McLaren's first main cast role came in 2004 with the children's series "Silversun", which aired on both the Seven Network and the ABC. His feature film debut followed in 2005 with the low budget Melbourne feature "Court of Lonely Royals", directed by Rohan Michael Hoole. 2005 also saw McLaren work on "Last Man Standing", and achieve a solid footing on the advert voiceover circuit. In 2006, McLaren began working on the children's series "", appearing from series one through midseason of series three as the character Lewis McCartney.