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Zac Efron's Kevin Von Erich Performance Draws Praise From The WWE Hall Of Famer Himself

As he prepares for a role in “The Iron Claw,” Zac Efron has seemed to make a new fan along the way!

By Chris Phelan
Zac Efron

As one of the biggest names in Hollywood, Zac Efron has made a name for himself as one of the most versatile young actors on the planet. Thanks to roles in unforgettable films such as "High School Musical," "Hairspray," and "Neighbors," Efron is no stranger to taking full advantage of his unique acting chops. Make no mistake about it: Audiences around the world absolutely adore him.

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Currently, Efron is working on a project that has roots in the world of professional wrestling, and one of the biggest legends in the business has taken notice of the effort the actor has put in during filming! Recently, a photo was leaked from the set of “The Iron Claw,” a movie about the life and times of the famous Von Erich wrestling family.

(We’re really underselling the photo here. Let us put it into layman’s terms: A photo was leaked from the set, and Zac Efron was looking barely recognizable and absolutely jacked as he transformed himself into the role of Kevin Von Erich!)

Efron's physique was so impressive that it made Kevin Von Erich himself — the oldest surviving member of the family — take notice and pass along some very kind words.

“He looks really good and muscular! He must be really working hard,” Von Erich told TMZ. “I haven’t spoken to him, but my daughters love him, and they think he’s the right guy to do it.” Von Erich went on to talk about how important it was to stay in peak physical condition during his pro wrestling career — as it wasn’t about being large in a physical sense, but being able to be strong enough to pull off some of the impressive moves that made him and his family famous.

As for whether he thinks Efron's physique is historically accurate to his own, Von Erich couldn’t help but laugh while confessing, “I don’t think I ever looked that good!” TMZ put it best by reporting that Efron officially got that all-important seal of approval from the WWE Hall of Famer.

Making his name in World Class Championship Wrestling in the 1980s, Kevin Von Erich is a dead ringer for present-day Zac Efron, which is apparent in this classic match he had against Abdullah the Butcher in WCCW:

The Von Erich wrestling family was known for its members' individual tragedies just as much as their in-ring success. As a whole, the family amassed over 140 professional wrestling championships dating back to the 1960s. “The Iron Claw” is sure to tell the unbelievable story of the Von Erich family, with heartbreak and tragedy so intense that moviegoers will swear it’s fiction.

We loved that Kevin Von Erich noticed the intense work Zac Efron has put into his upcoming role, and we’re looking forward to what the WWE Hall of Famer thinks of the film itself when it’s released sometime in 2023.

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