How Zac Efron went from Disney heartthrob to Hollywood heavyweight

Zac Efron is 36 years old. Let this sink into your mind for a moment.

If this makes you feel old, it’s because the American actor’s first big introduction to the world came when he was just 18 years old, as popular East High basketball captain Troy Bolton in the 2006 Disney TV movie. High school musical.

Even if you’re not a parent of teenage girls or a target demographic for the all-singing, all-dancing movie co-starring Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale, it was hard to escape the film’s broader impact. This included an earworm-filled track that reached number one on the charts plate 200parodies of the likes Saturday Night Live And South ParkAnd the fact that it became the most commercially successful Disney Channel Original Movie of all time.

He has not left the limelight since then. In fact, over the past few months, he’s been in the spotlight even brighter thanks to his role as Kevin Von Erich in the iconic film. Iron claw. He even received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last month.

Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and Holt McCallany portray members of the real-life Von Elrich family, who became as famous as professional wrestlers as they did for the countless tragedies that befell them.

Amid the buzz of a potential Oscar nomination, we reflect on Efron’s career — the twists, turns, highs and lows that made the Disney heartthrob pay his dues to become a Hollywood heavyweight.

“High School Musical were my formative years.”

Efron was a veteran Hollywood star before landing the role of Troy Bolton, and has appeared in 11 films and television shows, including er And CSI: Miamibefore High school musical went out.

Its follow-up was a 2007 musical Hairspray In which he played the suave, narcissistic Link Larkin, a choice that saw him veer precariously into type territory, a choice that he course-corrected in Richard Linklater’s drama Me and Orson Welles, And the comedy Second Chance 17 again Opposite Matthew Perry.

By the time he was 21 years old, Rolling Stone He was called “America’s New Sweetheart.”

“It is impossible to look back High school musical “With anything but love and joy,” he said. AP in December. “These are my formative years and they are everything to me. I don’t look back with any kind of regret or anything like that, it’s impossible.”

Sincerity has always been a big part of Efron’s personality and appeal. The star’s willingness to embrace his past stands in stark contrast to the likes of rising star Jacob Elordi, who recently put a label on the popular Netflix hit. Kissing booth A trilogy of films made him a “ridiculous” star.

“I’m grateful for every bit of this early success,” Efron said. Hollywood Reporter In 2014. “It was the most honest, carefree and emotional experience of my life.”

Fame overshadowed the film

No matter how “grateful” he was, Efron’s early fame came at a price that the star admitted cost him professionally.

“It’s a fine line between being famous for your character and being famous for your movies. I’ve been on the wrong side my whole career,” he said. GQ In 2009.

His position-HSM Like back in 2010, the cinematics have been wobbly to say the least charlie saint cloud, Movies 2012 At any price And The Paper BoyAnd also in 2013 Parkland Everything was critically panned.

By the age of 26, Efron had tried on many Hollywood hats: Zack the romantic hero, Zack the band guy, and Zack the independent heartthrob.

Comedy 2014 Neighbour It proved a turning point. Starring opposite comedy stars Seth Rogen, Dave Franco, Rose Byrne, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Efron was more than just Teddy Sanders, an over-the-top boy ready to stop at nothing to throw the ultimate year-end party.

The film launched Efron’s comedic era, which included 2016 Dirty grandpa Opposite Robert De Niro, sequel obligatory Neighbors 2: Rise of the Sorority And Baywatch.

The 2017 release was a moderate success at the box office, but was a critical failure and left him feeling “depressed” and suffering from insomnia due to the cost of staying in six-pack shape.

Nice guys can finish first

His stint in rehab for alcohol and drug abuse in 2013 seemed to be so par for the course in young Hollywood that it became a mere footnote in Efron’s story rather than a time that defined him.

“I was drinking too much, too much,” he said. Hollywood Reporter in his 2014 profile. “It’s never anything specific. I mean you’re in your 20s, single, living life in Hollywood, you know? It’s all thrown at you. I’m not going to take anything. I needed to learn everything I did. But it’s been a journey.” Interesting to say the least.”

at the same Hollywood Reporter In an article, Rogen was interviewed about Efron, saying, “He was a child actor, and you don’t need a degree in sociology to see the pitfalls, especially when they move on to becoming adult actors. But people support him.”

Having a group of celebrities supporting him has always been one of Efron’s signature strengths. People – industry and fans – love him, want him to succeed.

“I can’t say enough good things about Zach,” he told him Baywatch He was co-star Dwayne Johnson while promoting the 2017 film, while Olympian Simone Biles described him as “super cute” and “authentic”. for him Iron claw Co-star Wyatt described him as a “cheerleader” and Nicole Kidman said: “I want to see Zac praised.”

Efron made headlines for his portrayal of American serial killer Ted Bundy in the 2019 film Extremely evil, shockingly evil, and despicable.

Playing against type or making such a sudden shift in career was a risk. Just ask Matthew McConaughey, who talked about not receiving a job offer for eight months after turning his back on romantic comedies.

“I was very hesitant to do it, but I knew I could do it,” Efron said. The Graham Norton Show In 2019. “I didn’t want to jump into something that could be seen as a desperate attempt to try to change my image. It was a unique experience and not what anyone expected. “It makes me proud.”

A direct line can be drawn from the serial killer’s biography to iron claw, With praise heaped on Efron for the rawness and vulnerability his filmography has yet to demand of him.

the NationalEphron’s review cites Ephron’s innate sweetness as a contributing factor in “what may be the most devastating film of the year.”

Director Sean Durkin describes Efron as a “quiet leader” and compares him to Robert De Niro in the film Deer hunterwhich demonstrates the goodwill the actor has earned and recognizes the incognito mode in which this Disney alum, against all odds, finally hears his name mentioned alongside the greats.

“My goal is to make everything the best it can be in any genre,” he said. diverse. “But the big part that clicked early on was that it was a priority to never do the same thing twice, to the point where it was uncomfortable — having to learn a new skill set, or shift, or be vulnerable.”

Updated: January 09, 2024 at 3:03 AM