Taylor Lautner

Taylor Lautner
Born	Taylor Daniel Lautner

Taylor Daniel Lautner (born February 11, 1992) is an American actor and martial artist who is perhaps best known for his 2005 family film performances of The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D with Taylor Dooley and Cheaper by the Dozen 2 with Steve Martin and Alyson Stoner. There have been rumors that Lautner will be appearing in the show Smallville. He also appeared on the UPN/CW TV series Love Inc.

Early Life and Family

Born on February 11th, 1992 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lautner began studying karate at the age of six, training at Fabiano's Karate School in Holland, Michigan. By the following year he began winning tournaments. He was soon invited to train with seven-time world karate champion Mike Chat and, when he was eight, he was asked to represent his country in the twelve years and under division in the World Karate Association where he proved himself by becoming the Junior World Forms and Weapons champion, winning three gold medals. He continued to flourish in the martial arts circuit; in 2003, at only eleven years old, he was ranked number one in the world for NASKA's Black Belt Open Forms, Musical Weapons, Traditional Weapons and Traditional Forms and, by the age of twelve, he had three Junior World Championships under his "black belt".

Lautner began his acting career after his martial arts instructor persuaded him to audition for a part in a Burger King advert in Los Angeles. Although he was unsuccessful, he enjoyed the experience so much that decided 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 Lautner was ten, his family relocated to Los Angeles to allow him to pursue acting full-time. Taylor Lautner is currently attending Valencia High School in Santa Clarita, California. He is in the 10th grade and is expected to graduate in 2010.

Career

Lautner began acting in 2001, appearing in the made-for-television film Shadow Fury. He subsequently had roles on the series Summerland (2004), The Bernie Mac Show (2001), and My Wife and Kids (2001) . He also has had a recurring role on Danny Phantom as YoungBlood. He is most famous for his starring role as Sharkboy in The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D. He is a master of the martial arts much of which he shows off in the movie Sharkboy and Lavagirl: in 3-D. Lautner has been trying to succeed in his acting career but also wants to finish high school.

He has had small roles in a number of other television shows and movies. The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour (2004) is included. In addition to television, Taylor has been very successful in voice-over work. Taylor has booked a recurring role as Youngblood on the cartoon Danny Phantom (2004), and has recorded two episodes of What's New, Scooby-Doo? (2002) and Charlie Brown. Taylor has also been as booked a series regular of a pilot presentation called Which Way Is Up? along with the voice of Silas in an animation series entitled Silas and Brittany.

His big break came in 2005 when, at the age of thirteen, Taylor won the role of Shark Boy in the Robert Rodriguez film The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D (2005). He spent three months on location in Austin, Texas filming. Within months, he then successfully auditioned to play Eliot, the son of the Bakers' rival, in Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005).

He has been cast as Jacob Black in the upcoming movie adaptation of the book Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

Personal Life

In his spare time, Taylor loves playing football and baseball. In football, he running back on offense and middle line backer on defense and, in baseball, he takes part in the Hart Baseball Program where he is positioned at center field and second base. He also participates in the LA Hip Kids, a hip-hop dance group. Taylor also enjoys making home movies with his friends, including 'Sharkboy and Lava Girl' co-star Taylor Dooley, who coincidentally lives near his Los Angeles home.

Although he wants to continue acting into adulthood, he also wishes to become a film scriptwriter and director.

Trivia

• Is a keen martial artist who, from the age of seven, has won many karate tournaments on a local, national and international level.

• Is real-life friends with Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl co-stars Taylor Dooley and Cayden Boyd. He shares many similarities with Taylor Dooley: they share the same first name; he was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, while she was born in Grosse Point; both children were born in February, a year apart (Taylor on the 11th 1992, she on the 26th in 1993); their mothers share the same name and they live minutes apart in their new homes in Los Angeles.

• Plays football and baseball. He enjoys watching college football and supports the Michigan Wolverines.

• Has a younger sister named Makena.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2001	Shadow Fury	Kismet (child)
2003	The Bernie Mac Show	Aaron	TV
2004	My Wife and Kids	Tyrone	TV
	Summerland	boy on beach	TV
2005	Cheaper by the Dozen 2	Eliot Murtaugh
	Danny Phantom	Youngblood	TV; voice
	Duck Dodgers	Reggie Wasserstein	TV; voice
	The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D	Sharkboy
	What's New, Scooby-Doo?	Dennis/Ned	TV; voice
2006	Love, Inc.	Oliver	TV
	He's a Bully, Charlie Brown	Joe Agate	TV special; voice
2008	Twilight	Jacob Black	filming