Zachary Michael Cregger (born March 1, 1981) is an American comedian, actor, writer, director and producer. He first came to prominence as one of the three founding members, alongside Trevor Moore and Sam Brown, of the New York City-based comedy troupe The Whitest Kids U' Know. He later starred in the sitcoms Friends with Benefits, Guys with Kids, and Wrecked. He also starred in the film Miss March, which he co-directed and co-wrote with Moore. In 2022, Cregger wrote and directed the horror film Barbarian, which was a commercial success and opened to positive critical reviews.
Zach Cregger | |
|---|---|
 Cregger in 2010 | |
| Born | Zachary Michael Cregger March 1, 1981 Arlington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse | |
Early life
editCregger was born in Arlington, Virginia.[1][2] He performed in various comedy and music groups there before moving to Brooklyn, New York where he joined forces with Moore and Sam Brown to start The Whitest Kids U' Know.[3]
When he was in high school he was in an improv troupe, which was called The Nation of Improv. They performed shows at malls and other high school auditoriums.[4]
Career
editCregger and his friends formed the WKUK comedy troupe in 2000 while still in college. Later on, he met Darren Trumeter while shooting an independent film and asked him to join them. Trumeter became the second of two later additions to the troupe, the first being Timmy Williams.[5]
Cregger, along with the troupe, garnered great success while performing live in New York City at LES music venue Pianos and on the internet. This led to an invitation in 2006 to the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. The troupe won the award for Best Sketch Group and attracted the attention of many Hollywood executives.[6]
The Whitest Kids U' Know ran for five seasons first on FUSE and then on IFC.[7]
In 2008, Cregger made his first film appearance in Deb Hagan's directorial debut College.[8]
He directed his second feature film with Moore called The Civil War on Drugs. It had a limited theatrical release and was ultimately aired during the fifth season of WKUK.[4] Afterwards, he toured with the WKUK and performed in live shows. He has participated in several independent movies.
Cregger joined the cast of the NBC sitcom Friends with Benefits, which began airing on August 5, 2011. He then starred on the NBC sitcom Guys with Kids, which aired for one season in 2012–2013.[9] Cregger next starred in the TBS show Wrecked.
Cregger wrote and directed the 2022 horror film Barbarian, starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long.
Cregger, along with the surviving members of The Whitest Kids U'Know, is currently crowdfunding the second feature from the troupe, Mars.
Cregger is set to direct Weapons, a horror film based on a screenplay also written by him.[10][11][12]
Personal life
editIn 2018, Cregger became engaged to his longtime girlfriend Sara Paxton.[13] They married on October 27, 2019.
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Miss March | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-directed with Trevor Moore |
| 2011 | The Civil War on Drugs | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2022 | Barbarian | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2025 | Companion | No | No | Yes | [14][15] |
| 2026 | Weapons | Yes | Yes | Yes | Post-production |
| TBA | Occupant | No | No | Yes |
Acting roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | College | Cooper | |
| 2009 | Miss March | Eugene Bell | |
| 2011 | The Civil War on Drugs | Abraham Lincoln / various roles | |
| The Death and Return of Superman | Hal Jordan / Green Lantern | Short film | |
| 2013 | Love & Air Sex | Jeff | |
| 2014 | Date and Switch | Greg | |
| 2016 | Opening Night | Micky | |
| 2018 | Doubting Thomas | Graham | |
| 2022 | Barbarian | Everett | |
| 2024 | Mars | Various |
Television
editActing roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Dean Stamper | Episode: "Brotherly Love" |
| 2007–2011 | The Whitest Kids U' Know | various roles | Also director, writer and executive producer |
| 2011 | Friends with Benefits | Aaron | Main role |
| 2012–2013 | Guys with Kids | Nick | Main role |
| 2014 | About a Boy | T.J. | Recurring role |
| 2015 | The McCarthys | Doug | Episode: "The Ref" |
| 2016–2018 | Wrecked | Owen | Main role |
| 2019 | Adam Ruins Everything | Berch | Episode: "Adam Ruins Nature" |
| Just Roll with It | Brent | Episode: "Gator's Reunion" |
Producer
- Uncle Morty's Dub Shack (2004–2006)
Associate producer
- The Lounge (2004)
- Comedy Zen (2006)
References
edit- ^ "Zach Cregger". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ "Zach Cregger". TV Guide. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ "The Whitest Kids U' Know - Zach Cregger". IFC. October 20, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
- ^ a b "A Brief Interview with the Whitest Kids U'Know's Zach Creger". IFC. May 20, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
- ^ "The Whitest Kids U' Know - Darren Trumeter". IFC. October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
- ^ "COVER- Is America ready for Moore? Trevor sure hopes so". The Hook. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
- ^ "The Whitest Kids U' Know - About". IFC. October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
- ^ Moore, Trevor. "Self Suck Saturday". Youtube. wkukVODS.
- ^ "Zach Cregger Bio | Nick | Guys with Kids". NBC. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 25, 2023). "New Line Lands Hot Package 'Weapons'; 'Barbarian's Zach Cregger To Helm His Script". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ Kit, Borys (January 25, 2023). "New Line Wins Intense Auction for 'Weapons,' the New Movie From 'Barbarian' Filmmaker Zach Cregger". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ Rindner, Grant (January 25, 2023). "Barbarian Writer/Director Zach Cregger's Next Film Weapons Is Reportedly a "Multistory Horror Epic" Similar to Magnolia". GQ. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ "Sara Paxton from 'Aquamarine' is Now Starring in Horror Films and Has a Celebrity Fiancé". August 20, 2019.
- ^ Squires, John (February 1, 2023). "'Companion' – Zach Cregger Producing Mysterious Horror Movie for New Line". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Squires, John (April 24, 2024). "New Line's 'Companion' from 'Barbarian' Team Has Been Rated "R" for "Strong Violence" & "Sexual Content"". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.