The scene was nothing short of ideal: a family brought together to rally behind TV star Dylan Efron as he danced his way to the finale of Dancing with the Stars earlier this month.
In the audience, his older brother, actor Zac Efron, radiated pride. Seated beside him were their divorced parents, David Efron and Starla Baskett, while Zac’s half-sister, Olivia, sat comfortably on his lap.
However, despite the appearance of familial harmony at the dance show, this hasn’t always been the reality.
The semi-finals of Dancing with the Stars marked the first time in two years that Baskett and David have been publicly seen together since their divorce.
The reasons behind their split remain largely unknown. However, David, now 65, has moved forward with his life, marrying Jennifer ‘Jenny’ Hnatov, who is 29 years younger than him.
After the divorce was finalized in November 2017, David remarried by 2019. He and Hnatov now have two children together: Olivia, five, and Henry, four.
Zac and Dylan Efron with their parents David Efron and Starla Baskett in 2023
It was a family reunion for the Efrons on November 18 when Zac made a surprise appearance with his mom Starla Baskett, step-mom Jenny Hnatov (circled), father David Efron and half-sister Olivia Efron
Pictured: Hnatov, Zac and David at ‘A Family Affair’ premiere in June 2024
According to marriage records obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail, David and Hnatov married at a private ceremony in San Luis Obispo, California, officiated by a reverend from an American Fellowship Church.
Meanwhile, Baskett appears to be single and living in a $1 million ranch-style home in Santa Maria, California, about 45 minutes from her ex-husband.
Baskett – who met David when they were working in the same power plant, she in administration and he as an engineer – filed for divorce in 2016 citing ‘irreconcilable differences.’ They were together for nearly 20 years.
Court documents exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail have revealed disagreements between Baskett and David before they officially settled. Baskett, for one, noted their separation as March 8, 2015, while David noted it as February 1, 2014. In the final judgment, Baskett’s date was recorded.
And, in David’s response to the divorce, he noted that spousal support would be determined in the future regarding payments to both him and his ex. In addition, he requested attorney’s fees and costs be payable by Baskett.
It appears their issues were hashed out over a matter of months, but according to the marital settlement, Baskett won a major victory.
David was ordered to pay his ex a large sum of cash and the final order for monthly spousal support is still in effect today.
Zac (pictured with half-sister Olivia and mother Baskett) showed up to support his brother Dylan this month on Dancing with the Stars
Baskett (pictured with Zac) filed for divorce in 2016, citing ‘irreconcilable differences’
David (pictured with Zac as a baby) was ordered to pay his ex a large sum of cash and the final order for monthly spousal support is still in effect today
Per the court documents, he agreed to pay her spousal support in the amount of $3,700 per month, including retirement benefits, which began October 2017 and are to continue ‘until either party’s death, the remarriage of Wife, or modification or termination by further court order, whichever occurs first.’
Since it appears Baskett has not re-married, David is seemingly still paying her monthly spousal support. It is unclear what her job is today or whether she’s retired, but in 2016 she reported she had ‘zero income.’
David also agreed to keep her as a beneficiary on his life insurance policy for the sum of $250,000, and cover her attorney costs in the sum of $5,000, which he initially requested she pay herself.
At the time, Baskett had also received their marital home and David was removed from the property’s title, but she has since sold the house in Arroyo Grande where the Efron brothers had grown up.
The total settlement for the property was $185,520, but David agreed to increase the amount to $196,000 to facilitate closure.
In January 2018, after a request from David was filed, a judge granted him the right to pay the equalization payment of $196,000 as follows: $126,000 in cash and the remaining $70,000 balance from his retirement savings plan.
Zac, 38, was reportedly crushed by his parents’ divorce, and at the time Radar Online claimed the family strife had ‘shaken Zac to his core.’ Friends, the outlet reported in 2019, were ‘very concerned he’ll fall off the wagon,’ fearing that his parents’ divorce ‘could push him toward a relapse.’
In 2013, he went to rehab amid his battle with alcohol and drug addiction. It was later reported that he had completed another stint later that year.
He told the Hollywood Reporter in 2014 that he was ‘drinking a lot, way too much,’ while acknowledging there were drugs also involved.
Pictured: Dylan (left, holding Henry), David (center) and Zac (right, holding Olivia)
Zac and Baskett in 2009
Dylan’s little sister Olivia was the star on DWTS’ Dedication Night, appearing in her brother’s routine
Publicly, however, the Efron siblings have not addressed their parents’ divorce, but there appears to be no hard feelings.
Talking to People at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, where his parents reunited in 2023, Zac said: ‘My mom and dad, they’re the reason I’m here today. They believed in me when I don’t know how they did.
‘It must’ve been difficult to drive me back and forth to auditions when I was 15, three hours from the Arroyo Grande out here, just to have such a small shot.’
‘And I think they sacrificed a lot to support me throughout the years.’
Meanwhile, Dylan, 33, who was a finalist on Dancing with the Stars, got choked up while discussing his relationship with his father on an October episode of the Office Of podcast.
‘My dad is a ride or die for sure,’ he said. ‘I’m going to tear up, you’re going to kill me. I was finding baby photos for Dancing With the Stars and my dad sends me all these.
‘Some of the photos of my dad holding me as a kid, I see myself in him. He’s always looked after me.
‘I was very much raised by him. He took me to all my sports games growing up. We’re just very similar. He’s been my rock my whole life. I used to call him every day after work,’ Dylan shared, adding that his father is ‘for sure’ proud of him today.
As for their step-mom, fans have only had blink-and-you’ll-miss-it glimpses since she’s rarely seen in photos with the Efrons. But her daughter Olivia stole the show during Dancing with the Stars when she appeared in his dance for Dedication Night, in which Dylan paid tribute to Zac.
During last week’s finale, however, Dylan placed fourth in the dance competition. Meanwhile, Robert Irwin and his partner Witney Carson took home the Mirrorball Trophy as season 34 champions.
