You probably know her as the "best friend" or the mean girl from that one Disney movie, but there is actually a lot more to the list of tv shows with samantha droke than just nostalgia-bait. Samantha Droke has been one of those "wait, I know her face" actors for years. She was everywhere in the late 2000s. If you grew up on a steady diet of the Disney Channel and ABC Family, she was basically a permanent fixture in your living room, even if you didn't always realize it at the time.
Honestly, it's easy to pigeonhole her. People think she just did the Princess Protection Program thing and then vanished. That's not really the case. Droke had this weirdly specific knack for popping up in massive hits right when they were at their peak. Think Gilmore Girls. Think CSI. She was navigating the transition from teen-dream roles to gritty procedural dramas long before it was the standard career move for Disney alumni.
The Disney and Teen Era: Beyond the Princesses
When most people start searching for tv shows with samantha droke, they usually land on the 2009 TV movie Princess Protection Program first. She played Brooke. She was the one who finds out her classmate is actually a princess. It was a huge deal back then, mostly because of the Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato pairing, but Droke held her own as a supporting player.
But that wasn't her only Disney credit. Far from it.
She had a recurring spot as Sarah on Cory in the House. It was a small role, sure, but in that ecosystem, those guest spots were the lifeblood of the network. She also showed up on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody as Wanda. If you were a kid in 2007, you saw her. You just did.
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Then there was The Secret Life of the American Teenager. This was the show that everyone watched but nobody wanted to admit they were obsessed with. Droke played Robin. It was a pivot toward slightly more mature—or at least more dramatic—territory. It’s interesting to look back at that show now and see how many young actors used it as a springboard. Droke was right there in the mix, navigating the messy, high-stakes drama of suburban high school life that ABC Family (now Freeform) was famous for.
The Procedural Pivot: CSI and Medium
Most actors who start in the teen world stay there until the roles dry up. Droke didn't. She started taking guest spots on heavy hitters that felt like a complete departure from the "Brooke" persona.
Take her appearance on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in the 2010 episode "Internal Combustion." She played Cindy Medina. It was a classic CSI setup—underground drag racing, dead cheerleaders, the works. It’s a far cry from guarding princesses in Louisiana. Watching her in that environment, you can see her leaning into the "victim or witness" archetype that every successful working actor in Hollywood has to master.
She also popped up in Medium as Charlotte Spencer. This was the episode "Smoke Damage" in Season 7. If you’re a fan of the show, you know it’s one of those psychological thrillers that requires the guest cast to do a lot of heavy lifting with their eyes. She wasn’t just a background face; she was part of the central mystery.
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A Quick Look at Her Notable TV Roles:
- Cory in the House – Sarah (Recurring)
- The Secret Life of the American Teenager – Robin
- Gilmore Girls – Bonnie (Season 7, Episode 10 "Merry Fisticuffs")
- Eastwick – Stephie
- The Suite Life of Zack & Cody – Wanda
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – Cindy Medina
- Medium – Charlotte Spencer
The "Almost" Big Break: Eastwick
There is one show that often gets forgotten when discussing tv shows with samantha droke, and that is Eastwick. Based on the Witches of Eastwick lore, this ABC series was supposed to be the next big thing. Droke played Stephie, the daughter of one of the main witches (played by Jaime Ray Newman).
The show was actually pretty decent. It had that Desperate Housewives meets Charmed vibe that was popular at the time. Sadly, it was one of those "one and done" situations—it only lasted one season before being cancelled in 2010. If Eastwick had taken off, Droke’s career trajectory might have looked totally different. She was positioned as one of the "next generation" of the show's supernatural family, but we never got to see where that character went.
Why People Still Talk About Her
It’s not just about the acting. Samantha Droke was part of that very specific era of Hollywood "friend groups" that fascinated the internet. She was extremely close with Ashley Tisdale—they even had a clothing line together called Live in Love. Because of that, she was always in the periphery of the High School Musical fame bubble.
There’s a certain nostalgia for that 2005-2012 window. Droke represents a working actress who was incredibly consistent during a time when TV was transitioning from cable dominance to the early days of streaming. She even did a web series called Poor Paul way back in 2008-2011, which was basically the Wild West of online content.
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What Happened to Her Acting Career?
If you check her IMDb lately, you’ll notice things slowed down after 2015. Her last major credits include the TV movie Cleveland Abduction, where she played Amanda Berry, one of the victims of Ariel Castro. It was a brutal, heavy role—arguably the most intense thing she ever did. It proved she had the range for serious drama, but it also felt like a "final act" for that phase of her career.
Since then, she has mostly stepped away from the spotlight to focus on her personal life and business ventures. She got married to Connor Ross, and they have children now. She seems to have traded the chaos of pilot seasons for a more grounded life in Texas.
How to Watch Her Best Work Today
If you're looking to revisit her filmography, here is how to track things down:
- Princess Protection Program: Still lives on Disney+. It's a time capsule of 2009.
- CSI/Medium: These are usually floating around on Paramount+ or Hulu.
- Cleveland Abduction: This one pops up on Lifetime's streaming platforms or for rent on Amazon. It's tough to watch but showcases her best acting.
- Gilmore Girls: Netflix. Look for the Season 7 episode "Merry Fisticuffs."
Samantha Droke might not be a household name in 2026, but her footprint in 2000s television is undeniable. She was the reliable guest star, the loyal best friend, and the girl-next-door who could suddenly pivot into a crime drama without missing a beat.
If you’re doing a deep dive into the tv shows with samantha droke, start with her guest spots on the big procedurals. While the Disney stuff is nostalgic, her work on CSI and Cleveland Abduction shows a side of her talent that the mouse house never quite figured out how to use. Focus your watch list on her 2009-2012 era for the most interesting mix of roles.