Dylan Efron has a strong bond with his older brother, Zac Efron.
David Efron and Starla Baskett welcomed son Zac in 1987 before welcoming son Dylan in 1992. Zac and Dylan’s parents separated in 2016, and David went on to marry his second wife, Jenny. Jenny and David welcomed daughter Olivia, followed by son Henry.
Growing up, Dylan and Zac didn’t always get along due to their age difference — but as Dylan got older, things started to change.
“Once I graduated college, Zac really took me under his wing and let me live with him when I got my first job in Los Angeles,” Dylan recalled in an interview with BroBible in January 2021. “He really became that older brother, and that’s when I would say we grew closer than ever. Our relationship was something that developed more as we both became adults and stopped fighting so much.”
Dylan Efron Tears Up Over ‘Selfless’ Brother Zac on ‘DWTS’ Dedication Night
Zac has continued to support Dylan throughout all his endeavors, including when he appeared on season 34 of Dancing With the Stars in 2025.
“It means everything. I grew up watching him do stuff like this,” Dylan gushed to Entertainment Tonight in November 2025 after Zac made a surprise appearance in the DWTS ballroom.
Keep scrolling to learn more about Dylan and Zac’s relationship through the years:
They Always Fought With Each Other as Kids
In January 2021, Dylan opened up about his childhood relationship with Zac, noting that they were “always fighting with each other” when they were young.
“It was interesting because I was always really big for my age, and Zac was pretty small for his age,” Dylan recalled to BroBible. “We were always fighting with each other. But I would say that we grew up super combative, just because we’re so different and he was so much older. We were just into different things.”
Dylan went on to say that after he graduated from college, Zac and him grew really close after Zac let him live with him in Los Angeles when he got his first job.
“He really became that older brother, and that’s when I would say we grew closer than ever,” he said. “Our relationship was something that developed more as we both became adults and stopped fighting so much.”
Zac Inspired Dylan to Be a Good Older Brother to His Younger Siblings
Dylan revealed that Zac’s guidance as a big brother inspired him when it came to bonding with his younger siblings, Olivia and Henry.
“But really, I just think back and my brother was such a good brother to me and I want to be that for them,” Dylan exclusively told NewsPlop in September 2023. “So it’s really just — I like thinking what they think of me and I want to be that presence for them.”
Dylan Said He Loves Doing Things With Zac
After serving as a producer on Zac’s Netflix series, Down to Earth, Dylan gushed about how he loves “doing stuff” with his brother.
“There’s a really comforting thing being with family [and] doing this stuff. That’s always going to be high up there on what I love to do,” he shared with Us in September 2023. “But I think it’s good we do things separately too. Because I remember back in the day, we wanted to do a show together and I really wouldn’t have been prepared for that. He’s been in front of the camera his whole life and it’s been second nature for him. I was a shy little kid, so I’ve had to grow into that.”
Dylan Has ‘No Issue’ Being Called Zac’s Little Brother
In February 2025, Dylan shared that he doesn’t care that people refer to him as “Zac’s little brother.”
“I love my brother. I’m so proud of him,” Dylan told Cosmopolitan in an interview at the time. “If anything, it’s helped me with my career, so I have no issue with people calling me Zac’s little brother.”
How Dylan Chose to Honor Zac in a ‘DWTS’ Dance
During “Dedication Night” on season 34 of DWTS, Dylan and his pro partner, Daniella Karagach, performed a contemporary routine to “Rewrite the Stars” from The Greatest Showman. The song was originally sung by Zac and Zendaya in the 2017 movie.
Dylan later shared that it was a no-brainer that he used that song for his dance, which he dedicated to his younger sister, Olivia.
Dylan Efron Breaks Silence on Brother Zac’s Absence From ‘DWTS’ Ballroom
“It just made sense. It wasn’t even a thought,” he told Us in October 2025. “That’s like my favorite performance by Zac, so it was special.”
While discussing his song choice during the episode, Dylan explained that it was “a nod” to his brother who has always been there for him.
“Zac’s always taken care of me and he did things that were so selfless,” Dylan gushed. “I wanna be that to Olivia, I wanna be the best role model I can.”
Dylan Shared That Having Zac Support Him at ‘DWTS’ Meant ‘Everything’ to Him
When Zac made a surprise appearance in the audience at DWTS in November 2025, Dylan couldn’t help but share how happy it made him.
“It means everything. I grew up watching him do stuff like this,” Dylan told Entertainment Tonight. “Looking over, my family’s there, my girlfriend. Just seeing all of them together, that’s my support.”