Zachary David Alexander Efron was born on October 18, 1987 in San Luis Obispo, California. He is an American actor.

Speaking to Newsweek, director Adam Shankman described Efron as "arguably the biggest teen star in America right now".

He has a brother, Dylan, and owns two Australian Shepherds named Dreamer and Puppy, as well as a Siamese cat named Simon. At age eleven, his singing talent was discovered and encouraged, and he was cast in the musical Gypsy for 90 performances. He went on to have roles in stage productions of Peter Pan, Little Shop of Horrors, The Music Man, and Mame.

He recently starred as an autistic child in the television movie "Miracle Run," alongside Mary-Louise Parker and Aidan Quinn, in the Disney Channel Original Movie "High School Musical", and guest starred on the hit Disney Channel show "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody".

He joined the cast of Summerland, where his blue eyes and tousled hair made him an instant hit with young female fans. He took another heartfelt teen role in the 2006 Disney cable movie High School Musical.

Efron is currently dating his High School Musical co-star Vanessa Hudgens.

Filmography

• High School Musical 3 (2008)
• High School Musical 2 (2007)
• Hairspray (2007)
• "The Replacements" (1 episode, 2006)
• "Heist" (1 episode, 2006)
• "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" (1 episode, 2006)
• High School Musical (2006)
• "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" (1 episode, 2006)
• If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now (2006)
• The Derby Stallion (2005)
• "Summerland" (16 episodes, 2004-2005)
• "CSI: Miami" (1 episode, 2005)
• Miracle Run (2004)
• "The Guardian" (1 episode, 2004)
• Triple Play (2004)
• "ER" (1 episode, 2003)
• The Big Wide World of Carl Laemke (2003)
• "Firefly" (1 episode, 2002)

Awards

• Teen Choice Award Breakout Star 2006
• Teen Choice Award Best Chemistry "High School Musical" 2006