THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Wizards of Waverly Place' 12 years later

Disney Channel

• "Wizards of Waverly Place" premiered on Disney Channel in October 2007.
• The show starred Selena Gomez, David Henri, and Jake T. Austin as siblings with magical powers. 
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On October 12, 2007, "Wizards of Waverly Place" premiered on Disney Channel. The show centered on the Russo family living in New York's Greenwich Village. On the sitcom, siblings Alex (played by Selena Gomez), Justin (David Henrie), and Max (Jake T. Austin) inherited magical powers from their father (David DeLuise).

The kids trained to become the superior wizard throughout the sitcom's four seasons, while learning lessons from their parents (who owned the Waverly Sub Station). 

Here's what the cast has been up to since the series debuted on Disney Channel 12 years ago. 

Selena Gomez starred as middle child Alex Russo.

She was sassy and often responded to people with sarcastic remarks. Alex's careless use of magic landed her in messy situations, but yet, she ended up earning the title of the Family Wizard.  

Gomez's role propelled her to fame, and she's now a singer, actress, and collaborator with fashion brands.

Since "WOWP," Gomez has become one of the most popular people on social media and had highly-publicized relationships with Nick Jonas, Justin Bieber, and The Weeknd. 

Gomez has also been honored for her musical achievements and humanitarian work. She voiced the animated character Mavis in the "Hotel Transylvania" films and previously released two albums that peaked at No. 1. 

The "Bad Liar" singer has released her own perfume, collaborated with companies like Puma and Coach, and is a UNICEF ambassador. 

Her fashion and hairstyles have evolved over the years, and she has been open about her struggles with depression and anxiety. In September 2017, Gomez revealed that she underwent a kidney transplant, which she needed as a result of her lupus.  

In 2018, the actress said that she would be taking a break from social media. In October, People reported that Gomez was seeking treatment after an "emotional breakdown." 

The 27-year-old has since returned to the spotlight with a role in a zombie comedy movie called "The Dead Don't Die," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2019. 

Read more: Selena Gomez is starring in a new movie with veteran actor Bill Murray, and he admitted that he misjudged her

The oldest Russo child, Justin, was played by David Henrie.

He was quite book smart and eventually became the headmaster of Wiz Tech.

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