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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Music Box • Musician

Joshua Bassett

Joshua Bassett is an American actor, singer, and songwriter known for playing Ricky Bowen in the Disney+ series *High School Musical: The Musical: The Series*.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Joshua Bassett is an American actor, singer, and songwriter best known for playing Ricky Bowen in the Disney+ series *High School Musical: The Musical: The Series*. He released his debut album, *The Golden Years*, in 2024.

What it is

Joshua Bassett (born December 22, 2000, in Oceanside, California) rose to fame as Ricky Bowen in *High School Musical: The Musical: The Series* (2019–2023). He also built a music career with singles like "Common Sense" and his debut album *The Golden Years* (2024). In 2023, he won a Children's and Family Emmy Award for work on the series' soundtrack.

Key details

Bassett began acting young and landed Disney roles before his breakout. He publicly came out as part of the LGBTQ+ community in 2021. In January 2021, he was hospitalized with septic shock and heart failure but later recovered. As of 2026, he is 25 years old. Available sources do not confirm a current partner.

Why it matters

Bassett represents a crossover between Disney stardom and independent music, with a growing discography and public interest in his personal life. His health scare and coming out have also made him a figure in conversations about resilience and LGBTQ+ visibility in entertainment.

In short

  • Known for playing Ricky Bowen in *High School Musical: The Musical: The Series*.
  • Released debut album *The Golden Years* in 2024.
  • Won a Children's and Family Emmy Award in 2023.
  • Publicly identified as LGBTQ+ in 2021; survived septic shock in 2021.

Quick questions

Who is Joshua Bassett?
Joshua Bassett is an American actor, singer, and songwriter best known for playing Ricky Bowen in *High School Musical: The Musical: The Series*.
How old is Joshua Bassett?
He was born on December 22, 2000, making him 25 years old as of 2026.
What happened to Joshua Bassett in 2021?
In January 2021, he was hospitalized with septic shock and heart failure, and later recovered.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Bassett
    Supports: Birth date, nationality, occupations, breakthrough role, debut album, and 2024 lead single.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7481311/
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, occupations, and age.
  3. Broadway.com — https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/joshua-bassett/profile/
    Supports: Career overview, debut album, and major music and acting recognition.
  4. Apple Music — https://www.apple.com/music/
    Supports: Music career overview and recorded singles such as 'Just Love'.
  5. Apple TV — https://www.tv.apple.com/us/person/joshua-bassett/umc.cpc.2mqcsay4qn49lcvltxhgevi50
    Supports: Early acting roles and breakout Disney career.
  6. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/
    Supports: Hospitalisation in January 2021 and public comments about health; use cautiously as a secondary source.