Taylor Lautner

Taylor Daniel Lautner ( ; born February 11, 1992) is an American actor, martial artist, and producer. He is best known for playing the werewolf Jacob Black in The Twilight Saga film series (2008–2012). His accolades include a Scream Award, seven Teen Choice Awards, two People's Choice Award, and an MTV Movie Award.

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lautner began practising martial arts at the age of six. He became a black belt at the age of 10, and by the age of 14, he was a four-time world champion. He began his acting career playing bit parts 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 got his big break when he landed the role of Sharkboy in the film The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D. Also that year, he starred in Cheaper by the Dozen 2.

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

In 2011, Lautner starred in the action film Abduction, in which he did almost all of his stunts. In 2013, he appeared in the comedy film Grown Ups 2. From 2014 to 2018, Lautner starred in the BBC sitcom Cuckoo as the son of the titular character. In 2015, he starred in the action film Tracers and the comedy film The Ridiculous 6. The following year, he portrayed Dr. Cassidy Cascade in the second season of Fox black comedy series Scream Queens.

Early life Taylor Daniel Lautner was born on February 11, 1992, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, His mother works for a software development company, while his father was a Midwest Airlines pilot. Lautner has Dutch, French, and German ancestry, and has stated that he has "distant" Native American ancestry (specifically Odawa and Potawatomi, both Anishinaabe peoples) through his mother. He grew up in Hudsonville, Michigan, a town near Grand Rapids. He has stated that 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.'"

He took his first karate class at the age of six. that was later lampooned on the sports-comedy show Cheap Seats that first aired in 2006.

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. He went to public school at Valencia High School in Santa Clarita, California until his sophomore year. Chaturantabut, who once portrayed the Blue Ranger in Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue, suggested to Lautner that he take up acting. 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, in 2002. For the film, Lautner choreographed all of his fight scenes after director Robert Rodríguez learned of his extensive martial arts training. After returning from Canada filming the latter movie, Lautner said he realized his newfound fame, from Sharkboy and Lavagirl. Rolling Stone coined his early roles as either "the popular kid, jock, or bully." 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." At the 2009 MTV Movie Awards, Lautner was nominated for Male Breakthrough Performance, which was won by co-star Robert Pattinson.

Initially, director Chris Weitz wanted to recast the role of Jacob Black for Twilight 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." Black's role in the novel also increases significantly, with him falling in love with Bella and becoming a shapeshifter, putting the actor in a starring role. Representatives for Weitz had stated that they would 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. In January 2009, Weitz and Summit Entertainment announced that Lautner would continue to play the role of Jacob in the sequel. 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." 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." 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." The opening weekend of New Moon is the third highest opening weekend in domestic history with $142,839,137. The Twilight Saga: New Moon also has the sixth highest worldwide opening weekend with $274.9 million total. Critical reception was less favorable, with the movie getting a 4.6/10 average from Rotten Tomatoes, and a 44 on Metacritic. Lautner won Favorite Breakout Movie Actor at the 35th People's Choice Awards. 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 singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. The duo was nominated at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards for Best Kiss. Although it received generally negative reviews, the film grossed $213 million and had the second biggest opening in the United States for a romantic comedy film. Lautner presented at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards and the 82nd Academy Awards. Lautner hosted Saturday Night Live on December 12, 2009, making him one of the youngest celebrity hosts in the show's history.

2010–present: Continuing Twilight, later projects, and hiatus Lautner returned for the third Twilight film, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, in 2010. Despite 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, shapeshifter and vampire movie of all time at the American and Canadian box office. It ranked 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. Lautner's fanbase also began to expand to older audiences. In 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".

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. and Lautner's performance was mostly criticised. For Abduction, Lautner won a Teen Choice Award for Choice Action Actor in 2012. He appeared in the remaining parts of the Twilight series, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn films, which were released over a two-year period from 2011–2012.

In 2010, Lautner was considered to be the highest-paid teen actor in Hollywood. In February 2014, it was confirmed that Lautner would be joining the BBC Three comedy series Cuckoo, replacing Andy Samberg. Lautner has continued in this role, co-starring in the BBC comedy for three series. From September to December 2016, Lautner co-starred on the Ryan Murphy comedy horror series Scream Queens. On July 7, 2023, Lautner appeared onstage after singer Taylor Swift premiered a new music video for the song "I Can See You" at the Eras Tour in Kansas City. The video stars Lautner, Joey King, and Presley Cash. Lautner inspired her Speak Now album's single "Back to December".

Public image

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. 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." Michelle Lanz of MSN Wonderwall said that Lautner's change may have saved his career. 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." He was named number one on Access Hollywood's "Top 5 Hollywood Abs" list.

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." 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 gay, which he brushed off. 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. In 2010, Lautner was ranked number two on Glamour s "50 Sexiest Men of 2010 " list. Men's Health ranked him at third on their list of "Top 10 Summer Bodies". Additionally in 2010, he was ranked fourth on People "Most Amazing Bodies" list.

Personal life Lautner has an intensive workout regimen, which was profiled by Men's Health, and follows a specific diet developed while preparing for his role in The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

While filming Valentine's Day in October 2009, Lautner began a romantic relationship with his co-star Taylor Swift; they ended the relationship later that year. After working with Lily Collins on Abduction, he began dating her in November 2010, and they separated in September 2011. From 2013 to 2015, he was in a relationship with Canadian actress and Tracers co-star Marie Avgeropoulos. Lautner began dating actress and Scream Queens co-star Billie Lourd in December 2016; they separated in July 2017.

Marriage Lautner announced in 2018 that he was in a relationship with Taylor Dome, a nurse. The couple married on November 11, 2022, at Epoch Estate Wines in California. Before their wedding, Lautner stated that Dome planned to take his surname, resulting in both partners being named Taylor Lautner. She often goes by nickname "Tay", which helps in distinguishing the two. In March 2026, the Lautners announced that they were expecting their first child, revealed to be a girl and who could be named Taylor Lautner as well.

Filmography Film Year Title RoleNotes 2001 Shadow Fury Young Kismet 2005 The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D Sharkboy Cheaper by the Dozen 2 Elliot Murtaugh 2008 Twilight Jacob Black 2009 The Twilight Saga: New Moon 2010 Valentine's Day Willy Harrington The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Jacob Black 2011 Field of Dreams 2: Lockout Iowa Farmer Short film Abduction Nathan Harper The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 Jacob Black 2012 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 2013 Grown Ups 2 Frat Boy AndyUncredited 2015 Tracers Cam The Ridiculous 6 Lil' Pete 2016 Run the Tide Reymond Hightower 2022 Home Team Troy Lambert Scott Filming

Television Year Title RoleNotes 2003–2004 The Bernie Mac Show Aaron Episodes: "Bernie Mac Rope-a-Dope", "Being Bernie Mac" 2004 The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour Mouseketeer Unsold television pilot My Wife and Kids Tyrone Episode: "Class Reunion" Summerland Boy on beach Episode: "To Thine Self Be True" 2005 What's New, Scooby-Doo? Ned / Dennis Voice role; 2 episodes Duck Dodgers Terrible Obnoxious Boy / Reggie Wasserstein 2005–2007 Danny Phantom Youngblood Voice role; 3 episodes 2006 Love, Inc. Oliver Episode: "Arrested Development" He's a Bully, Charlie Brown Joe Agate Voice role; television film 2008 My Own Worst Enemy Jack Spivey Main role 2014–2018 Cuckoo Dale Ashbrick Jr Main role (series 2–4) 2016 Scream Queens Dr. Cassidy Cascade Main role (season 2)

Music videos Year Song Artist Role 2023 "I Can See You" Taylor Swift Robber

Awards and nominations