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Zac Efron pays an emotional tribute to Matthew Perry as he is recognised on Hollywood Walk of Fame

The 17 Again actor remembered his co-star

Bryony Gooch
US Writer
December 12, 2023
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As Zac Efron joined Hollywood’s finest, receiving a star on the Walk of Fame, he took a moment to recognise those who helped him get to where he is today.

In particular he paid tribute to the late Matthew Perry, who passed away October 28th. As he accepted the honor of joining the likes of The Beatles and Muhammed Ali on the Walk of Fame, he made a speech:

WATCH: Zac Efron emotionally honors Matthew Perry

“I really also want to mention someone that’s not here today”, the former High School Musical actor announced. 

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 11: Zac Efron poses with his star during his Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony on December 11, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)© Leon Bennett
Zac Efron poses with his star

He continued: “And that’s Matthew Perry, who was so kind and generous with me when we worked on 17 Again.”

“Collaborating with him and Burr Steers was so much fun and it really did propel me and motivate me in so many ways”, he explained. “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.”

HOLLYWOOD - APRIL 14:  (L-R) Actors Michelle Trachtenberg, Zac Efron, Leslie Mann and Matthew Perry arrive at the premiere of Warner Bros. "17 Again" held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on April 14, 2009 in Hollywood, California.  (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)© Kevin Winter
Matthew Perry and Zac Efron starred together in 17 Again

As he thanked the Friends actor, he looked up at the sky emotionally. 

The brief yet respectful expression of gratitude comes as the two worked together on 17 Again in which Zac played a younger version of Matthew’s character. Matthew played a down-on-his-luck father with a dwindling relationship with his kids whose wife has just filed for divorce.

The Friends actor felt so utterly taken by Zac’s performance that he’d wanted to work with the actor again on a future project. He confessed to Atenna Crosby a couple days before that he wanted to reunite with his co-star to “to make a movie about his life and have a biopic made.” 

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 11: (L-R) David Efron, Zac Efron, Starla Baskett and Dylan Efron attend the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony Honoring Zac Efron on December 11, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)© Leon Bennett
Zac commemorated the moment with his family

He explained that the reason he “wanted Zac Efron, who's played him already, to play him again [was] because he said he did such a good job.”

This wasn’t the first time Matthew had spoken about this. In an appearance on SiriusXFM, he was asked who his ‘dream younger version’ of himself was, and he replied: “Well, it was Zac Efron. But he said no. So, we’ve got to find someone who says yes.”

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Matthew Perry attends the GQ Men of the Year Party 2022 at The West Hollywood EDITION on November 17, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for GQ)© Phillip Faraone
Matthew Perry spoke often of Zac Efron

Since his passing, Zac has clarified that: “I’m honored to hear he was thinking of me to play him ... I’d be honored to do it.”

He said that Matthew “was a mentor to me, and we made a really cool film together. I looked up to him, I learned comedic timing from that guy. I mean, when we were filming 17 Again, it was so surreal for me to look across and have him be there, because I’ve learned so much from him, from his whole life.”

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