Taylor Lautner Movies
Michigan native
Taylor Lautner had a knack for martial arts from the time he was a young child, winning karate tournaments in the Grand Rapids area while he was still in grade school. By eight, he'd developed enough skill to attract the attention of champion martial artist
Mike Chat, who became
Lautner's coach. The young athlete eventually won three gold medals in the World Karate Association, but he soon found his interests expanding. Connections in the karate world led to an audition for a role in a TV commercial in Los Angeles, and even though
Lautner didn't get the part, he enjoyed the process so much that his family soon began flying him out to the coast regularly for auditions, eventually relocating to L.A. completely. In California,
Lautner continued to do well at martial arts competitions, but additionally found success in acting, appearing on shows like
My Wife and Kids and
Danny Phantom. Then, in 2005,
Lautner scored the role of Sharkboy in the
Robert Rodriguez film
The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl. The 13 year old had only been living in Hollywood for three years, but he instantly became a famous face, especially among young audiences. In 2008, he took on the role of Jacob Black in the highly anticipated film adaptation of the young-adult novel Twilight. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide