Taylor Lautner

Here is a comprehensive profile of Taylor Lautner—his life, career, style, and some memorable quotes.

Taylor Lautner – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Learn about Taylor Lautner: from his childhood in Michigan and martial arts beginnings, to becoming Jacob Black in Twilight. Read his biography, career highlights, style, and standout quotes.

Introduction

Taylor Daniel Lautner (born February 11, 1992) is an American actor, martial artist, and public figure best known for playing Jacob Black in The Twilight Saga.

His journey spans early training in martial arts, transition into acting as a child, a meteoric rise during the Twilight years, and efforts to expand his roles beyond that franchise.

Early Life & Family

He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Deborah (née Bos) and Daniel Lautner.
He has a younger sister named Makena Lautner.
Lautner was raised in a Roman Catholic household.
His ancestry includes Dutch, German, French, and distant Native American (Odawa and Potawatomi) lineage.
From a young age, he studied karate. By age 10, he had earned a black belt.
At age 6 he began martial arts training; a year later he competed in national tournaments and connected with Michael Chaturantabut (founder of Xtreme Martial Arts) as a coach.

Career & Achievements

Beginnings

Lautner’s first acting work included small television roles—e.g., The Bernie Mac Show and My Wife and Kids.
He also did voice roles in animated series (e.g. Danny Phantom, Duck Dodgers, What’s New, Scooby-Doo?).
One of his early notable film roles was in The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D (2005).

Twilight & Breakthrough

In 2007, casting calls were held for the Twilight films; Lautner auditioned (even though he had not been familiar with the book series at that point).
He was cast as Jacob Black, a key character in the saga. The Twilight films were commercially very successful and dramatically raised his profile.
To adapt to the evolving role (especially for New Moon onward), Lautner underwent intense physical training and gained significant muscle mass—reportedly over 30 pounds.
He also indicated he would only remove his shirt for roles where it was justified by the story (rather than gratuitously).

Post-Twilight & Later Work

After Twilight, Lautner sought to diversify his roles beyond that franchise.
He has had roles in film and TV outside of the fantasy genre, though none reached the cultural heights of Twilight.
In recent years, there is news of a new show he will work on called Taylor Lautner: Werewolf Hunter, where he plays a fictionalized version of himself.
He also reflects back on Sharkboy & Lavagirl on its 20th anniversary, noting its lasting resonance with fans.

Public Image & Challenges

Lautner became a teen popular icon and sex symbol during the Twilight era, with media attention not only on his acting but also on his physique and image.
He faced the pressure of expectations tied to a franchise and the risk of being typecast.
He has spoken about dealing with negative rumors or misquotations, saying he tries to stay away from what’s written about him, because it can be harmful if it's untrue.
He says he still participates in household chores (e.g. helping with the garbage, lawn) to stay grounded.

Style, Strengths & Approach

Lautner’s background in martial arts gave him physical discipline, which translated to performing stunt work, action sequences, and fitness demands.
He is known for humility in interviews—valuing honesty, loyalty, and recognizing the challenges of fame. Eg: “If two people can be honest with each other about everything, that’s probably the biggest key to success.”
He values roles that challenge him, rather than sticking to formulaic images: “I love challenging myself, doing different things, and exploring different areas that I haven’t been to or gone to before.”

Memorable Quotes

Here are a few representative quotes by Taylor Lautner:

“Probably the people around me and the people I care about. They are my motivation. That’s probably what drives me to succeed.”
“Honestly, I try and stay away from what’s been written about me, because if you let that stuff get to you and it’s not true it can drive you crazy.”
“I like to think of myself as very loyal, and I love everyone I surround myself with, whether they’re friends or girlfriends or whatever.”
“If I love the character and if I love the story, and the character requires me to be shirtless … I’m ready to do it.”
“There are pros and cons to everything … but I feel there are a lot more pros. And I am doing what I love to do, so I am not complaining at all.”

Lessons & Takeaways

Discipline matters — His martial arts training from a young age taught him focus, physical control, and persistence, which proved useful in acting.
Be selective with image — Rather than letting media define him, he tried to retain agency in what roles he accepted and how he presented himself.
Resilience in criticism — He recognized that rumors and misquotes are part of fame, and he chose a mindset of select attention rather than reacting to every public statement.
Diversify your craft — Breaking away from a big franchise’s shadow is difficult, but striving to do varied work helps maintain growth.
Stay grounded — He kept ties to everyday life (helping with chores, maintaining humility) to maintain perspective.