If you spent any part of the mid-2010s glued to the Disney Channel, you know the face. That slightly-too-perfect hair. The "aw-shucks" Texas charm. The guy who basically turned a New York middle school into a high-stakes rodeo. We’re talking about Peyton Meyer. To a whole generation of fans, he is simply the lucas girl meets world actor, the boy-next-door who spent three seasons caught in the most stressful love triangle in tween history.
But where do you go after playing a literal Disney prince?
Honestly, the transition from child stardom to adult "real life" is usually a train wreck. We’ve seen it a million times. But Meyer’s path has been... different. It hasn't been a tabloid spiral or a total disappearance. Instead, it's been a mix of steady work, a massive secret wedding, and a sudden pivot into the world of soap operas.
Moving Past the Stetson: Life After Lucas Friar
When Girl Meets World wrapped in 2017, the fan base was devastated. People were still arguing about whether Lucas should have picked Riley or Maya. (For the record, the show picked Riley, but the internet still hasn't forgiven him.) Meyer didn't just sit around waiting for a reboot that wasn't coming.
He jumped almost immediately into American Housewife.
He played Trip Windsor. He was basically the "hot, slightly dim-witted boyfriend" archetype, but he leaned into it. He stayed on that show for years, from 2018 to 2021. It was smart. It kept him on network TV without the "Disney" label being the only thing people saw.
Then came the Netflix era. In 2021, he popped up in He’s All That, the gender-swapped remake of the 90s classic. He played Jordan Van Draanen, the antagonist/influencer type. It was a far cry from the polite, moralistic Lucas Friar. He was playing a jerk. And honestly? He was good at it.
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The Secret Marriage and Fatherhood
For a long time, Peyton Meyer was the king of privacy. While his co-stars like Sabrina Carpenter were becoming global pop icons, Meyer was living a relatively quiet life in Los Angeles.
Then 2021 happened.
Out of nowhere, he dropped a bombshell on Instagram. He hadn't just been dating musician Taela (Taylor Mae LaCour); he had married her. Oh, and they were expecting a baby.
"I had 100 million reasons to never get married. I always hated the concept of marriage. But all I needed was one reason to conquer all those reasons... And that one was you." — Peyton Meyer on his marriage to Taela.
The couple welcomed their son, Ziggy Bo, in March 2022. For a while, it looked like Meyer was settling into the "young dad" life. He shared photos of himself as a stepfather to Taela's older son, River, and seemed totally content away from the cameras.
But as is often the case with young Hollywood marriages, things shifted. By late 2024, reports confirmed that Peyton and Taela had separated. It was a quiet split, much like their wedding, but it marked a new chapter for him.
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The 2025 Soap Opera Pivot
Most fans didn't see the soap opera move coming.
In late 2024, Meyer joined the legendary cast of Days of Our Lives. He stepped into the role of Doug Williams III. For an actor who grew up in the fast-paced, multi-cam world of Disney, the daily grind of a soap is a massive shift. It's thousands of pages of dialogue. It's filming multiple episodes a week.
He stayed with the show through July 2025. It gave him a chance to show a much more mature, dramatic side that the lucas girl meets world actor never got to explore while he was busy helping Riley Matthews with her homework.
Why We’re Still Talking About Him in 2026
So, why does he still trend?
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug. Girl Meets World wasn't just a kids' show; it was a bridge to Boy Meets World. It carried the weight of the 90s on its shoulders. Even now, in 2026, clips of Lucas and Maya’s "Texas" episodes go viral on whatever the current version of TikTok is.
There's also the "Disney Curse" factor. Meyer seems to have avoided it. He didn't burn out. He didn't have a public breakdown. He just grew up. He’s 27 now. He’s a father. He’s an actor who has worked consistently for over a decade.
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The Reality of the "Disney" Brand
Being the lucas girl meets world actor is a double-edged sword. On one hand, you have 2 million+ followers who will support almost anything you do. On the other, casting directors see you as "that kid from Disney."
Meyer has been vocal about this in the past. He’s mentioned how professional sets are, even for kids. He was working 12-hour days at age twelve. He basically skipped the "normal" teenager phase to pay taxes and learn lines.
What's Next for Peyton Meyer?
If you're looking to keep up with him, forget the Disney Channel.
- Watch the Independent Scene: Meyer has expressed interest in more "adult" roles that move away from the heartthrob trope.
- Social Media Silence: Don't expect him to post every day. He’s notoriously picky about what he shares, usually only popping up for major life updates or project promos.
- The Soap Circuit: Don't be surprised if he returns to daytime TV. He proved he has the stamina for it, and the "soap-to-film" pipeline is a real thing.
The biggest takeaway here is that Peyton Meyer isn't "missing." He isn't a "where are they now" tragedy. He’s just a working actor who happened to be the first crush of millions of people. Whether he's playing a dad, a soap villain, or a Netflix jock, he’s managed to stay relevant without losing his mind.
If you want to support his current path, the best thing to do is look beyond the cowboy boots and the Riley/Maya debates. Check out his work in American Housewife or his run on Days of Our Lives. He's more than just a piece of nostalgia; he's a guy who survived the Disney machine and came out the other side as a pro.
Actionable Insight: If you're a fan of the Girl Meets World era, follow Peyton’s official Instagram for infrequent but genuine updates. For those interested in his acting range, He's All That on Netflix provides the best glimpse of him playing against type as a polished, modern antagonist.