Zac Efron Pays Tribute to Matthew Perry During Walk of Fame Ceremony: ‘Thinking About You a Lot Today’

Zac Efron reflects on his relationship with Matthew Perry.

On Monday, Efron, 36, appeared in Los Angeles as he was presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of his career achievements. During the ceremony, Efron gave a shout-out to his former co-star Perry, who died in October at the age of 54, and said Perry was “so kind and generous with me” while filming the 2009 film. 17 Again.

“Collaboration with him and [director Burr Steers] — it was so much fun and it really pushed me and motivated me in so many ways,” Efron recalled. “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.”

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Efronova Iron Claw costar Jeremy Allen White and director Sean Durkin, as well as his friend Miles Teller, spoke on behalf of the star at the ceremony before Efron himself accepted the honor. Efron, who first broke through as a Disney star High school musical film trilogy in the 2000s, is the 2,767th entertainment industry figure to receive a star on the Walk of Fame, according to an official press release.

“For our generation, Zac was and is the first real superstar to come out of our class,” said Teller, 36, as he reflected on his first meeting with Efron when they were filming their 2014 movie. That strange moment.

Iron Claw: Everything you need to know about the movie starring Zac Efron

Zac Efron and Miles Teller December 11, 2023

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At the world premiere forIron Claw in Dallas last month, Efron told PEOPLE that he would be open to potentially playing his late wife 17 Again costar Matthew Perry in a future biopic. Perry died in October at age 54; the late actor previously expressed interest in casting Efron to play him in a film about his life.

“It’s an honor to hear that he thought of me to play him,” Efron told PEOPLE at the time. “We’ll see. It would be an honor to do so.”

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Zac Efron December 11, 2023

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17 Again follows a man (Perry) who was magically given the chance to return to his life at the age of 17 and rewrite the past. Efron portrayed a young version of Perry’s character in the comedy, which served as his first film released after High school musical trilogy completed in 2008.

“He was a mentor to me and we made a really cool movie together,” he added of Perry to PEOPLE. “I looked up to him, I learned comedy timing from that guy. I mean, when we were filming 17 Againit was so surreal for me to look over and see him there, because I learned so much from him, from his whole life.”

Says Zac Efron Iron Claw Costars played pranks on him by singing High school musical Songs on the recording: ‘Fun Days’

Steve Nissen, Sean Durkin, Zac Efron, Miles Teller, Jeremy Allen White and Marc Malkin December 11, 2023

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In June, the Hollywood Walk of Fame announced that Kevin Feige, Gal Gadot, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Chris Meledandri, Chris Pine, Christina Ricci, Michelle Yeoh and Chadwick Boseman will receive stars on the Walk of Fame next year for their contributions to film.

Efron’s latest film Iron Claw opens in theaters on December 22.

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