Zach Woods

Zach Woods
Woods at SXSW 2016
Born (1984-09-25) September 25, 1984 (age 40)
Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
EducationNew York University (BA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • writer
  • producer
  • director
Years active2004–present

Zach Woods (born September 25, 1984)[1] is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his roles as a series regular for three seasons as Gabe Lewis on the NBC sitcom The Office, as Jared Dunn on the HBO comedy series Silicon Valley, as Zach Harper on the USA Network sitcom Playing House, and as Matt Spencer on the HBO comedy show Avenue 5. He also recurred on the HBO series Veep as Ed Webster, and starred as billionaire Edgar D. Minnows in the Apple TV+ murder mystery series The Afterparty.

Early life

Woods was born in Trenton, New Jersey.[2] He is Jewish.[3] His father is a psychiatrist who specializes in clinical therapy, and his mother is a nurse practitioner.[3] Woods is a middle child; he has an older brother and younger sister.[3] In 1997 and 1998, he attended summer camp at Interlochen Center for the Arts.[4] He grew up in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Pennsbury High School in 2003. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University.[5][6]

Career

Woods with Bobby Moynihan in 2015

Woods started performing improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre at age 16 and was a part of the improvisational sketch troupe "The Stepfathers", whose members included Bobby Moynihan and Chris Gethard.[7] He has taught improv at Columbia University, Duke University and Lincoln Center.[8] He has appeared in such films as In the Loop and The Other Guys, and appeared in the CollegeHumor skits "Adam and Eve in the Friend Zone" and "The Infinisphere".

He is known for starring as Awkward Boy, the protagonist in the YouTube video series The Most Awkward Boy in the World.[9] In 2010, he appeared as a zombie in a Starburst candy commercial.[10]

Starting in 2010, he portrayed Gabe Lewis on the NBC sitcom The Office. He was promoted to series regular beginning in season 7.[11]

From 2014 to 2019, he co-starred as Jared on HBO's Silicon Valley. He also appeared on HBO's Veep as Ed Webster.

Beginning in January 2020, he had a role as Matt Spencer, Head of Customer Relations for Avenue 5, a science-fiction comedy TV series created by Armando Iannucci that premiered on HBO in the United States.

Woods had a role in the action comedy Spy (2015), directed by Paul Feig,[12] and appeared in Feig's film Ghostbusters in 2016.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Terrorists Drugstore Cashier
2009 Strangers Man Short film
In the Loop Chad
The Honkys O.G Short film
2010 The Other Guys Douglas
2011 High Road Tommy
Andy and Zach Zach Short film
Damsels in Distress Rick DeWolfe
2012 Rich Girl Problems Duncan Short film
2013 The Heat Paramedic
2015 Spy Man in Purple Tie
2016 Other People Paul
Ghostbusters Garrett
Mascots Mike Murray
2017 The Lego Ninjago Movie Zane Voice
Zane's Stand Up Promo Voice
Short film
The Post Anthony Essaye
2019 The Angry Birds Movie 2 Carl Voice
2020 Downhill Zach
David — Short film
Director, writer and producer
2021 Bud — Short film
Director, writer and producer
2022 Spin Me Round Dana
TBA Huntington Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005 My Wife, the Ghost Geets Wilson 1 episode
2006 Sexual Intercourse: American Style Ted 1 episode
2009 Washingtonienne Mark 1 episode
2010–13 The Office Gabe Lewis Main role, 51 episodes
Nominated – SAG Award for Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2011–12)
2011 Funny or Die Presents Stuart 1 episode
Bored to Death Super Ray fan 1 episode
2012–15 The League Lane 3 episodes
2013 Arrested Development Trippler 1 episode
Comedy Bang! Bang! The Remarkable Greg 1 episode
2013–14 Veep Ed Webster 3 episodes
2013–16 The Good Wife Jeff Dellinger 4 episodes
2014 Kroll Show Cal Culvers 1 episode
2014–17 Playing House Zach Harper Main role, 8 episodes
2014–19 Silicon Valley Donald "Jared" Dunn Main role, 53 episodes
2015 Drunk History Lee Duncan 1 episode
2016 Animals Brian (voice) 1 episode
Better Things Zach 1 episode
2017–23 Big Mouth Various voices 3 episodes
2020 The Simpsons Zane Furlong (voice) Episode: "The Miseducation of Lisa Simpson"
2020–22 Avenue 5 Matt Spencer Main role, 17 episodes
2023 The Afterparty Edgar D. Minnows Main role; 10 episodes
2024 In the Know Lauren Caspian (voice) Main role; also co-creator, writer, director, and executive producer

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2011 The Podcast Gabe Lewis 3 episodes

References

  1. ^ Mike Rose, cleveland com (September 25, 2023). "Famous birthdays list for September 25, 2023 includes celebrities Donald Glover, Mark Hamill". cleveland. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  2. ^ "Meet Zach Woods, the Anxious Heart of "Silicon Valley" – Los Angeles Magazine". Los Angeles Magazine. May 29, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Episode 597 – Zach Woods". April 27, 2015.
  4. ^ "And the nominee is ... Interlochen at the Grammys, Golden Globes and Academy Awards". Interlochen Center for the Arts. Archived from the original on January 28, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  5. ^ "Episode 597 - Zach Woods". WTF with Marc Maron Podcast. April 27, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  6. ^ Ivie, Devon (April 15, 2015). "Zach Woods and Human Comedy". Interview Magazine. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  7. ^ "The Stepfathers". Newyork.ucbtheatre.com. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  8. ^ "UCB Theatre – Zach Woods".
  9. ^ "Zach Woods • UCB Comedy". Ucbcomedy.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  10. ^ Tim Nudd (December 1, 2010). "Starburst "Zombie" Commercial". The 30 Freakiest Ads of 2010. AdFreak.com. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
  11. ^ "Exclusive: 'The Office' promotes 'Gabe' to series regular". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. June 16, 2010. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  12. ^ "Adrian Lester Joins 'Grey Lady'; Zach Woods Cast In 'Spy'". Deadline. May 2, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2017.