As the cast of "Hannah Montana" celebrates a significant milestone, actor Jason Earles is revealing a surprising secret from his audition process for the beloved Disney Channel series. In a recent appearance on "Best of Both Our Worlds: The Official, Unofficial Hannah Montana Podcast," Earles disclosed a "big secret" he initially kept hidden from Disney executives before securing the role of Jackson Stuart, the older brother of Miley Cyrus's character, Miley Stewart, back in 2005.
The Audition Deception
"I was desperately afraid that I was going to be fired and recast ... when I auditioned for the show, I lied to them and told them I was 18 years old," Earles confessed. At the time of his audition, the actor was actually 28 years old, a fact he nearly let deter him from trying out altogether. "It was another reason I almost didn't audition for the show because I was like, 'I'm too old. The character's 16, nobody's going to buy it.'"
Earles's anxiety was compounded by his previous work with the show's casting director, Lisa London, on an earlier project where he had presented himself as 19. Despite these concerns, he managed to convince the "Hannah Montana" creative team that he possessed the youthful appearance necessary for the part.
The Truth Comes Out
However, the truth about his real age eventually surfaced midway through production on the show's premiere season, which aired on Disney Channel in 2006. "I remember one of the higher-up network executives showed up on show night, and he was like, 'Hey, so, you're 28.' And I was like, 'I am,'" Earles recounted.
Later in the conversation, he confirmed to the executive that the "girl that I keep making out with" on set was actually his wife at the time, Jennifer. "And he was like, 'Uh, any more secrets? Anything we should know? Do you have any kids?'" Earles explained. "I was like, 'No kids.' He's like, 'Let's go ahead and keep it that way for a few years.' And I was like, 'Absolutely, of course.'"
Maintaining the Charade
Earles also shared that he continued to uphold the deception when interacting with "Hannah Montana" fans, even playing into the assumption that Jennifer was his mother. "I remember going to dinner with my wife at the time and people coming up and saying, 'You must be so proud of your son,'" he quipped. "And I was like, 'Well, all right. Sex is off the table tonight. Thank you. I appreciate that.'"
Looking Back and Moving Forward
Now 49 years old, Earles can be seen alongside Miley Cyrus and other co-stars in the "Hannah Montana" 20th anniversary special, which premieres on Disney+ this Tuesday. He has maintained a positive relationship with Disney, appearing as camp director Dewey Wood on "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" in 2022 and 2023.
This revelation adds a fascinating layer to the behind-the-scenes story of one of Disney Channel's most iconic shows, highlighting the lengths actors sometimes go to secure roles in the competitive entertainment industry.
