2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. 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. You could go into season three cold (knowing nothing) or warm (knowing everything). Connie Britton and Steve Zahn as Nicole and Mark Mossbacher. Thats what we do. And I think sometimes people Its funny. I'm writing now with my partner, and you're constantly thinking, "Have I seen this before?" Well, I will say, it's not something you see on TV a lot. What becomes obvious quickly is that this is how Steve Zahn sounds about everything. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Zahn made his first voice appearance opposite Michael J. He played lead guitar and sang in That Thing You Do! This interview has been edited and condensed. If you're wondering why Steve Zahn hasn't been appearing in many Hollywood projects of late, it's likely due to the fact that he lives about as far away from the Hollywood scene as you can get. Weve all done CGI where youre in front of a green screen pretending youre on the Titanic or wherever, you know? We were in the barn and I was taking care of my horsehe just had surgery, so I'm a vet. Forgive me if this is crude, but your character has a revealing moment in the first episode. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. [23], Last edited on 16 February 2023, at 21:01, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Motion Capture Performance, Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again, "Steve Zahn: Filming 'War of the Planet of the Apes' was 'physically the hardest job I ever did', "Steve Zahn talks craft and Kentucky at UK's Singletary Center,", "Why Steve Zahn's 'Bad Ape' in 'War for the Planet of the Apes' made director Matt Reeves cry,", "Interview: Steve Zahn Talks 'War of the Planet of the Apes,'", "Steve Zahn Replaced in 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid,' Couldn't be Happier", "Steve Zahn plays 'Mind Games' in new ABC series", "TV star Steve Zahn may save the world but saving his Minnesota cabin comes first", "The HerKentucky UK and U of L Fan Elite Eight", "Steve Zahn Theatre Credits, News, Bio and Photos", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Zahn&oldid=1139775579, Denotes works that have not yet been released, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 21:01. The way he did it was just great. Of course." To play what? To play a new ape. I got really excited, of course. From award-winning writing and photography to binge-ready videos to electric live events, GQ meets millions of modern men where they live, creating the moments that create conversations. For the past 15 years or so, Zahn has been living the working man's life with his family in rural Kentucky. I thought that there would be these hurdles. And I'm kind of like Mark in a way. [5] He also has a lake cabin near Pine City, Minnesota,[19] where he enjoys tubing and fishing with his two children. I'm the activities director here I mean, I'm not like Mark. I'm like a kid. Like most actors, Zahn got his start in theater by performing in high school productions. Then I realized, you know, if youre the stoner, guess what, youre the stoner for a while. It's like, "Bam!" Seriously Zahn and his crew actually own and operate a quiet little farm in a quiet little town just outside Lexington, Kentucky. You know, the disc jockey at the station that talks fast or whatever. Were actually seeing a body double wearing a prosthetic, but what did you think when you first read it in the script? 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. Was that a prosthetic penis you wore? First episode. is at the Kentucky farm his family moved to in the early aughts. Im really proud of my perennial beds. He thinks he has cancer, then finds out his dad is gay and died from AIDS. I worked with New York actors in it. Some people were like, "What are you doing here?" It was great. It's not just in Hollywood. We started a company called Macaroni Art. All 165 Pink Floyd Songs Ranked, From Worst to Best. Every Christmas was insane, getting J. Peterman stuff. I'm like, "Yeah, it's fine. Zahn shot the series smack-dab in the middle of COVID-19, when productions were being shut down daily, if not hourly. At that point, I was about to have some big old yard sales, he jokes. I, for one, would love to see you play the commander of a U-Boat. What would I be doing here?. 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. Steve Zahn was a special guest on today's show and he had Matt and Ryan laughing hysterically for the entire two hours. 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). Filming in Hawaii wasnt a bad deal either, and at least the cast seemed to appreciate it more than their fictional counterparts. Zahn admitted Limited: When asked if he got a chance to enjoy the scenery Hawaii offered, he said it was 'limited' though he did get scuba certified He also has 8-Bit Christmas with Neil Patrick. He's got some voice work lined up (opposite Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, and Ron Perlman) in the animated flick Robodog, and an appearance in the Silicon Valley drama Valley of the Boom(from House of Lies creator Matthew Carnahan) on the books, but other than that, the future appears to be all but unwritten for Zahn. But yeah, I think we lose touch, especially nowadays. Although we did scuba dive. That was enough for the folks at 20th Century Fox to greenlight not one but two equally lucrative sequels, making the Wimpy Kid series Zahn's first official franchise though that franchise appeal wasn't enough to get Zahn back in dad mode for the much-maligned fourth film in the Wimpy Kid series. What appealed to you about the role of Mark and what sort of personal touches did you want to infuse in the character? He was photographed June 19 on his farm in Georgetown, Kentucky. With a list of nearly 100 film credits including Dallas Buyers Club, Saving Silverman, Diary of A Wimpy Kid and so many more, Steve talks about his beginnings in acting and what projects he has coming up next. Were actually seeing a body double wearing a prosthetic, but what did you think when you first read it in the script? But yeah, I think we lose touch, especially nowadays. (1996) and played guitar and sang in Saving Silverman (2001). But really anything of value, anything thats good, you need to fight for. And I always get these stoner, urban types. While The Crossing received generally favorable reviews, its mix of heady plot lines and somber tone never quite connected with audiences, andwas canceled after just 11 episodes. 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Zahn is an avid fly fisherman, and he owns a farm in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Fox and Nathan Lane in 1999's M. Night Shyamalan-scripted animated/live-action confection Stuart Little. I live on a farm' The classically trained actor on his new film Cowboys, working with Werner Herzog and being branded a Gen X funny guy Expand Steve. But just, you know, your responsibility as a leader on set, your responsibilities. On the latest episode of the Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins, the guys are joined by the incredible actor, Steve Zahn. They told us wed be underwater for 30 seconds. 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. Awesome.". People come up to me all the time about it. 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. I think of myself as Hamlet, but I'm not. First episode. The role that introduced me to you was that of Lenny, the goofball bandmate in That Thing You Do. Zahn also appeared withhis Friends screen partner Jennifer Aniston in the indie dramediesThe Object of My Affection and Management. And were like, "Wow, we can't play Hamlet anymore. You've worked in Hollywood for a long timeis that attitude something that you've encountered a lot and taken as a cautionary tale? The technology has come along so far that when you see us on horses, were on horses. at one point. No, no, I just think they come. Yu Tsai These days, Zahn, who is starring in the new HBO Max film 8-Bit Christmas, is back to working out on the Kentucky farm he calls home and running about 25 miles every. He was photographed June19 on his farm in Georgetown, Kentucky. Photographed by Egan Parks Steve Zahn was running a few minutes late because he was tending to a horse who had had surgery and. 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Weve been there for 13 years, outside Lexington, Kentucky. FARMFLIP #343864. And youve been on the other side a ton. What does Steve Zahn do to unwind at the end of the day?Feed my horses. You can thank us for that recommendation later. Graduated from Robbinsdale-Cooper Senior High School, New Hope, Minnesota. I'm not going to be doing streaking scenes down the street and stuff.. But the irony is that I played a chimpanzee in Planet of the Apes. I wanted to be a part of the circus. Right, people pick and choose the roles they identify you with. Whatever. If that doesn't affect your work, having kids, then you're not human. I remember every day of that shoot. I'm the activities director here I mean, I'm not like Mark. Steve Zahn has established himself as a home name in the movies of comedy-action genre due to his highly consistent and diligent acting prowess. They're far and few between, but they stick out. Wow.There are some movies you forget. Its just looking at yourself, and you end up calling each other because its too bizarre. But that movie? Oh God, all the time. Mark is going through this big existential crisis. I mean, maybe Mom and Dad get closer, maybe they work. Rick Gomez is my partner. And I remember asking Mike, "You don't want full frontal, right?" Fred Hechinger and Steve Zahn as Quinn and Mark Mossbacher. 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. I mean, Ive played a lot of dramatic roles. I'm like, "Yeah, it's fine. I wanted his honesty to come off as a good thing, even though it's really his Achilles heel. You could play him so many different ways, but I wanted him to come off just as this vulnerable guy that you could adhere to. Saving Silverman, interesting. 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 sit and you explore these tiny moments in this huge blockbuster movie. I have a lot of wigs for Mardi Gras outfits. Whats a distinctive memory you have from shooting it? But That Thing You Do, Saving Silverman, Sahara. Every night, we'd be down on the beach, watching the sunset, he says. Every Christmas was insane, getting J. Peterman stuff. One! 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. While trying to carve out a career in the New York theater scene, Zahn met lifelong pals Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard. I did one episode of Friends. "I've played bad guys, I've played good guys, dumb guys, smart guys," he says. Sams afraid of horses; I own them and take care of them. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Its nun versus AI in Damon Lindelofs new series. Hes a city guy. [21], Zahn is a lifelong military history buff and has said that one of his biggest regrets was having turned down a role in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. That's so insane. Over the course of nearly three decades hes garnered recognition for playing an array of stoners, slackers, screw-ups, and oddballs, but once you start talking to him, you realize thats all an expertly executed act. I have many, many big beds. I had a Skype conversation with [director] Matt Reeves for, like, an hour and 15 minutes. Usually it's That Thing You Do, which is having its 25th anniversary, which I can't believe. Yeah, thats a big one. What about when you were canvassing as a Revolutionary War soldier? And then I had to approve it. "I wanted to be part of the circus. If it looks cold, it was cold. It depends on Youre kind of a part of peoples subconscious and its weird to see it pop out. It was just so raw and weird. "At that point, I was about . 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. Raised beds. "I remember sitting through the second act thinking, I'm as good as that guy standing on the barricade," Zahn recalled. I mean, you see it everywhere. Apply Bed Bath and Beyond coupon and save 25% off your entire purchase, Target Circle: up to 50% Off with Target promo code, With Asos Promo Code you take 70% OFF Select styles, Michael Kors promo code: sign up for KORSVIP + Get 10% off on First Order, 2023 Cond Nast. No kidding!Yeah, Lexington is a cool little spot. Im an outdoorsman. GQ: In one of your more memorable scenes, you pretend to be a drunk ape seducing Connie Britton. Zahn made the most of the moment, managing to stand out in a film that also featured Hawke, Winona Ryder, Janeane Garofalo, and Rene Zellweger. It wasnt like I wanted to be a star, it was just that I knew that I can. And now I'm finding, "Oh yeah, no, I'll wear this.". 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 (20102012), Dallas Buyers Club (2013), The Good Dinosaur (2015), and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017). Connie Britton and Steve Zahn as Nicole and Mark Mossbacher. I learned all that stuff too. 7.6 Acres of Beautiful Farm Land. All the [musical] performances. The women of, Sam Levinson and the Weeknd Allegedly Turned, Theres No Red Button You Can Push to Stop. So I did this crazy Skype audition with Matt. The first movie I did, Reality Bites, I came back home and I was poorer than when I started. I remember having to ask Mike, Just total raw, primitive? I don't think I was doing it correctly at first. I lived in New Orleans for four years. I would've done anything . He's like, "No, no, we're going to use a prosthetic." I was that guy. I wanted his honesty to come off as a good thing, even though it's really his Achilles heel. Hed been hunkering down there during the pandemic, light on work, when the script for The White Lotus came his way. Then my wife wakes up and starts her writing. All rights reserved. co-star Tom Everett Scott landed the role instead just in case you were wondering whatever happened to Tom Everett Scott. Steve Zahn is widely known for appearing in more adult fare and the occasional dalliance in absurdist comedy (see Saving Silverman, Knights of Badassdom, and The Ridiculous 6), but he jumped into the realm of "family film" in 2010 when he took the role of Frank Heffley in Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Rick Gomez is my partner. Of course, one of his most frequent collaborators is his old Reality Bites pal Ethan Hawke, who appeared in the title role opposite Zahn's Rosencrantz in the marvelous 2000 version of Hamlet before directing Zahn in Chelsea Walls and his 2018 indie hit Blaze. View this farm for sale with 7.5 acres by Columbia in Adair County, Kentucky 42728. 26 August 2021. In truth, the series was merely the first time he showed his face in a full-fledged family film. And I remember telling them, "Hey, don't get all crazy here. I love doing comedies, theyre so fun, but I dont get those scripts. An enjoyably indulgent but paper-thin adaptation shrinks Taylor Jenkins Reids best-selling novel into a claustrophobic love triangle. I wouldve done anything, really. Ranked, from Worst to Best and 15 minutes consistent and diligent acting prowess three cold ( nothing., I was taking care of them us wed be underwater for 30 seconds Zahn got his in... More memorable scenes, you know, the series was merely the first he! Or whatever just total raw, primitive canvassing as a good Thing, even though it 's really his heel! Hope, Minnesota they told us wed be underwater for 30 seconds graduated from Robbinsdale-Cooper high... Are excited, but I 'm the activities director here I mean, Ive played a lot been down. Thenview saved stories to come off as a good Thing, even though 's... Of wigs for Mardi Gras outfits I seen this before? just total raw, primitive Ranked, from to! You need to fight for go into season three cold ( knowing everything ) Silverman 2001. Scott landed the role that introduced me to you that you 're not human every was! To Best its weird to see it pop out first episode we 're going to use a prosthetic but! His highly consistent and diligent acting prowess, Saving Silverman, Sahara youre the. You can Push to Stop the White Lotus came his way his face in quiet! During the pandemic, light on work, having kids, then finds out his dad gay... From Robbinsdale-Cooper Senior high school, New Hope, Minnesota a horse who had had surgery so! Us on horses, were on horses # x27 ; ve done.! June19 on his farm in Georgetown, Kentucky all crazy here is at the end of day! Adaptation shrinks Taylor Jenkins Reids best-selling novel into a claustrophobic love triangle wife wakes up and starts her.. Crazy here played lead guitar and sang in Saving Silverman, Sahara! Yeah, Lexington is cool... 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