Heartbreaking Facts About Zac Efron’s Life

Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of addiction and mental health issues.

Ever since he shot to fame in 2006 as the vocally talented, basketball-playing Troy Bolton in “High School Musical,” Zac Efron has been beloved by his fans. Despite various ups and downs, his career has spanned from Disney Channel stardom to more mature roles, including heart-wrenching dramas and an Emmy-winning travel docuseries.

Efron’s dedication is apparent. Speaking to Variety in December 2023, he emphasized perseverance, saying, “There’s a certain number of things you can control in your life, and the rest, you have to realize you’re not in control of it… You can put your heart and soul into something, and it doesn’t work out the way you thought it would, but the idea of giving up or quitting because of that — there’s just so much to be done.”

Such a mindset has likely helped Efron navigate his personal struggles, which have sometimes overshadowed his professional successes. Few are aware of the numerous challenges he has faced in his life.

Zac Efron checked into rehab for addiction in 2013

Child stars often struggle with transitioning to adulthood, and Zac Efron was no exception. Having started acting at age 11, he found himself drinking and using drugs excessively as his career gained momentum.

In an April 2014 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he disclosed, “I was drinking a lot, way too much… Everything is thrown at you. I wouldn’t take anything back; I needed to learn everything I did. But it was an interesting journey, to say the least.”

Efron checked into rehab in 2013 and began attending Alcoholics Anonymous, which he credits with changing his life. In May 2016, he told Elle, “What I found is structure. That led me to a balance of opposites: You get out of life what you put in.”

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

His cousin died from cancer

Efron’s family — including his supportive parents and brother Dylan — are well-known to fans. However, few know about his extended family. Tragically, his cousin Emily passed away from cancer in 2013.

In October 2015, Efron shared a childhood photo of himself and Emily on Instagram, noting, “Happy birthday to my cousin and best friend, Emily, who passed away from cancer 2 years ago — she was 28 like me. We share the same birthday and this day is forever ours.” He also encouraged his followers to donate to Stand Up to Cancer.

Zac Efron shattered his jaw

Efron is known to be a bit accident-prone. In November 2013, he reportedly slipped in a puddle of water at home, leading to a broken jaw that required his mouth to be wired shut. Over the years, a noticeable change in his appearance led to rumors of excessive plastic surgery.

Efron later clarified he had knocked himself out running in his house with socks on. In a September 2022 interview with Entertainment Tonight, he said, “I almost died, but we’re good.”

Talking to Men’s Health in October 2022, he explained his ignorance of the “Jaw-gate” rumors until his mom called to ask. Nonetheless, such rumors don’t seem to bother him much, as he stated, “If I valued what other people thought of me… I definitely wouldn’t be able to do this work.”

He got into a fight on Skid Row

Not everyone is a fan of Efron. In March 2014, he was driving around Los Angeles with a friend when they ran out of gas on Skid Row. While waiting for an Uber, they were attacked.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he described the ordeal: “A homeless guy… tapped on the driver’s-side window. Before I knew it, [my friend] was out of the car, and they started fighting… I got out of the car to disarm him. At some point, he dropped the knife, and I got hit pretty hard in the face — and almost instantly, the police were there to break up the fight.”

Zac Efron’s dog died in 2016

Anyone who’s lost a pet knows how painful it can be. In April 2012, Efron adopted an Australian Shepherd named Puppy. Tragically, in August 2016, he revealed on Instagram that Puppy had died, writing, “Through thick and thin you’ve always been my best friend. I’ll see you at the finish line, RIP Puppy Efron.”

He signed off the post with lyrics from Chance the Rapper. Efron, a known dog lover, has since adopted three more pups, Chapelle, Dreamer, and Maca.

He dealt with insomnia and depression after Baywatch

Zac Efron’s impressive physique for roles like 2017’s “Baywatch” came at a cost. Though actors have the resources to get into shape, the process can take a significant toll.

He told Men’s Health, “That ‘Baywatch’ look… I started to develop insomnia, and I fell into a pretty bad depression. Something about that experience burned me out. I had a really hard time recentering… it messed something up.”

Even after dropping the muscle, he didn’t feel better. “For all the reasons I thought it would be incredible, I was just miserable. My body would not feel healthy; I just didn’t feel alive.”

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

Zac Efron nearly died in a bike accident in London

While filming “The Greatest Showman” in London with Hugh Jackman, Efron decided to go for a bike ride. Unfortunately, he nearly died after almost colliding with a double-decker bus.

On “The Graham Norton Show” in January 2018, he described, “I followed Hugh around a few cars, and suddenly, there was a double-decker bus right in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, went under the front tire, and narrowly missed death.”

He struggled to shake off his Ted Bundy role

In 2019, Efron took on the dark role of serial killer Ted Bundy in “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.” His mother initially opposed the project, but she relented after learning more about it.

Efron gave a compelling performance, despite the movie’s mediocre reception. However, he found it difficult to shake off the character, relying on methods like meditation to re-center himself.

Zac Efron got emotional talking about his grandmother’s death

Efron has faced his fair share of loss. On “The Ellen Show” in April 2019, he revealed that his grandmother had recently died, getting emotional as he recounted a story about her.

He later shared a heartfelt Instagram post: “Love you Grandma. Rest In Peace. We’ll take good care of Grandpa for you,” alongside a photo of his family.

He contracted typhoid fever in 2019

Before his 2020 travel show “Down to Earth with Zac Efron” aired, he was filming another adventure series, “Killing Zac Efron,” in Papua New Guinea in December 2019. Tragically, he contracted typhoid fever and had to be airlifted to a hospital in Australia.

After several days of treatment, he returned home for the holidays. Efron wrote on X, “Very thankful to everyone who has reached out. I did get sick in Papua New Guinea but I bounced back quick and finished an amazing 3 weeks in P.N.G. I’m home for the holidays with my friends and family.”

Zac Efron spoke openly about his agoraphobia in 2022

In a 2022 conversation with Men’s Health, Efron disclosed his struggle with agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder characterized by avoidance of places and situations that may cause panic.

He simply stated, “I just don’t go out. People in large groups, it triggers my agoraphobia.” Celebrities like Kim Basinger and Donny Osmond have also spoken about their experiences with this anxiety disorder, highlighting its challenges.

He was devastated by Matthew Perry’s death

Zac Efron played a high schooler in various films, including the younger version of Matthew Perry’s character in “17 Again.” Perry’s death in October 2023 deeply affected Efron, who was honored by Perry’s wish for Efron to play him again in a biopic.

In November 2023, Efron told Extra, “I was hugely honored. It would be extraordinary to do. … I’m still devastated by the fact that [Perry] is gone.” During his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, he expressed gratitude for Perry’s influence on his career.

Zac Efron was hospitalized after an accident in Ibiza

In August 2024, Efron made headlines for yet another accident. While in Ibiza, he dove into a swimming pool, hit his chest, and ingested some water. He was taken to the hospital, but fortunately, he recovered quickly.

His representative stated that he had suffered a “minor swimming incident” but was “fine.” Efron later assured his followers on Instagram that he was “happy and healthy,” thanking them for their concern.