Strong was born in San Francisco, California to King Strong and Lin Warner. His brother is Shiloh Strong, also an actor.

Strong's best known part was as Shawn Hunter in Boy Meets World. He's also famous for playing "Paul" in the indie horror-comedy Cabin Fever (2002), directed by Eli Roth. His family made their own production company named Redwood Shire Productions. He has "admitted" in an interview he recognizes his name sounds like a "porno name."

His role in Boy Meets World as Shawn Hunter gave him the reputation as a ladies' man. Ironically, he guest starred in the 2006 sitcom Crumbs, as Fred Savage's boyfriend.

During the filming of "Cabin Fever", he was chased by a bus full of girls when he was covered in fake blood while he had to run back to the film crew for miles.

He graduated from Columbia University in 2004.