Taylor Lautner: Snapshot

Name
Taylor Lautner
Date of Birth
February 11, 1992
Birth Place
Grand Rapids, Mich.
It took only three scenes in Twilight and 30 lbs. of muscle in New Moon to make Taylor Lautner the object of every Twi-hard's obsession.

Before fighting off fanatics who toss "Team Taylor" undies, the karate-kicking Michigan native made a name for himself in the tween market, in such kid flicks as The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D and Cheaper by the Dozen 2.

But once the film adaptation of author Stephenie Meyer's vampire romance hit the big screen, Lautner (as werewolf Jacob Black), Kristen Stewart (as mortal Bella Swan) and Robert Pattinson (as vampire Edward Cullen) shot to stardom. The teen werewolf has since covered Rolling Stone, hosted Saturday Night Live and turned action star in his post-Twilight starring vehicle, Abduction.

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Taylor Lautner: Five Fun Facts

  1. Although he's worshipped for his ripped physique, Taylor Lautner told MTV, "I don't want to become known as just a body."
  2. Before taking up acting, Taylor Lautner earned a black belt in karate and won several martial arts championships.
  3. Taylor Lautner eats constantly to fulfill his 3,200-calorie-a-day diet. "I pack my bags of meat, what can I say?" he told EW of carrying meat patties while on the run.
  4. Tyra Banks gifted Taylor Lautner a "Team Taylor" g-string. "I have had someone ask me to sign their 'Team Taylor' panties," he said on the show. "She wasn’t a teenager. She was in her 40s."
  5. Like Twilight's Jacob Black, Taylor Lautner is of Native American ancestry: His mother is part Potawatomi and Ottawa Indian.

Taylor Lautner: Biography

2003

Taylor Lautner

Acting Chops

On the urging of his karate instructor, Lautner and his family leave Michigan for L.A. so the 11-year-old can pursue acting. During Lautner's first few months chasing the Hollywood dream, he lands small roles on Summerland and The Bernie Mac Show. "I heard, 'No, no, no, no,' so many times," he told Michigan's Grand Rapids Press. "From karate, I had the confidence and drive to push myself."

2005

Taylor Lautner

Introducing Sharkboy

At 13, Lautner gets his big break as Sharkboy in director Robert Rodriguez’s The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D. The kid-friendly sci-fi adventure is panned by critics but makes Lautner a tween star. "I'd be in the store, and boys would whisper to their moms," Lautner says. "Then the moms would say, 'Excuse me, are you Sharkboy?'" The recognition earns the teen a small role in Cheaper by the Dozen 2, with Hilary Duff and Steve Martin.

2008

Taylor Lautner

Ahead of the Pack

Lautner lands the role of a lifetime in the romantic drama Twilight, adapted from author Stephenie Meyer's best-selling saga. The teen cutie portrays perky werewolf Jacob Black, opposite Kristen Stewart (as mortal Bella Swan) and Robert Pattinson (as vampire Edward Cullen). "I hadn't even heard of the [Twilight] series before I was cast," he tells EW. "As soon as I was cast, I did my research and found out what I'm getting myself into and was just blown away."

Read More on Taylor Lautner's Life

Photo Credits

Top Left: John Russo/Corbis

BIOGRAPHY (top to bottom): Fernando Allende/NY Post/Splash New Onlines; Dimension Films; Summit Entertainment

Edited by Janet Mock and Julia Wang

Taylor Lautner

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