About Ashley Tisdale

Ashley Michelle Tisdale (born July 2, 1985) is an American actress and singer. After appearing in several television roles during the late 1990s and early 2000s, she became known to young audiences for playing Maddie Fitzpatrick on the Disney Channel Original Series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Sharpay Evans in the Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical. Tisdale has also pursued a music career and released her debut album Headstrong on February 6, 2007. She also participated in High School Musical: The Concert and reprised her role as Sharpay Evans in High School Musical 2.

Tisdale was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey on July 2, 1985 to Lisa Morris and Mike Tisdale. Her older sister Jennifer Tisdale is also an actress. Her maternal grandfather is Arnold Morris, the developer of Ginsu Knives; through her grandfather, she is also related to businessman Ron Popeil. She has a maltipoo dog, named Blondie. Tisdale is Jewish on her mother’s side and considers herself Jewish. She was discovered by Bill Perlman, who is her current manager, at South Shores Mall, when she was three. She began acting, appearing in stage productions of Gypsy: A Musical Fable and The Sound of Music at the Jewish Community Center of Monmouth County.

During the late 1990s, Tisdale appeared in episodes of several television series, including Smart Guy, 7th Heaven, Grounded for Life, Boston Public, Strong Medicine, Charmed, and Beverly Hills, 90210. She had a minor role in the 2001 film Donnie Darko and she guest starred on The Amanda Show and recurring roles on the sitcoms The Hughleys, and Still Standing. In 2002, she starred in a TV commercial for Fruit Gushers (notable for the head transformation) “Photo Booth” and her head transformed into an oversized orange. She also starred in a T-Mobile commercial with Catherine Zeta-Jones and was in a Toys r Us commercial with Abigail Breslin. Then, Tisdale was cast in the role of Maddie Fitzpatrick on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody after auditioning for the roles of Maddie Fitzpatrick and London Tipton. As the series became popular, Tisdale became a featured performer on the Disney Channel and performed a voice role in Whisper of the Heart. She was also cast in Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical, which became a major success for the channel after its premiere on January 20, 2006 Tisdale also auditioned for the role of Erin Ulmer in Final Destination 3 but lost out to Canadian actress Alexz Johnson.

Tisdale originally tried out for Gabriella Montez, but was cast as Sharpay Evans, due to her alto voice, she suited a darker character. The role required her to perform several songs, including “What I’ve Been Looking For,” “Bop to the Top,” and “We’re All in This Together.” All three managed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, Tisdale made music history by being the first female artist to ever debut with two songs simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 with “What I’ve Been Looking For” and “Bop to the Top.” She has also recorded versions of the songs “Some Day My Prince Will Come” and “Kiss The Girl” (including a music video) for Disney. In addition, she recorded a version of “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” with the other members of the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, and appeared in the Disney Channel Games 2006 as captain of the Green Team. Tisdale is also appearing in the second rendition of the Disney Channel Games this year. More recently, Tisdale signed a deal with Staples, Inc. to appear in the promotional campaign for the company’s “Geared 4 School” sweepstakes in the fall. She will star in High School Musical 2, scheduled to air on August 17, 2007. Tisdale also in a will have a supporting roll in Phines and Ferb.

Tisdale appeared in the second episode of Season 8 of MTV’s Punk’d. The skit was, she went to a children’s hospital and sang “Kiss the Girl” to a little boy in a coma. After she sang a few lyrics of the song, the boy woke up. As she was singing, the lyrics were being censored out because MTV did not own the rights to the song. She also appeared in an episode where she helped Ashton Kutcher to punk her good friend and High School Musical co-star Zac Efron.

Tisdale told JustJared.com during an interview at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards that she will be filming a movie in August. No other information has been given since she stated she’s superstitious.

On July 18, 2007, MTV News confirmed in an article interview with Ashley Tisdale that her August movie will be titled Picture This in which Tisdale plays an unpopular girl working at Petco in this father/daughter movie. Ashley states she will probably return to her natural brunette hair color for this movie.

Ashley Tisdale Photo Archive