Steve Zahn
Biography
Steven James Zahn is an American actor and comedian born on November 13, 1967, in Marshall, Minnesota. Known professionally as Steve Zahn, he has built a career characterized by his versatility across independent films, major blockbusters, and television series. Throughout his professional life, he has been recognized for his ability to blend humor with emotional depth in his performances. With over 100 acting credits to his name, Zahn remains a consistent presence in the entertainment industry, having worked steadily in both live-action and voice-over roles since the early 1990s.
Career overview
Steve Zahn began his film career in the mid-1990s, appearing in titles such as Reality Bites in 1994, That Thing You Do! in 1996, and SubUrbia in 1996. His filmography expanded throughout the late 1990s and 2000s with roles in Out of Sight, Happy, Texas, Riding in Cars with Boys, Shattered Glass, Sahara, and Rescue Dawn. He is also known for his work in family-oriented cinema, including the first three installments of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid franchise, as well as dramatic roles in films like Dallas Buyers Club and War for the Planet of the Apes. In addition to live-action performances, Zahn has contributed his voice to animated features such as Chicken Little, Escape from Planet Earth, and The Good Dinosaur.
Beyond his film work, Zahn has maintained a presence in television. His most notable television work includes a recurring role as Davis McAlary on the HBO series Treme, a part he played from 2010 to 2013. His career is defined by a wide range of character portrayals that have allowed him to work across various genres in Hollywood. He continues to be recognized for his contribution to both television and film, maintaining a long-standing career as a performer.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- She Dances (2026) as Jason
- She Dances (2026) Producer
- She Dances (2026) Writer
- Anaconda (2025) as Kenny Trent
- Eenie Meanie (2025) as Dad Meaney
- Chad Powers (2025) as Jake Hudson
- LaRoy, Texas (2024) as Skip Roche
- Wildcat (2024) as Tom T. Shiftlet
- Silo (2023) as Solo
- Your Place or Mine (2023) as Zen
- Gringa (2023) as Jackson
- George & Tammy (2022) as George Richey
- The Last Movie Stars (2022) as Donald 'Duck' Dobbins (voice)
- The Last Movie Stars (2022) as Self
- Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again (2022) as Jedediah (voice)
- Tall Girl 2 (2022) as Richie Kreyman
- The White Lotus (2021) as Mark Mossbacher
- 8-Bit Christmas (2021) as John Doyle
- The Good Lord Bird (2020) as Chase
- Uncle Frank (2020) as Mike
- Cowboys (2020) as Troy
- The Righteous Gemstones (2019) as Peter Montgomery
- Tall Girl (2019) as Richie Kreyman
- Where'd You Go, Bernadette (2019) as David Walker
- Valley of the Boom (2019) as Micheal Fayne
- The Crossing (2018) as Jude Ellis
- Lean on Pete (2018) as Silver
- Blaze (2018) as Oilman 2
- Neat: The Story of Bourbon (2018) as Himself
- War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) as Bad Ape
- Captain Fantastic (2016) as Dave
- The Good Dinosaur (2015) as Thunderclap (voice)
- Mad Dogs (2015) as Cobi
- The Ridiculous 6 (2015) as Clem
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- Mind Games (2014) as Clark Edwards
- Knights of Badassdom (2014) as Eric
- Dallas Buyers Club (2013) as Tucker
- Escape from Planet Earth (2013) as Hawk (voice)
- Sixth Man: Bluesanity (2013) as Self
- Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja (2012) as Terry McFist (voice)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012) as Frank Heffley
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Class Clown (2012) as Frank Heffley (voice) (archive sound)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011) as Frank Heffley
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) as Frank Heffley
- Treme (2010) as Davis McAlary
- Modern Family (2009) as Ronnie LaFontaine
- A Perfect Getaway (2009) as Cliff
- WWII in HD (2009) as Nolen Marbrey (voice)
- Night Train (2009) as Pete
- Management (2009) as Mike
- Calvin Marshall (2009) as Coach Little
- Comanche Moon (2008) as Gus McCrae
- The Great Buck Howard (2008) as Kenny
- Sunshine Cleaning (2008) as Mac
- Strange Wilderness (2008) as Peter
- Unstable Fables: 3 Pigs and a Baby (2008) as Sandy Pig (voice)
- Phineas and Ferb (2007)
- Phineas and Ferb (2007) as Swampy (voice)
- Rescue Dawn (2007) as Duane
- Making That Thing You Do (2007) as Self
- Making of a True Story: Rescue Dawn (2007) as Self
- Bandidas (2006) as Quentin
- The Reichen Show (2005) as Self
- Chicken Little (2005) as Runt of the Litter (voice)
- Sahara (2005) as Al Giordino
- Best Week Ever (2004) as Self
- Speak (2004) as Mr. Freeman
- Employee of the Month (2004) as Jack
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Daddy Day Care (2003) as Marvin
- National Security (2003) as Hank Rafferty
- Shattered Glass (2003) as Adam Penenberg
- Monk (2002) as Jack Monk, Jr.
- Stuart Little 2 (2002) as Monty (voice)
- Joy Ride (2001) as Fuller
- Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) as Archie (voice)
- Wolf Lake (2001) as Fletch (uncredited)
- Saving Silverman (2001) as Wayne Lefessier
- Riding in Cars with Boys (2001) as Ray Hasek
- Chain of Fools (2001) as Kresk
- Chelsea Walls (2001) as Ross
- Hamlet (2000) as Rosencrantz
- Stuart Little (1999) as Monty (voice)
- Forces of Nature (1999) as Alan
- Freak Talks About Sex (1999) as Freak
- Happy, Texas (1999) as Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr.
- From the Earth to the Moon (1998) as Elliot See
- You've Got Mail (1998) as George Pappas
- Out of Sight (1998) as Glenn Michaels
- Safe Men (1998) as Eddie
- Inside 'Out of Sight' (1998) as Self
- The Object of My Affection (1998) as Frank Hanson
- SubUrbia (1997) as Buff
- Liberty! (1997) as American Sergeant
- Subway Stories (1997) as Tucker (segment "The 5:24")
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self - Guest
- That Thing You Do! (1996) as Lenny Haise
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) as Self
- Race the Sun (1996) as Hans Kooiman
- Crimson Tide (1995) as Seaman William Barnes
- Picture Windows: Armed Response (1995) as Crook
- Friends (1994) as Duncan
- Reality Bites (1994) as Sammy Gray
- Normandy: The Great Crusade (1994) as Bill Preston (voice)
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- Rain Without Thunder (1993) as Jeremy Tanner
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
- First Love, Fatal Love (1991)
- Hello & Paris
- Time Out
- Sentinel