Zac Efron took time out from filming his latest movie to visit a boy dying of a rare cancer.

The 'High School Musical' star decided to surprise 13-year-old Connor Steventon - whose disease affected his body's soft cells, muscles and fat - while shooting 'Me and Orson Welles' in the Isle of Man last month.

Connor's mother had contacted Zac's management after hearing he was on the island as she knew it was her son's dying wish to meet his idol.

Tracy Steventon is quoted by Isle of Man Today (iomtoday.co.im) as saying: "About six weeks before his birthday I thought, 'He is going to be 13, what can I do that's really special?' He had everything, didn't want or need anything and was mad about 'High School Musical.'"

"When I saw that Zac was coming over I knew we had to get them to meet. I thought we would have a 'High School Musical' party and asked Zac to come and surprise him."

"When Zac came to our family home, Connor's little eyes nearly fell out of his head."

Zac met Connor on March 1, but sadly Connor died just 18 days later.

Connor's mother has started the charity Connor's Causes to raise money for other terminally-ill children.