Steve Zahn
| Steve Zahn | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Zahn in 2008 | |
| Born |
Steven James Zahn November 13, 1967[1] Marshall, Minnesota, United States |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, voice actor |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Spouse(s) | Robyn Peterman (m. 1994) |
| Children | 2 |
Steven James "Steve" Zahn (/ˈzɑːn/; born November 13, 1967) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for roles in films including; Reality Bites, Forces of Nature, Joy Ride, You've Got Mail, Riding in Cars with Boys, Saving Silverman, Daddy Day Care, National Security, Sahara, and A Perfect Getaway.
He is also known for lending his voice to Stuart Little, Stuart Little 2, Dr. Dolittle 2, Escape from Planet Earth, Chicken Little, The Good Dinosaur, and voiced Swampy and Sherman on the family television series Phineas and Ferb, and played Cobi on Mad Dogs.
Background
Zahn was born in Marshall, Minnesota, the son of Zelda, who worked for the YMCA, and Carleton Edward Zahn, a retired pastor in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.[2][3][4] His father is of German and Swedish descent, and his mother is of German ancestry.[5] Zahn spent part of his childhood in Mankato, Minnesota, attending Kennedy Elementary School, and later moved to the suburbs of Minneapolis. Steve now makes his home in Lexington, KY.
Career
Zahn's early roles were split between movies, touring companies of Broadway shows, and television shows. From 1992 to 1993, he toured as Hugo with the Barry Weissler production of Bye Bye Birdie with Tommy Tune, Ann Reinking, and Marc Kudisch. In October 1995, he played Phoebe Buffay's husband Duncan on Friends "The One With Phoebe's Husband".
Zahn appeared in several films in the mid-1990s, including Tom Hanks' That Thing You Do! (1996), Nora Ephron's You've Got Mail (1998), and Steven Soderbergh's Out of Sight (1998). These films garnered him enough respect that he was offered the starring role in the critically acclaimed indie film Happy, Texas (1999). Some of Zahn's most popular movies have been his later ones, including National Security (2003), Daddy Day Care (2003) and Sahara (2005).
Zahn received his most positive reviews for his performance in Riding in Cars with Boys, in which he co-starred with Drew Barrymore as her dim-witted, drug addicted husband. He also gave dramatic performances in Rescue Dawn and the television mini-series Comanche Moon.
Typically typecast into comic relief sidekick roles, Zahn was asked if he minded, his reply was that it was a "pleasure" and a "privilege," saying: "to be typecast and make money and make people happy and people dig what you do, what a great thing, man."[1]
Zahn also plays the character of Davis McAlary in HBO's Treme. Davis is a New Orleans native and local music lover, as well as one of Treme's biggest partiers, and advocates. Zahn also recorded a song for the show, and is featured on the show's soundtrack. The track, "Shame, Shame, Shame", criticizes George W. Bush and the American government's response to the disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in the city of New Orleans.
In 2014, he co-starred with Christian Slater in ABC's sitcom Mind Games.[6]
Personal life
Zahn is a University of Kentucky sports fan, often seen at games and events.[7]
Filmography
Film
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | All My Children | Spence | Episode #5303 uncredited |
| 1993 | South Beach | Lane Bailey | Episode: "Pirates of the Caribbean" |
| 1995 | Friends | Duncan | "The One with Phoebe's Husband" |
| Mike & Spike | Nick Pickles (voice) | Episode: "Person to Clothes" | |
| Picture Windows | Crook | Episode: "Armed Response" | |
| 1997 | Liberty! The American Revolution | American Sergeant | 4 episodes |
| 1998 | From the Earth to the Moon | Astronaut Elliot See | Miniseries Episode: "Can We Do This?" |
| 2008 | Comanche Moon | Augustus "Gus" McCrae | 3 episodes |
| 2008–2013 | Phineas and Ferb | Swampy/Sherman | Voice Episode: "Dude, We're Gettin' the Band Back Together!" |
| 2009 | Monk | Jack Monk, Jr. | Episode: "Mr. Monk's Other Brother" |
| WWII in HD | Nolen Marbrey | Voice | |
| 2010–2013 | Treme | Davis McAlary | Regular, 36 episodes |
| 2014 | Mind Games | Clark Edwards | Regular |
| 2014–2015 | Modern Family | Ronnie La Fontaine | Recurring Role |
| 2015–2016 | Mad Dogs | Cobi | Series regular |
References
- 1 2 "Biography for Steve Zahn". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
- ↑ "CANOE - JAM! Movies - Artists - Zahn, Steve : Steve Zahn has a smart funny humour". Jam.canoe.ca. 2001-02-26. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
- ↑ Hewitt, Chris (1997-03-12). "FROM ROCKER TO SLACKER, THE VARIOUS ROLES OF MINNESOTA NATIVE STEVE ZAHN ARE SIGNS OF A RAPIDLY BUDDING TALENT". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ↑ "Steve Zahn Biography - Yahoo Movies Canada". Ca.movies.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
- ↑ Steve Zahn at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ "ABC Cancels 'Mind Games' After Five Episodes". hollywoodreporter.com. 27 March 2014.
- ↑ Jones, Matt (2010-03-19). "Steve Zahn at UK Game Last Night". Kentucky Sports Radio. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Steve Zahn. |
- Steve Zahn at the Internet Movie Database
- BBC film critic BBC review of 'Riding in Cars with Boys', suggests Academy Award nomination for Zahn
- Video interview with Steve Zahn on Rescue Dawn
- Steve Zahn Interview (Rescue Dawn)
- Onion A.V. Club Interview
- Steve Zahn at FEARnet