from karate kid 2 international heartthrob
"i'm exactly right 4 u, bella."
full name: taylor daniel lautner
born: feb 11, 1992
birthplace: grand rapids, michigan
nicknames: tay, t.lau, sharkboy
height: 5'10"
black belt: age 8
world champ: age 12
twilight glow-up: +30 lbs muscle
taylor lautner didnt come from nowhere — he was kind of a martial arts prodigy before he was an actor. he started karate at age 6 and was winning world championships in his weight division by 12. he got into acting because a martial arts instructor encouraged him 2 audition 4 a burger king commercial. yes really.
2001–2004
voice acting in stuff like what's new, scooby-doo? and danny phantom. tiny tv guest spots. doing martial arts demos on the disney channel.
2005 — sharkboy
plays the lead in the adventures of sharkboy and lavagirl by robert rodriguez. an entire generation memorizes the dream dream dream song. taylor is 13. an icon is born.
2006–2007
roles in cheaper by the dozen 2 & the abc tv movie my own worst enemy. solid working teen actor era.
2008 — twilight
cast as jacob black in twilight. 16 years old. his role is small in the first movie. fans of the book are unsure abt the casting. BUT —
2009 — new moon (the glow up heard round the world)
summit considered recasting jacob 4 new moon because jacob's character ages up & gets jacked. taylor refused 2 let that happen. he hit the gym 6 days a week, gained 30 lbs of pure muscle, and showed up 2 set unrecognizable. when he removed his shirt 4 the first time on screen, the entire movie theater audibly gasped.
2010 — valentine's day & the abduction era
stars in valentine's day (ensemble rom com). lands abduction in 2011. peak heartthrob years.
2011–2012 — eclipse + breaking dawn
completes the twilight saga. team jacob marches on.
2013–2019 — the quieter years
indies + scream queens + stepping back from spotlight. surprisingly peaceful era.
2023 — the comeback & cultural moment
taylor swift brings taylor lautner on stage during eras tour. internet breaks. two taylors hug.
2024+ — podcast era
launches podcast w/ his wife. happy, grounded, chill energy.
✦ black belt before he could drive
✦ did most of his own stunts in twilight
✦ audition tape was literally martial arts in wolf scenes
✦ left handed
✦ taylor swift lore is REAL (back to december energy)
☾ martial arts mastery
☾ superhuman glow-up arc
☾ shapeshifting acting range
☾ emotional sunshine energy
the new moon transformation — refused recasting, trained like crazy, came back JACKED and changed pop culture forever.
"It's always uncomfortable for me when I take off my shirt. No one else is taking their shirt off. Why is everyone else in these movies bundled up in layers of clothing and I'm taking my clothes off all the time?"
"The thing I love is that my home life hasn't changed. I still help out with the garbage. I still help out with the lawn."
"I have had someone ask me to sign their 'Team Taylor' panties. She wasn't a teenager. She was in her 40s."
