But just, you know, your responsibility as a leader on set, your responsibilities. Were there moments when you were frustrated that you kept getting comedic parts?No, I thought it was great. Theres a scene where were all drowning in the sub. It's not just in Hollywood. Oh, it made me laugh. However, if you know Zahn from his roles in dramatic outings like Rescue Dawn and his latest, War for the Planet of the Apes, his intensity makes all the sense in the world. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. "At that point, I was about . Of course." For the past 15 years or so, Zahn has been living the working man's life with his family in rural Kentucky. He's so myopic about the world. As it happens, his old That Thing You Do! He's so myopic about the world. Briefly attended the Guthrie Theater Drama School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but dropped out to pursue his film career. Oh, it made me laugh. Just one. director Tom Hanks (who he worked with on You've Got Mail, From the Earth to the Moon, and The Great Buck Howard), and his Sahara co-star Matthew McConaughey, who reunited with him in Dallas Buyers Club. Its Planet of the Apes! [3] His father is of German and Swedish descent, and his mother is of German ancestry. I remember that you campaigned for Kentucky Senate hopeful Amy McGrath wearing Revolutionary War garb. I have so many costumes, so I look for opportunities to wear them. Auditioning or reading for people in general can just be kind of weird to begin with, because its not acting. [18] He and his wife also run a local community theater, in which Zahn occasionally performs. at one point. In that time, he's also proven himself one of the more loyal actors around, reuniting with friends and collaborators on several projects. I owe Tom Hanks so much, as far as the things Ive learned. Im like, Of course, thats the first thing you do.. This password will be used to sign into all, Steve Zahn Isnt the Guy You Thought He Was, Okay, TikTok, You Can Calm Down About Aubrey Plaza at the SAG Awards Now, Shakira Takes Some Pointers From Taylor Swift, In Search of Tom and Katies Bubba Painting, Maybe punting on the larger plot can be forgiven if we get a sweet. IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. When Steve Zahn isn't tending to the farm or turning up on the big screen, it's a safe bet you'll find him on the stage in one playhouse or another. Still, it wasn't until the early 2000s that Zahn went full sidekick, and it's a role he played to near perfection opposite the likes of Martin Lawrence in National Security, Eddie Murphy in Daddy Day Care, Penlope Cruz and Salma Hayek in Bandidas, and Matthew McConaughey in Sahara. GQ: In one of your more memorable scenes, you pretend to be a drunk ape seducing Connie Britton. But That Thing You Do, Saving Silverman, Sahara. Steve Zahn: 'I've never been a slacker. We're going to look like King Lear. Kind of laid back. At one point, I was the dumb stoner guy. [16] In the 1990s, they bought a cabin in Pennsylvania and then a farm in New Jersey, near the Delaware Water Gap. All these characters are so flawed, man, and they're so bruised. And I'm kind of like Mark in a way. Now, I just play different kinds of dads, says Steve Zahn, whose first breakout role was in 1994s Reality Bites. This interview has been edited and condensed. I like to sit on the beach and drink a beer, but [the hotel in the show] is not my speed. In the last five years, I've said it daily. My kids don't even sit on social media, which is really kind of insane. Were actually by the waterfall. I mean, what happens in my business is, we're telling stories about people. And one of them had worked for Anne Bogart and said, Hey, theyre starting up the A.R.T. and I thought it was awesome and got in. Though theres plenty of humor in Bad Apes part, hes also a figure of pathos and tragedy. "I wanted to be part of the circus. Have there been any times in your life when youve worked through something similar? Of course, appearances are often deceiving, especially in the context of the entertainment business. On a scale of laminated-eyebrow drama to Lemon Lady Secrets. But yeah, I've talked to my friends and peers, the same age, actors. at one point. Tom taught us so much stuff. All rights reserved. Is that pretty much all you wear now? That was it. I do the dishes, do the laundry, and stay busy. Mark is going through this big existential crisis. Whether he's running a farm or acting in War for the Planet of the Apes, the veteran character actor never. Privacy Policy and Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy. In the new film, the 49-year-old actor plays Bad Ape, a chimp who is actually quite good but assumes thats his name after years of abuse. *Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. They're far and few between, but they stick out. I was always that guy. I'm the activities director here I mean, I'm not like Mark. It's like, "Bam!" But when youre acting that youre dying, it gets difficult. Did Cirie go too far by bringing family matters into the game? Zahn lives on a 360-acre horse farm just outside Lexington, Kentucky, where he raises horses, goats, and sheep with his wife, Robyn Peterman, who is . Its like, Hey, remember this? And youre like, Yeah, I havent even seen it! When thinking of actors who came of age in the 1990s, Steve Zahn's name isn't one that tends to jump to the forefront of people's minds. Because youre hunched down the whole time, right?Yeah, and the process of learning how to do this was with Terry Notary, who plays [the ape named] Rocket. I wanted to be a part of the circus. I was working in a machine shop, tool-and-die, and I got this eight-month run of Biloxi Blues. I did more of a silverback gorilla. What is real? This is what we're living in right now, it's absolutely insane. Yeah, totally. He's like, "No, no, we're going to use a prosthetic." Whats a distinctive memory you have from shooting it? Savvy viewers likely noticed the actor's voice and mannerisms on a much bigger scale when he donned a motion capture suit to portray Bad Ape in 2017's smash hit War for the Planet of the Apes. Hed been hunkering down there during the pandemic, light on work, when the script for The White Lotus came his way. Zahn with co-star Connie Britton in HBOs TheWhite Lotus, which premiered July 11. Also known as Steven F Zahn. And I remember asking Mike, "You don't want full frontal, right?" I remember the scene where Im playing cards with the guys. It never got to that point. 'The White Lotus' Star Steve Zahn on White Privilege, Prosthetic Penises and Why He Never Gets Recognized "I live on a farm in Kentucky I haven't had one person come up to me and say, "Oh,. Trust me, I had moments in New York where I would become bitter. Connie Britton and Steve Zahn as Nicole and Mark Mossbacher. A few years later, Zahn's voice turned up amongst an all-star cast of actors and funny people as Runt of the Litter in the animated blockbuster Chicken Little. 7.6 Acres of Beautiful Farm Land. Zahn, 53, has a farm in Georgetown, Kentucky. When I was a lot younger, I was like, "I don't know if I'm going to wear this." But good to have you back!. You've worked in Hollywood for a long timeis that attitude something that you've encountered a lot and taken as a cautionary tale? Over his now decades-long career, Zahn has proven one of the more versatile actors around, doling out laughs and tears in equal measure (and with equal grace). There are closets in this house they're filled with coats that have never been worn and still have the paper over the buttons. We've got a script called Hot Fruit that's being auctioned right now and were writing another one right now called She Dances, about a father and daughter going to a national dance competition. So everybodys famous because everybody knows everybody?Well, actually, Sam Shepard lives out there. This is great! I did another show for HBO called Treme, and the first thing you see of me in the entire four years we did was my ass. If that doesn't affect your work, having kids, then you're not human. I remember every day. And all of us are going up to Erie to a minor league ballpark for Wonders Night, which is kind of fun. Filming in Hawaii wasnt a bad deal either, and at least the cast seemed to appreciate it more than their fictional counterparts. I, for one, would love to see you play the commander of a U-Boat. 'The Mandalorian' Season 3: What Was Grogu Looking at in Hyperspace? Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. And I remember asking Mike, "You don't want full frontal, right?" And I always get these stoner, urban types. Never. I think of myself as Hamlet, but I'm not. Some people were like, "What are you doing here?" My mentor and teacher was in London at the time and we had dinner that night and I told him, Im dropping out and just going to do theater. He was so excited. And they followed suit, man. Im not doing the movie, Im doing what were doing right now, even if its contradictory to my idea of what were going to do, ultimately. To have this brilliant script fall into my lap and have it be in Hawaii? What is real? This is what we're living in right now, it's absolutely insane. We're kind of oppositesshe writes well into the night. That's so insane. The company is now defunct, but the founding members have remained close over the years. What do you think happens to your character and his family after he leaves the island? One! While The Crossing received generally favorable reviews, its mix of heady plot lines and somber tone never quite connected with audiences, andwas canceled after just 11 episodes. Maybe I was just kind of dumb, but I came into it and really started watching Andy [Serkis] and those guys and, you know, I really take offense when people go, Hes such a great motion-capture actor. I go, No, hes one of the greatest actors Ive ever worked with. Matt Reeves is this incredible director whos totally passionate and connected to this story. I'm like, "Yeah, it's fine. With a list of nearly 100 film credits including Dallas Buyers Club, Saving Silverman, Diary of A Wimpy Kid and so many more, Steve talks about his beginnings in acting and what This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. Rescue Dawn wasnt exactly a comedy. He played lead guitar and sang in That Thing You Do! View this farm for sale with 7.6 acres by Liberty in Casey County, Kentucky 42539. Yknow, an actor takes six months off and it turns into a year, because you call them in month seven and go, Im ready! and they go, Okay. Is there anything out there? No. He made his professional debut in a 1987 production of Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues, eventually working his way into the esteemed American Repertory Theater. View this farm for sale with 7.5 acres by Columbia in Adair County, Kentucky 42728. It wasnt like I wanted to be a star, it was just that I knew that I can. He thinks he has cancer, then finds out his dad is gay and died from AIDS. I wouldve done anything, really. Zahn admitted Limited: When asked if he got a chance to enjoy the scenery Hawaii offered, he said it was 'limited' though he did get scuba certified He also has 8-Bit Christmas with Neil Patrick. If you're wondering why Steve Zahn hasn't been appearing in many Hollywood projects of late, it's likely due to the fact that he lives about as far away from the Hollywood scene as you can get. When I havent worked for a while, I get antsy. Im really proud of my perennial beds. My kids don't even sit on social media, which is really kind of insane. It was just so raw and weird. I think that was just too shocking for most people, to have a colonial soldier knocking on your door saying, "Did you go vote?" I didn't think at all that that would be a thing. It never occurred to me that people would go, Penis! And Mike was like, "Yeah, I didn't either. I think that was just too shocking for most people, to have a colonial soldier knocking on your door saying, "Did you go vote?" He liked it, and Im in the movie. Its nun versus AI in Damon Lindelofs new series. Awesome.". We sit and we get so wrapped up in our little worlds, and compared to what most people have to go through, it's ridiculous. On television, Zahn appeared as . Well, I will say, it's not something you see on TV a lot. On the latest episode of the Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins, the guys are joined by the incredible actor, Steve Zahn. "I remember sitting through the second act thinking, I'm as good as that guy standing on the barricade," Zahn recalled. I mean, you see it everywhere. In the last five years, I've said it daily. It's kind of a fun chapter of my life being on this side. You've probably noticed that even after appearing in a couple of legit blockbusters and an scoring an endless stream of indie hits, Zahn hasn't really been appearing on the big screen much in the past few years. I learned all that stuff too. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. Whether it registered or not, you've actually heard his voice in handful of popular animated releases over the years. Were by a waterfall? So when he got a call to star with Connie Britton, Natasha Rothwell and Murray Bartlett in HBOs The White Lotus, a darkly comic miniseries (from Enlighteneds Mike White) about haves and have-nots colliding at a Hawaiian resort, he needed little convincing. If it looks cold, it was cold. Its hard to play a cop, but its really hard to play a cop thats a chimp. Whats doing well in you perennial bed right now?Well, everythings doing great right now. Zahn was born in Marshall, Minnesota, the son of Carleton Edward Zahn, a Lutheran minister, and Zelda Clair Zahn, a bookstore clerk and later a YMCA administrator. You mentioned to GQ the last time we talked to you that you're now cast as the dad in everything. Do you draw from your own experiences as a parent in these roles? [5] He also has a lake cabin near Pine City, Minnesota,[19] where he enjoys tubing and fishing with his two children. I have many, many big beds. Well, I will say, it's not something you see on TV a lot. It always goes back to the water. Ninety-nine percent of the time, people are excited, but I was like, How many ways can I die underwater? I had a bad experience shooting Crimson Tide. It just makes you look at how trivial so much of our problems are. His film roles include Reality Bites (1994), Stuart Little (1999), Shattered Glass (2003), Sahara (2005), Chicken Little (2005), the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (2010-2012), Dallas Buyers Club (2013), The Good Dinosaur (2015), and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017). Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Its just such an enduring movie, so I assumed.You can usually tell when somebody comes up, you can guess what they recognize you from. Although we did scuba dive. He has said, "I'm the guy who gets up at six without an alarm clock. I lived in New Orleans for four years. I was always that guy. The first college I went to, I remember taking a trip to London with a dance group and it was January, between the semesters, and I got credit for going to see London theater. We were in the barn and I was taking care of my horsehe just had surgery, so I'm a vet. And if you don't know who Serkis is, well, check out his IMDb page, 'cause you probably just haven't been paying close enough attention. "[5] Zahn later enrolled in the Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University, earning a Master of Fine Arts. I didnt even have to do that part. For the past 15 years or so, Zahn has been living the working man's life with his family in rural Kentucky. But the irony is that I played a chimpanzee in Planet of the Apes. He was driving cross country. Thats about as absurd as it gets, right? It's very different. I have a lot of wigs for Mardi Gras outfits. He has nothing. But the kids, man, they're on their own. It's not even your kids anymore, it's these people who live in your house. Zahn shot the series smack-dab in the middle of COVID-19, when productions were being shut down daily, if not hourly. [Laughs] Because theres just no way that Im actually going to live there, right? Were actually seeing a body double wearing a prosthetic, but what did you think when you first read it in the script? How can you tell if someone is a Youve Got Mail recognizer?If its a woman. What appealed to you about the role of Mark and what sort of personal touches did you want to infuse in the character? I think of myself as Hamlet, but I'm not. We're going to look like King Lear. And while Zahn has certainly kept a low profile of late, he hasn't been quite as invisible as you might think. We just drove around Normandy doing this World War II tour. When I'm not working, I get up early and feed all the animals, then I get most of my stuff done by noon. It was something that I enjoyed doing. Im an outdoorsman. In The White LotusMike Whites bitingly funny HBO satire about a group of guests at a Hawaiian resort who are as spectacularly miserable as they are privilegedhe portrays Mark Mossbacher, a platonic ideal of a Zahn role: one part clueless slacker, one part befuddled dad. While it started with a 1990 appearance on ABC's long-running daytime dramaAll My Children, Zahn got his first real break four years later, when actor/director Ben Stiller saw him in a theatrical rendition of the play Sophistry. Sams afraid of horses; I own them and take care of them. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In those early years, how close did you ever come to saying, Screw it, this isnt working out, I should try something else? 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