Steve Zahn

Photo of Steve Zahn

Biography

Actor Steve Zahn's roots were on the dramatic stage, which might have seemed surprising considering his big screen comedy career playing inept sidekicks in films like "Out of Sight" (1998), "Happy, Texas" (1999), and "Riding in Cars with Boys" (2001). But the appeal of Zahn's comic relief was the realism and vulnerability he lent his oddball misfits, and as he aged into new territory with Werner Herzog's "Rescue Dawn" (2007) and the epic …
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Job Title

Actor, Writer, Music, Consultants & Advisors

Born

November 13, 1967

Career Milestones

2010

Cast in first role as a series regular in the HBO drama series "Treme"

2009

Co-starred in the horror film "A Perfect Getaway"

2009

Played the male lead role, opposite Jennifer Aniston, in the comedy, "Management"

2008

Co-starred with Rachel Griffiths and Val Kilmer in Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove prequel "Comanche Moon"

2007

Played a POW in Werner Herzog's "Rescue Dawn"; earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor

2005

Cast opposite Matthew McConaughey and Penélope Cruz in the action feature "Sahara"

2003

Supported Martin Lawrence in the comedy feature "National Security"

2001

Co-starred with Paul Walker and Leelee Sobieski in "Joy Ride"

2001

Received raves reviews as the dim-witted, drug addicted husband of Drew Barrymore in "Riding in Cars with Boys"

1999

Played Ben Affleck's best friend in "Forces of Nature"

1999

Won widespread praise for his portrayal of an escaped convict who poses as a gay man in "Happy, Texas"

1998

Featured as the perpetually stoned, sunglass-wearing thief Glenn in Steven Soderbergh's "Out of Sight"

1998

Starred (with Sam Rockwell) as half of a terrible singing duo mistaken for safe crackers in the indie "Safe Men"

1997

Recreated stage role of Buff in Richard Linklater's film version of "subUrbia"; second film with Ribisi

1996

Breakthrough screen role as the girl-crazy, guitar player Lenny in Tom Hanks' "That Thing You Do!"

1994

Created role of Buff in the Lincoln Center staging of Eric Bogosian's play "subUrbia"

1994

Co-starred with Ethan Hawke in "Reality Bites"

1993

Had featured role in the Off-Broadway play "Sophistry" starring Ethan Hawke

1992

Made film debut with a role in the futuristic political drama "Rain Without Thunder"

1991

Starred as Hugo Peabody in Tommy Tune's touring company of "Bye, Bye Birdie"; met future wife Robyn Peterman who was also featured in the cast

1989

Trained at Harvard University sponsored American Repertory Theater

Made stage debut in a Minnesota production of "Biloxi Blues"

Awards

2008

Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male in Rescue Dawn

2000

Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male in Happy, Texas

1999

Sundance Film Festival for Special Jury Prize for Acting in Happy, Texas