---
name: "Zach Galligan"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/zach-galligan"
fi1m_id: "zach-galligan"
imdb_id: "nm0002090"
tmdb_id: 16170
wikidata_id: "Q139334"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "14 February 1964"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-24T07:03:11.476749+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 Galligan

## Identity

Zach Galligan

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/zach-galligan
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** zach-galligan
- **IMDb ID:** nm0002090
- **TMDB ID:** 16170
- **Wikidata ID:** Q139334
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zach_Galligan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139334, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002090/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/16170

Actor. Born 14 February 1964 in New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 14 February 1964, New York City, New York, USA
- **Also known as:** زک گالیگان
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zach_Galligan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139334, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002090/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/16170

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Gremlins*](https://film.one/film/gremlins.md) (80)

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

## Fi1m on Zach Galligan

> Zach Galligan makes a puppet seem worth caring about without demanding equal attention. We value his mild, approachable presence in *Gremlins*, though the thinly written Billy Peltzer also shows the limits of simply being likeable.

Opposite Gizmo in *Gremlins* (1984), Zach Galligan keeps the human business simple. His Billy Peltzer is mild and approachable, and Galligan does not try to outdo the creature beside him. That matters in Joe Dante’s horror comedy, where the creatures have most of the opportunities to misbehave and the humans risk looking like interruptions. We warmed to Billy because Galligan gives us someone decent to return to when the film has made bad behaviour look tempting.

The early career stayed close to horror comedy, with Galligan playing Mark Loftmore in *Waxwork* (1988) before returning as Billy in *Gremlins 2: The New Batch* (1990). *Waxwork II: Lost in Time* (1992) gave him another return to an established part. Those roles suited a performer comfortable with both comedy and horror. In *Gremlins*, that ease lets Dante concentrate on the creatures without having to make Billy another source of comic noise.

The limitation is visible in *Gremlins* too: the writing gives Billy too little to do, and Galligan’s restraint cannot supply what is missing. Phoebe Cates makes the stronger impression as Kate Beringer when the film allows her to disturb its Christmas cheer. That does not make Galligan’s quieter contribution a mistake, but it does put a limit on what we should claim for it. We rate his part in the film without pretending he is its chief attraction. A more forceful performance would not necessarily have helped Dante, who needs a human centre as well as creatures worth watching.

Later work moved towards independent and direct-to-video genre films, with television guest roles alongside them. His Sheriff Fowler in *Hatchet III* (2013) belongs to that later stretch, while voice work in *Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai* (2023) brought him back to the franchise. Start with *Gremlins*, provided a likeable human lead is not the main thing required from a film so pleased with its monsters.

## Biography

Zach Galligan is an American actor. He was born Zachary Wolfe Galligan on 14 February 1964 in New York City and graduated from Columbia University.

Galligan is best known for playing Billy Peltzer in the comedy-horror films *Gremlins* (1984) and *Gremlins 2: The New Batch* (1990). His other film roles include Mark Loftmore in *Waxwork* (1988) and its 1992 sequel. He has also appeared in television series such as *Star Trek: Voyager*, *Tales from the Crypt*, *Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman* and *7th Heaven*.

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

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Gremlins* (1984), Fi1m 80, as Billy Peltzer — [page](https://film.one/film/gremlins.md)

## Complete filmography (61)

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

- *Honk* (2023), as Bill
- *Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai* (2023), series, as Henchman #2 (voice)
- *Bad Candy* (2021), as Paul
- *Little Willy* (2020), as Zach
- *Evil Little Things* (2020), as Step Dad
- *Madness in the Method* (2019), as Director / Zach / Kevin Smith's Lawyer
- *The Chair* (2016), as Ripley
- *Kampout* (2016), as Detective Benson
- *Hatchet III* (2013), as Sheriff Fowler
- *The Pack* (2011), as Anson
- *Jack Falls* (2011), as American Guy
- *Nightbeasts* (2010), as Charles Thomas
- *Cut* (2010), as Jack
- *Let Them Chirp Awhile* (2007), as Hart Carlton
- *Legion of the Dead* (2005), as Dr. Swatek
- *Momentum* (2003), as Hammond
- *Infested* (2002), as Warren
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Eddie Malloy
- *The Tomorrow Man* (2001), Actor
- *Gabriela* (2001), as Pat
- *G-Men from Hell* (2000), as Dalton
- *Point Doom* (2000), as Spider
- *Raw Nerve* (1999), as Ethan Lang
- *Arthurs Quest* (1999), as King Pendragon
- *The Storytellers* (1999), as Greer Sandler
- *Storm Trooper* (1998), as Kreigal
- *Love Boat: The Next Wave* (1998), series, as Bill Chase
- *Prince Valiant* (1997), as Sir Kay
- *Cupid* (1997), as Eric Rhodes
- *The First to Go* (1997), as Adam Curtis
- *7th Heaven* (1996), series, as Dr. Kent
- *Pacific Blue* (1996), series, as Ron Jeffries
- *Cyborg 3: The Recycler* (1995), as Evans
- *Star Trek: Voyager* (1995), series, as Ens. David Gentry
- *Ice* (1994), as Rick Corbit
- *All Tied Up* (1994), as Brian Hartley
- *Caroline at Midnight* (1994), as Jerry Hiatt
- *For Love and Glory* (1993), as Thomas Doyle
- *Warlock: The Armageddon* (1993), as Douglas
- *Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman* (1993), series, as Chester Barnes
- *Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth* (1992), as Man Stabbed with Pool Stick (uncredited)
- *Round Trip to Heaven* (1992), as Steve
- *Melrose Place* (1992), series, as Rick Danworth
- *Waxwork II: Lost in Time* (1992), as Mark Loftmore
- *Psychic* (1992), as Patrick
- *Zandalee* (1991), as Rog
- *Gremlins 2: The New Batch* (1990), as Billy Peltzer
- *Rising Storm* (1989), as Artie Gage
- *Mortal Passions* (1989), as Todd
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as David
- *Waxwork* (1988), as Mark Loftmore
- *The Lawrenceville Stories* (1987), series, as William 'Hickey' Hicks
- *Crossings* (1986), series, as Robert DeVilliers
- *Surviving* (1985), as Rick Brogan
- *Nothing Lasts Forever* (1984), as Adam Beckett
- *Gremlins* (1984), as Billy Peltzer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/gremlins.md)
- *The Hitchhiker* (1983), series, as Raskin
- *Jacobo Timerman: Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number* (1983), as Hector Timerman
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as William 'Hickey' Hicks
- *Slay Utterly*, as Walter Byrne
- *Reapers Night*, as Christian

## Gallery

- ![Zach Galligan](https://film.one/media/person/118211/gallery-b4547e7350de.jpg) Zach Galligan — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Zach_Galligan_Photo_Op_Superstar_Comic_Con_Savannah_2025.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Zach Galligan 01 Motor City Comic Con 2015](https://film.one/media/person/118211/gallery-04bc9c93c23e.jpg) Zach Galligan 01 Motor City Comic Con 2015 — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/MCCC_15_-_Zach_Galligan_01_%2817904968230%29.jpg/1280px-MCCC_15_-_Zach_Galligan_01_%2817904968230%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Zach Galligan 02 Motor City Comic Con 2015](https://film.one/media/person/118211/gallery-ae9b62496d98.jpg) Zach Galligan 02 Motor City Comic Con 2015 — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/MCCC_15_-_Zach_Galligan_02_%2818066149646%29.jpg/1280px-MCCC_15_-_Zach_Galligan_02_%2818066149646%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Zach Galligan 03 Motor City Comic Con 2015](https://film.one/media/person/118211/gallery-308cf4f75449.jpg) Zach Galligan 03 Motor City Comic Con 2015 — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/MCCC_15_-_Zach_Galligan_03_%2817470061114%29.jpg/1280px-MCCC_15_-_Zach_Galligan_03_%2817470061114%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Zach Galligan](https://film.one/media/person/118211/gallery-0d4cdd869feb.jpg) Zach Galligan — Image via TMDB
- ![Zach Galligan](https://film.one/media/person/118211/gallery-569d06434177.jpg) Zach Galligan — Image via TMDB
- ![Molly Ringwald and Zach Galligan in a publicity photo for the ABC-TV program Surviving. (1985)](https://film.one/media/person/118211/gallery-105234775dbb.jpg) Molly Ringwald and Zach Galligan in a publicity photo for the ABC-TV program Surviving. (1985) — ABC Visual Communication, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Molly_Ringwald_and_Zach_Galligan_%22Surviving%22_%281985_ABC_press_photo%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Zach Galligan (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/118211/gallery-ab78a21abab0.jpg) Zach Galligan (2008) — Bree from Worcester, MA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/ZachGalligan.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

---
© 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-galligan