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Star Spotlight
Chris Warren Jr. won the hearts of High School Musical fans as "Zeke Baylor," the teen who had a crush on Ashley Tisdale's character "Sharpay." But there is so much more to this 16-year-old actor. Check out our one-on-one interview with Chris to learn about High School Musical, and his life in general. Here's what he had to say:
Q & A
Q:
Do you keep in touch with your High School Musical costars?
Chris: I actually haven't seen a lot of them in a while. I've been talking to Vanessa, Ashley, and Zach a lot, but we're all so busy, it's hard to see each other.
Q:
What was your favorite scene from High School Musical?
Chris: Definitely after the credits with Ashley and me. That scene was written, but we didn't think that we were going to do it. It barely made the cut at the very end. And it was Ashley's last scene before she went back to California.
Q:
How many times did you have to film it?
Chris: We only did it two or three times. It was close to the end of the day and we had to get out of there. So we had to hurry and get it done.
Q:
Both your Mom and Dad are actors. Did you always know that you wanted to follow in their footsteps?
Chris: I think I was just meant to do it. When I was younger, they didn't even plan on me being an actor, I just wanted to do it. My dad was learning these lines for a play and I picked up what he was learning. I guess they realized that that was something I wanted to do and I booked the first commercial audition that I ever went to.
Q:
If you weren't acting, what would you like to do?
Chris: Definitely football or basketball. If I wasn't going to do that, I'd like to start my own business of some sort.
Q:
You were in The Lion King. What role did you have?
Chris: I played young Simba and that was in 2002. I did it for a year. First in New York on Broadway, then I started off the tour in Denver, then Houston, then Fort Worth, then Dallas.
Q:
What are your favorite books?
Chris: I used to really be into the Harry Potter books. The Lemony Snicket series, I love those books. Right now, I have to read Huxley's Brave New World and Frankenstein.
Q:
Are there books that you would recommend that kids read?
Chris: Definitely, the Lemony Snicket books. They're made for kids our age, but they seem like they're more mature and they're really funny.
Q:
Why do you think reading is important for kids?
Chris: Because it keeps your brain going. I play video games all the time and I think it's really good when my parents make me read to make sure I don't turn into a drone. It keeps your brain fresh.
—Interview by Marie Morreale
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Chris Warren Jr.
(Photo: Rena Durham/Zuma Press/NewsCom)
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STAR STATS
Star Calendar
Check out our Scholastic News Special Report to learn more about the cast of High School Musical.
Star Stats
Name: Christopher Warren Jr.
Birthday: January 15, 1990 (Martin Luther King's real birthday)
Birthplace: Indianapolis, Indiana
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 165 pounds
Pets: a Pomeranian dog
Star Faves
Sports: football, basketball, and baseball
TV show: Entourage
Movies: Anchorman and Friday Night Lights
Musical Artists: Pharrel and Lil' Wayne
Car: Infinity G35
Food: pizza
Drink: Cherry Coke
Candy: Twix
Ice Cream: Ben and Jerry's Fossil Fuel
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