Joshua Bassett

Joshua Taylor Bassett (born December 22, 2000) is an American actor and singer. He began his career as a teen actor, appearing on the third season of Disney Channel family sitcom Stuck in the Middle as Aidan Peters. Bassett rose to prominence for his leading role as high school student Ricky Bowen in the Disney+ streaming series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019–2023), and for its accompanying soundtracks, for which he was nominated for two Children's and Family Emmy Awards, winning in 2023. He also starred in Better Nate Than Ever and led the voice cast in Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again (both 2022). In music, Bassett was signed to Warner Records in 2020 and subsequently released four extended plays. His debut album The Golden Years was released on July 26, 2024.

Early life Bassett was born and raised in Oceanside, California, to parents Taylor and Laura. He has five sisters and was home-schooled.

His first introduction to musical theater was at age eight, over a decade before he starred as Ricky in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, when he was in a community theater production of High School Musical on Stage!. and "multiple commercials", before working in television. He moved to Los Angeles when he was 16 years old to start acting, living in his car for some time to get by.

Career 2017–2019: Breakthrough with High School Musical: The Musical: The Series From 2017 to 2018, Bassett appeared in episodic roles in the television shows: Lethal Weapon, Game Shakers, and Dirty John. In August 2018, Bassett portrayed the role of Matt in a staged reading of the musical Calvin Berger. The production ran from August 10 through August 12 at the Hudson Backstage Theatre in Hollywood, California.

In October 2018, at age 17, Bassett was cast in his first major role, as the male lead Ricky Bowen: a "cynical but charming high school [student]", on Disney+'s mockumentary musical drama streaming television series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, a spin-off of the High School Musical film series. In November 2019, the program debuted on Disney+. Both the series and his performance were met with positive reception. Shannon Miller of The A.V. Club praised Bassett for his talent, musical ability and "handling of dramatic material", while Kayla Cobb of Decider stated that he had significant romantic chemistry with the female lead Olivia Rodrigo; Megan Peters of ComicBook.com wrote that Bassett "[endears] fans with his plucky determination to do Troy justice". Bassett appeared in two specials related to the series. The first, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Special, a documentary special, was released in December 2019. The second was a holiday special titled High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special, released in December 2020; it featured his pre-release performance of original song "The Perfect Gift", and a cover of "Little Saint Nick" with co-star Matt Cornett. Bassett performed for the five soundtracks of the series. Additionally, he wrote and produced four original songs: he co-wrote the duet "Just for a Moment" with co-star Rodrigo for the first season's soundtrack, the holiday song "The Perfect Gift" for the second season "Finally Free" for the third season, and "Speak Out", which he performed with Cornett, for the fourth soundtrack. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series ran for four seasons, ending in August 2023. Bassett won two Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards for his role and a Children's and Family Emmy Award for "Finally Free".

Bassett's other ventures in 2019 included: a guest role—as Linus, a recovering teenage drug addict—in the fifteenth season of the television series Grey's Anatomy, and being featured on "Evergreen", a track from American musician August Kamp's debut studio album, 19: The Musical.

2020–2023: Musical debut and extended plays In early 2020, Bassett signed with talent and entertainment company United Talent Agency, as well as signed a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records. after signing with Warner Bros. Records, He released his debut single, "Common Sense", on music platforms on April 3, 2020. Later that month, Bassett appeared in the television special, The Disney Family Singalong, in which he performed "We're All In This Together" from High School Musical alongside the film's cast as well as cast members from the Zombies and Descendants franchises. Bassett's second single, "Anyone Else", was released on July 16, 2020. In August 2020, he was a guest star participant on Nickelodeon's reality game series Unfiltered. In October 2020, in an interview, Bassett revealed that he had worked on his six track debut EP which would be released soon.

On January 14, 2021, Bassett released "Lie Lie Lie", the lead single from his then-upcoming debut EP, with a R3hab remix and an acoustic piano version released the following month. The song peaked in the top thirty on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 and in the top ninety on the OOC UK Singles, becoming his first entry on both charts. Bassett had shared a snippet of the song on Instagram under the title, "I Know", back in late 2019 when the song had not entered production. He followed it up with the second single from his EP, "Only a Matter Of Time", released on January 28, 2021. In February 2021, Limbo, a short film that he had filmed back in 2015, was released on Amazon Prime Video and Vimeo on Demand. Despite the delayed release, the short film marked his film debut. Bassett played Caleb, an estranged young boy who reconnects with his father, the latter who is on a journey of self-reflection. Later that month, he revealed the track listing, cover art, and release date of his EP. On March 12, 2021, Bassett's self-titled debut EP was released. He wrote, co-produced five of six tracks in the record, and played six instruments throughout the body of work. The EP's subject matter centers on heartbreak, love, regret, and betrayal.

In April 2021, he conducted a one-night virtual concert titled "A Night with Joshua Bassett", in which he performed ten songs, including an unreleased song titled "LA", and a cover of "Drops of Jupiter", backed by a full band from EastWest Studios in Los Angeles. The virtual concert was broadcast live on his website, while tickets were up for sale on his merchandise store. It was also recorded and later released as a concert film on Prime Video, iTunes, Vudu, and Microsoft Movies & TV. In May 2021, Bassett released a single titled "Feel Something". He co-directed the music video for the song with fellow creative specialist Sarah Carpenter. In October 2021, Billboard placed Bassett in its Billboard 21 Under 21 list, which represented rising artists in the music industry under the age of 21. The EP was titled after the three songs; Bassett served as a co-creative director for the music videos of the songs.

In February 2022, Bassett released a single titled "Doppelgänger", co-directing the music video for the song with YouTuber and fellow creative Elle Mills. He co-starred along with actor and dancer Ciara Riley Wilson and social media personality Chelsey Amaro in the music video. In April 2022, Bassett starred in a supporting role as Anthony, the protagonist's older brother, in the Disney+ original musical comedy film Better Nate Than Ever, directed and written by Tim Federle and based on his 2013 novel of the same name. The film received generally positive reviews. TJ O'Connell stated that his performance as Anthony "truly brings so much emotional weight to this movie. He represents that approval we need that we think is out of reach." while Joshua Axelrod of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that Bassett "sells Anthony's growth as he finally begins to understand his little brother". In May 2022, Bassett announced his eponymous debut concert tour featuring stops in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In July 2022, he appeared as a contestant on the ninth season of Celebrity Family Feud, playing for the nonprofit organization, Make-A-Wish, along with other High School Musical: The Musical: The Series cast members.

2024–present: The Golden Years, off-Broadway and autobiography On May 17, 2024, Bassett released "The Golden Years", which served as the lead single from his debut album The Golden Years. The album was announced the same day. Bassett embarked on the Golden Years Tour, from July 2024 to January 2025 to support the album, visiting North America and Europe. In July 2025, he signed with Plush Management and released a stand-alone single "Blue", under their in-house label two months later.

Bassett made his off-Broadway debut as Seymour in the musical Little Shop of Horrors from December 2025 to March 2026. In January 2026, he led an industry reading (as Dion) of the Broadway-bound jukebox musical, The Wanderer in New York City, along with Olivia Holt (as Dion's wife Susan), Diego Andres Rodriguez (as Johnny), Tommy Bracco, Sarah Daniels, Morgan Dudley and Johnny Tammaro.

His first book, an autobiography titled Rookie: My Public, Private, and Secret Life, was released in May 2026. The book debuted at number ten on The New York Times Bestseller list for Hardcover Nonfiction. The book also debuted at number thirteen on the Publishers Weekly Bestsellers List selling 5,888 units in its first week.

Other activities Endorsements In March 2022, Bassett fronted the spring campaign, "Member's Always: Future Together", for clothing retailer American Eagle, alongside Madelyn Cline, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Michael Evans Behling, Coco Gauff, and Mxmtoon.

Philanthropy In January 2021, Bassett opened his online merchandise store, donating 100% of his proceeds from the merchandise to charity. Current charities that his merchandise store supports include Bring Change to Mind, Teen Line, and Sunrise Movement. Other charities that Bassett's merchandise store has supported include Court Appointed Special Advocates, Jack.org, The Young Feminist Fund, and A Long Walk Home.

Bassett donated 100% of his proceeds from his song "Crisis", the lead single from his December 2021 EP Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free, to mental health organizations. In addition, Bassett donated one dollar for every pre-save of said EP to mental health organizations, raising over twenty thousand dollars. Additionally, Bassett donated a portion of every VIP ticket for his upcoming American/European tour to a charity of the buyer's choice.

In March 2022, Bassett was selected to be an ambassador for the American Eagle "Members Always: Future Together" philanthropic campaign. Through this initiative, the brand awarded $200,000 in grants to twenty young people igniting change in their communities. For Mental Health Awareness Month, through the program, Bassett partnered with mental health awareness nonprofit organization Bring Change to Mind and was a speaker on mental health to local LA high school students at the organization's SoCal Summit.

In August 2022, Bassett was included on the Variety Power of Young Hollywood Impact List and invited to a gala hosted in partnership with Facebook Gaming. As part of the event, Bassett competed in a charity gaming tournament where each impact list honoree chose a charity of their choice to donate all their winnings to. Bassett's team chose to support Planned Parenthood. They ended up winning the tournament and donating $10,000 to Planned Parenthood.

In September 2022, Bassett released his third EP, Sad Songs in a Hotel Room. The second single of the project, "Lifeline", was a song dedicated to his mother, who was by his side while he was deathly ill in 2021. Bassett donated 100% of the proceeds for "Lifeline" to "organizations that are a lifeline for others". In addition, with the release of the single, he announced that he was creating an organization called "Find My Lifeline", a haven to provide people with support and lifelines for those who may not have a friend or family member to turn to.

In June 2023, Bassett started an initiative called "Sammy Sundays". He, along with friends and family, have worked to create care packages with hygiene and menstrual products, food, clothes, and other essential goods to give to the homeless community in Los Angeles. These care packages have been distributed every Sunday.

Personal life Bassett sings and plays piano, guitar, ukulele, bass, drums, and some saxophone. In 2020, he showed support for Black Lives Matter, appearing at a protest in Los Angeles with actress Clara Sanders as well as singer and then-girlfriend Sabrina Carpenter.

On May 10, 2021, he came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community during an interview.

In January 2021, Bassett became seriously ill and was hospitalized with septic shock and heart failure: "[The doctors] told me that I had a 30% chance of survival. They told me that if I had not checked into the hospital within 12 hours, I would have been found [dead] in my apartment." Following the incident, he revealed that he developed an addiction to ketamine, saying at one point that he was "consuming six baggies" of the drug nightly.

In August 2021, Bassett revealed in an interview that he had dealt with negative body image issues that developed into "serious problems" around the time the first season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series was airing. In Rookie: My Public, Private, and Secret Life, this was revealed to be an eating disorder involving bingeing and purging. In December 2021, Bassett stated that he was routinely abused in his childhood by a family member and in his adolescence by a different unnamed older man. Additionally, his memoir revealed that he was sexually harassed by a manager and co-manager in his early career.

Discography Studio albums +List of studio albums, with release date and label shown Title Album details The Golden Years Released: July 26, 2024 Label: Warner Format: CD, digital download, streaming Easier Released: August 14, 2026 Label: Plush Records Format: Digital download, streaming

Compilation albums +List of compilation albums, with release date and label shown Title Details Best of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Released: August 20, 2021 Label: Walt Disney Format: Digital download, streaming

Soundtrack albums +List of soundtrack albums, with selected chart positions, certifications, release date and label shown Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications US CAN High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Soundtrack Released: January 10, 2020 Label: Walt Disney Format: CD, digital download, streaming 31 38 RIAA: Gold High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special: The Soundtrack Released: November 20, 2020 Label: Walt Disney Format: Digital download, streaming — — High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Soundtrack: Season 2 Released: July 30, 2021 Label: Walt Disney Format: CD, digital download, streaming 58 23 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Soundtrack: Season 3 Released: September 16, 2022 Label: Walt Disney Format: Digital download, streaming — — High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Soundtrack: The Final Season Released: August 9, 2023 Label: Walt Disney Format: Digital download, streaming — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

Extended plays +List of extended plays, with selected chart positions, release date and label shown Title Details Peak chart positions USHeat. UKDown. Joshua Bassett Release: March 12, 2021 Label: Warner Format: Digital download, streaming19 67 Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free Release: December 3, 2021 Label: Warner Format: Digital download, streaming— — Sad Songs in a Hotel Room Release: September 23, 2022 Label: Warner Format: LP, digital download, streaming— 81 Different Release: October 27, 2022 Label: Warner Format: Digital download, streaming— — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

Singles As lead artist +List of singles as lead artist, with year released, selected chart positions and album name shown Title Year Peak chart positions Album USBub. IRE NZHot UK "Common Sense" 2020 — — — — "Anyone Else" — — — — "Lie Lie Lie" 2021 25 44 11 98 Joshua Bassett "Only a Matter of Time" — — — — "Telling Myself" — — — — "Feel Something" — — 39 — "Crisis" — 96 17 —Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free "Secret" 2022 — — 31 — "Smoke Slow" — — — —Sad Songs in a Hotel Room "Lifeline" — — — — "Sad Songs in a Hotel Room" — — — — "Would You Love Me Now?" — — — — Different "She Said He Said She Said" — — — — "I'm Sorry" — — — — "Different" — — — — "Just Love" 2023 — — — — "The Golden Years" 2024 — — — — The Golden Years "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" — — — — "Blue" 2025 — — — — Easier "Clouds"2026 — — — — "Hold Me" — — — — "Easier" — — — — "Dancing on the Edge" — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

Promotional singles +List of promotional singles, with year released, selected chart positions and album name shown Title Year Peak chart positions Album NZHot "I Think I Kinda, You Know" 2019 — High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Soundtrack "Just for a Moment" 2020 32 "Even When/The Best Part" 2021 33 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Soundtrack: Season 2 "The Perfect Gift" — "Bet On It" — "Even When" — "Let You Go" 40 "In a Heartbeat" — "Finally Free" 2022 — High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Soundtrack: Season 3 "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Guest appearances +List of guest appearances, with year released, other performing artists, and album name shown Title Year Other artist(s) Album "Evergreen" 2019 August Kamp 19: The Musical

Tours

Headlining Joshua Bassett's Tour (2022) The Complicated Tour (2023) The Golden Years Tour (2024–2025)

Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 2017 Lethal Weapon Will Episode: "Flight Risk" 2018 Game Shakers Brock Episode: "Babe & The Boys" 2019 Grey's Anatomy Linus Episodes: "Girlfriend in a Coma", "I Want a New Drug" 2019–2023 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Ricky Bowen Main role; streaming television series 2019 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Special Himself / Ricky Bowen Documentary special 2020 The Disney Family Singalong Himself Television special

Film Year Title Role Notes 2021 Limbo Caleb Short film 2025–2026 Little Shop of Horrors Seymour Krelborn Westside Theatre Off-Broadway 2026 The Wanderer Dion New York City Industry reading