Born into a household already familiar with Hollywood spotlights, Milo Manheim has steadily built a career that extends far beyond a famous last name. The son of Emmy-winning actress Camryn Manheim, he first captured the attention of young audiences as Zed in the Disney Channel musical franchise Zombies.
In the years that followed, Manheim expanded his résumé through television, stage work, and reality TV appearances, including a runner-up finish on Dancing with the Stars. Now, as he turns 25, the actor stands on the verge of his biggest cinematic moment yet: playing Flynn Rider opposite Teagan Croft in Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Tangled, directed by Michael Gracey.
Zombies (2018) — Zed
Everything began with Zombies. The Disney Channel musical tells the story of Zed, a teenage zombie who dreams of playing football and being accepted in a town where humans and zombies have long been separated. Opposite Meg Donnelly as Addison, Manheim brought charisma, humor, and emotional sincerity to the role.
The film quickly became a massive hit for Disney Channel, launching a franchise that included sequels, soundtracks, and a devoted fan base. For Manheim, the role transformed him from a promising young performer into one of Disney’s most recognizable rising stars.
Years later, that breakout performance remains the foundation of a career that continues to expand—one that now points toward larger Hollywood opportunities, including his expected future role in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Tangled.
School Spirits (2023–present) — Wally
Manheim expanded his television career with the Paramount+ supernatural mystery School Spirits. The series follows Maddie, a teenager who finds herself trapped in the afterlife of her high school while trying to solve the mystery of her own disappearance.
Manheim plays Wally, a ghost from decades past who becomes one of Maddie’s closest allies in the spectral world of the school. The character blends humor, nostalgia, and emotional depth, giving Manheim a more layered role than many of his earlier projects. The series has helped introduce him to a broader streaming audience and solidify his reputation as a versatile young actor.
Journey to Bethlehem (2023) — Joseph
Manheim returned to musical storytelling in Journey to Bethlehem, a modern musical retelling of the Nativity story. In the film, he portrays Joseph, the humble carpenter whose faith and determination guide him through the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.
The production blends biblical storytelling with contemporary pop-inspired music, giving Manheim the chance to showcase both his acting and singing abilities. Having performed extensively in theater during his teenage years, he brought a natural musical sensibility to the role, adding emotional warmth to the character.
Thanksgiving (2023) — Ryan
One of Manheim’s most surprising career choices arrived with the slasher film Thanksgiving, directed by horror filmmaker Eli Roth. Inspired by Roth’s fake trailer from the cult project Grindhouse, the movie follows a masked killer terrorizing a Massachusetts town after a tragic Black Friday riot.
Manheim plays Ryan, one of the teenagers caught in the escalating violence. The film marked a sharp departure from the family-friendly tone of his Disney work, placing him in a darker, more mature genre. The role demonstrated his willingness to experiment with different styles of storytelling and signaled his gradual transition toward adult audiences.
Prom Pact (2023) — Ben Plunkett
In Disney’s teen romantic comedy Prom Pact, Manheim took on the role of Ben Plunkett, a high-achieving student at the center of a high school political drama disguised as a prom story. The film follows Mandy Yang, a determined senior aiming for admission to Harvard, whose plans become complicated by unexpected friendships and romantic tensions.
Ben begins as a seemingly arrogant academic rival but gradually reveals a more complex personality. The role gave Manheim the opportunity to move away from supernatural musicals and into a grounded, contemporary teen story. His performance balanced charm, competitiveness, and vulnerability, helping broaden his acting range.
Zombies 2 (2020) — Zed
The success of the original Disney Channel film led to the sequel Zombies 2, which expanded the universe of Seabrook High. In the film, the community must now confront a new supernatural group—the werewolves—creating fresh tensions between the town’s inhabitants.
Manheim once again leads the story as Zed, a zombie determined to prove that different groups can coexist peacefully. The sequel deepened the themes of identity and acceptance that had resonated strongly with young viewers, while also giving Manheim more musical performances and character development.
The Conners (2021) — Josh
In another sitcom appearance, Manheim joined the long-running ABC series The Conners, the continuation of the iconic television family first introduced in Roseanne. The show focuses on the everyday struggles and humor of a working-class Midwestern family navigating modern life.
Manheim played Josh, a young man connected to the family’s evolving storylines. Although not a central character, his appearance demonstrated his ability to step into established television worlds and hold his own alongside experienced comedic actors.
American Housewife (2018–2019) — Pierce
Manheim continued building his television résumé with a recurring role in the ABC sitcom American Housewife. The show, starring Katy Mixon, revolved around a confident mother raising her family in the wealthy Connecticut suburb of Westport.
As Pierce, Manheim appeared in several episodes, contributing to the show’s comedic ensemble. The role allowed him to demonstrate a lighter, more comedic side of his acting while gaining valuable experience working within a fast-paced network sitcom environment. It also helped expand his visibility beyond Disney Channel audiences.
Ghost Whisperer (2009) — Riley
Before becoming a recognizable name among younger audiences, Milo Manheim made one of his earliest on-screen appearances as a child actor in the supernatural drama Ghost Whisperer, starring Jennifer Love Hewitt.
The series followed a woman with the ability to communicate with spirits, helping them resolve unfinished business before moving on. Manheim’s brief appearance as Riley may have been a small role, but it marked his first step into professional acting.
Growing up around the entertainment industry—his mother is Emmy-winning actress Camryn Manheim—he was exposed to the craft from an early age. The experience offered a glimpse of the screen presence he would later develop more fully as a teenager.
Zombies 3 (2022) — Zed
The third installment in the franchise raised the stakes even further by introducing extraterrestrial visitors to Seabrook. While the premise leaned into the franchise’s increasingly playful fantasy elements, the emotional core remained Zed and Addison’s relationship.
By this point, Manheim had fully embraced the role that launched his career. His confident performance as Zed carried the story through its biggest and most colorful chapter yet, confirming the franchise as one of Disney Channel’s most successful modern musical series.