Alyson Stoner
Alyson Rae Stoner is an American actor, singer, and dancer. Their film roles include the Cheaper by the Dozen films and the Step Up franchise. On television, they have hosted Disney Channel's Mike's Super Short Show, played Max in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, voiced Isabella Garcia-Shapiro in Phineas and Ferb, and portrayed Caitlyn in Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.
Stoner has performed as a background dancer for artists including Missy Elliott, Eminem, Kumbia Kings, Outkast, and Will Smith. As a voice actor, they provided the voices of Kairi and Xion in the Kingdom Hearts video game series and voiced Holly Hobbie in the Holly Hobbie & Friends animated specials. They have also released twelve singles and two extended plays.
Early life
Stoner was born in Toledo, Ohio, the child of LuAnne Hodges, a former executive secretary at Owens-Illinois, and Charlie Stoner. While growing up in Toledo, Stoner attended Maumee Valley Country Day School and studied ballet, tap dance, and jazz dance at the O'Connell's Dance Studio. They also modeled and trained at the Margaret O'Brien Modeling Studio. They won Best Model of the Year at the International Modeling and Talent Association Convention in New York City under O'Brien's studio in 2000.Career
Acting
In 2001, Stoner became the co-host of the Disney Channel Mike's Super Short Show along with Michael Alan Johnson, an infomercial segment regarding forthcoming Disney Pictures|Disney] releases. In 2003 and 2005, they appeared as Sarah, one of the twelve Baker children, in the successful comedies Cheaper by the Dozen and Cheaper by the Dozen 2. They have also appeared in several television shows aimed at the preteen audience, including The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, That's So Raven and Drake & Josh.In 2006, they had a small film role in Step Up as Camille, Channing Tatum's character's younger foster sister. They provided the voice of Isabella Garcia-Shapiro and Jenny in the Disney Channel animated series Phineas and Ferb from 2007 to 2015. In 2008, they starred in the Disney Channel Original film Camp Rock as Caitlyn Gellar, an aspiring music producer. Their reception in Camp Rock was particularly strong, with various media outlets suggesting it was about time they played a main character role having backed up for other big names such as Will Smith and Eminem. Stoner starred as Alice McKinley in the film Alice Upside Down, based loosely on the Alice series, particularly The Agony of Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. This was their second starring role and, according to an interview that appears on the direct-to-DVD release, they stated that this was the first time they had to appear in every scene in a film.
In 2010, Stoner appeared in the third Step Up film Step Up 3D opposite Adam Sevani where they reprised the role. Stoner uploaded a video onto their official YouTube page of their final dance rehearsal which introduced other cast members. The same year, Stoner returned to reprise their role as Caitlyn Gellar in Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, a sequel to Camp Rock. Stoner also guest-starred in the television drama series House as a skater.
They also appeared in Wii Fit related videos on the Nintendo Channel on the Wii video game console demonstrating balance exercises. Stoner replaced Hayden Panettiere as the voice of Kairi in Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, Xion in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, and both characters in Kingdom Hearts III. They voiced the character Opal in seasons three and four of The Legend of Korra.
Singing
In 2008, they sang two songs, "Lost and Found" and "Free Spirit", from the soundtrack of Alice Upside Down, in which they played the lead role. They have also recorded a cover version of the song Dancing in the Moonlight for the 2009 Space Buddies.On April 4, 2010, Stoner posted a video to their YouTube channel announcing the release of their debut single "Flying Forward" on April 20, 2010. Stoner released their debut EP entitled Beat the System in 2011. Also in 2011, Stoner started working with record producers, songwriters and a vocal coach to change their vocal style from "kiddie-pop" to a more soulful pop vibe with a little alternative edge for their first studio album.
Dancing
After choreography training in Los Angeles, Stoner appeared as a backup dancer in several music videos, notably Missy Elliott's "Work It", "Gossip Folks", "I'm Really Hot", Eminem's "Just Lose It", and "No Tengo Dinero" by the Kumbia Kings. Stoner was also a backup dancer for Outkast at the 2004 Kids' Choice Awards and for Will Smith at the 2005 show. Stoner danced with a dancing group called The JammX Kids between 2003 and 2006. They quit the group in early 2006 due to scheduling conflicts, but continued to work with the individual kids on different jobs. They were also one of the dancers in the special features for the Shark Tale DVD.Stoner teaches hip hop classes at the Millennium Dance Complex, and is credited as the youngest person to teach a master class there. They also appeared in Debby Ryan's "We Got the Beat" for Disney Channel's Radio Rebel. In February 2015, they released a dance tribute video to Missy Elliot featuring a mash up medley of Missy Elliott videos they had danced in when they were younger. Within the first week, it received more than 12 million views. Missy Elliott invited Alyson to perform "Work It" with her at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards.
Publishing
Stoner was the "dance editor" for KEWL Magazine. In February 2009, Stoner released the Alyson Stoner Project described as "a dance video hybrid — melding many styles of entertainment into one package". It was directed by Kevin Schmidt, their co-star from Cheaper by the Dozen.In 2025, Stoner announced the release of their memoir, Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything, focusing on child stardom, family violence and religious trauma.
Personal life
In March 2018, Stoner came out in an article for Teen Vogue, stating that they were "attracted to men, women, and people who identify in other ways." Later that year, they stated in an interview that they did not feel comfortable labeling their sexual orientation or faith at the time. In June 2023, Stoner came out as non-binary. They use they/them pronouns, although some individuals, such as Dan Povenmire, continue to use she/her when referring to them. Stoner has stated that they were fired from a television show after coming out as pansexual and queer.Stoner has spoken openly about their struggles with mental health and eating disorders. They have said that they first experienced anxiety at age six due to the pressures of working in the entertainment industry, with symptoms including heart palpitations, hair loss, and seizures. In 2011, at age 17, Stoner was hospitalized and checked themself into a rehab facility for eating disorders, after several years of struggling with anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. They credit therapy with assisting in their recovery.
Filmography
Music videos
| Year | Title | Artist | Role | |
| 2002 | "Work It" | Missy Elliott | Dancer | |
| 2003 | "Gossip Folks" | Missy Elliott | Dancer | |
| 2003 | "Pass That Dutch" | Missy Elliott | Dancer | |
| 2004 | "I'm Really Hot" | Missy Elliott | Dancer | |
| 2004 | "Just Lose It" | Eminem | Dancer | |
| 2004 | “No Tengo Dinero” | AB Quintanilla y Kumbia Kings | Dancer |
Book
- Stoner, Alyson. Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything: A Memoir. New York: St. Martin's Press.