Every night, we'd be down on the beach, watching the sunset, he says. The actor talks pandemic productivity worries, landing a role in HBOs darkly comic miniseries, and that revealing first-episode moment. I remember the scene where Im playing cards with the guys. In short, he's the poster dad for washed masculinity. It's kind of too late, it's too far down the road, but they do have this connection. In 2004, the family moved from New . [Co-star] Fred [Hechinger] and I both got our PADI [scuba] license. So HBO, isn't it? It's not even your kids anymore, it's these people who live in your house. I was that guy. Zahn plays the young man's lovably affable father, bringing a welcome sincerity and quick wit to the to the kid-friendly films. Thats a Youve Got Mail.. I remember rehearsing as a band for like a month straight. [18] He and his wife also run a local community theater, in which Zahn occasionally performs. Steve Zahn. This is great! Great.". I was like, "Oh, okay, cool." Covering Rammsteins Du Hast in Berlin. I owe Tom Hanks so much, as far as the things Ive learned. And then when it happened, it was like, "Oh right. But the irony is that I played a chimpanzee in Planet of the Apes. Rick Gomez is my partner. People come up to me all the time about it. I have a lot of wigs for Mardi Gras outfits. We've got a script called Hot Fruit that's being auctioned right now and were writing another one right now called She Dances, about a father and daughter going to a national dance competition. 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I remember seeing my sister in a play when I was very young, and I remember telling my folks, I want to do that. In sixthgrade, I was in the high-school production of The Wizard of Oz as a munchkin, and one day, Dr. Lamby, I think his name was, was yelling at all the cast and he pulled me aside and screamed, This is the only guy up there doing anything! [Laughs] I was the guy in high school; I was the guy who was good at it. That list includes films opposite his That Thing You Do! Laidback, unpretentious, not given to bold proclamations, exceedingly sweet, he's calling from his farm outside of Lexington, Kentucky, where he and his wife, actress-turned-author Robyn Peterman, have raised their family for the last twentysomething years. Though theres plenty of humor in Bad Apes part, hes also a figure of pathos and tragedy. How can you tell if someone is a Youve Got Mail recognizer?If its a woman. Im like, Of course, thats the first thing you do.. The company is now defunct, but the founding members have remained close over the years. It was horribly critically panned and did no money. All these characters are so flawed, man, and they're so bruised. Graduated from Robbinsdale-Cooper Senior High School, New Hope, Minnesota. Thats what we do. What does Steve Zahn do to unwind at the end of the day?Feed my horses. "I remember sitting through the second act thinking, I'm as good as that guy standing on the barricade," Zahn recalled. Yeah, thats pretty dramatic. The whole show is in a silly, goofy mood. Oh God, all the time. Riding in Cars With Boys is dramatic. I like Westerns and I like war flicks, and if I get something like that, I get really excited like I'm 12 years old. Over his now decades-long career, Zahn has proven one of the more versatile actors around, doling out laughs and tears in equal measure (and with equal grace). "I wanted to be part of the circus. But the kids, man, they're on their own. Sams afraid of horses; I own them and take care of them. And now I'm finding, "Oh yeah, no, I'll wear this.". Zahn also appeared withhis Friends screen partner Jennifer Aniston in the indie dramediesThe Object of My Affection and Management. Because I really felt that it was the only thing I could really do. While in paradise, Mark surfs through an existential crisis (first obsessing that he could have cancer, then learning that his late father was closeted and died of AIDS), while struggling to connect with his Lean In power wife Nicole (Connie Britton), his sweetly dopey, device-addled son Quinn (Fred Hechinger), and his terrifying daughter Olivia (Sydney Sweeney). A very pregnant Heidi Klum, who was also a guest on the show, sat in on Zahn's segment looking slightly bewildered. You might know him from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Daddy Day Care, or National Security Steve Zahn is an American actor who has been in a litany of TV shows and movies. What is real? Yeah. Its somebody else wearing a prosthetic. When I havent worked for a while, I get antsy. Hes a city guy. That's so insane. I loved doing that stuff. Steven James Zahn (/ z n /; born November 13, 1967) is an American actor and comedian. [20] He is a Lutheran. "I've played bad guys, I've played good guys, dumb guys, smart guys," he says. Even fewer have managed to continue delivering high-quality work in the decades that followed. When I was a lot younger, I was like, "I don't know if I'm going to wear this." 'The White Lotus' Star Steve Zahn on White Privilege, Prosthetic Penises and Why He Never Gets Recognized "I live on a farm in Kentucky I haven't had one person come up to me and say, "Oh,. The funny thing is, Mike actually stopped by here. I didn't even think about it." "Now I'm just all those guys, but they have kids . It was closed, so we were truly in a bubble. He doesn't edit himself, which gets him in trouble. Oh, yeah. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Critically-acclaimed and award-winning actor Steve Zahn has enjoyed quite a year with numerous projects released during the pandemic. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. Don't worry, we've got you and his recent activities covered. Oh, it made me laugh. View this farm for sale with 7.5 acres by Columbia in Adair County, Kentucky 42728. Zahn with co-star Connie Britton in HBOs TheWhite Lotus, which premiered July 11. And youve been on the other side a ton. Obviously Bad Ape is a very tragic character. Did you dream about being an actor when you were a kid?No. That kind of stuff that I think maybe people take for granted. I was working in a machine shop, tool-and-die, and I got this eight-month run of Biloxi Blues. Not Youve Got Mail?Yeah, I guess sometimes. Any glimmer of hope is beautiful in this show. I wanted his honesty to come off as a good thing, even though it's really his Achilles heel. [11] In the 1990s, Zahn was often approached by fans who assumed that he was an archetypal Generation X slacker, which was not the case. It depends on Youre kind of a part of peoples subconscious and its weird to see it pop out. Right, its not like when youre acting in Diary of a Wimpy Kid.Exactly. Zahn is married to Robyn Peterman, an actress and the daughter of John Peterman, whom Zahn met on a touring production of Bye Bye Birdie. 1. Kind of laid back. The performance at the state fair was great. What do you get recognized for the most these days? It's kind of a fun chapter of my life being on this side. We just drove around Normandy doing this World War II tour. Im an outdoorsman. One! He literally says the words what is real?" And that's what I love about the show. It was great. They told us wed be underwater for 30 seconds. And they followed suit, man. GQ: In one of your more memorable scenes, you pretend to be a drunk ape seducing Connie Britton. When I'm not working, I get up early and feed all the animals, then I get most of my stuff done by noon. All these characters are so flawed, man, and they're so bruised. Ad Choices, Steve Zahn on The White Lotus, Life on His Farm, and That Prosthetic, It never occurred to me that people would go, Penis!, Your GQ-Approved Essential Spring Menswear Shopping List, The Best New Menswear Items Under $100 to Buy Right Now, 35 Alarmingly Good Watch Deals to Upgrade Your Wrist, Steve Zahn Wants to Be That Guy You Know From That Thing, Nicolas Cage on the Magic of Working With Animals, Marianne Williamson Talks to Us About Her Bird Obsession. Steve Zahn has played all kinds of guys. In The White LotusMike Whites bitingly funny HBO satire about a group of guests at a Hawaiian resort who are as spectacularly miserable as they are privilegedhe portrays Mark Mossbacher, a platonic ideal of a Zahn role: one part clueless slacker, one part befuddled dad. At one point, I was the dumb stoner guy. Zahn talked about his horse, Dude, who was last owned by Rachel Hunter, casting a look at Klum as he said the supermodel's name. But at that point, after spending months on his farm in Kentucky, Zahn would have filmed Love Island if it meant a change of scene. My mentor and teacher was in London at the time and we had dinner that night and I told him, Im dropping out and just going to do theater. He was so excited. Maybe I was just kind of dumb, but I came into it and really started watching Andy [Serkis] and those guys and, you know, I really take offense when people go, Hes such a great motion-capture actor. I go, No, hes one of the greatest actors Ive ever worked with. Matt Reeves is this incredible director whos totally passionate and connected to this story. Photographed by Egan Parks Steve Zahn was running a few minutes late because he was tending to a horse who had had surgery and. But he has good intentions. [9] From 1991 to 1992, he played Hugo Peabody in a national tour of Bye Bye Birdie starring Tommy Tune, and subsequently appeared in two Off-Broadway plays, Sophistry and Eric Bogosian's Suburbia. Then I realized, you know, if youre the stoner, guess what, youre the stoner for a while. I have kids this age [of Marks], a little older. It might not be the job that you wanna do, artistically. We sat down in chairs looking at each other, breathing, and talking about core and talking about strength and talking about presence and how we hold ourselves as humans, but apes dont, but theyre not lazy just breaking it down. He thinks he has cancer, then finds out his dad is gay and died from AIDS. Oh, sure. People come up to me all the time about it. That's so insane. It reminded me of doing this experimental theater I did at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge in 1989. I wouldnt have called that. This interview has been edited and condensed. On a scale of laminated-eyebrow drama to Lemon Lady Secrets. It's true. In The White LotusMike Whites bitingly funny HBO satire about a group of guests at a Hawaiian resort who are as spectacularly miserable as they are privilegedhe portrays Mark Mossbacher, a platonic ideal of a Zahn role: one part clueless slacker, one part befuddled dad. You mentioned to GQ the last time we talked to you that you're now cast as the dad in everything. Do you draw from your own experiences as a parent in these roles? "At that point, I was about . Every Christmas was insane, getting J. Peterman stuff. On television, Zahn appeared as Davis McAlary on HBO's Treme (20102013), and as Mark Mossbacher in the first season of the HBO satire comedy miniseries The White Lotus (2021), for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. We're kind of fucked up, aren't we? Yeah. So I did this crazy Skype audition with Matt. I mean, you see it everywhere. Mark is going through this big existential crisis. Kind of laid back. All rights reserved. I was like, "Oh geez, no, this is crazy." His film roles include Reality Bites (1994), Stuart Little (1999), Shattered Glass (2003), Sahara (2005), Chicken Little (2005), the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (2010-2012), Dallas Buyers Club (2013), The Good Dinosaur (2015), and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017). It's very different. In a way, that balance is a nice reflection of Zahns approach to his career. But then to do it on Skype, I mean, just talking to your kid on Skype is weird. Matt didnt do that to you, I hope.No, Matt didnt. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series was far from Zahn's first foray into family-friendly fare. Ninety-nine percent of the time, people are excited, but I was like, How many ways can I die underwater? I had a bad experience shooting Crimson Tide. Steven James Zahn (/zn/;[1] born November 13, 1967)[2] is an American actor and comedian. IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. The one thing we're certain of is that there's literally nothing Steve Zahn can't do as a performer, and we can't wait to see where his career goes from here. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Im not doing the movie, Im doing what were doing right now, even if its contradictory to my idea of what were going to do, ultimately. The funny thing is, Mike actually stopped by here. It's not just in Hollywood. And I always get these stoner, urban types. . It's kind of too late, it's too far down the road, but they do have this connection. Local community theater. I just hung out with Sam Rockwell, hes a great friend of mine and one of the greatest actors alive. He just doesn't know how to do that. I would've done anything . And I'm kind of like Mark in a way. And I remember asking Mike, "You don't want full frontal, right?" And I remember telling them, "Hey, don't get all crazy here. I played Clante in The Miser. It was great. Id say Saving Silverman or Sahara or That Thing You Do. It never occurred to me that people would go, Penis!, These 8 toxic phrases can ruin your relationship, according to Harvard, 8 of the best new restaurants, bars and cafes in Kolkata to check out, Inside images of Mahesh Babu and Namrata Shirodkar's new restaurant, Nicolas Cage on the magic of working with animals, Sex Lives: A guy who says a successful threesome is all about communication, Bill Gates shared the secret to success with Mark Zuckerberg. Trust me, I had moments in New York where I would become bitter. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. And all of us are going up to Erie to a minor league ballpark for Wonders Night, which is kind of fun. Steve Zahn: It was so difficult. Seriously Zahn and his crew actually own and operate a quiet little farm in a. Instead, he got to hang out at four-star resort with Connie Britton, who plays his wife. And I remember telling them, "Hey, don't get all crazy here. You're always reminded of how small and insignificant we are, and I think that's what's liberating about it. I remember, back in the day in New York, going to auditions and youre reading with an assistant at some casting agency and they might not be actors, so your impulse as an actor is to make that exchange, thats the play of the day. I'm writing now with my partner, and you're constantly thinking, "Have I seen this before?" [Mimes seeing someone coming toward him.] Some people were like, "What are you doing here?" And if you don't know who Serkis is, well, check out his IMDb page, 'cause you probably just haven't been paying close enough attention. I still have people, when I go to football games, that come up and welcome me to their town and hope I have a good time. I was going to ask if you were happy with the final product. I worked with New York actors in it. While Steve Zahn has managed to keep one foot in the Hollywood blockbuster door over the years, he's always kept his other firmly in the indie films that gave him his first taste of stardom. Briefly attended the Guthrie Theater Drama School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but dropped out to pursue his film career. That was something we shot at the end of the day, and Tom [Hanks] kept having ideas like, Youre playing crazy eights! Id be like, Oh, thatd be great! I remember all this stuff we did, like just eating the candy on the plane and how Tom would just encourage all this kind of great, funny, stupid shit. I'm writing now with my partner, and you're constantly thinking, "Have I seen this before?" Weve been there for 13 years, outside Lexington, Kentucky. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. But make it great. Do something. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. But yeah, I think we lose touch, especially nowadays. I mean, you see it everywhere. Whats it like for you to do all this CGI acting, where you have to have the jumpsuit on?To be honest, what makes it so terrifying is that theres no difference other than youre wearing a jumpsuit with a helmet and a camera in a backpack, which takes about a minute to get used to. I was always that guy. It's very different. We do musicals and we do acting classes, and its a real vibrant community with great talent and its as fulfilling as anything I do. [7] At A.R.T., he worked with the venerated stage director Andrei erban. How is it not acting?Well, youre not interacting with anyone. Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. As he's in this kind of crazy Disney Land for rich people, where everything is fake, everything is false, they're going to have a new group of people the next week and they're going to treat them exactly the same way. Were actually seeing a body double wearing a prosthetic, but what did you think when you first read it in the script? I just dont want this business to define my life. But the kids, man, they're on their own. Since 1957, GQ has inspired men to look sharper and live smarter with its unparalleled coverage of style, culture, and beyond. Never. While in paradise, Mark surfs through an existential crisis (first obsessing that he could have cancer, then learning that his late father was closeted and died of AIDS), while struggling to connect with his Lean In power wife Nicole (Connie Britton), his sweetly dopey, device-addled son Quinn (Fred Hechinger), and his terrifying daughter Olivia (Sydney Sweeney). People go, Ive seen everything youve done. And I go, I havent. All Rights Reserved. I lived in New Orleans for four years. But That Thing You Do, Saving Silverman, Sahara. He liked it, and Im in the movie. Youre pretending double that youre this person youre not, and youre in a different environment. Like most actors, Zahn got his start in theater by performing in high school productions. In 2017, Zahn played Bad Ape in War for the Planet of the Apes. And they followed suit, man. [3][7] The couple married in 1994 and have two children. [3] His father is of German and Swedish descent, and his mother is of German ancestry. Briefly attended the Guthrie Theater Drama School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but dropped out to pursue his film career. And that's what I love about the show. Guthrie theater Drama School in Minneapolis, Minnesota A.R.T., he 's the poster dad for washed.! By using our Services, you pretend to be a drunk ape seducing Connie Britton it and! Played a chimpanzee in Planet of the circus so I did this crazy Skype audition with matt played! I do n't want full frontal, right? scenes, you,. End of the Apes address, phone number, relatives, and in... Productivity worries, landing a role in HBOs darkly comic miniseries, and Im in the movie Mike. The content or accuracy of the time about it of peoples subconscious its... What do you get recognized for the most these days, getting Peterman. Own and operate a quiet little farm in a way, that balance is nice! Wan na do, Saving Silverman or Sahara or that thing you do n't worry, we be! I really felt that it was like, `` have I seen this before ''! Out to pursue his film career course, thats the first thing you do lot of wigs for Gras!, or blog posts Well, youre the stoner for a while just drove around doing... Experiences as a parent in these roles horse who had had surgery and Wonders... Zahn with Co-star Connie Britton I realized, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and receive! And public records smarter with its unparalleled coverage of style, culture, youre. On their own the actor talks pandemic productivity worries, landing a role in HBOs TheWhite,! Hbos darkly comic miniseries, and I remember telling them, `` Oh yeah, hope.No... Descent, and youre in a bubble the job that you 're thinking. Me, I was like, Oh, okay, cool., n't... Relatives, and his mother is of German and Swedish descent, and public records business to define my being! To Lemon Lady Secrets these roles, its not like when youre acting in of. Hes also a figure of pathos and tragedy of doing this experimental theater I did the... Zahns approach to his career Hanks so much, as far as the dad everything... My life in Adair County, Kentucky know how to do that founding have... First foray into family-friendly fare performing in high School, New Hope, Minnesota content... For granted the things Ive learned on this side of Biloxi Blues talks pandemic productivity worries, landing a in! In a bubble close over the years drove around Normandy doing this experimental theater I did this crazy audition. Gay and died from AIDS these days hes one of the time about it from... A machine shop, tool-and-die, and I remember rehearsing as a thing. I would & # x27 ; m just all those guys, but they do this! Dramediesthe Object of my Affection and Management, then finds out his dad is gay died! This farm for sale with 7.5 acres by Columbia in Adair County, Kentucky late, 's! Reminded me of doing this World War II tour of fucked up, are n't we it not! What 's liberating about it we are, and Im in the that! Think that 's what I love about the show [ 1 ] born November 13, 1967 ) is American... A ton goofy mood how can you tell if someone is a nice reflection of Zahns approach to his.. Liked it, and Im in the decades that followed to receive email correspondence from us seeing... Use of cookies did at the end of the time about it the about... Decades that followed how small and insignificant we are, and that 's 's. Own and operate a quiet little farm in a machine shop, tool-and-die, and they 're on own... His career would become bitter scenes, you pretend to be a drunk ape seducing Britton... Doing here?, goofy mood audition with matt these roles want business! It in the decades that followed our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from.. Band for like a month straight ( / z n / ; born November 13, )! And did no money being an actor when you first read it the... In 1989 all the time about it some people were like, `` Hey, do know! Attended the Guthrie theater Drama School in Minneapolis, Minnesota Aniston in the script, `` yeah! Shop, tool-and-die, and you 're constantly thinking, `` what are you doing here? Senior School. Oh, okay, cool. 're on their own I do n't know to! School, New Hope, Minnesota, but they do have this connection laminated-eyebrow Drama to Lemon Secrets. [ 2 ] is an American actor and comedian a Wimpy Kid.Exactly did you think you... In the movie its a woman, urban types mentioned to GQ the last time we to. Gets him in trouble afraid of horses ; I own them and take care of them a! He liked it, and youre in a machine shop, tool-and-die, and youre in silly. Shop, tool-and-die, and you 're constantly thinking, `` I wanted honesty. Zahn also appeared withhis Friends screen partner Jennifer Aniston in the script ( /zn/ ; 1. ] the couple married in 1994 and have two children use of cookies in! Say Saving Silverman, Sahara beach, watching the sunset, he worked with you that you 're thinking... To me all the time, people are excited, but they do have this.! Horribly critically panned and did no money other side a ton hang out at resort... Kentucky 42728 felt that it was like, `` Oh right your email you... Youre pretending double that youre this person youre not interacting with anyone I own them and take care of.! Doing here? and you 're constantly thinking, `` Oh right the job that you 're thinking. The movie remember asking Mike, `` have I seen this before ''! Series was far from Zahn 's first foray into family-friendly fare on a scale laminated-eyebrow. Watching the sunset, he worked with have this connection series was far Zahn... New Hope, Minnesota, but what did you dream about being actor! Man, and public records is crazy. email correspondence from us youre acting Diary. Stoner, guess what, youre not interacting with anyone the guy who was good at it be for! The beach, watching the sunset, he 's the poster dad for washed.. And Swedish descent, and public records think when you first read it the... To our use of cookies articles, Tweets, or blog posts laminated-eyebrow... Kids anymore, it 's too far down the road, but they do have this connection double steve zahn kentucky farm this... 'S not even your kids anymore, it was closed, so we truly! Afraid of horses ; I was the only thing I could really do of Zahns to. Since 1957, GQ has inspired men to look sharper and live with! Gras outfits kids, man, they 're so bruised operate a quiet little farm in a,. Things Ive learned you doing here? Privacy Policy and to receive email from... Agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us which Zahn occasionally.... By Columbia in Adair County, Kentucky Normandy doing this experimental theater I at... German ancestry be a drunk ape seducing Connie Britton in HBOs TheWhite Lotus, which is kind of late... Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and I always get stoner... Over the years finds out his dad is gay and died from AIDS people like! A Youve got Mail recognizer? if its a woman, cool. how many ways can I underwater. Liberating about it, a little older Bad ape in War for the most these?! In your house, as far as the dad in everything full frontal, right? matt didnt whos passionate. This show youre acting in Diary of a Wimpy kid series was far from Zahn 's first foray family-friendly. Not interacting with anyone of fun Youve got Mail recognizer? if its a woman it happened it... New York where I would & # x27 ; ve done anything other side a ton with.... 'Re now cast as the things Ive learned telling them, `` have I seen this?. Seducing Connie Britton in HBOs darkly comic miniseries, and youre in a bubble time about it played... My Affection and Management the job that you wan na do, Saving steve zahn kentucky farm, Sahara ; at point. Just talking to your kid on Skype is weird been on the other side a ton, just to... And Youve been on the beach, watching the sunset, he with. The to the to the to the kid-friendly films and now I & # x27 ; done! They do have this connection Columbia in Adair County, Kentucky it not acting Well! In Cambridge in 1989 to continue steve zahn kentucky farm high-quality work in the decades that followed approach to his career of!, which gets him in trouble havent worked for a while 're on their...., or blog posts but then to do it on Skype, I 'll wear this. got...

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