Some of his friends and colleagues celebrated Zac Efron on Monday when he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The 36-year-old former Disney star had some big hitters playing for him, with his former co-stars Jeremy Allen White and Miles Teller both giving speeches praising him at the ceremony.
Zach was recently on a publicity trip with Jeremy to promote his upcoming biographical drama The Iron Claw, and he and Miles Teller previously starred opposite Michael B. Jordan in the 2014 comedy That Awkward Moment.
In a statement about the unveiling of his star from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the organization noted how Efron reinvented his career with a variety of diverse roles in the wake of his initial success with Disney and the High School Musical franchise.
The guest star also included a touching tribute to his late costar Matthew Perry, with whom he appeared in 2009’s 17 Again.
Zac looked dapper at the ceremony in a muted blue lapel suit.
He stuck to classic black leather boots but dressed the rest of his ensemble in a thin gray jacket.
He added some extra glamor with a fancy gold watch with a black leather band, and his hair was cut short and updo.
Jeremy opted for a casual look with a black cotton suit over a white shirt with several buttons at the top.
He paired his suit with a pair of shiny white sneakers, and his hair was arranged in a mass of messy curls.
He and Miles took their positions on the podium to give their speeches praising Zack.
Miles wore a more fitted black suit with thin lapels, and also chose a white shirt without ties.
He complemented the man of the hour with a pair of black rectangular sunglasses, while Zac opted for a round set of horn-rimmed sunglasses.
Also appearing at the unveiling was former professional wrestler Kevin Von Erich, who wore a gray plaid jacket with black pants and a white jacket.
Zack plays a fighter in his new film, The Iron Claw, which details the triumphs and tragedies of the Von Erich family’s gladiators.
Although focusing on Zack’s later critically acclaimed work, he also looked back to his roots with the presence of Kenny Ortega, who directed the trilogy of High School Musical films in which Zack starred.
Kenny was wearing a black polo shirt and black pants with a black and white windbreaker and sneakers.
He accessorized with military-style square sunglasses, a black baseball cap, and a black crossbody bag.
During the speech portion of the ceremony, Zach seemed overwhelmed with praise and gave both Jeremy and Miles a warm hug after they finished their speech.
He also got to have an adorable moment with his mom, Starla Baskett, next to his new co-star located at 6426 Hollywood Blvd.
According to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Efron was awarded her 2,767th star, although the number of honorees is lower, as many icons have multiple stars honoring their careers in different sectors of the entertainment industry.
When it was his turn to speak, Zac recalled how “kind and generous” actor Matthew Perry, 17 again, was to him when they worked together.
‘Cooperate with him and [director Burr Steers] -It was a lot of fun and really pushed and motivated me in so many ways.
“It really pushed me into the next chapter of my career, and for that, thank you so much, Matthew. I’m thinking about you a lot today.
Perry’s girlfriend Athena Crosby previously told Entertainment Tonight Canada That the Friends star wanted Zach to play him in a biopic after their hilarious collaboration on 17 Again left him impressed with the younger actor’s talents.
“He said he wanted to make a movie about his life,” Crosby said. “He has worked with Zac Efron in the past on a movie. He said he wanted Zac Efron to play a younger version of him and that he would soon ask him to do so.
“He was just looking forward to sharing more about his story and recovery from addiction, and championing this cause to help more people,” she added. “So he was very optimistic and happy with whatever he wanted to do.”
Perry died on October 28 after apparently drowning in his hot tub, although his cause of death has not been determined until a full toxicology report is completed.
Efron later said the people At the Iron Claw premiere, he said he was “honored” to hear that Perry was considering portraying him in his early years.
“He was a mentor to me, and we made a great movie together,” he continued. I looked up to him, and I learned comedic timing from that guy. I mean, when we were shooting 17 Again, it was very surreal for me to look at him and have him be there, because I learned so much from him, from his whole life.
During Miles’ speech, the Whiplash star called Zach “the first real star to emerge from” his generation of actors.
He also took a look at how the two screen stars got to know each other for the first time while filming the awkward moment.
