He had that specific look. Kind of mysterious, definitely the guy you’d want in your garage band, and usually playing the character with a secret or a sensitive side. Honestly, looking back at Johnny Pacar movies and tv shows, it’s wild how much he defined the "troubled but cute" trope of that era.
He didn't just show up and read lines. He brought a certain weight to shows that could have easily been fluff. From surviving plane crashes to navigating the high-stakes world of elite gymnastics, Pacar's filmography is a weirdly perfect time capsule of millennial and Gen Z transitional media.
The Breakthrough: Flight 29 Down and Cody Jackson
Before every show was about a group of people stranded on an island, there was Flight 29 Down. It was basically Lost for the younger crowd. Pacar played Cody Jackson.
Jackson was the enigma. He was the kid from the "wrong side of the tracks" who ended up being the first elected leader of the group. While Corbin Bleu’s character was the one everyone expected to take charge, it was Pacar’s quiet authority that grounded the show.
That series ran from 2005 to 2007, and it’s still what most people associate him with. He wasn't just some actor playing a teenager; he felt like a real guy you might actually know. The show ended with a TV movie, Flight 29 Down: The Hotel Tango, which wrapped up the Micronesian survival saga. If you haven't seen it since 2007, it actually holds up surprisingly well. The stakes felt real, mostly because the chemistry between the cast was so genuine.
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Moving Into the Gym: Make It or Break It
Fast forward a few years and Pacar landed a role that shifted him from "kid on an island" to "romantic lead with a guitar." In Make It or Break It, he played Damon Young.
Damon was the quintessential musician-boyfriend. He was the guy who worked at the Pizza Shack but had big dreams. His relationship with Emily Kmetko was the emotional anchor for a lot of fans during the first two seasons.
It was a smart pivot. It allowed Pacar to lean into his real-life musical talents. He wasn't just faking it with the guitar; the guy actually knows his way around a fretboard. He eventually left the show as the plot shifted toward the 2012 Olympics, but for many, the "Damon years" were the peak of the series.
Why the Disney Era Hit Different
We can't talk about Johnny Pacar without mentioning the Disney Channel Original Movie Now You See It.... He played Danny Sinclair, a teen magician who actually had real magic powers. It’s one of those DCOMs that people forget about until someone mentions "the guy with the cards," and then the memories come flooding back.
He also popped up in:
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- American Dreams as Jimmy Francis (a recurring role that showed he could handle period drama).
- CSI: Miami (the classic "actor rite of passage" guest spot).
- Ghost Whisperer (playing Miles Maitland).
- Eli Stone, where he played a younger version of the title character.
Breaking Into Horror and Indie Films
As he got older, Pacar started moving away from the "teen heartthrob" lane. He started doing more genre work. If you're a horror fan, you’ve probably seen him in The Remaining.
It’s a supernatural thriller centered around the Rapture. It’s heavy, dark, and a far cry from the sunny beaches of Flight 29 Down. He also starred in Playback alongside Christian Slater.
Then there’s the cult favorite Zombie Apocalypse. He played Julien. It’s a Syfy original movie, so you know exactly what you’re getting—vinnie Rhames, zombies, and a lot of action. It’s not high art, but Pacar sells the desperation of the world ending with a lot more sincerity than the script probably deserved.
The Music Side: Forever The Day
A lot of fans don't realize that Pacar is just as much a musician as he is an actor. He’s been in several bands, most notably Forever The Day (which used to be called Fairlene).
He actually teamed up with his Make It or Break It co-star Cody Longo for that project. They released a couple of EPs, Under The Afterglow and Letters of Letting Go. His music is very much in that alternative, acoustic-driven singer-songwriter vein.
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He’s also released solo work, like the album Give It Our Love. If you listen to his tracks like "I Won't Stand Alone," you can hear the punk rock influences he grew up with in Michigan. It’s not just a "celebrity vanity project." It’s clear the guy actually cares about the craft.
What is Johnny Pacar Doing Now?
It's 2026, and while he isn't on every billboard in Hollywood, he’s still working. He’s moved into more indie-focused projects and even some voice work. Recently, he appeared in films like America Is Sinking (2023) and has a role in the 2025 project President Down.
He seems to have found a balance between the industry and his personal life in Los Angeles. He’s 44 now, which feels impossible to those of us who remember him as a 20-something playing a high schooler.
His career is a reminder that you don't need to be an A-list superstar to have a massive impact. For a generation of kids who grew up on Discovery Kids and ABC Family, Johnny Pacar was a constant. Whether he was playing a magician, a survivor, or a gymnast’s boyfriend, he always felt authentic.
Watching Johnny Pacar Today
If you want to revisit his work, a lot of it is tucked away on streaming services. Flight 29 Down pops up on various free-to-watch platforms (like Tubi or Freevee) from time to time. Make It or Break It is usually available on Hulu or Disney+.
Actionable Insights for the Nostalgic Viewer:
- Revisit the Basics: Start with Flight 29 Down. It’s short, punchy, and better written than you remember.
- Listen to the Music: Check out the Under The Afterglow EP if you want to see the Damon Young vibe in real life.
- Deep Cut: Look for Love Hurts. He won a Best Supporting Actor award at the Orlando Film Festival for that one, and it shows a different side of his range.
The legacy of Johnny Pacar isn't just about the credits on a screen. It's about that specific feeling of 2005—the solar-powered video diaries, the acoustic guitars, and the belief that even if your plane crashed on a desert island, things might just turn out okay if you had the right leader.