Zachary Wolfe Galligan (born February 14, 1964)[1] is an American actor. He is best known for starring as Billy Peltzer in the comedy-horror films Gremlins (1984) and Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990).
Zach Galligan | |
---|---|
Born | Zachary Wolfe Galligan February 14, 1964 New York City, U.S. |
Alma mater | Columbia University |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1984–present |
Spouse |
Ling-Ling Hu Ingerick
(m. 2005; div. 2010) |
Early life and education
editGalligan was born on February 14, 1964, in New York City, the son of Carol Jean (née Wolfe), a psychologist, and Arthur John Galligan, a lawyer who was a founding partner of the law firm of Dickstein Shapiro. He is mostly of Irish descent, and he has Jewish ancestry through his mother’s side.[2][3][4][5] He has a sister, Jessica, and graduated from Columbia University.[6][7]
Career
editGalligan's first major and most widely seen role was as Billy Peltzer in the 1984 film Gremlins.[8][9][10] Prior to being cast in Gremlins, he filmed Nothing Lasts Forever, which had its theatrical release cancelled and went unreleased in any form for years.[11] In 1988, he starred as Mark Loftmore in the horror comedy Waxwork.[12] He reprised his role as Billy in the 1990 sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch, and returned to the role of Mark for Waxwork II: Lost in Time.[9]
In 2016, UK progressive rock band Gandalf's Fist announced that Galligan would voice a character on their album The Clockwork Fable.[13]
In early 2021, Galligan appeared in a Mountain Dew commercial in which his Gremlins character, Billy, gives Gizmo a drink of his Mountain Dew.[14] Galligan returned to the Gremlins franchise again in the animated series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai.[15]
Personal life
editGalligan married Ling-Ling Hu Ingerick at the Yale Club in New York on September 25, 2005; they divorced in 2010.[16]
Filmography
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (December 2021) |
Film
editYear | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | Gremlins | Billy Peltzer | |
1984 | Nothing Lasts Forever | Adam Beckett | |
1988 | Waxwork | Mark Loftmore | |
1990 | Gremlins 2: The New Batch | Billy Peltzer | |
1990 | Mortal Passions | Todd | |
1991 | Zandalee | Rog | |
1991 | Psychic | Patrick Costello | |
1992 | Round Trip To Heaven | Steve | |
1992 | Waxwork II: Lost in Time | Mark Loftmore | |
1993 | Warlock: The Armageddon | Douglas | |
1993 | All Tied Up | Brian Hartley | |
1994 | Caroline at Midnight | Jerry Hiatt | |
1994 | Ice | Rick Corbit | |
1995 | Cyborg 3: The Recycler | Evans | |
1997 | Cupid | Eric Rhodes | |
1997 | Prince Valiant | Sir Kay | |
1997 | The First to Go | Adam Curtis | |
1998 | Storm Trooper | Kreigal | |
1999 | The Storytellers | Greer Sandler | |
2000 | Little Insects | King Foptop | |
2000 | Raw Nerve | Ethan Lang | released in Japan as Random Shots[citation needed] |
2000 | G-Men from Hell | Dalton | |
2001 | The Tomorrow Man | Spence | |
2001 | Gabriela | Pat | |
2001 | Point Doom | Spider | |
2001 | What They Wanted, What They Got | Pete Drake | |
2002 | Infested | Warren | |
2003 | Momentum | Director Hammond | |
2005 | Legion of the Dead | Dr. Swatek | |
2007 | Let Them Chirp Awhile | Hart Carlton | |
2008 | Jewslim | Yoseph Caldwell | |
2009 | The Pack | Anson | |
2009 | Nightbeasts | Charles Thomas | |
2010 | Cut | Jack | |
2010 | Jack Falls | American Guy | |
2013 | Hatchet III | Sheriff Fowler | |
2016 | The Chair | Riley | |
2017 | Kampout | Detective Benson | |
2019 | Madness in the Method | Director/Zach |
Television
editYear | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1983 | Jacobo Timerman: Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number | Héctor Timerman | Television movie (NBC) |
1985 | Surviving: A Family in Crisis | Rick Brogan | Television movie (ABC) |
1987–1989 | The Lawrenceville Stories | William "Hickey" Hicks | TV Mini-Series, All 3 Episodes |
1992 | Melrose Place | Rick Danworth | Episode: "For Love or Money" |
1992 | Tales from the Crypt | David and Rick | Episode: "Strung Along" |
1993 | For Love and Glory | Thomas Doyle | Unsold television pilot |
1995 | Extreme | Dan | Episode: Pilot |
1996 | Pacific Blue | Ron Jeffries | Episode: "Takedown" |
1997 | Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman | Chester Barnes | Episode: "Homecoming" |
1998 | Love Boat: The Next Wave | Bill Chase | Episode: "Reunion" |
1998 | Star Trek: Voyager | Ensign David Gentry | Episode: "In the Flesh" |
1998 | The Net | Aaron Mitchelson | Episode: "Diamonds Aren't Forever" |
1999 | Chicken Soup for the Soul | Young Man | Episode: "My Convertible" |
1999 | Arthur's Quest | King Pendragon | Television film |
2001 | 7th Heaven | Dr. Kent | Episode: "Worked" |
2003 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Eddie Malloy | Episode: "Happy Family" |
2018 | The Keith & Paddy Picture Show | as himself | Episode: "Gremlins" |
2023 | Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai | Henchman #2 | Recurring cast |
Web
editYear | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Chilling Tales for Dark Nights | Fitzroy / Narrator | Episode: "The End is Near" Segment: "Mr. Promises" |
[17] |
2021 | The Irate Gamer | Himself | Episode: "Gremlins" | |
2022 | The Kill Count | Himself | Episode: Gremlins 2 (1990) KILL COUNT | [18] |
References
edit- ^ "Today's top celebrity birthdays list for February 14, 2019". cleveland. February 14, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ "Zach Galligan - Trivia". IMDb. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ "Zach Galligan: 'Mogwai' is new mythic adventure, not 'Gremlins' rehash". UPI. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ "Obituaries: 1948 Arthur J. Galligan". Columbia College Today. Archived from the original on June 10, 2007.
- ^ "Deaths Galligan, Arthur J." The New York Times. January 5, 2006.
- ^ McKay, Hollie (June 13, 2013). "Where are they now: 'Gremlins' star Zach Galligan hopes he's in the movie remake". Fox News. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
- ^ "Jessica Galligan And James Goldsmith Are Married". The New York Times. August 18, 1985.
- ^ Jones, Gareth (November 30, 1999). "Zach Galligan Talks Cut, Gremlins 3, and More!". Dread Central.
- ^ a b "Gremlins: Where are the cast now?". Smooth.
- ^ "'Gremlins' Star Zach Galligan Regrets Leaving Hollywood... and Not Dating Phoebe Cates". www.yahoo.com.
- ^ Harris, Aisha (July 9, 2014). "Bill Murray's Never-Released 1984 Sci-Fi Comedy Is Now Online". Slate Magazine.
- ^ "Waxwork". TVGuide.com.
- ^ Kielty, Martin (February 15, 2016). "Teamrock News: Gandalf's Fist name Clockwork Fable actors". Prog. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
- ^ "Gremlins Mountain Dew Ad Limited Edition Gizmo Doll Being Released For $300". ScreenRant. March 25, 2021.
- ^ "'Gremlins' Star Zach Galligan, Sandra Oh, George Takei & More Join 'Secrets of the Mogwai' Guests". July 22, 2022.
- ^ "Ling-Ling Ingerick and Zach Galligan". The New York Times. September 25, 2005. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- ^ "End is Nigh". YouTube. March 17, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ "Gremlins 2 (1990) KILL COUNT". YouTube. December 30, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2023.