In a heartwarming ceremony on Monday, Hollywood heartthrob Zac Efron was awarded a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 36-year-old actor, best known for his roles in the High School Musical trilogy and The Greatest Showman, took a moment to express gratitude for the unwavering support of his parents, Starla Baskett and David Efron.
“My mom and dad, they’re the reason I’m here today,” Efron shared with PEOPLE. “They believed in me when I don’t know how they did. It must’ve been difficult to drive me back and forth to auditions when I was 15, three hours from the Arroyo Grande out here, just to have such a small shot.”
Efron went on to acknowledge the sacrifices his parents made, stating, “They believed in me, and they stuck with me, by my side, through all of it. And I think they sacrificed a lot to support me throughout the years.”
The star ceremony was a family affair, with Starla and David joining their son alongside his younger brother, Dylan, 31. Despite usually remaining out of the spotlight, the proud parents couldn’t hide their joy on this special occasion.
Reflecting on his parents’ influence, Efron told Elle in 2016, “My parents love me in very different ways, but they checked every box. My dad always taught me to be driven. I was always the shortest kid at school. Always the worst kid on the team. I’d come home after practice and my dad would build a basketball hoop. Then we’d go out and shoot 100 free throws. Pretty soon every time I got fouled I would make my free throws.”
During the ceremony, Efron also took a moment to pay tribute to his late 17 Again co-star Matthew Perry, who passed away in October at the age of 54.
Sharing heartfelt memories of Perry, Efron said, “Collaborating with him and [director Burr Steers] — it was so much fun, and really did propel me and motivate me in so many ways. It really pushed me into the next chapter of my career, and for that, thank you so much, Matthew. Thinking about you a lot today.”
Efron, who first rose to fame as the star of High School Musical, now joins the ranks of Hollywood legends as the 2,767th entertainment-industry figure to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, according to an official press release. Reflecting on his journey, Efron humorously mused, “Oh geez. Holy cow. I don’t think he wouldn’t believe me. Or yeah, I think he’d probably laugh.”
With a star on the Walk of Fame and the support of his loving parents, Zac Efron is undoubtedly on a path paved with gratitude and success in Hollywood.
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