Hilary Duff is an acclaimed American actress, singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur and author who rose to fame as a teenager starring in the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire. Over the course of her prolific career, Duff has showcased her versatility across film, television, and music while earning numerous awards and recognition.
Hilary Duff burst onto the entertainment scene in 2001 landing the title role in Disney Channel’s Lizzie McGuire at just 13 years old. Her portrayal of the clumsy but endearing title character catapulted Duff into teen idol status and mainstream popularity. The show became one of Disney Channel’s most successful original series. After the show’s conclusion in 2004, Duff went on to star in numerous films aimed at teenage audiences including A Cinderella Story, Cheaper by the Dozen, and The Lizzie McGuire Movie. She also pursued a successful music career, releasing several chart-topping albums between 2003-2007.
Now in her 30s, Duff has gracefully transitioned into more mature acting roles on shows like Younger while balancing family life and various business ventures. Through talent, drive and likable on-screen appeal, she has maintained longevity in the fickle world of Hollywood. Below we explore Duff’s background, family, career highlights across entertainment, and other interesting personal details.
Early Life and Background
Hilary Duff with his Parents
Hilary Duff with his Sister
- Hilary Erhard Duff was born on September 28, 1987 in Houston, Texas.
- Her parents are Robert Erhard Duff, a partner in a chain of convenience stores, and Susan Colleen Duff (nee Cobb), a homemaker turned film and music producer.
- Hilary has an older sister named Haylie Duff, born in 1985, who is also an accomplished actress and singer.
- Hilary demonstrated a talent and passion for performing at a young age. She began taking acting, singing and ballet lessons in and around Houston from age 6.
- Her first major role came in 1994 at age 7 when she landed a part in the miniseries True Women starring Angelina Jolie.
- In order to advance the budding careers of Hilary and her sister Haylie, their mother moved them to California when Hilary was 10 years old. There the Duff sisters studied acting further and began auditioning for roles.
Breakout Role in Lizzie McGuire
- In 2001, Hilary got her big break being cast as the title character on the Disney Channel original series Lizzie McGuire.
- Lizzie McGuire follows 13-year-old Lizzie, portrayed by Duff, as she navigates adolescence alongside her best friends Miranda and Gordo. With her clumsy but endearing antics, Lizzie quickly became a relatable and iconic Disney Channel heroine.
- The show was an immediate hit, connecting with pre-teen and teen audiences. During its run from 2001-2004, Lizzie McGuire drew in nearly 2.3 million viewers per episode.
- For her portrayal, Duff received multiple awards and nominations recognizing her as both an actress and role model for young audiences. This includes winning two Kids Choice Awards for Favorite TV Actress from 2002-2003.
- Thanks to the popularity of Lizzie McGuire, Duff became a teen idol and household name. Her face was suddenly plastered on merchandise, books, dolls and video games around the world.
- Duff reprised her role as Lizzie in The Lizzie McGuire Movie, released by Walt Disney Pictures in 2003. The film grossed $55 million worldwide.
Successful Music Career
In addition to acting, Duff pursued a thriving second career as a singer during her Disney Channel days:
- She signed a record deal with Hollywood Records and released her debut studio album, Metamorphosis in August 2003 at age 15.
- It reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over 5 million copies worldwide. The album spawned two top five Billboard Hot 100 hits: “So Yesterday” and “Come Clean”.
- She followed up with three more hit studio albums: Hilary Duff (2004), Most Wanted (2005) and Dignity (2007), all of which cracked the Billboard top 5.
- Additional popular singles from Duff during this period include “Fly”, “Wake Up”, “With Love” and “Stranger”.
- She has released a total of 15 singles that charted within the Billboard Hot 100. Her music videos received frequent airplay on MTV, Fuse and VH1.
- In 2015, Duff made a comeback in music after nearly a decade hiatus, releasing her fifth studio album, Breathe In. Breathe Out. It debuted at #5, becoming her fifth top five album.
Duff has proven herself as both an actress and a commercially successful pop artist over the years. She is one of very few Disney stars to achieve such wild success across multiple creative arenas.
Other Notable Acting Roles
In addition to her breakout in Lizzie McGuire, Duff has expanded her acting resume over the years with roles in films and TV shows:
- She starred in the romantic comedies A Cinderella Story (2004) opposite Chad Michael Murray and Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) with Steve Martin.
- Other notable film roles include:
- Agent Cody Banks (2003) as Natalie Connors
- The Perfect Man (2005) as Holly Hamilton
- Material Girls (2006) as Tanzie Marchetta
- According to Greta (2009) as Greta
- Duff has guest starred on several hit TV shows including:
- Gossip Girl as Olivia Burke
- Community as Meghan
- Two and a Half Men as Stacey
- Law & Order: SVU as Ashlee Walker
- From 2015-2021, Duff starred as Kelsey Peters for 7 seasons on TV Land’s hit comedy series Younger. This marked her first big TV role as an adult actress.
- In 2019, Duff briefly reprised her Lizzie McGuire role (now 30 years old) in a crossover episode of the Disney+ series Love, Simon.
Thanks to her acting range and likable persona, Duff has maintained an active acting career from child star to adult performer.
Marriage and Family Life
In her personal life, Duff is married with two children:
- In 2010, Duff married Canadian NHL hockey player Mike Comrie. They have a son named Luca Cruz Comrie, born in 2012. Duff and Comrie finalized their divorce in 2016.
- In 2017, Duff began dating singer-songwriter Matthew Koma, who co-wrote and produced some tracks on her 2015 album Breathe In. Breathe Out. They have a daughter together named Banks Violet Bair, born in 2018.
- Duff and Koma tied the knot in December 2019 with an intimate backyard wedding. Their ceremony took place at their home in Los Angeles.
- Duff is also a stepmother to Koma’s 7-year-old daughter Violet from a previous relationship.
- Her sister Haylie Duff has a daughter named Ryan, born in 2015, making Hilary an aunt.
Duff seems to have found marital happiness with her second husband Matthew Koma, blending their families together.
Impressive Net Worth
- As of 2023, Hilary Duff’s net worth is estimated at around $25 million dollars.
- She earned significant income during her childhood and teen years as the star of hit Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire.
- Duff also amassed a fortune from her best-selling music albums and singles released in the early 2000s.
- She continues to earn money from her acting roles on shows like Younger along with endorsement deals and business ventures.
- Some of her past endorsement partners include CoverGirl, Degree Girl, Ice Breakers and more.
- Duff has launched her own clothing lines like Stuff by Hilary Duff and Femme for DKNY Jeans which add to her revenue.
- She’s also made money from her young adult books, perfume lines and more.
Thanks to her early success, Duff had already earned an estimated $15 million by age 18. Her varied entertainment career and business deals have allowed her to continue growing her wealth over the past two decades.
Other Career Highlights
In addition to performing, Duff has explored various other business ventures over the years:
- She tried her hand at writing, releasing a trilogy of young adult novels called Elixir from 2010-2013. The books became New York Times bestsellers.
- She launched her own fashion lines in the mid-2000s: Stuff by Hilary Duff and Femme for DKNY Jeans.
- Duff has been the face of major brand campaigns for companies like Hasbro, Ice Breakers gum and Acuvue contact lenses.
- She created her own fragrance lines starting with the perfume With Love… Hilary Duff launched in 2006. Several more perfumes followed.
- In 2022, she co-founded a baby product company called Happy Little Camper selling eco-friendly diapers and other items.
Duff has maintained busy over the years not just acting and singing but also exploring her entrepreneurial interests. She is constantly taking on new creative challenges and business ventures. Read this : Who is Selena Green Vargas and where is she now? All we know
Conclusion
In summary, Hilary Duff has achieved an extraordinary amount of success across entertainment genres starting from her breakout teen role on Lizzie McGuire. She seamlessly transitioned into adult acting while also earning major music accomplishments like several top charting albums. Duff has received various honors like Kids’ Choice and Teen Choice awards. She has balanced Hollywood fame with raising a family, authoring books, launching clothing lines and other business pursuits. Now in her mid-30s, Duff remains a beloved star with new acting projects and entrepreneurial endeavors on the horizon. Her talent, relatable charm and work ethic continue to resonate with audiences.
FAQ’s
What role made Hilary Duff famous as a teenager?
Hilary Duff rose to fame playing the title role in the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire from 2001 to 2004.
What music success did Hilary Duff achieve?
In addition to acting, Duff had a successful music career with several top-selling albums like Metamorphosis and singles like “So Yesterday” and “Come Clean” in the early 2000s.
Is Hilary Duff married with children?
Yes, Hilary Duff is married to singer Matthew Koma. They have a daughter named Banks together, and Duff also has a son named Luca from her previous marriage.
What is Hilary Duff’s estimated net worth?
As of 2023, Hilary Duff’s net worth is estimated to be around $25 million from her acting, singing, endorsements, and business ventures.
What other careers has Hilary Duff pursued besides acting and singing?
Duff has authored young adult book series, launched clothing lines, created her own perfume brands, and co-founded an eco-friendly baby product company.
