Zac Efron received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Dec. 11. (photo by Rance Collins)

He has been the ultimate millennial heartthrob. Zac Efron became a teen idol with the wildly successful “High School Musical” series in 2006, and quickly followed that television film with hit movie roles, including the box office smash “Hairspray.” Now, he is a full-fledged movie star – boasting an impressive array of film roles, from the absurdly funny (“Neighbors,” “Dirty Grandpa”) to the awards-y dramatic (“The Paperboy,” “The Disaster Artist”). On Dec. 11, Efron joined the echelon of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“He’s a true triple-threat with a combination of immense talent, incredible work ethic and above-average face,” Miles Teller said at the ceremony. Teller and Efron appeared together in the film “That Awkward Moment.”

In conjunction with the release of his new film, “The Iron Claw,” in which he plays professional wrestler Kevin Von Erich, the actor looks to be entering an especially lucrative phase of his career. Next year he will be opposite Nicole Kidman in the film, “A Family Affair” and alongside John Cena and William H. Macy for “Ricky Stanicky.”

He’s a California boy. Growing up in Arroyo Grande, Efron was an acting and musical prodigy early on, performing in school plays, and ultimately signing with Creative Artists Agency at an early age. Before he graduated high school, he had appeared in “ER,” “Firefly” and “The Guardian.”

Following the success of “High School Musical,” Efron went from hit to hit. He starred in “Me and Orson Welles,” “Charlie St. Cloud,” “New Year’s Eve,” “The Lorax, “The Lucky One,” “We Are Your Friends” and “Baywatch.” His appearance in the massively successful musical “The Greatest Showman” was much-lauded, and he was critically praised for his turn as Ted Bundy in “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.”

He won a Daytime Emmy for his docuseries “Down to Earth with Zac Efron,” which documents his travels around the world.

Efron has been open about physical and health issues over the years, including battles with depression, substance abuse and a fall that necessitated his jaw being wired shut for recovery.

Through it all, Efron has kept up the pace with his film and television career. According to his “The Iron Claw” co-star Jeremy Allen White, Efron has also remained down-to-earth and self-effacing in spite of his success.

“It’s as if Zac Efron doesn’t know he is, in fact, a movie star. So we’re all here today to remind him and put a big star in the ground with his name on it so he’ll never forget,” White said.

Efron paid special tribute during the ceremony to his former co-star Matthew Perry, with whom he appeared in “17 Again,” describing him as a “mentor.”

“[He] really did propel me and motivate me in so many ways,” Efron said. “It really pushed me into the next chapter of my career. And for that, thank you so much, Matthew. Thinking about you a lot today.”

He also expressed his gratitude in the moment.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be standing here today in front of such dear friends, colleagues through the years and lifelong fans,” Efron said, and he shouted out the large crowd that gathered to watch the ceremony – many of whom were wearing “High School Musical” paraphernalia, by chanting for the fictional school’s mascot, “Go Wildcats!”

Efron’s role in “The Iron Claw” can be seen in theaters starting Dec. 22. It has already been named one of the 10 best films of the year by the National Board of Review.