Zach Cregger

Last updated

Zach Cregger
Zach Cregger.jpg
Cregger in 2010
Born
Zachary Michael Cregger

(1981-03-01) March 1, 1981 (age 44)
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • actor
  • director
  • writer
  • producer
Years active1998–present
Spouse
(m. 2019)

Zachary Michael Cregger (born March 1, 1981) is an American comedian, actor, and filmmaker. He is a founding member of the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids U' Know and starred in the sitcoms Friends with Benefits , Guys with Kids , and Wrecked . He wrote and directed the horror films Barbarian (2022) and Weapons (2025).

Contents

Early life and education

Cregger was born in Arlington, Virginia. [1] [2] He performed in various local comedy and music groups [3] before moving to Brooklyn, New York to attend the School of Visual Arts. [4]

Career

Cregger is a founding member of the Whitest Kids U' Know comedy troupe, formed alongside Trevor Moore and Sam Brown in 2000. While shooting an independent film, he met Darren Trumeter who subsequently joined the group. [5] The Whitest Kids U' Know garnered success locally and online, leading to an invitation to the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in 2006. The troupe won the award for Best Sketch Group and attracted the attention of several networks. [6] Following their successful showcase, Fuse ordered a sketch series from the group. [7] The Whitest Kids U' Know aired its first season on the network in 2007 before moving to then-sister network IFC. [8] The series ran for five seasons before concluding in 2011. [9]

Alongside Moore, he starred in and co-directed the films Miss March and The Civil War on Drugs. The latter received a limited theatrical release and aired as a recurring serial during the final season of The Whitest Kids U' Know. [3] The troupe's second feature film, Mars, premiered at the Tribeca Festival on June 6, 2024. [10]

In 2008, Cregger made his first film appearance in Deb Hagan's directorial debut College . [11] In 2011, he joined the cast of the NBC sitcom Friends with Benefits . He then starred on the NBC sitcom Guys with Kids from 2012 to 2013. [12] From 2016 to 2018, he starred as Owen O'Connor on the TBS sitcom Wrecked .

Cregger wrote and directed the 2022 horror film Barbarian , starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long. He wrote and directed the 2025 horror film Weapons . [13] [14] [15]

In January 2025, it was announced that Cregger would write and direct a film based on the Resident Evil franchise. [16]

Personal life

In 2013, Cregger met Sara Paxton in Austin, Texas on the set of Love & Air Sex while playing an on-screen couple. [17] The couple became engaged in 2018 and married the following year in October 2019. [18]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerNotes
2009 Miss March YesYesNoCo-directed and co-written with Trevor Moore
2011The Civil War on DrugsYesYesExecutiveCo-directed with Trevor Moore [19]
2022 Barbarian YesYesNo
2024MarsNoYesYes
2025 Companion NoNoYes [20] [21]
Weapons YesYesYesAlso composer

Acting roles

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008 College Cooper
2009 Miss March Eugene Bell
2011The Civil War on Drugs Abraham Lincoln / various roles
The Death and Return of Superman Hal Jordan / Green Lantern Short film
2013 Love & Air Sex Jeff
2014 Date and Switch Greg
2016 Opening Night Micky
2018 Doubting Thomas Graham
2022 Barbarian Everett
2024MarsVarious

Television

YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerNotes
2004The LoungeNoNoYes
2004–2006 Uncle Morty's Dub Shack NoNoYes
2006Comedy ZenNoNoYes
2007–2011 The Whitest Kids U' Know YesYesExecutiveAlso co-creator
2021 Sasquatch NoNoExecutiveDocumentary series

Acting roles

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998 Homicide: Life on the Street Dean StamperEpisode: "Brotherly Love"
2007–2011The Whitest Kids U' KnowVarious roles
2011 Friends with Benefits AaronMain role
2012–2013 Guys with Kids NickMain role
2014 About a Boy T.J.Recurring role
2015 The McCarthys DougEpisode: "The Ref"
2016–2018 Wrecked OwenMain role
2019 Adam Ruins Everything BerchEpisode: "Adam Ruins Nature"
Just Roll with It BrentEpisode: "Gator's Reunion"

References

  1. "Zach Cregger". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  2. "Zach Cregger". TV Guide. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "A Brief Interview with the Whitest Kids U'Know's Zach Creger". IFC. May 20, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  4. "The Whitest Kids U' Know - Zach Cregger". IFC. October 20, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  5. "The Whitest Kids U' Know - Darren Trumeter". IFC. October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  6. "COVER- Is America ready for Moore? Trevor sure hopes so". The Hook. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  7. Boyd, Betsy (July 17, 2006). "The Whitest Kids U Know". Variety. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  8. "BIG NEWS: WHITEST KIDS MOVE TO IFC!!! - Whitest Kids U'Know". August 9, 2011. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  9. "The Whitest Kids U' Know - About". IFC. October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  10. Milligan, Mercedes (April 17, 2024). "The Whitest Kids U' Know's Animated Feature 'Mars' Sets Tribeca World Premiere" . Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  11. Moore, Trevor. "Self Suck Saturday". Youtube. wkukVODS.
  12. "Zach Cregger Bio | Nick | Guys with Kids". NBC. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  13. Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 25, 2023). "New Line Lands Hot Package 'Weapons'; 'Barbarian's Zach Cregger To Helm His Script". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  14. Kit, Borys (January 25, 2023). "New Line Wins Intense Auction for 'Weapons,' the New Movie From 'Barbarian' Filmmaker Zach Cregger". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  15. Rindner, Grant (January 25, 2023). "Barbarian Writer/Director Zach Cregger's Next Film Weapons Is Reportedly a "Multistory Horror Epic" Similar to Magnolia". GQ . Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  16. Kit, Borys (January 24, 2025). "Zach Cregger to Tackle 'Resident Evil' Reboot, Igniting Bidding War (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  17. "Sara Paxton from 'Aquamarine' is Now Starring in Horror Films and Has a Celebrity Fiancé". August 20, 2019.
  18. "We're Making a Splash With This Aquamarine Cast Check In". E! Online. April 20, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  19. https://www.primevideo.com/-/en/detail/The-Whitest-Kids-U-Know-Present-The-Civil-War-on-Drugs/0MW8NFGV6O8WB6RRX06XADDS8K
  20. Squires, John (February 1, 2023). "'Companion' – Zach Cregger Producing Mysterious Horror Movie for New Line". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  21. Squires, John (April 24, 2024). "New Line's 'Companion' from 'Barbarian' Team Has Been Rated "R" for "Strong Violence" & "Sexual Content"". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.