History of Zac Efron in Timeline
Zac Efron is an American actor known for his roles in musical films. He gained fame in the mid-2000s, particularly for playing Troy Bolton in the "High School Musical" trilogy. His popularity during this time established him as a teen idol. Beyond "High School Musical," Efron showcased his musical talents in the film adaptation of "Hairspray." He also demonstrated versatility by taking on comedic roles, such as his part in the movie "17 Again."
October 18, 1987: Birth of Zac Efron
On October 18, 1987, Zac Efron was born in San Luis Obispo, California.
2000: Early Theatre Experience
Zac Efron began his foray into acting with the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in 2000.
2001: Continuing Theatre Studies
Zac Efron furthered his theatre education at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in 2001.
2002: Broadway Premiere of Hairspray
The Broadway musical "Hairspray," which would later be adapted into a film starring Zac Efron, premiered in 2002.
2004: Early Television Roles and Miracle Run
Zac Efron started his acting career with guest appearances on television series like "Firefly," "ER," and "The Guardian" in 2004. He also appeared in the television film "Miracle Run," for which he received a Young Artist Award nomination.
2005: Recurring Role in Summerland
In 2005, Zac Efron was promoted to the main cast of the WB series "Summerland" after appearing in a recurring role in its first season.
January 2006: Premiere of High School Musical
The Disney Channel premiered "High School Musical" in January 2006, further catapulting Zac Efron into teen idol status with his portrayal of Troy Bolton.
2006: High School Graduation
Zac Efron graduated from Arroyo Grande High School in 2006.
2006: Breakthrough with High School Musical
Zac Efron rose to prominence in 2006 with his leading role as Troy Bolton in the Disney Channel movie, "High School Musical." This marked the beginning of his journey as a teen idol.
July 2007: Release of Hairspray
The movie adaptation of the Broadway musical "Hairspray" hit theatres in July 2007, featuring Zac Efron as Link Larkin.
August 2007: High School Musical 2 Premieres
Zac Efron reprised his role as Troy Bolton in "High School Musical 2," which aired on the Disney Channel in August 2007.
2007: Appearance in Hairspray
In 2007, Zac Efron showcased his musical talent in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical "Hairspray," playing the role of Link Larkin.
September 2008: Premiere of Me and Orson Welles
Zac Efron starred in Richard Linklater's "Me and Orson Welles," which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2008.
2008: High School Musical 3: Senior Year Hits Theaters
"High School Musical 3: Senior Year" was released in theaters in 2008, marking the first theatrical release for the franchise.
2008: High School Musical 3 Release
Zac Efron reprised his role as Troy Bolton in "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" in 2008, the first film in the franchise to have a theatrical release.
2009: Wide Release of Me and Orson Welles
After its premiere in 2008, "Me and Orson Welles" received a wider theatrical release in 2009.
2009: Venturing into Comedy with 17 Again
In 2009, Zac Efron took on a comedic role in the film "17 Again," where he played a 37-year-old man who transforms back into his 17-year-old self.
2009: Success with 17 Again
Zac Efron's performance in the commercially successful comedy "17 Again" in 2009 solidified his presence in Hollywood beyond teen musicals.
2010: Launch of Production Company, Ninjas Runnin' Wild
In 2010, Zac Efron established his own production company, Ninjas Runnin' Wild, under Warner Bros. The company has been involved in producing some of his films.
2010: Supernatural Romance in Charlie St. Cloud
Zac Efron took on the leading role in the supernatural romance "Charlie St. Cloud" in 2010.
2011: Appearance in New Year's Eve
Zac Efron appeared in the ensemble romantic comedy "New Year's Eve" in 2011.
2011: Ensemble Cast in New Year's Eve
Zac Efron joined a star-studded cast in the romantic comedy "New Year's Eve," released in 2011.
January 2012: Premiere of Liberal Arts
The film "Liberal Arts," featuring Zac Efron in a supporting role, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2012.
May 2012: Premiere of The Paperboy at Cannes
Zac Efron starred in "The Paperboy," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2012.
2012: Diverse Roles and The Lucky One
Zac Efron took on various roles in 2012, including appearances in "The Lucky One," "The Paperboy," and lending his voice to the animated film "The Lorax."
2012: The Lorax and The Lucky One
Zac Efron voiced a character in the animated film "The Lorax" and starred in the romantic drama "The Lucky One" in 2012.
June 2013: Achieving Sobriety
Since June 2013, Zac Efron has maintained his sobriety, marking a significant personal milestone in his life.
November 2013: Jaw Injury
In November 2013, Zac Efron sustained a broken jaw from a fall at his residence, requiring him to have his jaw wired shut for a period.
2013: Film Festival Appearances
Zac Efron starred in two films that premiered at the Venice International Film Festival: "At Any Price" in 2012 and "Parkland" in 2013.
March 2014: Altercation on Skid Row
Zac Efron was involved in a physical altercation with a homeless man on Skid Row in March 2014. Law enforcement officials did not make any arrests, categorizing the incident as "mutual combat."
2014: That Awkward Moment and Executive Producer Role
In 2014, Zac Efron starred in and served as an executive producer for the romantic comedy "That Awkward Moment."
2014: Transitioning to Adult Roles
Zac Efron appeared in both "That Awkward Moment" and the adult comedy "Neighbors" in 2014, marking a shift towards more mature roles.
2014: Critical Acclaim for Neighbors
Zac Efron's performance in the 2014 comedy "Neighbors" earned him praise for successfully shedding his "Disney pretty boy" image.
2015: Exploring the EDM Scene in We Are Your Friends
Zac Efron starred as a struggling DJ in the film "We Are Your Friends," which was released in 2015.
January 2016: Release of Dirty Grandpa
Zac Efron starred alongside Robert De Niro in the comedy "Dirty Grandpa," which was released in January 2016.
May 2016: Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising Hits Theaters
The sequel to the successful comedy "Neighbors," titled "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising," premiered in May 2016, with Zac Efron reprising his role.
2016: Comedic Ventures
Zac Efron starred in three comedies in 2016: "Dirty Grandpa," "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising," and "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates."
2017: Baywatch and Award-Nominated Films
In 2017, Zac Efron starred in the action comedy "Baywatch" and had roles in two biographical films, "The Disaster Artist" and "The Greatest Showman," both of which received Golden Globe nominations.
2017: Baywatch and Biographical Films
In 2017, Zac Efron starred in the action comedy "Baywatch" and had supporting roles in the biographical films "The Disaster Artist" and "The Greatest Showman."
March 2019: Launch of YouTube Channel and Series
In March 2019, Zac Efron launched his YouTube channel, featuring two weekly series. "Off the Grid" documented outdoor adventures with his brother Dylan, while "Gym Time" focused on fitness and nutrition.
December 2019: Serious Illness During Filming
While filming "Killing Zac Efron" in Papua New Guinea in December 2019, Zac Efron contracted a severe illness, suspected to be typhoid or a similar bacterial infection. He was hospitalized in Australia and, after receiving treatment, returned home on December 25th, making a full recovery.
2019: Expansion of Ninjas Runnin' Wild into Digital Content
In 2019, Zac Efron's brother Dylan, who is also involved in their production company, Ninjas Runnin' Wild, shared that the company had expanded its focus to include digital content production.
2019: Portrayal of Ted Bundy
Zac Efron took on the challenging role of serial killer Ted Bundy in the 2019 film "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile."
2019: Roles in "The Beach Bum" and "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile"
In 2019, Zac Efron showcased his acting range by taking on diverse roles. He played a drug-addled character in Harmony Korine's "The Beach Bum" and portrayed serial killer Ted Bundy in the Netflix film "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile," which premiered at Sundance that year.
2020: Voice Acting in "Scoob!"
Zac Efron lent his voice to the character of Fred Jones in the animated Warner Bros. film "Scoob!" in 2020.
2020: Down to Earth with Zac Efron Premieres
Zac Efron's Netflix travel show, "Down to Earth with Zac Efron," premiered in 2020, focusing on sustainable living and travel.
2021: Daytime Emmy Award Win
Zac Efron won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Program Host for his work on "Down to Earth with Zac Efron" in 2021.
2021: Relocation to Australia
In early 2021, Zac Efron sold his Los Angeles residence and purchased property in Byron Bay, Australia. He made the move while engaged in several projects in the country.
2021: Daytime Emmy Award Win
In 2021, Zac Efron's work on the Netflix web documentary series "Down to Earth with Zac Efron" earned him a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Program Host.
2022: Dietary Changes and Reintroduction of Meat
After two years of being vegan, Zac Efron made changes to his diet in 2022. He adopted intermittent fasting and, after undergoing food sensitivity testing, reintroduced meat into his diet.
2022: Public Discussion of Mental Health Challenges
In 2022, Zac Efron openly addressed his experiences with mental health issues, including insomnia, agoraphobia, and depression. He attributed the onset of insomnia and depression to prolonged diuretic use during preparations for his role in "Baywatch."
2022: Disclosure of Near-Fatal Incident and Facial Swelling
In 2022, Zac Efron revealed that he had nearly died from the fall that caused his broken jaw in 2013. He explained that this incident was the reason behind the facial swelling observed in a viral video for Bill Nye's Earth Day Musical in 2021.
2022: Conclusion of Down to Earth
The second and final season of "Down to Earth with Zac Efron" aired in 2022.
2022: Starring Roles in "Gold," "Firestarter," and "The Greatest Beer Run Ever"
Zac Efron had a busy 2022, starring in three films: the survival thriller "Gold," the Stephen King horror remake "Firestarter," and the Vietnam War comedy "The Greatest Beer Run Ever."
2023: Role in "The Iron Claw"
In 2023, Zac Efron portrayed Kevin Von Erich in "The Iron Claw," a film directed by Sean Durkin that delves into the history of the Von Erich wrestling family.
2023: The Iron Claw
Zac Efron portrayed wrestler Kevin Von Erich in the biographical sports drama "The Iron Claw," released in 2023.
2024: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
In 2024, Zac Efron received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing his contributions to the entertainment industry.