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Actor Zac
Efron
You might know him as Troy Bolton, basketball star. But this Hollywood hearthrob wasn't so good at hoops after all!
 Born
Zachary David Alexander Efron in San Luis Obispo, California
on October 18, 1987, this actor and crooner has quickly become
one of the hottest teen stars on the planet.
Today Zac is famously known for his leading
role as basketball star Troy Bolton in High School
Musical I & II. He’s also cut five hit singles
that have soared to the top of the music charts. And he’s
starred in a number of dramas, sitcoms, and movies like CSI
Miami, The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, and
his current release, Hairspray.
But something you probably didn’t know
is that this singing sensation once belted out songs in the
car as a young boy. When first asked by his parents if he wanted
to take piano and voice lessons, he said, “Nah,”
and went back to playing his Gameboy.
In grade school, Zac describes himself as
a “nerdy bookworm”. He was also a jock wannabe, and played both baseball and basketball. In 6th grade his team even
made it to the league championships. But in double overtime
with three seconds left, he rebounded the ball and passed
it—to the wrong team! They scored at the buzzer and
Zac’s team lost the game. “I told my parents I
didn’t want to play ball anymore,” Zac says.
That’s when his mother offered piano
and singing lessons again. This time, Zac jumped at her offer.
It was his piano teacher who later encouraged him to try out
for the hit musical “Gypsy”. He got a big part
and it ran for 90 performances! After starring in numerous
other musicals, his middle school teacher contacted an agent
and got him several auditions, which led to him starring in Firefly, the series Summerland, and Lifetime
Movie, Miracle Run.
The real
miracle is that Zac still can’t believe he’s a
star.
 Zac's
Quotes
"Personally, I was never a cool kid growing
up. So it’s weird now to be the one signing autographs
instead of asking for them. It’s almost like being in
the Twilight Zone.”
“You always have to remember that bullies
want to bring you down because you have something that they
admire. Also, when you get made fun of--or when people
point out your weaknesses--it's an opportunity for you to
rise above.”
Other Fun Zac Facts
- Zac’s parents were both mechanical
engineers and worked at the same factory
- Zac's autographed baseball collection is his most prized possession, and has been signed
by every San Francisco Giants player in the past 10 years
- Zac taught himself to play the guitar
- Zac is a straight A student and got into
both colleges he applied to, but chose UCLA for their film
program. He’s taking time off, however, to star
in movies.
- Zac has two Australian Shepherds and a
Siamese cat
- Zac has a younger brother, Dylan
- Zac once dressed up like a trash can for
Halloween and his friends wheeled him to each house, rang the
doorbell, and hid. When someone answered he’d jump
out and scare them!
- Zac likes karaoke and sings “Man
I feel like a Woman” by Shania Twain
- The first thing Zac does every morning
is sing in the shower
- Zac once got detention for writing a science
fiction story about how he was raised by aliens and lived
in a spaceship for Science class when the assignment was
to write about his life.
- For Hairspray Zac had to die his
hair brown and gain 15 pounds of muscle
- Zac has three cars handed down from his
grandfather that he’s fixing up; one is a '65 Mustang Convertible
- He’s won the Teen Choice Award (3
times), the Young Artist Award (2 times), the Young Hollywood
Award, and the Hollywood Film Award
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