David Henrie Says Faith Cost Him in Hollywood, but Led to New Friendships and Family

David Henrie, known for his role in Disney's "Wizards of Waverly Place," has stated that his commitment to his faith led to significant professional and personal costs within the entertainment industry. In a September podcast interview on "The Bryce Crawford Podcast," Henrie shared that he lost agents, turned down numerous roles, and consequently forfeited substantial income due to his unwillingness to compromise his beliefs.

"I was like I'm just not going to do something that I think will disrespect my belief now or disrespect our Lord," Henrie said. "I'm just not going to do it. I'm not going to go near it. And it cost me a lot. It cost a lot. I lost a lot of money. Friends, a girlfriend at the time. I kind of was stripped of everyone, everyone that I would call a friend."

Despite these losses, Henrie found that his commitment to his faith led to new, positive relationships. He described meeting individuals who challenged and supported his spiritual growth, which he credits with leading him to his wife.

"I found new friends," he said. "I found guys I respected, guys I loved, that were building me up in Christ. You know, I think that friendship is like an elevator. It brings you up or it brings you down. So, I made new friends and I made friends that elevated me and that challenged me, gave me great books to read and helped form me in my faith and led to meeting my wife, my best friend now."

Henrie noted that his journey has been a long-term process, and some of the individuals he lost contact with have since re-entered his life, indicating a shift in their perspectives.

"Some of those people who left have now come back into the picture," he stated. "They've gotten older. They've changed the way that they think. And I get texts from people like, 'Hey, just want you to know I went to church this Sunday.' And I was like, 'Oh, no way.' I didn't, would have never thought this person would, that would happen. And yeah, it's a marathon. It's not a race."

In previous comments to Fox News Digital, Henrie expressed optimism about the entertainment industry's evolving openness to faith-based content. He observed that industry executives are increasingly seeking content that resonates with religious audiences, whom he believes have been historically underrepresented.

Henrie, a devout Catholic, also discussed the personal impact of becoming a father, which has influenced his desire to champion projects and content suitable for families. This led him to launch Novo Inspire Studios, a production company focused on creating