Actor. Born Taylor Daniel Lautner on February 11, 1992, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has one sibling: a sister named Makena. Lautner is best known as an actor in the role of Jacob Black in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight movie series.
Lautner began studying karate at the age of six, and began winning tournaments within a year. After, Lautner began training with seven-time world karate champion Mike Chat. In 2004, at the age of 12, Taylor represented the United States in the 12 years and under division in the World Karate Association. Lautner went on to win the Junior World Forms and Weapons championship during the competition, as well as three gold medals. In 2003, Taylor Lautner was ranked No. 1 in the world for NASKA's Black Belt Open Forms, Musical Weapons, Traditional Weapons and Traditional Forms. By the age of 12, Lautner had won three Junior World Championships.
Lautner got his show business start at the age of seven, when he auditioned for a part in a Burger King advertisement in Los Angeles, which he did not get. He would continue to audition, unsuccessfully, for other roles over the next three years. At the age of 10, Taylor and his family relocated to Los Angeles in order to pursue his acting career. Since then, he has landed roles on television shows My Wife and Kids and The Bernie Mac Show in 2001, and Summerland and The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour in 2004.
In addition to acting, Lautner also did voiceover work during this time. He landed a recurring voice role as Youngblood on the cartoon Danny Phantom and recorded two episodes on What's New, Scooby-Doo? and He's a Bully, Charlie Brown. He is also a series regular on Which Way Is Up? and as the voice of Silas on Silas and Britany.
Lautner got his big break when he landed the role of Shark Boy in The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D. The film was a full-length feature directed by the famous Robert Rodriguez. Lautner spent nearly three months on location for the film in Austin, Texas. Months after wrapping his first film, Lautner auditioned and won the part of Eliot, the son in Steve Martin's family in Cheaper by the Dozen 2. The film was released in 2005. In 2008, Lautner landed the role of Jacob Black, a Native American character in the teen hit Twilight, based on the best-selling novel. Also in 2008, Taylor played the son to Christian Slater's character in the short-lived television series My Own Worst Enemy. The show was canceled after only nine episodes.
Taylor is an avid football and baseball player, and he participates in the Hart Baseball Program. He also is a part of the hip-hop dance group, LA Hip Kids and the jazz dance group Hot Shots. In addition, Lautner has been working to gain 30 lbs. to reprise his role as Jacob Black in the sequel to Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Lautner is also in the film Valentine's Day, which stars Jamie Foxx, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Gardner. The film is being directed by Gary Marshall.
Lautner spends a lot of time making home movies with his friend and Shark Boy co-star, Taylor Dooley. Lautner was voted one of People magazine's "100 Most Beautiful People" in 2009.
2003 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 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 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."
A Monster Hit
"Twilighters" come out in droves for the film's release, making the vampire flick the weekend's top grosser, with nearly $70 million. Not to be outshined by resident hunk Pattinson, Lautner makes his mark on "Team Taylor" fanatics. "We've had the criers, the hyperventilators, the shakers," Lautner tells the Salt Lake Tribune. "It's something I've never experienced and probably never will again."
2009 Fit for the Role
Twilight's monumental success leads Summit Entertainment to greenlight the adaptation of the second novel, New Moon. But questions arise on whether baby-faced Lautner is the right fit for the rapidly maturing werewolf role. In an effort to be cast in the sequel, Lautner packs on 26 lbs. of muscle, and the effort pays off. New Moon director Chris Weitz tells USA Today, "There is something compelling and sexy about him. He captures the spirit of Jacob."
Taylor Gets the Girl
While filming New Moon in Vancouver, Lautner is photographed with new love, Disney teen queen Selena Gomez. The Wizards of Waverly Place star, 16, and the ripped cutie, 17, cuddle during dinner and a movie in the Canadian city. "He has been visiting her on the set and they've been hanging out in Vancouver," says a source close to Gomez.
New Main Man
Stealing a bit of Robert Pattinson's spotlight, Lautner covers EW with his New Moon love interest Kristen Stewart. "I think Taylor is really going to surprise people in the movie," director Chris Weitz says. "People have seen his body…but he actually delivers a really great performance." In November, the sequel pulls in a record $258 million worldwide, becoming the third-largest debut on record.
Taylor Squared
After being snapped at several of Taylor Swift's concerts–including one in which the country star runs offstage to hug Lautner–the Valentine's Day costars attend a hockey game together in Los Angeles. Pressed about their relationship, Swift says, "He's an amazing guy and we're really close."
Teen Wolf
Lautner lands on the cover of Rolling Stone, which praises his "eight-pack abs and tan, chiseled face." But despite his physical attributes and box office prowess, the New Moon hunk remains humble. "This could have happened to anyone who played Jacob," he says. "It’s Twilight. It’s not me personally."
'Saturday Night' with Taylor
Lautner takes center stage to host Saturday Night Live, where in his opening monologue, he defends Taylor Swift's honor by beheading a Kanye West mannequin.
2010 More Than a Wolf
Lautner makes his post-Twilight debut in the star-studded movie Valentine's Day with former flame Taylor Swift. The romantic comedy, which also costars Julia Roberts and Ashton Kutcher, debuts at the top of the box office. The in-demand actor is also reportedly in talks to star in the spy drama Abduction and two action movies, Stretch Armstrong and Max Steel.
Eclipsing the Competition
The third Twilight movie, Eclipse, rakes in more than $150 million during its first week at the box office. "It is definitely my favorite," Lautner says of the film. But there's still two more sequels in the works, based on the final book Breaking Dawn. "The amount of time we have to spend with each other," Lautner tells EW of Stewart and Pattinson, "if I didn't like these two, it would be exhausting."
He looks older.I thougth eh was in his early 20's
