Zac Efron

Infobox actor
name = Zac Efron

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imagesize =
caption = Efron at the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards, October 2007
birthname = Zachary David Alexander Efron
birthdate = birth date and age|1987|10|18
birthplace = San Luis Obispo, California, United States
othername =
occupation = Actor, singer
yearsactive = 2002–present
spouse =
domesticpartner =
website =

Zachary David Alexander "Zac" Efron (born October 18, 1987) is an American actor and singer. He began acting in the early 2000s, and became known to young audiences after his roles in the Disney Channel Original Movie "High School Musical", the WB series "Summerland", and the film version of the Broadway musical "Hairspray". [cite news |first= |last= |author= |coauthors= |url=http://et.tv.yahoo.com/newslink/15071/ |title=Zac Efron Joins Cast of 'Hairspray' |work= |publisher=CBS Studios |pages= |page= |date=2006-06-26 |accessdate=2006-08-15 |language=English] Speaking to "Newsweek" in June 2006, director Adam Shankman described Efron as "arguably the biggest teen star in America right now."cite web |title=MSNBC |work=Hollywood: Hello to Hairspray |url=http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13531836/site/newsweek/ |accessmonthday=June 25 |accessyear=2006] In 2007, right before the release of "High School Musical 2", "Rolling Stone" declared him the "poster boy for tweenyboppers" and featured him in their late August issue. [cite web |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/15824947/zac_efron_the_new_american_heart_throb |title=zac efron the new american heart throb |accessdate=2007-09-27]

Early life and background

Efron was born in San Luis Obispo, California and later moved to Arroyo Grande, California. His father, David Efron, is an engineer at a power plant, and his mother, Starla Baskett, is a former secretary who worked at the same . [Dave McNary, [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117971688.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 "New Line taps Steers to drive '17'"] , September 9, 2007.]

Education

Efron graduated from Arroyo Grande High School in 2006, and was then accepted into the University of Southern California, but he deferred his enrollment while he worked on film projects. He plans to return at some time. [Steven Chupnick, [http://www.movieweb.com/dvd/news/56/12756.php "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Zac Efron and Vanessa Anne Hudgens Sing Their Praises for High School Musical"] , May 22, 2006.] Efron also attended Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, a community college located in Santa Maria, California which provided him with a two-year vocational certificate program specializing in all aspects of acting. He completed his course in 2001. [http://www.pcpa.org/Default.asp?Page=139 The PCPA Alumni Page]

Career

2002-2005: Early work

In 2002, Efron began to appear in guest roles on several television series, including "Firefly", "ER", and "The Guardian". He portrayed Cameron Bale on the now-cancelled WB series "Summerland". Originally introduced as a recurring character, Efron became a regular cast member on the show in the second season in 2004, starring opposite the likes of Kay Panabaker,Lori Loughlin and Jesse McCartney. Since appearing in "Summerland", he has also had guest roles on the shows "", "NCIS (TV series)", "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" and "The Replacements". In 2003, Efron starred in the Lifetime original television movie "Miracle Run". He played Steven Morgan, one of two autistic twins. For his performance, he was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Mini-series or Special — Supporting Young Actor.cite web | title=IMDB | work=IMDB Awards for Zac Efron | url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1374980/awards | accessmonthday=March 13 | accessyear=2006] In 2005, he played a main character in Hope Partlow's music video for her song "Sick Inside." Also in 2005, he played horse-loving Patrick McCardle in "The Derby Stallion", where his character wants to beat the town bully at the steeple chase race.

2006: "High School Musical"

In 2006, Efron starred in the Disney Channel original movie "High School Musical" as Troy Bolton, the popular student and captain of the basketball team. The film, which he initially made with "low expectations", helped Efron gain recognition among teenage audiences as both an actor and a singer. As a result, he placed as high as #4 on the IMDBPro's STARMeter for the week of January 29, 2006.cite web | title=IMDB Pro | work=IMDB Prop StarMeter | url=http://pro.imdb.com/name/nm1374980/graph-data | accessmonthday=March 13 |accessyear=2006] In August 2006, Efron won a Teen Choice Award in the Breakout Star and the TV — Choice Chemistry categories, shared with Vanessa Hudgens. The film's cast, along with Efron, toured Sydney, Australia, London, England, and other locations to promote the film.

Shortly after "High School Musical" aired, Efron debuted with two simultaneous charted songs on Billboard Hot 100 on February 4, 2006, with "Get'cha Head in the Game" and "Breaking Free," a duet with Vanessa Hudgens from the film. On the following week's chart, Efron had five simultaneous song credits from "High School Musical": "Get'cha Head in the Game," "Start of Something New," "," "We're All in This Together" and "Breaking Free." "We're All in This Together" was credited to the whole "High School Musical" cast. "Breaking Free," at the time, made the fastest climb in the history of the Billboard charts, from #86 to #4 between the two weeks; the record has since been beaten by Beyoncé and Shakira's "Beautiful Liar.""Billboard.com" [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003564845 "Akon Scores Second No 1 Hit from 'Konvicted'"] March 29, 2007.] Efron also appeared in the 2006 "Disney Channel Games" as captain of the Red Team.

Efron's singing talents were disputed when it was revealed that Andrew Seeley's voice was blended with his on the soundtrack of "High School Musical". [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/chart_beat/chat_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001995389 Billboard.com] ] An August 23, 2007 interview in "Rolling Stone" magazine revealed that he had been cast in "High School Musical" after the songs were written, and the songs (written for a tenor) were somewhat out of his baritone vocal range. However, Efron stated in interviews that he felt his future is that of a serious dramatic actor, not necessarily a singer.

2007-present: Recent roles

On April 7, 2007, Efron appeared in an episode of "Punk'd". Efron also starred in the music video for Vanessa Hudgens's single "Say OK", where he played her love interest. The video aired on March 16, 2007 on Disney Channel. That year, he was named one of "People" magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People in 2007. A picture and short profile of him was in the section "Coming of Age". In it, he related how he was always the shortest kid in school (he is now 5'8")cite news|last=Elkin|first=Michael|coauthors=|title='High' Times Ahead|pages=|publisher=The Jewish Exponent|date=2007-08-02|url=http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/13651/ |accessdate=2007-08-07] and was teased for the "huge gap" in his teeth. ["Coming of Age." "People" Magazine May 7, 2007: 171.]

In 2006, Efron was cast as Link Larkin in a film version of "Hairspray" released on July 20, 2007. Efron performed all of his own vocals in the role, which was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, from September 5 to December 2, 2006. He cut and dyed his hair dark brown and gained about 15 pounds for the role.cite web |title=Canada.com |work=Summer of stars |url=http://www.canada.com/topics/entertainment/story.html?id=9f391590-9a3f-4f6e-90da-e8328b66219c&k=14936 |accessmonthday=June 25 |accessyear=2006] Both Efron's performance and the film have received positive reviews. Because of this, he was not able to perform with his fellow castmates in "High School Musical: The Concert". Drew Seeley took over for him.

"High School Musical 2" was released in August 2007, and Efron topped IMDBPro's Star Meter at #1, indicating that he was the most searched celebrity. [ [http://www.zac-e.com/ Zac-E.Com | The Elite Zac Efron Fandomain ] ] Additionally, Lycos reported searches for Efron surged by 81%. [Kathy O'Reilly, [http://www.sys-con.com/read/419294.htm "Lycos Announces HBO 'Weeds' Star Mary Louise Parker Sparks Online Interest, Making First-Ever Appearance on Search List; Golf Continues to Score Hole in One with Web Users"] , August 22, 2007.] The film set a new record, becoming the most watched basic cable program in U.S. history, with 17.2 million viewers. [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN2140314620070822 Disney Channel crushes rivals in weekly ratings | Entertainment | Television | Reuters ] ] Efron also appeared on the cover of the August 2007 edition of "Rolling Stone". [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/15824947/zac_efron_the_new_american_heart_throb Zac Efron: The New American Heart Throb : Rolling Stone ] ] The article about him revealed that he hoped to someday play an action hero.

Efron presented the 2007 Teen Choice Award for "Favorite Movie" along with Queen Latifah, and later that year, he co-hosted the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards with The Veronicas on October 10 in Sydney. [ [http://quibblo.com/quiz/4FxHsm/The-Zac-Efron-Quiz-Zac-Efron-Trivia Quiz: The Zac Efron Quiz - Zac Efron Trivia ] ] [ [http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=289741 "Efron to host Aussie Kids Choice awards"] , August 26, 2007.]

Efron's upcoming roles include "17 Again", a high school-set drama/comedy produced by Adam Shankman and based on a pitch by Jason Filardi;cite news|last=McNary|first=Dave|coauthors=Michael Fleming |title=School ties for New Line|pages=|publisher=Variety|date=2007-02-27 |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117960264.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |accessdate=2007-06-19] the plot involves an adult who is transformed into a 17-year old (to be played by Efron).cite news|last=Carroll|first=Larry|coauthors= |title='High School Musical' Star Zac Efron Pulling A Reverse Tom Hanks With 'Seventeen'|pages=|publisher=MTV Movie News |date=2007-06-19 |url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1562778/20070618/story.jhtml |accessdate=2007-06-19] "17 Again" will be released in 2009. [http://pro.imdb.com/name/nm1374980/ IMDbPro's Zac Efron Resume] ]

In early 2008, Efron was cast as the lead role in the film "Me and Orson Welles". Based on Robert Kaplow's novel of the same name, the story, set in 1937 New York, tells of a teenager hired to star in Orson Welles' production of Julius Caesar, where he becomes attracted to a career-driven production assistant. The film was shot in the Isle of Man, London and New York, during February — April 2008. It is currently set for release in 2009 and was introduced to North America via the Toronto Film Festival on September 5,6, and 11th 2008. [http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&jump=story&id=1061&articleid=VR1117990479&cs=1]

Efron will reprise his role as Troy in "", which is scheduled to be released on October 24, 2008.

Efron is also scheduled to star in Paramount's musical remake of the film "Footloose".cite news|last=Gans|first=Andrew|coauthors=|title="Hairspray" Star Efron Will Be "Footloose" in Film Remake|pages=|publisher=Playbill.com|date=2007-07-11 |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/109472.html |accessdate=2007-07-11] He has said that he would like to add his "own little bit of flair" to the role originated by Kevin Bacon.

Personal life

Efron owns an apartment and has two dogs, Australian shepherds named Dreamer and Puppy, along with a Siamese cat named Simon.cite journal|last=Millea|first=Holly|title=Zac Attack|journal=ELLE|publisher = as of September 3, 2008. [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20208685,00.html]

On January 15, 2008, Efron was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for an emergency appendectomy. [ [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20171936,00.html Zac Efron Hospitalized for Appendectomy - Health, Zac Efron : People.com ] ]

Zac Efron was also on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list in 2008, as number 92 with an estimated earning of $5.8 million from June of '07 to June of '08.

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Awards

*2006 - Teen Choice Award: Choice Breakout Star
*2006 - Teen Choice Award: Choice Chemistry for "High School Musical" (with Vanessa Hudgens)
*2007 - Kids' Choice Award: Best male Actor
*2007 - Teen Choice Award: Choice Male Hottie
*2007 - [http://www.hollywoodawards.com/ Hollywood Film Award] : Ensemble of the Year (shared with the rest of the "Hairspray" cast)
*2007 - Young Hollywood Award: One to Watch in "Hairspray"
*2008 - MTV Movie Award: Breakthrough Performance

Nominations

*2005 - Young Artist Award: Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special by a Supporting Actor for "Miracle Run"
*2007 - Young Artist Award: Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special by a Lead Actor for "High School Musical"
*2008 - Critics Choice Award: Best Song for Hairspray (2007) Shared With: Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky, Elijah Kelley-For the song "Come So Far".

References

External links

*imdb name|id=1374980|name=Zac Efron

Persondata
NAME = Efron, Zachary David Alexander
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Efron, Zac
SHORT DESCRIPTION = American actor
DATE OF BIRTH = October 18, 1987
PLACE OF BIRTH = San Luis Obispo, California
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =