Biography
Who is Zach Galligan?
Early life and schooling
Zachary Wolfe Galligan was born on February 14, 1964, in New York City. His father, Arthur John Galligan, was a lawyer and a founding partner at the law firm Dickstein Shapiro. His mother, Carol Jean, worked as a psychologist. Regarding his heritage, Zach has Irish roots along with English and Austrian Jewish ancestry on his mother's side.
He pursued his higher education at Columbia University. Prior to college, he attended the Collegiate School. These formative years helped shape his background before he transitioned into the entertainment industry.
Acting career and film work
Zach Galligan became widely known when he played the lead character Billy Peltzer in the 1984 film Gremlins. Before appearing in that hit movie, he filmed a project titled Nothing Lasts Forever. However, that film faced distribution issues and remained unreleased for many years.
In 1988, he starred as the character Mark Loftmore in the horror comedy Waxwork. He later returned to the role of Mark for the 1992 sequel Waxwork II: Lost in Time. He also reprised his most famous role as Billy Peltzer in the 1990 sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
His career extended into various media formats over the decades. In 2016, the UK progressive rock group Gandalf's Fist announced he would provide a voice for their album titled The Clockwork Fable. He also appeared in a 2021 Mountain Dew commercial, where he reunited with his Gremlins character, Gizmo. In 2022, he participated in the animated series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai.
Personal life and marriage
Zach Galligan maintains a private personal life. In 2025, he married Alison Marie Rieger during a small, private ceremony. He continues to engage with projects related to his past film work while occasionally taking on new roles in voice acting and television.
Birthday and age
Zach Galligan was born on February 14, 1964, which makes Zach 62 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Zach shares the date with 67 other famous people.
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