Dylan Efron acknowledged that Dancing With the Stars fans have been hoping to spot his brother Zac Efron in the audience.
“Hey, he’s doing his thing,” Dylan, 33, told Extra after the live show on Tuesday, October 21. He added that although Zac, 38, hasn’t been present in person, he’s “supporting me every day.”
Fans had hoped Zac Efron would appear in the audience during last week’s Dancing With the Stars “Dedication Night,” where Dylan Efron and his partner Daniella Karagach performed a contemporary dance to “Rewrite the Stars” — the song Zac originally sang with Zendaya in The Greatest Showman (2017).
Dylan dedicated the routine to his 5-year-old sister, Olivia, who even joined the performance. (He and Zac also share a younger brother, Henry, 4.) Speaking exclusively to Us Weekly after the October 14 episode, Dylan said choosing the song was an easy decision.
“It just made sense,” he explained. “That’s my favorite performance by Zac, so it was special.”
The pair earned straight nines from the judges — a result Dylan said he “was not at all” expecting. “I was hoping for one nine,” he admitted. “So we exceeded our expectations.”
Ahead of their dance, Dylan grew emotional in his pre-show segment while reflecting on what it means to be Zac’s brother.
Dylan Efron shared that his Dancing With the Stars performance was dedicated to his 5-year-old sister, Olivia. “I wasn’t expecting to be a big brother, but from the moment she was born, I was inseparable from her,” he said during rehearsal footage.
Explaining his song choice, Dylan revealed that “Rewrite the Stars” was also “a nod” to his older brother, Zac. “Zac’s always taken care of me and done things that were so selfless,” he said. “I want to be that for Olivia — the best role model I can.”
Since joining DWTS, Dylan has received strong support from his family. “My dad is super excited — he’s got little kids, 4 and 5, and they’re all thrilled,” he told Us Weekly. “My mom was shocked, and my brother’s been really supportive.”
He also recalled Zac attending a DWTS taping years ago and sharing advice about the experience. “He said the best part is going to be those live shows — it’s such a good feeling,” Dylan remembered.
Next, Dylan and his partner Daniella Karagach will perform a Viennese waltz for the Halloween Week episode on Tuesday, October 28, set to Tommee Profitt and Brooke’s haunting version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Viewers will have to tune in to see what spooky costumes the pair have planned.
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.