What Happened to Will Friedle? Hosting 'Pod Meets World' in 2026

If you grew up in the ’90s, Eric Matthews was the funniest guy on Friday-night TV — the big brother whose goofball energy slowly evolved into some of “Boy Meets World’s” most quotable moments. Will Friedle played him for seven seasons, then largely stepped out of the on-camera spotlight. But he didn’t disappear. He quietly became one of the most in-demand voices in animation and, more recently, a podcast host reconnecting with a whole generation of fans. So where is Will Friedle now in 2026? Very much around — you’re just as likely to hear him as see him.

01Profile

Full name

William Alan Friedle

Born

August 11, 1976 (49 years old)

Birthplace

Hartford, Connecticut

Occupation

Actor, voice actor, podcast host

Best known for

Eric Matthews on "Boy Meets World" (1993–2000)

Years active

1993–present

Will Friedle grew up in Connecticut and got his start in comedy and commercials before landing the role that would define his early career. What set him apart was timing — a rubber-faced, improvisational comic sensibility that turned a supporting sitcom part into a fan favorite. Decades later, that same voice and comic instinct would carry him into an entirely different corner of the entertainment business.

02The Rise: Becoming Eric Matthews

For millions of viewers, Will Friedle is Eric Matthews — and the way that character grew over the years is a big part of why he’s still beloved.

Cory’s big brother

“Boy Meets World” premiered on ABC’s TGIF lineup in 1993, following Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) from middle school through college. Friedle played Eric, Cory’s older brother — initially the cool, girl-chasing teen, and eventually one of the show’s comedic engines.

The evolution of Eric

What makes Eric endure is his transformation. Over seven seasons, the writers leaned into Friedle’s improvisational gifts, and Eric shifted from straightforward heartthrob to lovable oddball — inventing alter egos like “Plays With Squirrels,” delivering absurdist non sequiturs, and stealing scenes with pure comic energy. By the show’s final seasons, Eric was arguably its funniest character. “Boy Meets World” ran until 2000 and became a cornerstone of ’90s teen TV, later finding new life in reruns and streaming.

03From the Camera to the Mic

After “Boy Meets World” ended, Friedle made a deliberate turn away from live-action — and he’s been candid about why.

• 2000"Boy Meets World" ends after seven seasons; Friedle begins shifting toward voice work.
• 2014Reprises Eric Matthews in guest appearances on the Disney Channel sequel series "Girl Meets World."
• 2022Launches the "Pod Meets World" rewatch podcast with co-stars Rider Strong and Danielle Fishel.

Choosing voice acting

Friedle has spoken openly in interviews about how anxiety influenced his move away from on-camera acting toward voice work — a booth, a script, and a microphone offered a creative outlet without the pressures that came with being on set and on screen. That decision reshaped his career, and it turned out he was exceptionally good at it.

A “Boy Meets World” encore

He didn’t fully leave the Matthews family behind. When Disney Channel launched “Girl Meets World” — a sequel centered on Cory and Topanga’s daughter — Friedle returned as an older, still-eccentric Eric, delighting longtime fans and introducing the character to a new audience.

04A Second Life in Animation

Here’s the part casual fans often miss: Will Friedle has been one of the busiest voice actors in the business for the better part of two decades.

Terry McGinnis and the DC universe

His signature voice role is Terry McGinnis — the future Batman — in the acclaimed animated series Batman Beyond. It’s a role he’s reprised across DC animated projects and games over the years, and it earned him a devoted following among animation and comic fans who may never have watched a minute of “Boy Meets World.”

From Ron Stoppable to the Lion Guard

His voice credits are deep and varied: Ron Stoppable in Disney’s Kim Possible, Lion-O in the ThunderCats reboot, and Kion in Disney Junior’s The Lion Guard, among many others. The range — heroic, comedic, earnest — has kept him working steadily across networks and platforms, making him a fixture of children’s and superhero animation.

A convention favorite

That body of work has made Friedle a regular on the fan-convention circuit, where he’s equally likely to be asked about Eric Matthews and about Batman Beyond. He’s built a reputation as one of the genuinely warm, accessible presences in the space.

05What Will Friedle Is Doing Now

In 2026, Friedle is doing two things at once — voicing animation and, more visibly than he’s been in years, hosting a hit podcast about the show that made him famous.

”Pod Meets World”

Since 2022, Friedle has co-hosted “Pod Meets World,” a rewatch podcast, alongside his former co-stars Rider Strong and Danielle Fishel. The trio revisits “Boy Meets World” episode by episode, sharing behind-the-scenes memories, interviewing former castmates and crew, and reflecting — sometimes seriously — on the realities of growing up on a hit sitcom. The podcast has become a beloved companion piece to the series and a big reason “where is he now” is easy to answer: he’s right there, every week, talking to fans.

We get to relive it and process it, all these years later, with the people who were actually there. — Will Friedle, on hosting “Pod Meets World”

Still in the booth

Friedle’s voice-acting career remains active, with continued animation and game work keeping him behind the microphone. It’s the through-line of his post-sitcom life — the steady, often uncredited-to-the-public engine of his career.

Well-liked and well-adjusted

Perhaps the most notable thing about Will Friedle in 2026 is how uncomplicated the update is. There’s no comeback narrative because he never really went away, and no scandal to attribute or qualify. He’s a working actor, a candid podcaster, and — by all accounts — one of the more grounded people to have come up on a ’90s teen sitcom.

06Summary

Will Friedle turned a scene-stealing sitcom role into a long, quietly prolific career behind the microphone — and then, with “Pod Meets World,” stepped back into the fan spotlight on his own terms.