Zach Galligan

Zach Galligan is an American actor best known for his role as Billy Peltzer in the “Gremlins” franchise. His career spans several decades, during which he has appeared in a variety of film and television projects.^[1]

Zach Galligan
Galligan at the Chiller Theatre Expo in New Jersey in 2013
Born	Zachary Wolfe Galligan (1964-02-14) February 14, 1964 (age 61) New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	Columbia University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1984–present
Spouse	Ling-Ling Hu Ingerick ​ ​ (m. 2005; div. 2010)​

Early Life and Education

Zachary Wolfe Galligan was born on February 14, 1964, in New York City, New York. He is the son of Carol Jean, a psychologist, and Arthur John Galligan, a lawyer. Galligan attended Columbia University, where he majored in Art History and graduated in 1986.^[2][3]

Career

Galligan’s acting career took off with his breakout role as Billy Peltzer in the 1984 horror-comedy film “Gremlins,” directed by Joe Dante and produced by Steven Spielberg. The film was a commercial success and became a cultural phenomenon, cementing Galligan’s place in Hollywood. He reprised his role in the 1990 sequel “Gremlins 2: The New Batch.”^[4][5]

In addition to the “Gremlins” films, Galligan appeared in other notable movies during the 1980s and 1990s, including “Waxwork” (1988), “Waxwork II: Lost in Time” (1992), and “Hatchet III” (2013). His television credits include guest roles on series such as “Law & Order,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” and “7th Heaven.”^[6][7]

Galligan continued to work in independent films and made appearances at fan conventions and film retrospectives. His performances have earned him a dedicated following among horror and science fiction fans.^[8][9]

Throughout his career, Zach Galligan has remained active in the entertainment industry, contributing to both mainstream and independent projects. His work continues to resonate with audiences, particularly those with a fondness for 1980s cinema.