Biography
Who is Zach Gilford?
Early life and education
Zach Gilford: Zachary Michael Gilford was born on January 14, 1982, in Evanston, United States. His parents are Anne and Steve Gilford, with his mother being Lutheran and his father Jewish. He grew up as a native of Evanston and attended Evanston Township High School before continuing his education at Northwestern University.
Before finding widespread success in acting, Zach worked various jobs. He spent time as a trip leader for Adventures Cross-Country, guiding wilderness and adventure trips for teenagers across Alaska, British Columbia, California, Hawaii, and the South Pacific. He also worked as a staff member for YMCA Camp Echo located in Fremont, Michigan.
Acting career highlights
Zach began his television career with minor appearances, including a role in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2005. His breakthrough came in 2006 when he landed the regular role of Matt Saracen on the NBC sports drama series Friday Night Lights. He remained in the main cast through the third season and continued as a recurring cast member in seasons four and five.
Following Friday Night Lights, Zach appeared in several other television projects and films. He starred in the medical drama Off The Map and later joined the cast of The Mob Doctor on Fox. In 2014, he co-starred in the horror film Devil's Due and the sequel film The Purge: Anarchy. His later television credits include roles in the ABC drama series The Family, the YouTube Red series Lifeline, the NBC series Good Girls, and the Bad Boys spinoff drama L.A.'s Finest.
Personal life
In the spring of 2010, Zach began dating actress Kiele Sanchez after meeting her on the set of a television pilot. The couple became engaged in November 2011 and were married on December 29, 2012. They later co-starred together in the film The Purge: Anarchy and even shared screen time on Criminal Minds: Evolution.
The couple experienced significant family milestones and challenges during their marriage. In August 2015, Sanchez announced they were expecting a child, but sadly shared news of a late-term miscarriage in October 2015. They later welcomed a daughter born through surrogacy in November 2017 and a son born in June 2021. Zach filed for divorce from his wife on April 19, 2025.
Birthday and age
Zach Gilford was born on January 14, 1982, which makes Zach 44 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Zach shares the date with 50 other famous people.
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