Meet Starla Baskett: A Mother's Influence on Zac Efron's Rise to Fame

Starla Basket is a prominent American entrepreneur who is widely recognized as the mother of actor Zac Efron. Her professional journey included a role as a secretary at a nuclear power plant.  

Starla Basket Wiki/Bio

There's not much info about her except that Starla Baskett was born in January 1949. Baskett used to be a secretary.  She worked at the same power plant as Efron's dad in Diablo Canyon. 

Besides these details, Basket is mainly known for being connected to a famous Hollywood star Zac Efron. 

What is Starla Basket's Net Worth?

Starla Basket's net worth is unknown. Whereas, her son Zac Efron is a wealthy celebrity, boasting a net worth estimated to exceed $25 million.

Back in 2008, Efron made it to the Forbes Celebrity 100 list at number 92, earning around $5.8 million from June 2007 to June 2008. A year later, in April 2009, his money was about $10 million. By May 2015, Zac was worth $18 million.

Despite the tremendous success of "High School Musical," Zac reportedly earned just about $100,000 for the first movie. Nevertheless, this was a significant sum for the young star at that time. However, for "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," his paycheck substantially increased, with his salary estimated between $3 million - $5 million.

Apart from acting, Efron also generates substantial income through his own production company, Ninjas Runnin' Wild, operating under Warner Bros. 

Starla Basket Was Married to David Efron

Starla Baskett and her ex-husband, David Efron, met while working at a power plant. David, reported as an engineer there, shared a professional space that led to their relationship. Their marriage date remains unknown. 

David, a graduate of the California Maritime Academy, and his family follow the Jewish faith. Their relationship details are mostly private, but they were reportedly together for around three decades, witnessing their sons' growth from birth to adulthood. 

In March 2015, Starla parted ways with David, and the following year, in September 2016, she filed for divorce due to irreconcilable differences. Following the separation from Starla, David married another woman and they had a daughter named Olivia.

Starla Basket Children

Starla Baskett and David Efron have two sons together named  Zac Efron and Dylan Efron. Zac was born in San Luis Obispo, California before the family moved to Arroyo Grande. 

While they were raised in a household without a specific religious affiliation, their surname "Efron" has roots in Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. Zac identifies himself as Jewish, influenced by his family background. 

Zac often recalls his upbringing as a "normal childhood" in a middle-class family, with Starla being the more nurturing parent figure. It was Starla and David who encouraged Zac to explore extracurricular activities, eventually leading him into acting.

Starla Baskett Encouraged Her Son Zac Efron to Attend His First Audition

Starla Baskett pushed her son, Zac Efron, into his first audition. In an interview, Zac recalled how his mother dropped him and his siblings off in North Hollywood for intense Disney auditions without revealing they were trying out for "High School Musical." 

Zac vividly remembered being left by his mom in North Hollywood, clueless about what awaited him. He found himself among 40 guys, led into a room by director Kenny Ortega and his team. They went through various stages of dancing and singing, eventually progressing to scene readings, where he partnered with Vanessa Hudgens. 

Zac's success in these auditions led to the global phenomenon that was "High School Musical," propelling both Zac and Vanessa into stardom. Interestingly, they became an on-screen and off-screen couple. 

At that time, 17-year-old Zac had nearly abandoned his acting dreams and was gearing up to study film at USC before this unexpected turn of events.

Starla Basket Didn’t Hesitate Watching Her Son’s Intimate Scenes  

Starla Basket doesn't shy away from watching her son's romantic scenes on screen. In an interview with People, Zac Efron shared an experience when they watched his 2012 movie, "The Lucky Ones," together. 

Despite being a few seats apart, Zac admitted feeling uncomfortable during the intimate scenes and tried to discreetly avoid them. Knowing his family, including his mom, was watching those scenes made it awkward for him. 

Surprisingly, according to Zac, his mother found humor in those moments. During a screening, she jokingly exclaimed, 'Oh god, that's my son,' prompting laughter from the entire theater. 

Starla Basket's Relationship With Zac Efron Wasn't Always Good

According to some reports, Zac Efron had a tough relationship with his parents. In September 2013, TMZ even mentioned that Zac's mother and father, who were seen as controlling, played a role in his struggle with drug abuse in the early 2010s.

However, these same sources mentioned that despite their past challenges, Zac eventually grew closer to both his mother, Starla Basket, and his father over time. When news of Starla and David's separation emerged, some people close to the Efron family mentioned that the divorce nearly caused Zac to have a setback in his recovery.

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