Zach Galligan

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February 14, 1964

New York City, NY

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New York native Zach Galligan didn't rise to superstardom along with some of the other prominent teen actors of the 1980s, though he has developed a more than respectable cult following in the direct-to-video genre circuit, most of which stems from his breakout role in Gremlins (1984). Poised for success after Gremlins' surprise popularity, Galligan began appearing in a slew of television features, including the highly rated suicide drama Surviving (1985), opposite fellow newcomer Molly Ringwald, and PBS' The Prodigious Mr. William Hicks (1987), which featured Galligan in the title role as a turn-of-the-century prep-school troublemaker. Galligan returned for The Return of Hickey and Hickey and Company, and received critical nods for both performances. In 1990, the young actor reprised his role as Billy Peltzer for Gremlins 2: The New Batch, which, unlike the vast majority of horror film sequels, was received relatively well by genre fans and open-minded critics. Unfortunately, Galligan never quite gained back his momentum after the release of Gremlins 2, and he spent the '90s trying his luck in genres ranging from slapstick comedies to erotic dramas; despite small roles alongside more established actors, Galligan was never quite able to come into his own. Nevertheless, Galligan's television performances (including supporting roles on Star Trek: Voyager, Melrose Place, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and 2003's feature-length sci-fi drama Momentum) have received a much warmer reception, and he is known among casting agents for his solid work.

~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

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