Entertainment

Zac Efron Biography

Courtesy of Disney

Birthdate: October 18, 1987
Birthplace: San Luis Obispo, California

Zac Efron has been acting since he was 11 but made his biggest splash in Disney's made-for-TV movie in High School Musical. Get the goods on this Hollywood cutie!

Zac Efron - California Dreamin'

Growing up in Arroyo Grande, California, Zac Efron loved to sing. His parents put him in singing lessons when he was 11, which led to an appearance in the musical Gypsy. He continued doing musicals until landing his first TV gig on Firefly and later making appearances on ER and CSI Miami. He went on to make a few guest appearances as Cameron Bale on Summerland where he eventually scored a regular gig until the show's demise in the summer of 2005.

Zac Efron - The Music Man

Zac's roles in various classic musicals like Peter Pan, The Music Man and Little Shop of Horrors, came in handy when he played the roll of basketball-loving Troy Bolton in High School Musical. Zac admits that in real life, he's more of a drama geek than a sports star, though his little brother Dylan is much more athletically inclined. Despite his musical ability, Zac shrugs off suggestion that he might record his own album, saying he would only consider it in the "distant future" and if he was able to write his own songs.

Zac Efron - Coming Attractions

Not a big fan of down-time, Zac likes to keep busy. He worked on a made-for-TV movie called If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home By Now. It is a collection of stories about a group of people from different backgrounds who live in a temporary housing complex in LA. Zac has also filmed a pilot for a TV show called Heist and an episode of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. He also starred in the musical Hairspray, alongside John Travolta and Amanda Bynes, and of course the two sequels to High School Musical. Zac's latest project is the lead role in 17 Again. He plays the teenage version of Mike O'Donnell, a 37-year-old guy (played by Matthew Perry) who wants to change some of the decisions he made during his high school days. Mike gets his wish when he mysteriously wakes up twenty years younger!

Zac Efron - Did U Know?

Zac is currently fixing up two old-school cars - a Delorean and '65 Mustang convertible.

Zac Efron's High School Musical duet with Vanessa Hudgens, Breaking Free, made the fastest climb in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, leaping from 86 to 4 in one week.

Zac plays the piano and is teaching himself to play the guitar.

Zac owns two Australian Shepherd dogs named Dreamer and Puppy and a Siamese cat named Simon.

Zac Efron is currently dating his High School Musical co-star Vanessa Hudgens.

Zac Efron Says...

"The first scene I ever did on Summerland was a make-out scene with Kay. Those are really tough, but everyone made me feel right at home. It was a blast because we got it out of the way. It made me feel like a part of the cast."