Zac Efron's complete transformation through the years

Take a trip down memory lane...

Zac Efron
Author: Emma DoddsPublished 18th Oct 2024

Zac Efron may have started out his career as heartthrob Troy Bolton in High School Musical all the way back in 2006, returning for the sequels, High School Musical 2 and 3, but he's also carved a career out as a seriously good actor over the past nearly 20 years!

The 37-year-old, who also appeared in 17 Again, The Greatest Showman and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, Zac has even transitioned into travel journalist through his Netflix series Down to Earth with Zac Efron. Zac's latest title is a Netflix film called Family Affair where he stars alongside Nicole Kidman and Joey King.

Take a look back through Zac Efron's career journey so far...

Zac Efron, 2004

A baby-faced Zac Efron appeared at the opening of 'The Revenge Of The Mummy - The Ride' Gala Benefit at Universal Studios in 2004 at the age of 17.

Zac Efron, 2005

By the age of 18, Zac had started to really work on his soon-to-be-famous smoulder, pictured here at The WB Television Network's All Star Party.

Zac Efron, 2005

Zac did some serious glowing up in 2005, and is pictured here later that year at High School Musical co-star Ashley Tisdale's birthday party.

Zac Efron, 2005

We couldn't leave out the High School Musical premiere in December 2005 - Zac pictured here with his co-star and on-off girlfriend, Vanessa Anne Hudgens.

Zac Efron, 2006

Pictured here with his Hairspray co-star Brittany Snow, Zac ditched the longer locks at the age of 19 and worked even harder on that smoulder.

Zac Efron, 2006

Just two months later, Zac had dyed his hair much darker and gone for the David Beckham mohawk at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards.

Zac Efron, 2007

The classic Troy Bolton locks returned in 2007 for the release of High School Musical 2, pictured here at the 2007 Teen Choice Awards.

Zac Efron, 2008

At the age of 21, Zac was looking to move away from the Troy Bolton/Bieber 'do, and fashioned it slightly more stylishly at the premiere of High School Musical 3: Senior Year.

Zac Efron, 2009

Zac was working the quiff in 2009, appearing on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Zac Efron, 2010

The quiff really came into its own in 2010, as Zac attended the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.

Zac Efron, 2011

Channelling his inner Bond, Zac looked VERY dapper in a grey suit and a shorter 'do at the 2011 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Not sure about the pout, though.

Zac Efron, 2014

Zac's look stayed much the same over the next few years - until 2014, when he rocked a Sergeant Major moustache at a Los Angeles Lakers Game with Sami Miro.

Zac Efron, 2015

Back to his old self by 2015, a 28-year-old Zac had his old wry smile on at the premiere for We Are Your Friends.

Zac Efron, 2016

This is a rather divisive look - but it was popular at the time! It seems he was testing the waters with the blonde streaks, as he goes full platinum in 2019... Pictured here at the premiere for Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates.

Zac Efron, 2017

Zac toned down the blonde but kept a slightly lighter shade at the premiere for The Greatest Showman in 2017, and brought back the 'tache - but not in such a severe way.

Zac Efron, 2018

The 30-year-old was seriously feeling himself at the Golden Globes 2018, having toned down the moustache and added a bit of all-round facial fuzz to the mix.

Zac Efron, 2019

Seriously, who else could look this good with platinum blond hair and dark facial hair? Sigh.

Zac Efron, 2019

Zac whacked some toner on his bonce later on in the year, going for a more silvery platinum look at a film screening for his biographical film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile at the Tribeca Film Festival in May 2019.

Zac Efron, 2019

By December 2019, it looked as though Zac was growing out his lighter locks when he posted this group shot of himself in Papua New Guinea, confirming that he'd been struck down with an illness whilst there filming Killing Zac Efron, showing him going 'deep into the jungles of a remote, dangerous island to carve his own name in expedition history'.

Zac Efron, 2020

In 2020, Zac's travel show Down to Earth premiered on Netflix. Landing on Netflix UK on 10th July 2020, the docu-series showed Zac visiting different places across the world, including London, Lima, Iquitos, Sardinia, Costa Rica, France, Iceland and Puerto Rico.
Here, Zac opted for his natural brown hair, and even grew out a beard.

Zac Efron, 2022

In 2022, Zac appeared at AT&T's Life, Gig-ified event, where he sported his natural brown hair and a moustache.

November 2022

Zac was spotted with quite a different look in these photographs taken in November 2022 while filming for upcoming film The Iron Claw. Based on the real-life family of wrestlers, Zac will star as Kevin Von Erich alongside Lily James and The Bear actor Jeremy Allen White.

Zac Efron, 2024

In 2024, Zac Efron starred in a film called Family Affair, alongside Nicole Kidman and Joey King. In the film, he stars as Hollywood heartthrob Chris Cole.

Now read:

Here's the real reason Zac Efron didn't sing in High School Musical

The most AMAZING celebrity transformations

Zac Efron's fans think he's secretly married after being spotted wearing a 'wedding ring'

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