Zac Efron

Biografi Lengkap Zac Efron

Personal Information
Nama Lengkap: Zachary David Alexander Efron
Date Of Birth: October 18, 1987
Place Of Birth: San Luis Obispo, California, United States
Nationality: United States
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
Profession: Actor, Singer, Producer
Religion: agnostic (describes himself as Jewish due to his paternal grandfather's background)
Status: not married (as of 2025) Family background and childhood
Zac Efron was born to Starla Baskett, a secretary, and David Efron, an electrical engineer, who met at a power plant in California. Zac grew up in Arroyo Grande, California, about 200 miles north of Los Angeles, with his younger brother, Dylan Efron, and paternal half-sister, Olivia. The surname “Efron “is of Hebrew origin, meaning” lark " (Bird), and is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname derived from biblical place names. Although his paternal grandfather was Jewish, Zac was raised in an agnostic family and did not practice religion actively during his childhood.

Zac describes his childhood as “normal” in a middle-class family. He was known to be a perfectionist at school, claiming he would “freak out” if he got a b instead of an A, and often became the “class clown” to entertain his friends. His artistic talent began to show from an early age, when he often imitated the character of Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz and sing in perfect pitch. His father encouraged Zac to start acting at the age of 11, after a piano teacher recognized his talent and advised him to pursue theatrical roles.

Education and early theatrical career

Zac bersekolah di Arroyo Grande High School dan lulus pada tahun 2006. Ia juga belajar di Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts di Santa Maria, California, pada tahun 2000 dan 2001. There, he performed in various theatrical productions such as Gypsy, Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Music Man. Guru dramanya, Robyn Metchik, merekomendasikannya kepada agen di Los Angeles, yang kemudian menandatanganinya ke Creative Artists Agency. Despite being accepted at the University of Southern California, Zac chose to focus on an acting career and not pursue college.

Early career in television (2002-2005)

Zac began his acting career in the early 2000s with guest roles in several popular television series, such as Firefly (2002), ER (2003), The Guardian (2004), and CSI: Miami (2005). In 2004, he landed a recurring role as Cameron Bale on the WB drama series Summerland, which later made her a main cast member in the second season alongside Kay Panabaker, Lori Loughlin, and Jesse McCartney. In 2003, he starred in the Television Movie Lifetime Miracle Run as Steven Morgan, one of two autistic twins, and his performance earned him a nomination for The Young Artist Award for Best Young Supporting Actor in a TV movie.

Fame through High School Musical (2006–2008)

The turning point in Zac's career came in 2006 when he played Troy Bolton, a high school basketball athlete who discovers his interest in musicals, in a Disney Channel television movie High School Musical. The Film became a pop culture phenomenon, recording high ratings and becoming one of the most successful television films in Disney Channel history. Zac starred opposite Vanessa Hudgens, who later became his real-life girlfriend from 2005 to 2010. The Soundtrack of the film, including songs Breaking Free yang menampilkan Zac, mencapai posisi ke-4 di Billboard Hot 100. However, it was revealed that his vocals in the first film were mixed with Drew Seeley's voice because his vocal range as a baritone did not match Troy's character's need for a tenor voice. Zac then sings all his own songs in High School Musical 2 (2007) and High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008), which was released in theaters and became the biggest opening for a musical film at the box office.

Success High School Musical made Zac into a teen idol and earned the nickname “poster boy for tweenyboppers” by Rolling Stone in 2007. Ia memenangkan Teen Choice Award untuk Breakout Star dan Choice Chemistry bersama Vanessa Hudgens, serta MTV Movie Award untuk Best Male Performance untuk High School Musical 3.

Transition to Adult Roles (2007-2016)

To give up the image of a Disney teen idol, Zac began to take on more adult roles. In 2007, he played Link Larkin in the film adaptation of the musical Hairspray, beradu akting dengan John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, dan Nikki Blonsky. Penampilannya mendapat pujian kritis, dan ia memenangkan Broadcast Film Critics Choice Award sebagai bagian dari ensemble cast. In 2009, he starred in the fantasy comedy 17 Again, which became his first commercial success as a lead outside of Disney, winning the Teen Choice Award for Choice Comedy Actor.

Zac continues to diversify his portfolio with roles in plays such as Me and Orson Welles (2009), Charlie St. Cloud (2010), and The Paperboy (2012), although The Paperboy less commercially successful. He also voiced Ted Wiggins in the animated film The Lorax (2012), which grossed $70 million in its opening weekend. In 2014, Zac starred in the comedy Neighbors along with Seth Rogen, who became a huge hit and helped dispel his “Disney pretty boy”image. He also starred That Awkward Moment (2014), produced by his own company, Ninjas Runnin ' Wild, as well as We Are Your Friends (2015), Dirty Grandpa (2016), Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016), and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016).

Leading roles and success at the Box Office (2017-2023)

In 2017, Zac starred in two major films: Baywatch, an action comedy with Dwayne Johnson, and The Greatest Showman, a musical drama with Hugh Jackman and Zendaya, which became his best-selling live-action film in the US. The Greatest Showman dinominasikan untuk Golden Globe Award untuk Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. He also appeared in The Disaster Artist (2017), a biographical comedy-drama directed by James Franco, which also received a Golden Globe nomination.

In 2019, Zac played serial killer Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was released by Netflix. His performance as Bundy received praise for his charisma and intensity, although the film itself received mixed reviews. In the same year, he played in The Beach Bum karya Harmony Korine bersama Matthew McConaughey. In 2020, he voiced Fred Jones in the animated film Scoob!. In 2022, he starred in the survival thriller Gold and horror remake Firestarter based on Stephen King's novels, as well as war comedies The Greatest Beer Run Ever bersama Russell Crowe. In 2023, Zac played Kevin Von Erich in The Iron Claw, a biographical drama about the Von Erich family of wrestlers, who received praise for their physical transformation and emotional performances.

Career outside acting

Zac founded the production company Ninjas Runnin ' Wild in 2010, which is involved in the production of films such as Dirty Grandpa, That Awkward Moment, and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. In 2019, he launched a YouTube channel with two weekly series: Off the Grid, which features outdoor adventures with his younger brother Dylan without electronic devices, and Gym Time, which focuses on fitness and nutrition alongside celebrities and athletes. The channel has been controversial for getting excessive promotion from YouTube, which is accused of prioritizing mainstream celebrities.

Zac is also the host and executive producer for the Netflix documentary series Down to Earth with Zac Efron (2020-2022), which explores healthy and sustainable lifestyles in different countries. Penampilannya dalam serial ini membuatnya memenangkan Daytime Emmy Award untuk Outstanding Daytime Program Host pada tahun 2021.

Personal life and health

Zac was in a relationship with Vanessa Hudgens from 2005 to 2010, Sami Miro from 2014 to 2016, and model Vanessa Valladares in 2020. In 2013, he underwent rehabilitation to overcome alcohol and drug addiction, and has remained sober since June 2013. In November 2013, he suffered a jaw injury from a fall at his home. In December 2019, Zac contracted a serious bacterial infection (possibly typhus) while filming Killing Zac Efron in Papua New Guinea, which required her to be hospitalized in Australia before fully recovering. In August 2024, he was rushed to hospital after being found unconscious in a swimming pool in Ibiza.

Zac was vegan for two years until 2022, when he switched to intermittent fasting and returned to meat after undergoing a food sensitivity test. He has also been open about his struggles with insomnia, agoraphobia, and depression, triggered by long - term use of diuretics for his role in Baywatch. Zac uses transcendental meditation to aid relaxation. In 2021, he moved to Byron Bay, Australia, after selling his home in Los Angeles for $5.8 million.

Awards and recognition

• Teen Choice Awards: Breakout Star dan Choice Chemistry untuk High School Musical (2006), Choice Comedy Actor untuk 17 Again (2009), Choice Music/Dance Movie Actor untuk High School Musical 3 (2008).
• MTV Movie Award: Best Male Performance untuk High School Musical 3 (2008).
• Broadcast Film Critics Choice Award: Best Ensemble Cast untuk Hairspray (2008).
• Daytime Emmy Award: Outstanding Daytime Program Host untuk Down to Earth with Zac Efron (2021).
• Hollywood Walk of Fame: Received a star in December 2023.

Hobbies and interesting facts

• Zac adalah penggemar olahraga seperti golf, ski, panjat tebing, dan snowboarding. He is also a fan of manga, especially Dragon Ball Z.
• She has two Australian Shepherd dogs named Dreamer and Puppy, and a Siamese cat named Simon.
• Zac was trained by Tom Cruise for two hours to ride a motorcycle.
• If not an actor, Zac admitted that he would like to become a chef.
• In 2008, she was included in the Forbes Celebrity 100 at number 92 with an estimated income of $5.8 million. In 2015, his net worth was estimated at $18 million.

Philanthropy and advocacy

Zac aktif dalam kegiatan amal, termasuk mengikuti lelang Charitybuzz School Day pada tahun 2014 untuk mengumpulkan dana bagi Communities in Schools dan DonorsChoose.org. Melalui Down to Earth with Zac Efron, it promotes environmental awareness and sustainable living practices. However, in May 2024, his name was included in the “Blockout 2024 list” for not being vocal about the situation in Gaza, which sparked controversy on social media.

Legacy and impact

From a Disney teen idol to a versatile actor, Zac Efron has shown an incredible transformation in his career. With her acting, singing and dancing skills, as well as her commitment to diverse projects, she has managed to maintain her relevance in the entertainment industry. The Hollywood Walk of Fame Award in 2023 is a testament to the recognition of his dedication for more than two decades. With his upcoming projects and his passion for growing, Zac Efron remains one of the leading talents in Hollywood.