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Zachary David Alexander Efron (or [[FanNickname Zefron]], born October 18, 1987) is an American actor and singer whose first (and most famous) major role was as Troy in ''Film/HighSchoolMusical''. Since then, some think that [[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct he has branched into a more "serious" actor with better performances.]] He often plays the BigManOnCampus.

He dated [[RomanceOnTheSet HSM co-star]] Music/VanessaHudgens for four years. They split in late 2010; both attribute the breakup to simply growing up.

He may [[MemeticMutation also be]] [[Manga/DeathNote Kira]], and is [[Theatre/AVeryPotterMusical quite the charismatic humanitarian]].

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!! Selected filmography:

* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' (2002) as young Simon Tam
* ''Film/MiracleRun'' (2004) as Steven Morgan
* ''Series/Summerland2004'' as Cameron Bale
* ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'' (2006) as Troy Bolton
** ''High School Musical 2'' (2007)
** ''High School Musical 3: Senior Year'' (2008)
* ''Film/{{Hairspray|2007}}'' (2007) as Link Larkin
* ''Film/SeventeenAgain2009'' (2009) as Teenage Mike O'Donnell
* ''Film/MeAndOrsonWelles'' (2009) as Richard Samuels
* ''Film/CharlieStCloud'' (2010) as Charlie St. Cloud
* ''Film/NewYearsEve'' (2012) as Paul
* ''Film/LiberalArts'' (2012) as Nat
* ''Film/TheLuckyOne'' (2012) as Logan Thibault
* ''Dr. Seuss' WesternAnimation/{{The Lorax|2012}}'' (2012) as Ted Wiggins (voice)
* ''Film/{{Parkland}}'' (2013) as Dr. Charles James 'Jim' Carrico
* ''Film/ThatAwkwardMoment'' (2014) as Jason Flynn
* ''Film/{{Neighbors|2014}}'' (2014) as Teddy Sanders
** ''Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising'' (2016)
* ''Film/DirtyGrandpa'' (2016) as Jason Kelly
* ''Film/MikeAndDaveNeedWeddingDates'' (2016) as Dave Stangle
* ''Film/{{Baywatch|2017}}'' (2017) as Matt Brody
* ''Film/TheDisasterArtist'' (2017) as Dan Janjigian
* ''Film/TheGreatestShowman'' (2017) as Phillip
* ''Film/ExtremelyWickedShockinglyEvilAndVile'' (2019) as UsefulNotes/TedBundy
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Scoob}}'' (2020) as Fred Jones (voice)
* ''Literature/{{Firestarter}}'' (2022) as Andy
* ''Film/TheGreatestBeerRunEver'' (2022) as John 'Chickie' Donohue
* ''Film/TheIronClaw'' (2023) as [[Wrestling/VonErichFamily Kevin Von Erich]]
* ''Film/RickyStanicky'' (2024) as Dean
* ''Film/ThreeMenAndABaby'' (TBD) as TBA

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!!Tropes applying to Efron:

* AdamWesting: He appeared in a ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' sketch as Troy Bolton returning to East High to tell the seniors that in the real world [[SpontaneousChoreography people don't begin singing and dancing]] [[LampshadeHanging out of nowhere]].
* CastingGag: Efron's big break was as Troy Bolton, captain of the basketball team of high school. His next movie, ''Film/SeventeenAgain2009'', is about a former basketball's captain in high school.
* DyeingForYourArt: Got ''ridiculously'' jacked for ''Baywatch''. If you had to spend an entire movie in nothing but swim trunks while standing next to The Rock, you probably would too. Same goes for playing Kevin Von Erich in ''Film/TheIronClaw'', where he built up the requisite HeroicBuild for convincingly playing a pro wrestler.
* IAmNotSpock: With the exceptions of ''17 Again'' and ''The Lucky One'', all of his post-HSM films kept flopping at the box office until 2014, with smash box office success of ''Neighbors'' and the modest success of ''That Awkward Moment''. And ''then'' came ''Film/TheGreatestShowman.''
* ScullyBox: At 5'8, he's shorter than the typical MrFanservice, and various tricks have been used to make him appear taller in films.
* MrFanservice
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: There was a long-standing rumor that he would've played Light Yagami in the American '' Death Note '' adaptation years back. It came to the point that "Is he [Zac Efron] Kira?" became a {{meme|ticMutation}} over night, lasting long after the project was scrapped. (Zac actually looking like Light Yagami in the late 2000s definitely helped the meme). Zac also being a fan of the Death Note manga also won him some points, sadly it wasn’t meant to be.
** Rumor has it he turned down the part citing the need to cast Asian actors as Asian characters, avoiding a RaceLift... Sadly when the movie was made in 2017, they casted Nat Wolff as Light.
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