'90s Hollywood Heartthrob under Scrutiny for Aging 'Terribly' at 48: How He Looks Now in Photos

Once the epitome of youthful charm and heartthrob allure, a beloved '90s Hollywood star is now facing an unexpected wave of scrutiny over his aging appearance.

Actor Freddie Prinze Jr., one of Hollywood's iconic '90s heartthrobs, recently stirred up buzz among fans. His once-familiar face looked noticeably different when he attended an event in Beverly Hills, California, in July.

At the premiere of "The Girl in the Pool," Prinze Jr. made a stylish entrance in a black sweater paired with a light pink shirt. Although he looked radiant, his hair showed a noticeable shift from dark gray to a lighter silver-gray.

Joining Prinze were Rachael Leigh Cook and his wife, Sarah Michelle Gellar. Cook looked stunning in a white off-shoulder top, while Gellar exuded elegance in a white lacey outfit with a black ribbon detail.

In another moment at the event, Prinze Jr. happily posed with Cook, marking a reunion of sorts, as they were co-stars in the 1999 film "She's All That."

While Gellar and Cook seem to have maintained their youthful looks, some netizens had different opinions about Prinze Jr.'s appearance. "Wow, he aged terribly....looks like av60 year old grandpa....sad😂 [sic]," one person commented.

Another added, "He looks so old," while a different user asked, "Are they the same age? Yikes," referring to Cook and Prinze's ages. "He did not age well…" another pointed out.

Some compared Prinze Jr. and Cook, with one remarking, "She's all that still... he is not lol nahhh but they both aged... he didn't do it that gracefully [sic]." Another echoed a similar sentiment, "Rachel is aging well, freddie im not so sure [sic]."

More netizens were surprised by the contrast between the two celebrities. "Why did I think this was a picture of him and his daughter?" one netizen wondered. "She looks the SAME [sic]," noted another user.

Another quipped, "Bruh, he looks more like her father. 😂😂😂 She's ageless." However, a fan defended both Prinze Jr. and Cook's looks, "He still looks fabulous an so handsome she looks so pretty [sic]."

Interestingly, the mixed reactions from netizens aren’t new for Prinze Jr., who has previously reflected on aging and his career. In a 2018 interview with Us Weekly, he shared his surprise at seeing Cook after many years.

Clips of their scenes from "She's All That" were played during the interview, and Prinze Jr. noted how Cook "literally looked exactly the same" after all these years.

In the interview, Prinze Jr. recalled meeting Cook for lunch. Before their meeting, Cook told him what she would be wearing so he could easily spot her, but the "Summer Catch" actor was confident he could recognize her. "Legit, I recognized her," he shared, recounting the moment.

Prinze Jr. also mentioned that he and Cook remain close, as they were with the late actor Paul Walker. However, when asked if he planned to return to acting, he said, "You know, I love being a full-time father, and removing myself from that equation wouldn't be good. I'm basically retired."

The "I Know What You Did Last Summer" actor has been open about stepping back from acting to focus on fatherhood. In a 2016 interview with GQ, he recalled how a break from his busy career led him to realize his priorities had shifted.

Prinze Jr. said, "I took my kid to jiu jitsu five days in a row. It was like summer break. I literally was just like, 'This is like the greatest week of my life."

During this period, Prinze Jr. took a step back from acting and discovered more about himself. Though he continued in the industry for a few more years, notably playing Cole Ortiz on the series "24," his interest was waning.

Reflecting on his career at the time, he shared, "That's when you kind of realize, 'Hey, I don't think I have the passion for this.'" This realization also led to a significant shift in his life.

Following the birth of his and Gellar's first child, Charlotte Grace, in 2009, Prinze Jr. found a new sense of purpose. "I wanted to be a stay-at-home dad. I wanted to cook breakfast and dinner for my kids every day," he said.

Though largely out of the Hollywood spotlight, Prinze Jr. hasn't completely retired. In 2022, he starred in the Netflix holiday film "Christmas with You," where he played a single father to his on-screen daughter, Deja Monique Cruz.

Reflecting on his role as a father, Prinze Jr. noted, "I can't play a teen anymore. I got a lot more gray hair than I did back in the '90s and early 2000s."

While he enjoyed working on the film, Prinze Jr. made it clear that his priorities had shifted. "I love rom-coms and horror movies. They are really the only two kinds of things that I look for — that I take seriously," he explained.

Freddie Prinze Jr.'s recent public appearance has sparked a mix of criticism and praise online. Despite the chatter about his changing looks, he seems content with his life choices, having found fulfillment in fatherhood and family.