‘He’s Beyond Recognition’: Users Say Zac Efron Spoilt His Beauty, But Actor Explained Why His Face Changed

Zac Efron set tongues wagging again after he appeared to look different in a new movie. Many social media users thought the star had plastic surgery behind the scenes. But the truth behind his new look is much more serious. Here’s a quick look at his background and childhood.

The actor, born on October 18, 1987, grew up in Arroyo Grande, California, and got into acting at 11 when his parents noticed he could sing. His acting and singing lessons led to his role in a “Gypsy” production that got him hooked on the craft.

Zachary David Alexander Efron, known as Zac Efron, was born to Starla Baskett and David Efron, in San Luis Obispo, California. His mother worked as a secretary while her husband was an electrical engineer.

Zac soon landed on-stage roles in “Auntie Mame,” “The Music Man,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” and “Peter Pan.” The next step was getting guest parts on television series. Some people might recall seeing him in 1994’s “ER,” 2001’s “The Guardian,” 2002’s “CSI: Miami” and “Firefly,” and 2003’s “NCIS.”

He’s also appeared in 2003’s “The Big Wide World of Carl Laemke.” Here is a breakdown of his looks over the years. When he got older, fans noticed that something was different about him. Let’s see the progression up until the big change.

Zac Efron in 2004

In 2004, Zac was in his late teens and was seen out and about at various Hollywood events. Some of his works that came out in 2004 included “Triple Play” and “Miracle Run.” Here are some of the events he attended that year.

In June, he looked cute with a simple hairstyle and normal jaw while at the opening of “The Revenge Of The Mummy – The Ride” at Universal Studios.

On July 14, he was out again looking pretty much the same. This time, the gap-toothed actor stepped out to The WB Network’s 2004 All-Star Summer Party.

Later that month, Zac showed that he had a love for music when he attended Ashlee Simpson’s record release party for her debut album “Autobiography.”

He sported his youthful looks the day after attending Simpsom’s event at the”Thunderbirds” premiere that was held in Los Angeles. The star looked healthy and happy as he posed for the cameras.

At the end of the year, the actor was seen flaunting his boyish looks at the 6th Annual Family Television Awards on December 1, 2004. The celebrity’s looks didn’t seem to change much in 2005, but it was evident that the teenager was getting older.

Zac Efron in 2005

On December 16, 2005, Zac posed for a picture while attending a breakfast with the cast and director of “High School Musical.” The meeting was held at Beverly Hills Four Seasons Hotel in California.

The following year, the young actor was spotted at various events, and in one of them, he looked older and more serious.

Zac Efron in 2006

On February 9, 2006, Zac posed as part of the Stars of the Disney Channel during an appearance at Splashlight Studios in New York City. Unlike most of his older pictures, this time the actor wasn’t smiling and his jaw still looked the same.

He was all smiles again while getting a microphone placed on his shirt for a performance with Kevin Covais and the cast of “High School Musical” on “The Today Show” on March 30, 2006. The performance occurred at the NBC Studios at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.

In June 2006, Zac graduated from Arroyo Grande High School. He became well-known when he starred in 2006’s “High School Musical,” winning a Teen Choice Award for Breakout Star. Two months later, he looked different while attending the 58th Annual Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium.

He appeared in a tie and shirt plus a darker-looking hair color. The following year, he wore more formal attire while attending different events.

Zac Efron in 2007

In 2007, the actor reprised his role as Troy Bolton in “High School Musical 2.” He also appeared in “Hairspray.” On March 15, 2007, Zac wore a suit and tie to the “Hairspray” presentation.

At the end of the month, he rocked a waistcoat, tie, and shirt at the 20th Annual Kid’s Choice Awards. The event was held at the UCLA Pauley Pavilion in Westwood, California.

On April 22, 2007, he was very happy as he posed while holding his award at Movieline’s Hollywood Life 9th Annual Young Hollywood Awards. He was awarded as the winner of the One to Watch.

In 2008, he reprised his role again for “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” The following year he showed off a new haircut towards the end of the year.

Zac Efron in 2009

On January 28, 2009, Zac was photographed while attending the Japan premiere of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” The event was held at the Shinagawa Stellar Ball in Tokyo.

On November 23, Zac looked different as he showed off his changed appearance. He’d cut his hair shorter for his attendance at the screening of “Me And Orson Welles.” The event was hosted by the Cinema Society, Screenvision, and Brooks Brothers.

The screening was held at Clearview Chelsea Cinemas in New York City. That same year he starred in “17 Again.” However, he looked more like a grown man in 2010 with his new look.

Zac Efron in 2010

On June 6, 2010, Zac looked more like what his fans know him like but without the jaw injury. He looked dapper and stylish at the MTV Movie Awards at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal Studios.

The event was held in Universal City, California. The actor’s mustache was visible and he went tie-less with an open shirt and suit. That year he appeared in “Charlie St. Cloud.” When he was seen again in 2011, Zac had cut his hair even shorter.

Zac Efron in 2011

The celebrity started 2011 with a new look and new accolades. He showed off his makeover when he posed for a portrait during the 2011 People’s Choice Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. Zac had won the Favorite Movie Star Under 25 award.

By the end of the year, the star’s hair had grown a bit longer. He was sporting his new look at the “New Year’s Eve” premiere at Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City.

He’d started allowing his beard to grow and wore a suit, tie, and scarf. In 2012, he starred in “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax.” His jaw didn’t look different the following year when he was seen at an event.

Zac Efron in 2013

On September 6, 2013, Zac’s hair had grown more and styled differently, and the mustache and beard were gone. He showed off his new look at the Tiff Film Festival for “Parkland” at The Roy Thomson Hall Theatre.

The star looked handsome and smokey at the event held in Toronto, Canada. In 2014, the actor attended an occasion where he stripped off his shirt and showed off his muscles.

Zac Efron in 2014

On January 21, 2014, Zac started the year by appearing on season 63 of the “Today” show. His appearance looked normal as did his chin. That same year, he also starred in “Neighbors.”

Those who attended that year’s MTV Movie Awards were in for a thrill when Zac took off his shirt. An image of him before he bore it all was also taken at the event.

He showed his muscles after winning the Best Shirtless Performance award for “That Awkward Moment.” In the picture, the star smiled while holding his accolade.

The awards were held at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on April 13, 2014, in Los Angeles, California. The following years were tough on the actor who struggled with medical problems.

Zac Efron in 2016 and 2017

In one article, Zac opened up about some of the health issues he battled between 2016 and 2017. Besides living a life where he had to take diuretics, at one point, the actor was eating the same three meals daily. He also wasn’t getting enough sleep and was overtraining.

If filming finished at midnight, the star would wake up at 4 a.m. to exercise. Before shooting 2017’s “Baywatch,” the actor who appeared in 2016’s “Dirty Grandpa” was excited about doing the action franchise, but the recovery from it was tough.

The actor confessed and warned others that getting a “Baywatch” body was devastating, and the ill effects of his training lasted long. He admitted to developing insomnia and then becoming depressed for a “long time.” Zac said something about working on the movie “burned” him out.

He struggled to recenter himself and blamed what went wrong on taking too many diuretics for a long period. Only six months after he wrapped filming did he finally start feeling like himself. In 2018, Zac started growing his facial hair again and by the end of the year, he was rocking a mustache and beard.

Zac Efron in 2018

In January 2018, Zac looked all grown with his facial hair. He sported his new look while attending the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

This time he wore a dark suit and a black bow tie. At the end of the year, the actor shared a throwback Instagram image of him bowing while being attended to by a native in Nepal, South Asia.

In 2019, the celebrity had another go at changing his appearance by altering his hair color. His new look didn’t last very long and is something to remember.

Zac Efron in 2019

On January 26, 2019, Zac was seen at The IMDb Studio in Acura Festival Village. At the time, he was on location at day two of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

Two years later, the “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” star spent time posing with different animals in Australia. He was content with his looks until he changed things up at the end of the year.

Zac Efron in 2021

On March 18, 2021, Zac posted two images of himself on Instagram. He revealed he was on Kangaroo Island in Australia. In the first image, he cradled a Joey, a baby kangaroo, and in the second one, someone else held the animal while the actor posed beside them.

The following month, the celebrity shared another picture of himself carrying an animal in Australia. This time he was holding a Tasmanian devil and using a play on words, he jokingly called it the “Devil down under.” At the time, he was shooting his series “Down to Earth with Zac Efron.”

Zac ended the year off with a bang by growing out a mustache. He was seen with it while wearing a cap at the UFC 269, Neal versus Ponzinibbio match on December 11, 2021. The star was photographed while seated in the audience in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Throughout 2022, the actor had different looks. He went shaven and with a mustache, but by the end of the year, the former look appeared to win. The star also kept his hair short.

Zac Efron in 2022

In April 2021, Zac appeared on Bill Nye’s Facebook Watch to promote his “Earth Day Musical.” That was the first time that fans noticed he looked different. Seeing how different his jaw looked, netizens wondered if the actor had cosmetic surgery.

In an interview, the star explained that in 2013, he injured his face and had to get his mouth wired shut. In the past, he’s also broken his wrist, torn his ACL, thrown his back out, and dislocated his shoulder.

His facial injury occurred while he was running through his house wearing socks. Zac revealed that he slipped into a puddle of water he hadn’t seen near the entrance of his home. He landed on his face on the corner of the granite fountain before losing consciousness.

When the actor awoke, his chin bone was broken, and he had a gash that needed stitches. The celebrity then shared that he’d been getting physical therapy to help rehabilitate his injury. Because his facial muscles work in unison, his masseter muscles, used for chewing, had to overcompensate for the others who were ailing.

While in Australia, he stopped the facial treatment for some time. This happened to coincide with the time when he recorded Nye’s special. Zac Efron explained why he’d looked so different, stating, “The masseters just grew,” adding, “They just got really, really big.”

The actor wasn’t aware that netizens were talking about his jaw until his mother called him. She asked him if he’d gotten plastic surgery. Luckily, he isn’t the type to read what the internet says or allow online gossip to affect him badly.

Zac started 2022 with his mustache. He was seen with it on January 7, 2022, while on set filming “AT&T’s Life, Gig-ified” event in Santa Clarita, California. When he appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” the mustache was gone.

On May 10, 2022, Zac posed alongside Jimmy Kimmel on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” He wasn’t the only guest on the show that day as Alfonso Ribeiro and musical stars Parquet Courts also appeared.

The “Firestarter” actor still had his clean-shaven look in September when he appeared on day 4 at the Variety Studio, Presented by King’s Hawaiian event. The occasion was held at the St. Regis Hotel in Toronto, Canada.

He kept his look in a November 19, 2022, Instagram post where he smiled while holding a koala bar. The star thanked everyone who spent some “Koala-ty time watching ‘Down To Earth.'” In 2023, Zac’s fans saw him with his mother, with all his muscles showing, in a new trailer, and more.

Zac Efron in 2023

On January 14, 2023, Zac posted twice on his Instagram account. The first image was on his mother whom he kissed on the cheek. He revealed it was her birthday and called her his number one. The celebrity said his mother’s “love and support” made him who he is.

He concluded his post by declaring his love for his parent. All his muscles were on display in a post where he shared pictures of himself in the wrestling ring and the changing rooms. He even had one image of him posing with a wrestling belt.

Zac noted how much respect and admiration he has for professional wrestlers, their world, sacrifices, and dedication. He said they toured for months and put their bodies on the line daily to perform. It was an honor for him to learn from the best, Chavo Guerrero Jr.

For Valentine’s Day that year, Zac appeared in an Instagram post with a little child. It seemed like he was reading the child a story while going topless on the couch. His muscles were on full display, showing off the work he’d put into it.

In June, fans had another glimpse into the actor’s private life. Taking to Instagram, he posted a fun picture of him carrying two small children. the trio appeared to be at a theme park.

His body was on display again in October when the “The Iron Claw” trailer was released.

The true story of the Von Erich brothers was released in theaters on December 22. In the film, Zac acted as a wrestler, explaining why he’d trained with Guerrero Jr. before.

In December, Zac attended the movie premiere at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles, California. His jaw looked a bit different during this occasion.

That same month, the celebrity was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Taking to Instagram, he shared several pictures of himself posing with his star. He called it an “honor” to receive the star and thanked everyone who attended.

He stated, “It was a truly a humbling moment for me surrounded by those I love.” One of the people Zac mentioned and who appeared alongside him in one of the photos was “The Bear’s” Jeremy Allen White.

Zac Efron in 2024

In 2024, Zac had netizens talking when they noticed something different about him. After watching his 2024 Netflix romantic comedy, “A Family Affair,” fans started questioning the actor’s appearance. In the movie, the 36-year-old’s jaw looks wider, and his facial features also look altered.

Replying to a publication that covered Zac’s story about his face, one reader said, “He’s beyond recognition. He has crossed the line.” Another person stated, “He has spoilt his good looks; he was so handsome.”

Someone else lamented, “He ruined his looks,” before likening him to another “Baywatch” alumnus, saying Zac’s “David Hasselhof (sic) 2.0 now.” A person who’d seen the changes in the actor before shared, “I was stunned by his face when I watched him in ‘The Iron Claw.'”

And complained, “So many of these good looking actors do this, and I can’t understand it. My theory is that it’s part of the deal they make when they sell their souls.” The person continued, “I especially think that about [Nicole] Kidman, look how many movies she is in.”

Their lengthy post concluded, “You don’t get to that level without compromising yourself. I personally do not buy the ‘I slipped in my socks’ story.” Some who noticed the change said, “His face does look different yet he also looks about 46, so if he wanted to age 10 years then he’s gone the right way about it.”

A reader who was shocked by what they saw judged Zac and his “A Family Affair” co-star, Nicole Kidman. The person wrote, “Can’t believe he’s only 36, looks far older than that, and what on earth has Nicole Kidman done to her face, no movement in it whatsoever. Plus she’s far too thin, just no shape at all.”

Someone who also criticized both stars seemed to focus more on Kidman. They remarked, “Both Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman’s faces were totally different. It was the most notable thing in the film. Nicole’s face hardly moves.” In the past, Zac has explained why his face looks so different.

He wouldn’t be in the entertainment industry if he allowed it to. Zac noted, “If I valued what other people thought of me to the extent that they may think I do, I definitely wouldn’t be able to do this work.”

Instead, he felt the plastic surgery rumors were “funny,” but seriously noted that the accident nearly killed him. In May 29, 2024, the trailer of “A Family Affair,” was released on YouTube, and Zac’s face was obviously different in the scenes.

In January, his fans got a proper look at his changed looks. His jaw and chin looked enlarged when he attended the National Board of Review Awards Gala on January 11, 2024, in New York City.

March saw the star posting a thrilling clip on social media; showing off the muscle mass he has. He uploaded a video of him and his sister enjoying the water at a beach. He was seen kissing her cheek as he celebrated the “First day of spring.”

In June, the celebrity’s jaw and changed looks were on display. At the time, he was attending the premiere of “A Family Affair” on June 13, 2024, in Los Angeles, California.

The star had grown his beard and mustache to cover his jaw and mouth. Zac looks quite different from what he looked like when he was still a young boy and teenager, and the biggest change is his muscle gain.