Taylor Lautner filmography and biography
Date of birth: 11 February 1992, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Taylor Lautner biography
Taylor Daniel Lautner was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to parents,
Deborah and Daniel Lautner. He, and younger sister Makena, were raised
in a well-mannered, Roman Catholic household in Hudsonville, Michigan.
At the age of six, Taylor began studying martial arts at Fabiano's
Karate School and he, along with his family, quickly noticed his unique
and natural talent for the sport. He was soon invited to train with
seven-time world karate champion Michael Chaturantabut (aka Mike Chat)
and, at the age of eight, he was asked to represent his country in the
twelve years and under division in the World Karate Association where
he became the Junior World Forms and Weapons champion, winning three
gold medals. In 2003, Taylor continued to flourish in the martial arts
circuit where he ranked number one in the world for NASKA's Black Belt
Open Forms, Musical Weapons, Traditional Weapons and Traditional Forms
and, at the age of twelve, he became the three time Junior World
Champion.
However, in addition to his love for martial arts, Taylor quickly
developed a love for acting at the age of seven years old when his
martial arts instructor, who was involved in show business, encouraged
him to audition for a small appearance in a Burger King commercial.
Although he was unsuccessful, he enjoyed the experience so much that he
told his parents that he wanted to pursue a career in acting. Soon, he
and his family were traveling back-and-forth from their home in
Michigan to California so Taylor could audition for acting roles on a
regular basis. When Taylor was ten, with the frequent traveling and air
fares starting to become overwhelming, his family made the crucial
decision to relocate to Los Angeles where Taylor would have the
advantage of being able to audition for films, television, and
commercials full-time.
Once Taylor moved with his family to Los Angeles, he found himself
landing more and more small acting roles. He booked many occurring
roles on various television shows such as
My Wife and Kids, Summerland, and
The Bernie Mac Show. Taylor also found himself becoming
successful in films as well. In 2005, he landed the role of Sharkboy in
the family blockbuster flick,
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D, and the role
of Eliot Murtaugh in Cheaper by the Dozen 2. However, it
would be one single role that would ultimately change Taylor's life
forever. In 2008, Taylor auditioned for the iconic role of werewolf
hunk Jacob Black in the record smashing, blockbuster hit
Twilight (2008/I). With the sudden and unexpected success of the
film, Taylor, along with fellow cast members Robert Pattinson
and Kristen Stewart (I), found himself being propelled into a
world that would forever change his life and his career.
Taylor has continued to portray Jacob Black in the following film
adaptations of the The Twilight Saga as well as branch out into other
roles and films such as the star studded romantic comedy,
Valentines Day, and the action-packed thriller,
Abduction. Taylor Lautner has quickly become one of the
most famous, talented, and successful young Hollywood actors thanks to
the blockbuster success of the Twilight (2008/I) films. It has
quickly been established by this young man's diverse and gifted talent
that we will continue to be his audience for many years to come.
Taylor Lautner trivia
- Taylor is a keen martial artist who, from the age of seven, has won many
karate tournaments on a local, national and international level.
- He is a big sports fan and his favorite sport is football. He is big fan
of the University of Texas Longhorns, the University of Michigan
Wolverines and professional NFL athletes, Brett Favre,
Tom Brady (III), and Jerry Rice.
- Has a younger sister named Makena.
- Has a Maltese named Roxy.
- Received his driver license in 2008.
- Played football during his freshman and sophomore year of high school.
- Had to start training the day after Twilight (2008/I) was
finished for his role of Jacob Black in New Moon, whose
transformation had to be drastic. He gained approximately 30 lbs. for
the part, as promised to the director.
- Became close friends with Twilight (2008/I) co-star,
Edi Gathegi, when they began exercising in the gym together
after filming the movie.
- Close friends with Twilight (2008/I) co-stars,
Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart (I), and
Nikki Reed (I).
- Was ranked #1 in Access Hollywood's "Top Five Hollywood Abs" (2008).
- Named one of People Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People 2009.
- Is of German, French, Dutch, and Native American (specifically Ottawa
and Potawatomi) descent.
- Likes the band Kings of Leon.
- Named Hollywood's highest paid teen actor (2010).
- His favorite actors include Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington,
Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon.
- His last name "Lautner" is of German origin.
- He went to Jamestown Elementary School in Hudsonville, Michigan until he
was eleven years old.
- His father, Daniel, is an airline pilot and his mother, Deborah, works
for a software development company.
- Participated in the 2010 Celebrity Beach Bowl.
- Was originally cast in Northern Lights, but dropped out
due to commitments to Abduction.
- Good friends with Dakota Fanning and Victoria Justice,
Gishel Rafael , and Alyson Stoner.
- Some of his favorite films include Gladiator,
Braveheart, and The Dark Knight.
- Became one of the youngest celebrity hosts in the history of
Saturday Night Live when he hosted the show for the
first time on December 12, 2009.
- Ex-boyfriend of Taylor Swift [January 2010].
- Was ranked #3 on Men's Health Magazine's Top 10 Best Summer Bodies
(2010).
- Was ranked #2 on E!'s "Hottest Men of 2010".
- Was ranked #4 on People Magazine's 50 Most Amazing Bodies (2010).
- Was ranked #2 on Glamour Magazine's 50 Sexiest Men of 2010.
- Created and sponsored a hand made "New Moon Team Jacob" messenger bag
for The Children's Place and Books for Kids Foundation, with all the
proceeds going to build libraries, donate books, and partner with
literacy programs [2009].
Taylor Lautner quotes
- [About the Twilight (2008/I) phenomenon] It's really unlike
anything else. I know that over the past couple of years, I've had the
time of my life and I'm very thankful, but it is different. It's almost
like you live two different worlds and you completely vanish and then
you go back to your regular life.
- I hope that I would be considered romantic. I don't know...one of my
favorite movies is The Notebook so I guess that would be
considered romantic. But I think being romantic is more than the
flowers and the gifts. It's about connecting with the person and being
able to talk and share things with her.
- [About presenting at the Oscars for the first time] I was freaking! It's
probably the most nervous I've ever been. Just standing up on that
stage and looking down at the people that you've watched your entire
life. It was crazy...I wouldn't let myself lock eyes with any one
person because I would have just stopped talking. If I would have
locked eyes with Leo (Leonardo DiCaprio) or
George Clooney or someone I would not have been able to speak so
I was trying to avoid that.
- [About his new found fame and avoiding the paparazzi] Yeah, you
definitely use a lot of back-entrances and exits, but I think for the
most part we (meaning his fellow Twilight (2008/I) cast members,
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart (I)) just go along
for the ride. We're the same people that we were before and we have
people behind us that kind of help us and think ahead and we're just
thankful to have that help...When we walk through hotels, we always
walk through the kitchen or through the garbage room or the laundry
room. It's that not glamorous, trust me.
- [About hosting Saturday Night Live for the first time]
They tell you beforehand that "the cast is great, your not going to be
nervous, your just going to have fun" and I was like "yeah, okay" and
don't get me wrong I had a lot of fun, but I was nervous. When I got
the offer for it, I was like "Listen guys it's such an honor, but I
don't sing, I don't dance, and I don't do accents and that's pretty
much what SNL is" so I was really nervous, but it was a lot of fun.
- A dream acting role would be Matt Damon in the Bourne series. I
would love to do something like that!
- [About working with several directors yet the same character for The
Twilight Saga] The opportunity to work with a character for years is
phenomenal because usually you work with a character for two or three
months and your done, you say goodbye and then you look back on it and
your like "aaaahhh man, I wish I would have done this". But with this
franchise, we're able to change things up and work with the character
more and having the opportunity to work with different directors for
each one gives us a new perspective on the character. And even though
we've been playing these characters for a while, they bring something
new every single time so I love the opportunity to work with a
different director for each film.
- [About his favorite quote from 'Twilight'] It's not in the first book,
but the quote I love the most is Jacob's quote, "Does my being
half-naked bother you?" That quote just cracks me up. Because he's
always half-naked throughout the series, it's just a good way to rock
the fact that he's always shirtless.
- [About school life] I was never extremely confident. Because I was an
actor when I was in school, there was a little bullying going on.