What Happened to 'Elf' Star Daniel Tay Who Played Buddy's Half-Brother Michael Hobbs In the Beloved Christmas Movie

Believe it or not, it’s been almost 20 years since Elf became an instant holiday classic upon its release in 2003.

The Christmas movie did more than introduce fans to Will Ferrell‘s spirited Buddy the Elf and his iconic lines – think “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear” and “Buddy the elf, what’s your favorite color.”

It also served as an introduction to Daniel Tay, who played Buddy’s half-brother Michael Hobbs in the movie.

At the time, Daniel was 11 and had one credit to his name, a role in American Splendor, which also premiered in 2003. He was a Hollywood newcomer who caught lightning in a bottle with his second movie.

However, Elf remains his biggest role to date, and we haven’t seen Daniel in any recent blockbusters.

That’s because his life took a different path.

Click inside to find out what Daniel Tay has been up to since starring in Elf…

After Elf, Daniel‘s next credited role on IMDb is in 2006′s Doogal, where he voiced the lead character. He also appeared in Beer League and made his video game debut in Bully that year.

However, his last acting credits are in 2009 – lending his voice to an episode of American Dad and Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony.

What’s he been up to since then? Now 31, Daniel appears to have shifted focus to a different field.

He studied economics at Yale and is now working as an educator for a company called Veritas Prep, which helps students prepare for college and grad school entrance exams, according to The U.S. Sun.

The publication noted that his profile on Veritas Prep lists him as an actor and writer still. Is that a sign that he might make a return to the industry in the future?

Only time will tell. For now, we’ll continue to enjoy Daniel‘s comedic chops in Elf!

Speaking of Elf, check out the richest stars from the movie.