Taylor lautner

Taylor Daniel Lautner (pronounced /ˈlaʊtnər/,  LOWT  -ner; born February 11, 1992)[1] is an American actor, voice actor, model, and martial artist. As a child, Lautner took up martial arts [2] in Holland, Michigan and was ranked number one in his category by the American Sports Karate Association. Lautner soon thereafter began his acting career, appearing in bit roles in comedy series such as The Bernie Mac Show (2003) and My Wife and Kids (2004), before having voice roles in television series like What's New, Scooby-Doo? (2005) and Danny Phantom (2005). In 2005, he appeared in the film Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and starred in The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D.

Lautner is best known for playing Jacob Black in The Twilight Saga film series based on the novels of the same name by Stephenie Meyer. He also starred in the 2011 action film Abduction.

The late 2000s saw Lautner become a teen idol and rise as a sex symbol, after extensively changing his physique to keep the role of Jacob Black in further Twilight installments, and thereafter generating media attention for his looks. In 2010, he was ranked second on Glamours "The 50 Sexiest Men of 2010" list, and fourth on Peoples "Most Amazing Bodies" list. Also in the same year, Lautner was named the highest-paid teenage actor in Hollywood. {| class="toc" id="toc"

Contents

 * 1 Early life
 * 2 Career
 * 2.1 2001–07: Early career
 * 2.2 2008–09: Breakthrough and The Twilight Series
 * 2.3 2010 to present: Continuing Twilight and other projects
 * 3 Image
 * 4 Personal life
 * 5 Filmography
 * 5.1 Films
 * 5.2 Television
 * 6 Awards and nominations
 * 7 References
 * 8 External links
 * }

Early life
Lautner was born on February 11, 1992 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Deborah and Daniel Lautner.[3] His mother works for a software development company, while his father is a Midwest Airlines pilot.[3] [4] He has one younger sister named Makena.[3] Raised as a Roman Catholic,[5] [6] Lautner is of mixed German, French, and Dutch heritage, and has "distant" Native American ancestry (specifically Ottawa and Potawatomi) through his mother.[7] [8] Lautner grew up in Hudsonville, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids.[9] Lautner stated that when he was younger he was bullied in school because he was an actor. He commented, "I just had to tell myself I can't let this get to me. This is what I love to do. And I'm going to continue doing it."[10]

He took his first karate class at the age of six.[3] A year later, he attended the national karate tournament in Louisville, Kentucky, where he met Michael Chaturantabut, the founder of Xtreme Martial Arts. Chaturantabut invited Lautner to a camp he held at University of California, Los Angeles.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rapids_2-4">[3] Lautner trained with Chaturantabut for several years, earning his black belt by the age of eight, and winning several junior world championships.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LautnerBook1_8-1">[9] He appeared in an ISKA karate event televised on ESPN in 2003 that was later lampooned on the sports-comedy show Cheap Seats that first aired in 2006.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10">[11]

In junior high, Lautner—who was involved in karate, baseball and hip-hop dance—won the award for "Best Smile" and played in the school's Turkey Bowl American Football game.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11">[12] He went to public school in Valencia until his sophomore year of high school.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Extra_12-0">[13]

Chaturantabut, who once portrayed the Blue Ranger in Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue, suggested to Lautner that he take up acting.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rapids_2-5">[3] For a few years, the Lautners flew from Michigan to Los Angeles for auditions when his talent agency called, and returned to Grand Rapids for school sometimes the same day.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rapids_2-6">[3] Lautner balanced karate and acting with being on the football and baseball teams at his school, and taking up jazz and hip-hop dance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-YahooBio_13-0">[14] After that became tiring, Lautner and his family decided to move to California for a month, to try it out, before moving to Santa Clarita, California, permanently in 2002.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rapids_2-7">[3] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-YahooBio_13-1">[14]

2001–07: Early career
In his first months after moving to Los Angeles, Lautner appeared in small television roles, small film roles, and ads and commercials. In 2001, Lautner first appeared in the made-for-television film, Shadow Fury. He then got a voice-over job in a commercial for Rugrats Go Wild.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LautnerBook1_8-2">[9] He then appeared in small television parts on The Bernie Mac Show, My Wife and Kids, and Summerland.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rapids_2-8">[3] Lautner then earned voice-over roles in animated series such as Danny Phantom, Duck Dodgers, and What's New, Scooby-Doo?. In 2005, he had a role as Elliot Murtaugh in the comedy film Cheaper by the Dozen 2.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rapids_2-9">[3] The same year, he earned his first breakout role, starring in the film, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rapids_2-10">[3] Lautner spent three months on location in Austin, Texas, to film the movie,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rapids_2-11">[3] which was received with negative reviews from critics, and was a minor international success. However, Lautner was nominated at the 2006 Young Artist Awards for Best Performance in a Feature Film by a Leading Actor.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-YA1_14-0">[15] For the film, Lautner choreographed all of his fight scenes after director Robert Rodríguez learned of his extensive martial arts training.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-YahooBio_13-2">[14] Months later, he was cast as Eliot Murtaugh in Cheaper by the Dozen 2, which was panned by critics, being named one of the "Worst Films of the 2000s" by Rotten Tomatoes.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15">[16] After returning from Canada filming the latter movie, Lautner said he realized his newfound fame, from Sharkboy and Lavagirl.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rapids_2-12">[3] In 2008 he appeared in the show Love Inc. and the TV special He's a Bully, Charlie Brown. Two years later, Lautner appeared in a lead role in the short-lived NBC drama, My Own Worst Enemy, portraying Christian Slater's son, Jack Spivey.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LautnerBook2_16-0">[17] Rolling Stone coined his early roles as either "the popular kid, jock, or bully."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RollingStone_9-1">[10]

2008–09: Breakthrough and The Twilight Series
In 2007, filmmakers began a search for actors to portray Jacob Black, a Native American friend of lead character Bella Swan in Twilight, the first film in the The Twilight Saga film series.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LautnerBook2_16-1">[17] In January 2008, an open casting call was held in Portland, Oregon. Lautner had not heard of the Twilight series before, but was urged by his agent to audition.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LautnerBook2_16-2">[17] At his audition, he read lines with Kristen Stewart, who had already been cast as Bella, and they acted out scenes from The Twilight Saga: New Moon and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LautnerBook2_16-3">[17] The film was a commercial success, earning $69 million its opening weekend, and has grossed $392 million worldwide. It received mixed reviews from critics, having a "Rotten" rating with a weighted average of 5.5/10.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RT_17-0">[18] In describing the critical consensus, it stated: "Having lost much of its bite transitioning to the big screen, Twilight will please its devoted fans, but do little for the uninitiated."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RT_17-1">[18] On Metacritic, which assigns a weighted mean rating out of 100 reviews from film critics, it has an average score of 56 from the 37 reviews.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18">[19] At the 2009 MTV Movie Awards, Lautner was nominated for Male Breakthrough Performance, which was won by co-star Robert Pattinson.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19">[20] Lautner with Twilight costars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards.Initially, director Chris Weitz wanted to recast the role of Jacob Black for Twilight's sequel, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, due to the major physical changes that occur in Black between the two novels, and have an actor that would accurately portray "the new, larger Jacob Black."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Copon_20-0">[21] Black's role in the novel also increases significantly, with him falling in love with Bella and becoming a werewolf, putting the actor in a starring role. Representatives for Weitz had stated that they were make a full effort to recast the "high-profile gig," and MTV News confirmed that Weitz was looking at Michael Copon to take on the role; however, Summit Entertainment said a decision had not been made.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Copon_20-1">[21] In an attempt to keep the role, Lautner weight-trained extensively and gained approximately 30 pounds of muscle.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grow_21-0">[22] In January 2009, Weitz and Summit Entertainment announced that Lautner would continue to play the role of Jacob in the sequel.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grow_21-1">[22] In an interview, fellow cast member Kristen Stewart talked about Lautner's transformation saying, "He's an entirely different person physically."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22">[23] Stewart later said, "He gets a lot of attention because he's buff, but I think as soon as the movie comes out, people are going to realize that's not why he got the job."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RollingStone_9-2">[10] Co-star Robert Pattinson said after seeing Lautner's body, "I saw him and thought 'Jesus, I'm going to get fired."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23">[24] In an interview with The Wrap, Weitz said Lautner deserved a lot of credit for the movie's box office, stating, "If you look at the movie, it should have been the weakest in the franchise, because Robert Pattinson doesn't play as big a role."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TheWrap_24-0">[25] Weitz said Lautner had to "pick up that slack, and if his character hadn't been emotionally, not just physically, appealing, the movie wouldn't have been as big a hit."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TheWrap_24-1">[25] The commercial performance of the film outpaced the first film, setting several box office records including the biggest midnight opening in the United States and Canada and the biggest single-day opening.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BoxOffice_25-0">[26] The opening weekend of New Moon is the third highest opening weekend in domestic history with $142,839,137.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26">[27] The Twilight Saga: New Moon also has the sixth highest worldwide opening weekend with $274.9 million total.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27">[28] Critical reception was less favorable, with the movie getting a 4.6/10 average from Rotten Tomatoes, and a 44 on Metacritic.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28">[29] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CNET_Networks_29-0">[30] Lautner won Favorite Breakout Movie Actor at the 35th People's Choice Awards.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-PeopleBreakout_30-0">[31]

Although it began after the release of the first film, upon release of New Moon, Lautner and his co-stars Stewart and Pattinson transitioned to teen idol status, with Lautner particularly admired by teens for his new physical characteristics, becoming a sex symbol. The trio appeared on many covers and televised appearances together.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31">[32] In between the second and third films in the Twilight series, Lautner was a part of the ensemble cast in the movie Valentine's Day as Willy Harrington, acting alongside his rumored girlfriend at the time, American country pop singer Taylor Swift. The duo was nominated at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards for Best Kiss. Although it received generally negative reviews,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-metacritic_32-0">[33] the film grossed $213 million and had the second biggest opening in the United States for a romantic comedy film.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33">[34] Lautner presented at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards and the 82nd Academy Awards.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34">[35] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35">[36] Lautner hosted Saturday Night Live on December 12, 2009, making him one of the youngest celebrity hosts in the show's history.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36">[37]

2010 to present: Continuing Twilight and other projects
Lautner returned for the third Twilight film, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, in 2010. Receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film surpassed its predecessor to become the highest-grossing film of the franchise and the highest-grossing romantic fantasy, werewolf and vampire movie of all time at the American and Canadian box office.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37">[38] It ranks as the 36th highest grossing film of all-time in the U.S. and Canada. The popularity of Lautner and his cast members continued to summit, especially via the "Team Edward vs. Team Jacob" campaign that promoted the film.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Huff_38-0">[39] Lautner's fanbase also began to expand to older audiences.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Huff_38-1">[39] Lautner won "Best Fantasy Actor" at the 2010 Scream Awards, and he is nominated for "Favorite Movie Actor" for his role in Eclipse at the 37th People's Choice Awards.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-People2011_39-0">[40] On November 2010 The Hollywood Reporter named Lautner as one of the young male actors who are “pushing – or being pushed” into taking over Hollywood as the new “A-List”.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40">[41] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41">[42]

Lautner was initially supposed to be in two films, Northern Lights and a movie based on Max Steel, but pulled out of both films due to scheduling conflicts and better offers.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TheWrap_24-2">[25] Other planned projects were the lead in a movie about Stretch Armstrong and a hostage thriller, Cancun.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TheWrap_24-3">[25] Lautner filmed a Bourne Identity-esque spy film with Lily Collins, entitled Abduction, which was released in September 2011. He will appear in the remaining parts of the Twilight series, the The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn films, which are anticipated to be released over a two-year period from 2011–2012.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TheWrap_24-4">[25]

As of 2010, Lautner was considered to be the highest-paid teen actor in Hollywood.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42">[43]

Image
Lautner at the Abduction premiere in September 2011.Publications such as GQ, Rolling Stone, and People have referred to Lautner as a sex symbol, with the latter publication calling the actor a future epitome of pop culture.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GQ_3-1">[4] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RollingStone_9-3">[10] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43">[44] He has been called the new young adult star that can "both woo the girls with his intensity and impress the boys with his rugged agility."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-YahooBio_13-3">[14] According to Mickey Rapkin of GQ, the use of Lautner's physique in films has been compared to Megan Fox in her work.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GQ_3-2">[4] After his massive physical change following Twilight, Lautner became a tabloid teen idol with his co-stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. Lautner, determined to stay in the series, worked out every day and gained over 30 pounds of muscle in order to bulk up for the role of Jacob Black in the remaining films in the The Twilight Saga. Michelle Lanz of MSN Wonderwall said that Lautner's change may have saved his career.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44">[45] Several critics credit Lautner's physical characteristics for much of the success of the Twilight series, with critic Sharon Waxman stating, "as a tabloid teen idol, he certainly deserves some credit for New Moon's $700 million worldwide gross."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TheWrap_24-5">[25] Lautner's abs in particular have been subject to media attention, with The Wrap stating that companies bidding for the actor in movies in 2011 would "shell out for the young actor's much-on-display though mostly untried abs."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TheWrap_24-6">[25] Mickey Rapkin of GQ said, "the film's marketing issues were solved when Lautner's "abdominal muscles became New Moon's main talking point, not to mention his calling card."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GQ_3-3">[4] He was named number one on Access Hollywood's "Top 5 Hollywood Abs" list.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45">[46]

Before the actor turned 18, his sexualized image was often critiqued, and subject to controversy. In December 2009, Lautner appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone in a wet t-shirt. Jennifer Cady of E! Online said to wait a few months when Lautner would "be of age, which will make this whole operation you got going on completely legal."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-E.21_46-0">[47] In his interview with the magazine, after declining to talk about whether he was dating Taylor Swift, the magazine pressed Lautner on rumors of him being homosexual, which he brushed off.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AE_47-0">[48] Brent Hartinger, a columnist for AfterElton, blasted the magazine, calling the questioning "unimaginably irresponsible," commenting that Lautner was just "a 17-year old kid" and that while the rumors were baseless and speculation from certain blogs and fans, it was disappointing that a "legitimate media outlet" would print gossip.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AE_47-1">[48] Hartinger said the magazine reached a "new low" and did not have common decency, noting that there was not a line between "child and adult" although Lautner was in adult-like roles.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AE_47-2">[48]

Lautner has stated that he doesn't want to be just known for his looks, as some have attributed his popularity to that and not his actual acting skill. In an interview, the actor revealed that he was originally supposed to have a baring scene in the movie Valentine's Day.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GQ_3-4">[4] He stated, "The script said we were walking into school and Willy takes off his shirt. I said, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa. Time out. He's gonna take off his shirt in the middle of school? No, no, no. The reason I took off my shirt for New Moon is because it's written in the book that way. And there's reasons behind it."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GQ_3-5">[4] Lautner later said he would not bare his chest for any role that did not call for it.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GQ_3-6">[4] In June 2010, Lautner covered GQ magazine.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GQ_3-7">[4] The actor was lampooned in conservative writer Laura Ingraham's satirical The Obama Diaries, commenting to have Lautner as a mascot for the White House Easter Egg Roll, to fit their health-conscious theme, and have Lautner don a furry bunny head and appear shirtless.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48">[49] In 2010, Lautner was ranked number two on Glamours "50 Sexiest Men of 2010 " list.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49">[50] Men's Health ranked him at third on their list of "Top 10 Summer Bodies."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50">[51] Additionally in 2010, he was ranked fourth on Peoples "Most Amazing Bodies" list.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51">[52]

Personal life
Lautner has an intricate workout plan, which was covered by Men's Health, and has a specific diet after developing his body for The Twilight Saga: New Moon.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GQ_3-8">[4] In addition, he still practices and trains in martial arts regularly.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GQ_3-9">[4] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RollingStone_9-4">[10] He has stated that he is drug and alcohol free.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RollingStone_9-5">[10]

Lautner resides with his parents and younger sister in Valencia, California, which he says he prefers due to the dearth of paparazzi. Lautner has said that he has never thought of moving out on his own, stating, "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." He owns a BMW 5 series, which have tinted windows for obscurity.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GQ_3-10">[4]

The boost given to his career by the success of the Twilight films made him too busy to attend school, so he took the California High School Proficiency Exam to graduate from high school in 2008. He has stated on the David Letterman show that if he does not have work, he would like to go back to school. He now takes online classes at his local community college.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Extra_12-1">[13]

In 2009, Lautner was linked romantically to American country pop singer Taylor Swift and American actress and pop singer Selena Gomez.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52">[53] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USW_53-0">[54]