Zac Efron has just been honored with his very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and he's so grateful to everyone who helped him get there—including his one-time costar Matthew Perry.
In his acceptance speech during the ceremony on Dec. 11, Efron thanked a lot of people profusely, crediting them with different parts of his success as an actor.
"I've been acting and singing and dancing for as long as I can remember, since I was a little boy, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd be standing here today in front of such dear friends, colleagues throughout the years, and lifelong fans who have been with me since day one," he said. "I love you guys so much. This is just insane."
He continued, "But standing here today, I realize how unbelievably lucky I am that, over the course of 20 years, I've been blessed with truly the most talented, the most creative and the most kind of people."
He went on to thank the people who had come to support him, including his friends and colleagues Miles Teller, Jeremy Allen-White, and Sean Durkin, and thanked the people who helped him get his break on High School Musical back in the day.
"I still think about it every day, I sing the songs in the shower," Efron revealed to cheers and laughs. "And, yeah, go Wildcats!"
On a more somber note, Efron went on to shout out Perry, with whom he starred in 17 Again, and who tragically died in late October of this year.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
"I also really want to mention someone that's not here today, and that's Matthew Perry, who was so kind and generous with me when we worked on 17 Again," Efron said. "Collaborating with him and [director] Burr Steers was—it was so much fun, and it really did propel me and motivate me in so many ways. It really pushed me into the next chapter of my career. For that, thank you so much, Matthew. Thinking about you a lot today."
During a red carpet interview in November, Efron was asked whether he would consider playing Perry in a potential biopic of the Friends star, after it came out that the Baywatch actor was Perry's pick to play him.
"I was hugely honored. It would be extraordinary to do," Efron replied at the time.
He added, "I’m still devastated by the fact that he is gone... We'll see what happens. I'll keep you posted with any news."
Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Bustle and Shape. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.
-
Lily Allen Resented Elton John for Years, But There Are No Hard Feelings Now
This is too funny.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Hilary Duff Welcomes 3rd Child With Husband Matthew Koma
Townes is her fourth child overall.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Upgrade Your Vacation Wardrobe With Summer Staples From Shopbop and Nordstrom Rack
Next stop: The airport.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
‘Friends’ Castmates Are Coming Up with a “Bittersweet” Plan to Mark 20-Year Anniversary Since the Show’s May 6, 2004 Finale While Also Honoring Late Co-Star Matthew Perry
“They will most certainly be commemorating it somehow.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Matthew Perry’s Stepfather, ‘Dateline’ Correspondent Keith Morrison, Says He Was “Happy, and He Said So” At the End of His Life
“And he hadn’t said that for a long time.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Jennifer Aniston Asked Fans to Support the Matthew Perry Foundation: "He Would Have Been Grateful for the Love"
The world lost Perry on Oct. 28.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
There Are Endless Places You Can Donate To On Giving Tuesday Today—and the Newly Established Matthew Perry Foundation Is One of Them
Perry died one month ago today at just 54 years old.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow Join in Chorus of Tributes for 'Friends' Co-Star Matthew Perry
"And you had heart. Which you were generous with, and shared with us, so we could create a family out of six strangers."
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Zac Efron Would Be "Hugely Honored" to Play Matthew Perry in a Biopic
This would be such a beautiful way to pay tribute to Perry's life.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Jennifer Aniston is Struggling After the Death of “Friends” Costar Matthew Perry, As His Loss Has “Completely Knocked Her Off Her Feet”
Aniston lost Perry and her father, John Aniston, within the past year.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Matthew Perry Blocked Chandler Cheating on Monica Storyline on 'Friends'
Thank goodness.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published