Zachary David Alexander Efron, professionally known as Zac Efron, is a distinguished American actor and singer who earned widespread recognition for his breakout role as Troy Bolton in the Disney Channel’s High School Musical franchise, which launched him to teen idol status.
He has since starred in major films including Hairspray, 17 Again, Neighbors, Baywatch, The Greatest Showman, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile as Ted Bundy, and The Iron Claw, showcasing his range in comedy, drama, musicals, and biopics while also hosting the Netflix series Down to Earth with Zac Efron.
Essential Data
- Full Name: Zachary David Alexander Efron
- Stage Name: Zac Efron
- Born: October 18, 1987
- Age: 38 years old
- Birthplace: San Luis Obispo, California, United States
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: Caucasian
- Occupation: Actor, Singer
- Height: 5’ 8” (1.73 m)
- Religion: Judaism
- Parents: David Efron and Starla Baskett
- Siblings: Dylan Efron, Olivia Efron, Henry Efron
- Spouse: Unknown
- Children: None
- Relationship: Single
- Net Worth: $25 – $30 million USD
Early Life and Education
Zachary David Alexander Efron was born on October 18, 1987, in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. He was raised by his parents, David Efron and Starla Baskett, in Arroyo Grande, California, in a middle-class family where his father worked as an electrical engineer at Diablo Canyon Power Plant and his mother as an administrative assistant at the same facility.
He grew up with a younger brother, Dylan Efron, and later half-siblings Olivia Efron and Henry Efron from his father’s second marriage after his parents’ 2016 divorce.
His ethnicity is Caucasian, with Polish-Jewish paternal heritage, and his religion is Judaism (raised agnostically but identifying with Jewish roots). He graduated from Arroyo Grande High School in 2006 and was accepted to the University of Southern California, but chose not to enroll to pursue acting full-time.
Career
Zac Efron began his acting career with small guest roles on television shows such as Firefly, ER, CSI: Miami, and The Guardian in the early 2000s. He gained his first recurring role as Cameron Bale on the WB series Summerland (2004–2005).
His major breakthrough came in 2006, when he was cast as Troy Bolton, the basketball star and romantic lead, alongside Vanessa Hudgens, in Disney Channel’s High School Musical and its sequels, establishing him as a Disney star.
Efron successfully transitioned from teen roles to leading man status in the late 2000s and 2010s. He starred in comedies and dramas, including 17 Again (2009), The Lucky One (2012),and the hit comedy franchise Neighbors (2014).
He demonstrated musical talent again in The Greatest Showman (2017) as Phillip Carlyle alongside Hugh Jackman. Other notable films from this period include New Year’s Eve (2011), The Paperboy (2012), Dirty Grandpa (2016), and Baywatch (2017).
In the 2020s, Efron continued to diversify his roles, delivering more mature, physically demanding performances. He appeared in The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022), Firestarter (2022), and earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of wrestler Kevin Von Erich in the sports biopic The Iron Claw (2023).
As of 2026, Efron remains active with several projects in various stages. He is set to star in the celebrity thriller Famous (playing dual roles), the comedy Judgment Day alongside Will Ferrell, a remake of Three Men and a Baby, and other announced films.
He hosted Down to Earth with Zac Efron on Netflix and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His career spans over 40 projects, blending musicals, comedies, and serious roles with consistent box-office success.
Award and Nominations
- Daytime Emmy Award (2021) for Outstanding Daytime Program Host for Down to Earth with Zac Efron (Won)
- Critics’ Choice Movie Award (2008) for Best Acting Ensemble in Hairspray (shared with the cast) (WON)
- the MTV Movie Awards (2015) for Best Shirtless Performance and Best Duo (with Dave Franco) for Neighbors (Won)
- CinemaCon Award (2016) for Comedy Star of the Year (shared with Anna Kendrick and Adam DeVine) for Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (Won)
- Saturn Award (2019) for Best Actor in a Streaming Presentation for Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (Nominations)
Social Media
- Instagram: @zacefron
- X(Twitter): @zacEfron
- Facebook: @zacEfron
Personal Life
Zac Efron had a relatively normal childhood despite his later fame. He was active in community theater from a young age and credits his supportive family for encouraging his early interest in performing. He has prioritized family time and has lived with his brother Dylan at various points.
Romantically, Efron’s most high-profile relationship was with his High School Musical co-star Vanessa Hudgens, whom he dated from 2005 to 2010. Since then, he has been linked to several women, including Lily Collins, Halston Sage, Michelle Rodriguez, Sami Miró, Sarah Bro, and Australian model Vanessa Valladares (whom he dated from 2020 to 2021).
In recent years, he has kept his dating life very private and has stated that he finds dating challenging while focusing on personal growth and his career. As of 2026, at age 38, there is no confirmed public relationship, and he appears to be single.
Net Worth
Zac Efron’s net worth is estimated to be between $25 million and $30 million USD as of 2026. At 38, he has built substantial wealth through a successful acting career spanning nearly two decades, beginning with his explosive rise as a Disney Channel star.
The majority of his fortune comes from his high-profile film roles, especially the High School Musical franchise, which generated massive earnings and residuals. He earned significant paychecks from major studio films such as Neighbors (2014 & 2016),The Greatest Showman (2017), and more recent projects like The Iron Claw (2023), Ricky Stanicky (2024), and A Family Affair (2024).
Filmography
- High School Musical (2006)
- Hairspray (2007)
- The Lucky One (2012)
- Neighbors (2014)
- That Awkward Moment (2014)
- Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016)
- The Greatest Showman (2017)
- Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)
- The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022)
- The Iron Claw (2023)
- A Family Affair (2024)
- Famous (TBA)
- Judgement Day (TBA)
Television
- Summerland (2004–2005)
- ER (2006)
- Down to Earth with Zac Efron (2020–2022)
- Human Discoveries (2019)
- The Studio (2025)