Zac Efron had to reveal horrifying reason behind face transformation after fans noticed he ‘looked different’

Zac Efron admitted he ‘almost died’ in an accident a decade ago which permanently altered his appearance - but some fans still don’t know about the cause of his facial transformation.

Former Disney star Efron, 36, first catapulted to success in the early 2000s after portraying budding basketball player Troy Bolton in the High School Musical trilogy.

Since then, the actor has gone on to star in musicals The Greatest Showman and Hairspray as well as A24’s biographical wrestling flick The Iron Claw and Amazon Prime Video’s Ricky Stanicky.

But while fans of Efron are familiar with his back catalogue, it appears not many know his facial features were altered after an incident at his home.

Efron’s appearance has recently been brought into public discourse after the release of his new Netflix film, A Family Affair.

In the American romantic comedy, he stars as self-absorbed Hollywood icon Chris Cole, who falls head over heels for his assistant Zara Ford’s (played by Joey King) divorced mother, Brooke Harwood (Nicole Kidman).

After watching the new movie, fans have taken to social media to question Efron’s look.

Zac Efron had a near-death experience in 2013. (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI)

One user of X questioned: “What did Zac Efron do to his face?”, as a second wrote: “Started watching Family Affair on Netflix.... what has happened to Zac Efron's face?! It doesn't even move anymore.”

“Zac Efron’s face looks so different,” remarked someone else.

Well, it turns out that Efron’s altered appearance dates back to 2013, when he accidentally shattered his jaw.

Speaking to Men’s Health in 2022, the Baywatch star revealed he’d been ‘running through his house in socks and slipped’ on a pool of water.

As he fell, he hit his chin on the side of a granite fountain, which knocked him out cold.

Efron pictured in 2007. (Jason Merritt/FilmMagic)

As he came around, he quickly discovered that his ‘chin bone was hanging off his face’.

In a subsequent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Efron said: “It was funny. It sucks. I almost died, but we're good.”

He later revealed that his face had changed shape after forgoing physical therapy to film his Netflix series, Down to Earth with Zac Efron.

As a result, his masseters 'just frew' as they overcompensated for weaker, still-developing jaw muscles.

Last weekend, the icon was enjoying some downtime in Ibiza when he was rushed to hospital.

The actor was recently hospitalised in Ibiza. (Disney/Randy Holmes)

It’s claimed the 17 Again actor was discovered in a ‘swimming pool by two people working at the villa’ he was staying in.

After being removed from the pool, Efron was transported to hospital as a ‘precautionary measure’ and was released a day later, according to his representatives.

TMZ alleges that he dived in and hit the bottom of the pool, causing him to ‘ingest a large amount of water into his lungs’.

However, Efron is reportedly ‘recovering fine’ after being discharged from hospital and he later took to social media to thank fans for their concern.

LADbible Group has previously reached out to representatives of Zac Efron for further comment.