Zac Efron has transitioned from dreamy teen heartthrob to leading man.
The actor first won over audiences as Troy Bolton in Disney Channel’s High School Musical, which premiered in 2006. Efron became a household name overnight and reprised his role in 2007’s High School Musical 2 and 2008’s High School Musical 3: Senior Year.
As Efron grew up, he attempted to shed his squeaky-clean image, venturing into raunchier roles in the likes of Neighbors, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and Dirty Grandpa. He has also taken on more serious roles in films such as Charlie St. Cloud, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile and The Greatest Showman, the latter of which he once again showcased his musical chops.
“We have the ability to change the world with cinema. I love acting, I study it every night — Enter the Dragon, Se7en,” Efron told The U.K.’s The Times in 2016. “From day one, I wanted to do authentic work. It wasn’t about money. It wasn’t about fame. It wasn’t about Instagram.”
Scroll to revisit his years in the spotlight:
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