---
name: "Zach Galifianakis"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/zach-galifianakis"
fi1m_id: "zach-galifianakis"
imdb_id: "nm0302108"
tmdb_id: 58225
wikidata_id: "Q139325"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "1 October 1969"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 16
average_fi1m_score: 65
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 16
updated: "2026-10-13T21:57:12.630798+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Zach Galifianakis

## Identity

Zach Galifianakis

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/zach-galifianakis
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** zach-galifianakis
- **IMDb ID:** nm0302108
- **TMDB ID:** 58225
- **Wikidata ID:** Q139325
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zach_Galifianakis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139325, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0302108/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/58225

Actor. Born 1 October 1969 in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 1 October 1969, Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA
- **Active:** 2007–present
- **Also known as:** 자흐 갈리피아나키스, Зак Галіфіанакіс, زک گالیفیاناکیس, 查克葛里芬納奇
- **Frequently works with:** [Daniel Goldberg](https://film.one/person/daniel-goldberg.md), [Ed Helms](https://film.one/person/ed-helms.md), [Todd Phillips](https://film.one/person/todd-phillips.md), [Bradley Cooper](https://film.one/person/bradley-cooper.md), [Jon Lucas](https://film.one/person/jon-lucas.md), [Justin Bartha](https://film.one/person/justin-bartha.md), [Scott Moore](https://film.one/person/scott-moore.md), [Billy Magnussen](https://film.one/person/billy-magnussen.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 65, as actor, over 16 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 68 (4), 2010s 64 (8), 2020s 65 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 66 to 63 across 15 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 10 at 60–79, 4 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 3 of 13 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 14, Family 6, Drama 5, Adventure 4, Animation 4, Crime 3
- **Screen time:** 25 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $3,990m across 13 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zach_Galifianakis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139325, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0302108/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/58225

## Coming up

- *The Gallerist* (2026-12-04), as Dalton Hardberry

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)*](https://film.one/film/birdman-or-the-unexpected-virtue-of-ignorance.md) (82), [*The Lego Batman Movie*](https://film.one/film/the-lego-batman-movie.md) (74), [*Puss in Boots*](https://film.one/film/puss-in-boots.md) (66), [*Bored to Death*](https://film.one/tv/bored-to-death.md) (50)
- **Disney+:** [*The Bob's Burgers Movie*](https://film.one/film/the-bobs-burgers-movie.md) (72), [*Ron's Gone Wrong*](https://film.one/film/rons-gone-wrong.md) (71), [*Lilo & Stitch*](https://film.one/film/lilo-and-stitch-2025.md) (58)
- **Apple TV:** [*Up in the Air*](https://film.one/film/up-in-the-air.md) (74), [*The Hangover Part II*](https://film.one/film/the-hangover-part-ii.md) (44)
- **Hulu:** [*The Hangover*](https://film.one/film/the-hangover.md) (72)
- **Netflix:** [*Between Two Ferns: The Movie*](https://film.one/film/between-two-ferns-the-movie.md) (62)
- **AMC+:** [*The Audacity*](https://film.one/tv/the-audacity.md) (60)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Zach Galifianakis

> Zach Galifianakis plays men who have decided everyone else is wrong and are prepared to wait it out. The waiting is funny in small doses and quietly sad in larger ones, and he is at his best when a director lets the sadness in.

Watch him wait. Behind two pot plants on *Between Two Ferns*, which he began in 2008, Zach Galifianakis asks a film star a question no professional interviewer would ask and then does nothing at all while the star decides how to take it. The pause is the joke, and so is his flat refusal to help. He came up through New York stand-up in the early 1990s, in the alternative rooms where being disliked for a minute was part of the act, and he has never entirely left that stage. The hostility never goes anywhere, which is what makes it funny rather than nasty.

*The Hangover* (2009) turned the act into a character. Alan Garner is a grown man with a child's certainty, and his non sequiturs move the plot because nobody else in the film knows what to do with him. Todd Phillips has directed him four times, and the returns have been criticised for repetition, fairly, with *Due Date* (2010) and the *Hangover* sequels asking for the same oddness with less reason. He has done voice work since, and with *Baskets* (2016–2019), which he made with Louis C.K. and Jonathan Krisel, he went back to television with something built around him, playing twin brothers Chip and Dale.

There is sadness under the act, and the right show finds it. In *Bored to Death* (2009) he plays Ray Hueston, a Brooklyn comic-book artist with a long list of grievances and a short fuse, opposite Jason Schwartzman and Ted Danson. Danson gets the laughs; Galifianakis gets the only real feeling in the series. We did not expect to be saddened by a stoned man complaining about his life over dinner, and we were, because he delivers every grievance as though it were entirely reasonable and the world simply had not got round to fixing it. The scenes in which the three men eat and drink and solve nothing are the ones worth keeping.

He is less sure when he has to be part of the machinery. In *Birdman* (2014) he plays Jake, in the ensemble around Michael Keaton's vain actor, and does it cleanly enough that our review found no reason to single him out, which in that company is a compliment of a kind. In *Lilo & Stitch* (2025) he and Billy Magnussen play the alien pursuers Jumba and Pleakley, two comedians in bad shirts on a beach, which is a good idea, and he is oddly muted, playing the part rather than being funny in it. When the film is for children and the scenes are short, the waiting he depends on is the first thing to go.

He has said, of stand-up, "I always think the audience is wrong." That is the whole method: he stands there being odd until the audience gives in, and a film either gives him the time or it does not. The dinners in *Bored to Death* are worth finding even in a series that goes nowhere much, and *Baskets* was built for him. The sequels can be skipped without loss.

## Biography

Zach Galifianakis is an American actor and comedian. Born in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, he began performing stand-up comedy in New York City before appearing in television and film roles.

He gained wider recognition for his performance as Alan Garner in the *Hangover* trilogy (2009–2013). Other film credits include *Due Date* (2010), *Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)* (2014) and *The Campaign* (2012). He hosted the web series *Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis* and starred in the FX series *Baskets* (2016–2019), for which he received an Emmy nomination.

Galifianakis has voiced characters in several animated films and portrayed Jumba in the 2025 live-action *Lilo & Stitch*.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, cinemablend.com.*

## On Fi1m (16)

- *The Audacity* (2026), Fi1m 60, as Carl Bardolph — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-audacity.md)
- *Lilo & Stitch* (2025), Fi1m 58, as Jumba — [page](https://film.one/film/lilo-and-stitch-2025.md)
- *The Bob's Burgers Movie* (2022), Fi1m 72, as Felix Fischoeder (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bobs-burgers-movie.md)
- *Ron's Gone Wrong* (2021), Fi1m 71, as Ron (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/rons-gone-wrong.md)
- *Between Two Ferns: The Movie* (2019), Fi1m 62, as Zach Galifianakis — [page](https://film.one/film/between-two-ferns-the-movie.md)
- *The Lego Batman Movie* (2017), Fi1m 74, as Joker (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lego-batman-movie.md)
- *Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)* (2014), Fi1m 82, as Jake — [page](https://film.one/film/birdman-or-the-unexpected-virtue-of-ignorance.md)
- *Muppets Most Wanted* (2014), Fi1m 66, as Hobo Joe — [page](https://film.one/film/muppets-most-wanted.md)
- *The Hangover Part III* (2013), Fi1m 35, as Alan Garner — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hangover-part-iii.md)
- *Puss in Boots* (2011), Fi1m 66, as Humpty Alexander Dumpty (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/puss-in-boots.md)
- *The Hangover Part II* (2011), Fi1m 44, as Alan Garner — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hangover-part-ii.md)
- *The Muppets* (2011), Fi1m 80, as Hobo Joe — [page](https://film.one/film/the-muppets.md)
- *Bored to Death* (2009), Fi1m 50, as Ray Hueston — [page](https://film.one/tv/bored-to-death.md)
- *The Hangover* (2009), Fi1m 72, as Alan Garner — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hangover.md)
- *Up in the Air* (2009), Fi1m 74, as Steve — [page](https://film.one/film/up-in-the-air.md)
- *Into the Wild* (2007), Fi1m 78, as Kevin — [page](https://film.one/film/into-the-wild.md)

## Complete filmography (86)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Gallerist* (2026), as Dalton Hardberry
- *The Audacity* (2026), series, as Carl Bardolph — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-audacity.md)
- *Playdate* (2025), Thanks
- *Lilo & Stitch* (2025), as Jumba — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/lilo-and-stitch-2025.md)
- *Winner* (2024), as Ronald Winner
- *Thelma the Unicorn* (2024), as Crusty Trucker (voice)
- *The Beanie Bubble* (2023), as Ty · Executive Producer
- *The Bob's Burgers Movie* (2022), as Felix Fischoeder (voice) — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bobs-burgers-movie.md)
- *Ron's Gone Wrong* (2021), as Ron (voice) — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/rons-gone-wrong.md)
- *Only Murders in the Building* (2021), series, as Zach Galifianakis — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/only-murders-in-the-building.md)
- *Dicktown* (2020), series, as Charlie
- *The Sunlit Night* (2020), as Haldor
- *Between Two Ferns: The Movie* (2019), as Zach Galifianakis · Writer, Producer — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/between-two-ferns-the-movie.md)
- *Missing Link* (2019), as Mr. Susan Link (voice)
- *A Wrinkle in Time* (2018), as The Happy Medium
- *Big Mouth* (2017), series, as Gratitoad (voice)
- *Tulip Fever* (2017), as Gerrit
- *Batman Is Just Not That Into You* (2017), as Joker (voice)
- *The Lego Batman Movie* (2017), as Joker (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lego-batman-movie.md)
- *Keeping Up with the Joneses* (2016), as Jeff Gaffney
- *Masterminds* (2016), as David Ghantt
- *Bajillion Dollar Propertie$* (2016), series, as The Bloodhound
- *Baskets* (2016), series, as Chip Baskets / Dale Baskets · Executive Producer, Creator
- *Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)* (2014), as Jake — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/birdman-or-the-unexpected-virtue-of-ignorance.md)
- *Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories* (2014), series, as Zach
- *Muppets Most Wanted* (2014), as Hobo Joe — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/muppets-most-wanted.md)
- *Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!* (2013), series, Creator
- *Here Comes the Night Time* (2013), as Captain Zach the Astronaut
- *Are You Here* (2013), as Ben Baker
- *The Hangover Part III* (2013), as Alan Garner — Fi1m 35, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hangover-part-iii.md)
- *The Campaign* (2012), as Marty Huggins · Producer
- *Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!* (2012), series, Creator
- *Smile* (2012), Actor
- *Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie* (2012), as Jim Joe Kelly
- *The Muppets* (2011), as Hobo Joe — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-muppets.md)
- *Puss in Boots* (2011), as Humpty Dumpty (voice) — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/puss-in-boots.md)
- *The Hangover Part II* (2011), as Alan Garner — Fi1m 44, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hangover-part-ii.md)
- *Saturday Night Live: The Best of '09/'10* (2011), Actor
- *Bob's Burgers* (2011), series, as Felix Fischoeder (voice), Chet (voice), Felix (voice)
- *Due Date* (2010), as Ethan Tremblay
- *Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Chrimbus Special* (2010), as Tairy Greene
- *It's Kind of a Funny Story* (2010), as Bobby
- *Dinner for Schmucks* (2010), as Therman
- *Operation: Endgame* (2010), as Hermit
- *Just 3 Boyz* (2010), as Zach
- *Funny or Die Presents* (2010), series, Writer
- *Fantasia in Best Show Minor* (2010), Actor
- *Up in the Air* (2009), as Steve — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/up-in-the-air.md)
- *Little Fish, Strange Pond* (2009), as Bucky
- *Bored to Death* (2009), series, as Ray Hueston — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/tv/bored-to-death.md)
- *Youth in Revolt* (2009), as Jerry
- *G-Force* (2009), as Ben
- *The Hangover* (2009), as Alan Garner — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hangover.md)
- *Gigantic* (2008), as Homeless Man
- *Visioneers* (2008), as George
- *What Happens in Vegas* (2008), as Dave the Bear
- *A Vodka Movie* (2008), as Zach · Executive Producer, Writer, Creator
- *Into the Wild* (2007), as Kevin — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/into-the-wild.md)
- *The Comedians of Comedy: Live at The Troubadour* (2007), Writer
- *Zach Galifianakis: Live at the Purple Onion* (2007), Writer, Executive Producer
- *Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!* (2007), series, as Tairy Greene, Tairy Greene as The Snuggler
- *The Sarah Silverman Program* (2007), series, as Fred Blorth
- *The Pity Card* (2006), as Zach
- *Too Late with Adam Carolla* (2005), series, Actor
- *Wonder Showzen* (2005), series, Actor
- *The Comedians of Comedy* (2005), Writer
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as Heavyset Man and Norman (voice), Juror (voice)
- *Zach Galifianakis: Look Who it Isn't* (2005), Writer
- *Last Laugh '04* (2004), as Jesus
- *Tom Goes to the Mayor* (2004), series, as Dr. Vickerson (voice)
- *Zach and Avery of Fergus* (2004), as Homeless Man
- *Tru Calling* (2003), series, as Davis
- *Reno 911!* (2003), series, as Frisbee
- *Stella Shorts 1998-2002* (2002), as Santa
- *Below* (2002), as Weird Wally
- *Out Cold* (2001), as Luke
- *Corky Romano* (2001), as Computer Hacker Dexter
- *Bubble Boy* (2001), as Bus Stop Man
- *Heartbreakers* (2001), as Bill
- *Next!* (2001), series, Actor
- *Next Caller* (2001), series, Actor
- *Flushed* (1999), as Pathetic Guy
- *Boston Common* (1996), series, as Bobby
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Lucas Bortner (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Very Young Frankenstein*, series, Actor
- *Hey Bear*, as Putt

## Gallery

- ![Zach Galifianakis](https://film.one/media/person/8472/gallery-dd1a11db6be4.jpg) Zach Galifianakis — CleftClips from Los Angeles, CA, United States of America, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Zach_Galifianakis_2012_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Zach Galifianakis driving the wrong way on the 73 freeway in a Mercedes-Benz E350 Convertible. This was during the filming of The Hangover 3. (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/8472/gallery-9e01f33e3409.jpg) Zach Galifianakis driving the wrong way on the 73 freeway in a Mercedes-Benz E350 Convertible. This was during the filming of The Hangover 3. (2012) — Axion23, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/2012_10_21_Zach_Galifianakis_Hangover_3_Filming_-_Mercedes-Benz_E350_Convertible.jpg/1280px-2012_10_21_Zach_Galifianakis_Hangover_3_Filming_-_Mercedes-Benz_E350_Convertible.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![President Barack Obama participates in an interview with Zach Galifianakis for "Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis" in the Diplomatic Reception Room of th](https://film.one/media/person/8472/gallery-92486b5ba064.jpg) President Barack Obama participates in an interview with Zach Galifianakis for "Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis" in the Diplomatic Reception Room of th — The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Barack_Obama_and_Zach_Galifianakis%2C_Between_Two_Ferns.jpg/1280px-Barack_Obama_and_Zach_Galifianakis%2C_Between_Two_Ferns.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![United States President Barack Obama being interviewed by Zach Galifianakis for "Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis," in the Diplomatic Reception Room of ](https://film.one/media/person/8472/gallery-8da83b3b5297.jpg) United States President Barack Obama being interviewed by Zach Galifianakis for "Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis," in the Diplomatic Reception Room of  — Pete Souza, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Barack_Obama_being_interviewed_by_Zach_Galifianakis.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Zach Galifianakis](https://film.one/media/person/8472/gallery-4f30b2c59bdc.jpg) Zach Galifianakis — Image via TMDB
- ![Zach Galifianakis](https://film.one/media/person/8472/gallery-9f490a71cef6.jpg) Zach Galifianakis — Image via TMDB
- ![Zach Galifianakis](https://film.one/media/person/8472/gallery-d7deeec76a7a.jpg) Zach Galifianakis — Image via TMDB
- ![Marc Maron and Zach Galifianakis participating in a Doug Loves Movies podcast at the 2012 LA Pod Fest](https://film.one/media/person/8472/gallery-350562c667b3.jpg) Marc Maron and Zach Galifianakis participating in a Doug Loves Movies podcast at the 2012 LA Pod Fest — CleftClips from Los Angeles, CA, United States of America, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Marc_Maron_and_Zach_Galifianakis.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Todd Glass & Zach Galifianakis Doug Loves Movies @ LA Pod Fest in 2012 (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/8472/gallery-5ec6c45678da.jpg) Todd Glass & Zach Galifianakis Doug Loves Movies @ LA Pod Fest in 2012 (2014) — Joel Mandelkorn / Rebecca Adler Photography, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Todd_Glass_%26_Zach_Galifianakis.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Zach Galifianakis](https://film.one/media/person/8472/gallery-057be4daeb86.jpg) Zach Galifianakis — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/zach-galifianakis