Zac Efrons Hottest Moments
When we talked to Zac Efron about his new movie, '17 Again,' he revealed that he'd looked to his father as inspiration while prepping for his role as a grown man transformed back to his teenaged self. In real life, Efron's not regressing by any means -- from TV guest star to big-screen leading man, he's blossoming, as a star and an actor.
Click through as we trace the evolution of Zac Efron. His dad should be proud. -- By Angie Argabrite
Steve Granitz, WireImage.com
Simon Says
Efron made his acting debut in Joss Whedon's short-lived 2002 cult series 'Firefly,' as the younger version of Simon (Sean Maher, pictured). Though some actors become Whedon-ites, appearing in various TV shows, films and even web series from the 'Buffy' creator, Efron was to follow another -- brighter -- path ...
Fox
'Summer' Lovin'
Zac followed up his first TV gig with guest spots on such shows as 'ER,' 'The Guardian' and 'CSI: Miami' before landing his first recurring role, on the Lori Loughlin WB family drama 'Summerland.' He played Nikki's (Kay Panabaker) cutie-pie boyfriend, Cameron Bale. The blinding light emanating from Efron and fellow future teen idol (and series co-star) Jesse McCartney must've burned the retinas of tween girls across the country.
Everett Collection
'School' Break
Efron got his big break in '06, in a little made-for-TV Disney movie called 'High School Musical.' Though the flick featured an ensemble cast, with Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman, Zac's portrayal of basketball hero Troy Bolton was a star-making turn for the young actor. And 'HSM' provided not only a career boost for the teen, but a love interest who has proved as enduring off screen as on.
Disney
Date Night
Hudgens played Efron's 'High School' girlfriend, Gabriella Montez, and the pair had such chemistry that their romance continued after the cameras stopped rolling. The couple have stuck together through thick (all that 'HSM' hysteria) and thin (Hudgens' nude photo scandal). That's what we'd call a good boyfriend. Swoon.
Steve Granitz, WireImage
Fandemonium
No stranger to screaming admirers, Efron told us that his craziest fan experience just happened in Australia, "when a girl showed up dressed in her mother's wedding dress and proposed. I said 'yes,' so I think I'm getting married now." We don't think Hudgens will be thrilled to hear that news.
Tony Barson, WireImage.com
Don't Stop the Music
The same year that 'HSM2' premiered on the Disney channel, Efron made his major-motion-picture debut, in the highly anticipated musical-based-on-a-play-based-on-a-John-Waters-film 'Hairspray.' Though his role as singing-dancing heartthrob Link Larkin didn't stray too far from 'High School' material, Zac proved he was big-screen ready. Shrieking girls everywhere agreed.
New Line
Director's Darling
'Me and Orson Welles,' in which Efron had his first starring role in a non-singing and/or dancing film (and a drama, no less), generated good buzz from its Toronto Film Festival screenings. Directed by cult auteur Richard Linklater and co-starring critics' darling Claire Danes, the movie was an early sign that Efron was looking to stretch as an actor.
Everett Collection
Getting in 'Toon
Zac first showed he had a sense of humor about his career when he appeared as Billy Joel in the Cartoon Network's irreverent, bawdy series 'Robot Chicken.' He's also credited in the show as voicing Harry Potter, Horgg, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf's character in 'Transformers') ... and a bowling pin. (Note to parents, if you're reading this over your kid's shoulder: We strongly advise you not to let them view this show. Watch it yourself -- you can thank us later.)
Adult Swim
The Gang's All Here
The 'HSM' series got so big, Disney couldn't contain it on the small screen. The third installment was unleashed in the multiplexes
-- to an impressive $42 mil opening weekend. That's the good news for the studio; the bad: The 'HSM' stars have outgrown 'High School,' and since they graduated in part '3,' don't expect to see Efron (or Hudgens, Tisdale, Bleu or Coleman) returning. Sure, new kids are being groomed to take over, but can producers capture lightning in a bottle twice?
Fred Hayes, Disney
Reader Comments (6)
POPO HOBO Weineta Poo poo foo at 9:44PM on Apr 16th 2009
i love zac effrom. his movie was off the hook!
POPO HOBO Weineta Poo poo foo at 8:49AM on Apr 17th 2009
You are awesome!
Cttrax74 at 12:42PM on Apr 17th 2009
I think he is adorable......out of ll the HSM stars, HE is become the most sucessful. I hope to the Good Lord it doesn't go to his head.......those HSM's catapaulted him into HUGE stardom. I hope he doesnt get into drugs, driving drunk, all those horrible things that jappens when the media follows every move you make. I firmly believe the media is the min cause of aa lot of stars problems,. Well, I don't mean they make the star do it it, they CONTRIBUTE! They cannot go into a store nd get a soda and gas, you know? It dives stars crazy and into their homes, where even there they hve no privacy. Helicopters fly around getting pics, all sorts of things.
I hope he stays good, and I hope because he is so attractive he doesn't chew women up and spit em out...................we shall see.
Jack Stewert at 5:06AM on Apr 19th 2009
you are so niave, doing drugs and drinking are personal choices, it doesn't just happen because a person gets famous and the media is following them around. Stars also know the consequinces of becoming famous, that's the path they chose deal with it or get out. I do agree the media and people in general act like these people are gods, wel I've personally done work for the likes of Lisa Marie Presley, Terry (Hulk Hogan) Bolea, Warren Sapp, and many other NFL and WWF stars and when it come down to it, behind closed doors they are people just like you and I. However one time I was doing work for Lisa Presley when she lived in Clearwater Fl. I looked out her back window and there was a sailboat going by, not unusual since she did live live on the water. Why I'll never know because she had hedges that were so high she couldn't see the water anyway, back to the sailboat, there was a guy 45 to 50 feet in the air with a camera trying to take pictures of Lisa, he had climbed to the top of the highest sail mast, risked falling and getting seriously injured or dying, just so he could maybe get a picture. He didn't get a picture, but he did look pretty stupid up there. Anyway the point is, they know the pressures of what comes with the job and they certainly have the money to get help dealing with it. What they do is ultimately their choice. If you could have only seen that guy!!!!!!
victoriakent90 at 6:34PM on Apr 17th 2009
I just came home from seeing his latest movie, 17 Again, and I was surprisingly pleased! This movie was not only hilarious, but it also had several good values tucked inside. I love all of the statements he makes in his health class! WAY TO GO ZAC! Maybe coming from someone like him will help the upcoming youth of America wake up and smell the coffee and see that it IS better to wait until you are married to have sex.
ANOTHER thing I noticed is that he wouldn't have changed a thing about his past because he loved his family and he chose it all over again!!! :-) Makes you realize that you can learn from the hard things and maybe find joy in them too!
Highly recommend 17 Again! Finally decent movies are out!
Mariah at 11:18AM on Apr 18th 2009
I LOVE Zac Efron!!! He is an awesome actor and sings well in hsm2&hsm3...I hope that he will keep doing movies for a while! i love him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!