Zach Cregger
Cregger in 2010
Born
Zachary Michael Cregger

(1981-03-01) March 1, 1981 (age 43)
Arlington, Virginia, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • director
  • writer
  • producer
Years active1998–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2019)​

Zachary Michael Cregger (born March 1, 1981) is an American actor, comedian, 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.

Early life

Zachary Michael Cregger was born on March 1, 1981, 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

Cregger 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 Bill Skarsgård, Georgina Campbell, 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 Cregger.[10][11][12]

Personal life

In 2018, Cregger became engaged to his longtime girlfriend Sara Paxton.[13] They married on October 27, 2019.

Filmography

Television

Acting 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 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

Associate producer

  • The Lounge (2004)
  • Comedy Zen (2006)

Film

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
TBA Companion No No Yes
Occupant No No Yes
Weapons Yes Yes 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

References

  1. ^ "Zach Cregger". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  2. ^ "Zach Cregger". TV Guide. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  3. ^ "The Whitest Kids U' Know - Zach Cregger". IFC. October 20, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "A Brief Interview with the Whitest Kids U'Know's Zach Creger". IFC. May 20, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  5. ^ "The Whitest Kids U' Know - Darren Trumeter". IFC. October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  6. ^ "COVER- Is America ready for Moore? Trevor sure hopes so". The Hook. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  7. ^ "The Whitest Kids U' Know - About". IFC. October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  8. ^ Moore, Trevor. "Self Suck Saturday". Youtube. wkukVODS.
  9. ^ "Zach Cregger Bio | Nick | Guys with Kids". NBC. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Sara Paxton from 'Aquamarine' is Now Starring in Horror Films and Has a Celebrity Fiancé". August 20, 2019.

External links