[15], Efron graduated from Arroyo Grande High School in 2006[16] and was then accepted into the University of Southern California but did not enroll. "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates" marks the tail-end of a string of comedies on Efron's filmography, all of which are so tonally different from his musical roots that even the worst of them are important parts of his career, establishing his versatility as an actor. While the second movie followed the summer vacation of Troy Bolton and his friends, the third movie thematized their senior year at high school and their departure to college. To add to this, in all the events where the cast of High School Musical came together, Zac was seen performing as well. The film received a pretty poor reception, but it's on this list for a reason: The chemistry between three young actors makes the entire endeavor worthwhile. As hilarious as his performance is, though, "High School Musical 2" shows Efron's willingness to commit to a role, fully surrendering to a character no matter how ridiculous or over-the-top the part may be. His charisma and charm ooze through the screen as he portrays a young Matthew Perry who wakes up as a teenager after a freak accident. He began acting professionally in the early 2000s and rose to prominence in the late 2000s for his leading role as Troy Bolton in the High School Musical trilogy (20062008). The Richest Disney Channel Stars, Ranked From Lowest to He also starred in The Paperboy (2012), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2012 and received a wider release later that year. At 18, Bolton would have either been wrapping up senior year or he'd be playing college hoops already. On July 22, the actor took to his social media to share a picture he had taken while visiting the school and the post was quick to get everyone excited. And Martha Cox aka Kaycee Stroh was 24 years old. When the two are called upon to sing a karaoke duet, it's immediately apparent they have chemistry. The film, which has been described as a modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, saw Efron playing the male lead Troy Bolton, a high school basketball player who feels conflicted when he finds himself interested in participating in the school musical with Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens), a girl from the scholastic decathlon team. Zac Efron $25 Million. 2000s Party. She's usurping her at every corner.". Coleman was nearly a decade older than her on-screen character. "It was a long process to get my mind around if I could, or if I wanted to play a guy like Ted Bundy," he explained. Excuse me, I need to sit down for a second. "High School Musical" put Efron on the map and made him the star he is today. Keep reading to learn how Efron became one of the most recognizable stars in the business. 'Firestarter,' 'Senior Year': New films streaming and in theaters The musical trilogy propelled the young stars career to unprecedented heights as he became the dreamboat of his generation. For his work on the film, Efron received a nomination for a 2019 People's Choice Award for best dramatic movie actor. Zac Efron Follows Vanessa Hudgens More Than Decade Gabriella met Troy at a New Year's Eve party. Zac Efron has come a long way from East High School with his starring role in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, on Netflix now. He chose instead to take time off to focus and graduate from high school. Efron's role in "The Disaster Artist" is small, but he's integral to one of the funniest scenes in a film full of hysterical moments. As a pair of troublemakers who can't go to a family gathering without accidentally causing a scene, Efron and DeVine have effortless natural chemistry. Zac Efron starred in High School Musical. However, the actor had recorded all the songs for it. WebHigh School Musical was the rare made-for-TV movie that transcended its humble origins and captivated a generation of teens and tweens when it premiered on Jan. 20, 2006. With Zac beaming with happiness during his visit, we are hoping we would get more High School Musical content from him. After a string of comedies that ranged from successful to critically panned (cough, "Baywatch," cough), "The Greatest Showman" came at the perfect time, reestablishing Efron as a multi-talented performer capable of greatness when given the right material. Zac Efron - Age, Movies & Life - Biography And after the end of the High School Musical franchise, Efron further established himself in Hollywood. Adamant that I was being lied to, I hunted down Jemma's Instagram and scrolled back to 2 June where I found THIS. In the early 2000s, the Californian teen actor managed to score guest roles in films such as Mainland and TV series such as Summerland.. Breaking free from his Disney image has been no easy feat, but Efron's filmography proves he's a multi-talented force to be reckoned with. In January, Grabeel spoke with Insider's Olivia Singh and weighed in on whether Sharpay was the villain or victim of the movie. Although the movie received mixed reviews overall, many critics praised Efron's performance for showing off his range as an actor. Can you see it ?? J. Emilio Flores/Corbis via Getty Images While Disney has not made any announcements, Zac has been vocal about his thoughts on coming back for the movie. He auditioned forand was subsequently cast ina small part in a long-running production of Gypsy. Zac Efron was 18 while filming "High School Musical." During this time, he also starred in the musical film Hairspray (2007) and the comedy film 17 Again (2009). Following his standout appearance in High School Musical, Zac Efron and his co-stars appeared in the 2007 follow-up High School Musical 2 , when Efron was 20 years old. Zac Efron may still be widely known for his break-out Disney role, but the star has since become one of the biggest names in Hollywood. As for Efron, the actor was most recently linked to model Vanessa Valladares, who he met while she was working at the Byron Bay General Store & Caf in Australia in September 2020. Efron plays Dan, an actor who shows up for a bit part and goes totally method, scaring the daylights out of Philip (Josh Hutcherson) and stunning the crew. Cloud", "Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Hilary Swank, Josh Duhamel and Lea Michele New Year's Eve Interview", "At Any Price Movie Review and Film Summary (2012)", "Being Zac Efron: An On-Set Liberal Arts Body Double Speaks Out", "Zac Efron Raises His Voice in 'Dr. East High School is both the name of the school in the film and the real name of the school where much of the movie was filmed. Teen Choice Award for his acting in the film. In the following years he starred, for example, in the movie 17 Again in 2009 and a remake of Baywatch in 2017. The film became a major commercial and critical success upon its release in July 2007. [36], Efron announced the creation of his YouTube channel in March 2019. The first "High School Musical" was released in 2006 and became a mega success. Both films received mixed reviews from critics. [37] The video sharing platform hosts two weekly series. How Old 'High School Musical' Stars Were Vs Their Characters Some YouTube users accused the platform of promoting a mainstream celebrity's account, which they feared would overshadow lesser known creators. It's a classic that we all know. "I could not have been more grateful to have that relationship at the time. The 2014 comedy "That Awkward Moment" stars Efron, Miles Teller, and Michael B. Jordan as three millennial besties. A running thread in Efron's filmography is his ability to generate chemistry with seemingly anyone. Unlike some movies like "Grease," where the cast was much older than their on-screen characters, many of the cast members of "HSM" were relatively close to being high school-aged during the film. Efron said he auditioned for his iconic "High School Musical" role during a group casting call in North Hollywood. Efron also starred as Cameron Bale, a series regular, on The WB's Summerland. The Richest Disney Channel Stars, Ranked From Lowest to Having graduated from the franchise, 22-year-old Zac Efron returns to high school to play 17-year-old Matthew Perry. He was recommended to an agent in Los Angeles by his drama teacher, Robyn Metchik, the mother of actor Aaron Michael Metchik. High School Musical When Kenny Ortega's "High School Musical" was released 15 years ago, nobody had any idea just how popular it would be. Law enforcement officials did not make any arrests because they viewed it as mutual combat. "It started off really organically," she recalled of their romance. It also gave the former Wildcat a chance to show off his basketball skills once again. If you want to, click the link in my bio. The film became a major blockbuster at the box office, and received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Published The summertime follow-up to "High School Musical" is arguably even more memorable than the first. WebZac Efron: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. Sadly, no High School Musical 4: College Freshman. The film is one of Efron's most poorly-received comedies, but it's salvaged by the dynamic between Efron, Teller, and Jordan a trio with charisma by the truckload. Here's what the cast of 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile' looks like in real life, 15 of the worst movies from the 2000s, according to audiences. Efron regularly documents his travels and fitness regiment to his YouTube channel. When Troy and Gabriella return to school from winter break, they audition for the school musical and find themselves struggling to attend callbacks for the lead roles while Troy juggles basketball and Gabriella juggles East High's Scholastic Decathlon Team. Many of us can still recite the lyrics for "We're All in This Together"; more than a few of us still remember the dance moves, too. "[47] Efron began a relationship with model and entrepreneur Sami Mir in September 2014. Notably, the sequel allows Efron to sing more (in the original movie, Drew Seeley provided many of Troy's vocals) and show his range. The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics. Per Rolling Stone, although Efron was reluctant about pursuing the arts at first, he became less hesitant after his piano teacher encouraged him to audition for musical-theater roles. The movie starred Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller, and Efron as young bachelors who vow to never get married. Zac Efron He's also been working on executive-producing and starring on the Quibi series "Killing Zac Efron," which is supposed to be filled with adventure. In the movie, the main characters are juniors, and it's assumed they are 16 or 17. For a decade and counting, Efron's name has been nearly synonymous with the word "heartthrob." News. Efron sought treatment in early 2013 after struggling with alcoholism and substance abuse. Come join me at 9:00am PST I'll be answering questions until the first video, "Off the Grid" drops", "Why Zac Efron's New YouTube Channel Is Pissing Off Some of Its Users", "Zac Efron Goes "Off the Grid" in First YouTube Video", "Zac Efron and Nina Dobrev Try to Get Brad Pitt's Fight Club Abs in New Workout Video", "YouTube: Zac Efron Promotion Draws Ire from Fans", "Zac Efron Net WorthZac Efron Michelle Rodriguez Vacation Pics OK! This is a freaky Friday, indeed: Zac Efron is playing a dad and Rebel Wilson is a 37-year-old cheerleader. Zac Efron was only 19 years old when he played Troy Bolton in the first High School Musical movie. [29], In 2022, he starred in the survival thriller Gold, directed by Anthony Hayes,[30] and headlined the horror film Firestarter, a remake of the 1984 film based upon the novel of the same name by Stephen King, directed by Keith Thomas. Although some critics weren't fans of this modern-day take on an old story, audiences couldn't get enough of it. Zac Efron has accomplished a feat that Disney stars historically struggle with: making a smooth transition from teen idol to adult actor. He subsequently starred in the comedy sequel Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, which became a commercial and critical success upon its release in May 2016. Efron appeared as a part of the large ensemble cast in Garry Marshall's New Year's Eve (2011), which depicted a series of holiday vignettes of different groups of characters. What other lies have I been living? Zac Efron, 2008 At the age of 21, Zac was looking to move away from the Troy Bolton/Bieber 'do, and fashioned it slightly more stylishly at the premiere of High His ability to bring warmth and likability to the common "jock" archetype proves his potential for more complex roles. Tisdale was a few years older than Sharpay would have been but still pulled off the theater diva well. 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That same year, he acted alongside "Workaholics" star Adam Devine in the critical-flop comedy "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.". According to Box Office Mojo, the adult comedy made $270 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing R-rated movies in the US. "The truth is, is that they had done my hair, and they had done it very poorly in the front," she told Insider. Efron was next seen as Link Larkin in the musical comedy film Hairspray (2007), based on the 2002 Broadway musical of the same name. The following year, the franchise's popularity continued to soar "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" had a theatrical release and reportedly made more than $250 million at the box office. [50], Efron turned to transcendental meditation (TM) to help decompress after struggling to separate himself from his role as serial killer Ted Bundy in his movie. as well as other partner offers and accept our, Ian West - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images, Clayton Chase Fullmer/WireImage/Getty Images. They meet women, and complicated romantic entanglements ensue. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. When To see him pair up with two of the hottest up-and-coming actors of the time is a delight and a smart choice on his part. Zac Efron gained worldwide popularity when he famously played Troy Bolton, a teenage basketball player, in Disneys musical film High School Musical in 2006. [27] The film premiered at Sundance in early 2019 and was released by Netflix on May 3. Drew Seeley Doesn't Regret Voicing Troy Bolton In 'HSM', "Just a Reminder That Zac Efron Wasn't Actually Singing in the First "HSM", "Ringmaster: Michael Gracey brings musical spectacle to the life of P.T. The 33-year-old made his debut in 2006 as the singing basketball captain in the Disney Channel original movie "High School Musical." The film follows the students as they take summer jobs at a country club and figure out their college plans. "We Are Your Friends" was met with mixed reviews, but a captivating central performance from Efron grounds the film. It turns out the "dude bro" roles sometimes worked well for Efron they helped him flex his chops as a comedic actor, even though not every movie he tackled was a hit. I did TM on the way home. Efron's performance in "17 Again" earned him a Teen Choice Award for choice comedy actor and proved to audiences that he was capable of being a leading man in a non-musical movie. As critic Owen Gleiberman of Variety wrote, "How is Zac Efron as Bundy? He effortlessly portrays Bundy's manipulative side, but it's the character's more sinister side that reveals the vast depths of Efron's range. Something for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity. While Efron's character, a popular frat boy, doesn't seem like a huge stretch for the actor on the surface, he gets to sink his teeth into genuinely sharp comedic material. [38] "Off the Grid" follows Efron and his brother Dylan as they participate in outdoor activities and trips without electronic deviceswith the exception of a video camera in order to document their experiences. Director Adam Shankman nearly passed on Efron for the role of golden boy Link Larkinreportedly, Shankman initially felt Efron was "too Disney"but he later reconsidered. "Hairspray" wasn't a grand departure from the Disney phenomenon that put Efron's name on the map, and that's exactly what made it such an excellent bridge to more adult projects. In 2003, he landed guest roles on ER and the pilot for The Big Wide World of Carl Laemke. The role ignited his passion for acting, and his continued performances in other local productions earned him a contract with a talent agent. "Young Hollywood Awards Honor Ansel Elgort, MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Breakthrough Performance, MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Performance in a Movie, MTV Movie Award for Best Shirtless Performance, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zac_Efron&oldid=1152552101, Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts alumni, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected biographies of living people, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Denotes films that have not yet been released. Zachary David Alexander Efron was born on October 18, 1987, in San Luis Obispo, California. The second he picked up the karaoke mic in the opening scene, a new American heartthrob was born. Seuss' The Lorax', "Ebiri on Neighbors: Zac Efron's Blank Face Is This Movie's Secret Weapon", "The Girls from That Awkward Moment Spill Everything About Zac Efron, Miles Teller, and Michael B. 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He played Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019). WebShared by Babi. Fashion Outfits. He recovered with little issue. 3:14 PM EDT, Sat July 23, 2022, Zac Efron returned to the high school that made him a star in "High School Musical.". This means that Efron was only 19 years old when the movie was released, and since filming for the movie is said to have begun in early 2005, Efron was 18 when he started working on the movie. [42] In May 2015, Efron's net worth was $18million. However, to honor his fans, he agreed to appear in High School Musical 3 (2008), the final installment of the trilogy. The 22-year-old Efron takes on the challenge of embodying a 37-year-old and makes it look easy, imbuing the character with charm and impeccable comic timing. Zac Efron ", Efron also explained that battling an addiction is a "never-ending struggle" and told the publicationhe had also joined Alcoholics Anonymous and began seeing a therapist, which "changed [his] life.". Efron and Hudgens were launched into stardom with their roles as Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez in the "High School Musical" franchise. During the "High School Musical" series, Taylor dreamed of becoming president of the United States. Kelsi Nielsen, played by Olesya Rulin, was 22. Ask someone who their celebrity crush is, and there's a good chance they'll name the "High School Musical" alum. He developed insomnia and depression after taking diuretics for a long period to prepare for his role in Baywatch.[64][65]. He also landed a leading role in his first feature film, The Derby Stallion (2005). [32], He is set to appear in Sean Durkin's The Iron Claw, about the Von Erich family of wrestlers. "It's never one specific thing. Hudgens also posted a video of herself at East High at the end of June, sparking rumors that one or both of the actors may make a cameo in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, a mockumentary series based on the films. Happy & Smiling Keanu Reeves Through the Years. Zac Efron Zac Efron's Incredible Hair. She added that because there wasn't a lot of time to fix her hair before filming, crewmembers suggested she "incorporate headbands into her character" and "just make that a part of who she is.". How old was Zac Efron in High School Musical as actor Alamy "To have an opportunity in any form to go back and work with that team would be Appearing alongside John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken and Queen Latifah, Efron once again thrilled fans and helped the film earn nearly $119 million domestically. In addition to High School Musical 2, Efron also appeared in the big-screen remake of John Waters' Hairspray (1988) in 2007. ", "Zac Efron Says He Had to "Fight" to Get His Voice in "High School Musical 2", "Me and Orson Welles Character Card: Richard Samuels (Zac Efron)", "17 Again Movie Review and Film Summary (2009)", "Zac Efron Interview for Charlie St. Both were nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.[24][25]. The film allowed Efron to play a character totally different from anything he'd done prior, and it shows that the A-list actor doesn't take himself too seriously. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. The 34-year-old actress admitted there were moments where it was difficult to dating her co-star. ", ripped apart by critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. With each new part, he continues to find new ways to surprise audiences. The musical based on the life of P.T. The Transformation Of Zac Efron From High School Musical To Now Additionally, he was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone, which dubbed him "The New American Heartthrob.". She eventually moved on with her now fianc Cole Tucker and made their relationship official in February 2021, the couple announced their engagement after two years of dating. Did Zac Efron sing in High School Musical? Here's the answers! Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens are pictured here at the premiere of "High School Musical 2" at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, on Aug. 14, 2007. "High School Musical" aired on January 20, 2006, and became an instant smash. But his on-screen girlfriend Monique Coleman aka our future president Taylor McKessie was actually 27 by the third movie, and almost 28! The sequence for the song "Bet on It" remains one of the most memorable things Efron has done, producing viral memes and becoming a pop culture touchstone. Both critics and audiences more or less enjoyed this film and Efron's performance in it. In this memorable, laugh-out-loud sequence, Dan arrives on set with a ferocious intensity, punching the wall to prepare for his scene. [33], In 2010, Efron started his own production company under Warner Bros., Ninjas Runnin' Wild. Zachary David Alexander Efron was born on October 18, 1987, in San Luis Obispo, California, and raised in the nearby city of Arroyo Grande. Zac Efron has been performing since he was a child. He later told E! Another health issue the coronavirus pandemic pushed back the release of his next project, Scoob!, though the Scooby-Doo reboot surfaced on video on demand in May 2020. The 2019 comedy follows Matthew McConaughey as the uniquely bizarre poet Moondog. How old He went on to star in a remake of Hairspray and voice the main character in The Lorax, before dropping his Disney image and taking on more mature roles in films such as The Lucky One and Parkland. ", "Zac Efron: The New American Heart Throb", "Before The Fame: Zac Efron In Cute Guest Appearance! His layered performance carries the film, as does his chemistry with Lily Collins, who plays Bundy's partner Liz Kendall. [7] His surname originates from Hebrew. Reporting on what you care about. Offers for acting roles and record deals followed, but Efron declined. [14] Efron was later signed to the Creative Artists Agency. 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It seemingly marked the beginning of Efron's tendency to get typecast as stereotypical "dude bro" characters. And now, as a grown-up, Efron has fully build an acting career for himself off his initial success as the teenage basketball player. He was flown to St Andrews War Memorial Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, and was treated before flying back home on December 25. The film revolved around a young couple (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) who struggle to raise their baby daughter while living next to the house of a wild fraternity led by its president, played by Efron.