Take the BuddyTV Personality Quiz: Which High School Musical Character Are You? *NEW*
Zac Efron Photos *NEW*
High School Musical Photos *NEW*
High School Musical Trivia Born on October 18, 1987 in San Luis Obispo, California, Zachary David Alexander Efron is the elder son of engineer David Efron and his wife, Starla Baskett. He was raised as an agnostic and has high regard for grades in school. He dislikes getting anything lower than an A, and likes being the class clown. At the age of eleven, Efron was convinced by his father to venture into acting, and thus began participating in school plays. He also took singing lessons and consequently performed in plays such as Gypsy, Peter Pan, Little Shop of Horrors, The Music Man and Mame at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts. He was later recommended to a Los Angeles-based agent by his drama teacher, Robyn Metchik.
Efron was about to pursue his education at the University of Southern California, but deferred his enrollment due to his acting projects. His early television appearances were in Firefly , ER and The Guardian. He also appeared as a guest on CSI: Miami , NCIS : Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and The Replacements .
Efron shot to fame in 2006, when he played Troy Bolton in Disney Channel's made-for-TV movie, High School Musical. This film catapulted his fame amongst teenagers, and has paved the way for him to get recognition from various award giving bodies. In August 2006, he won a Teen Choice Award for the category Breakout Star. He reprised his role as Troy Bolton in High School Musical 2, earning the teen star more success. High School Musical 3, the next installment of the franchise, took Efron and his co-stars away from television and on to the cinemas in 2008.
In 2007, Efron experienced more publicity with his film, Hairspray, which further featured his singing prowess. He starred alongside prominent actors like John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, James Marsden, Queen Latifah and Amanda Bynes.
(Photos courtesy of Disney)