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 | |
|---|---|
 Galligan at GalaxyCon Columbus in 2024 | |
| 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, although he also has some English roots and Jewish ancestry (from Austria) on 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
edit| Year | 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
edit| Year | 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
edit| Year | 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.