Zach Galifianakis

Biography

Zach Galifianakis is an American actor, comedian and writer who built a following in stand-up comedy before finding wider fame in film. Born in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, he moved to New York City and had a short stint on Saturday Night Live. Early screen parts included Out Cold, Below, Bubble Boy and Heartbreakers (2001). His breakthrough came as Alan in The Hangover (2009), a role that won him the MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance. He went on to appear in Due Date (2010), The Campaign (2012) and Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014), and he has voiced characters in Puss in Boots (2011), The Lego Batman Movie (2017), Missing Link (2019) and Thelma the Unicorn (2024). On television, he acted in HBO's Bored to Death, led the FX series Baskets, which earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2017, and hosted Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis, winning an Emmy as a producer.

57years old

Turns 58 on October 1in 325 days

Born October 1, 1969North Wilkesboro
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
Zacharius Knight Galifianakis (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 42
Career span: 24 years2001 to 2025

Genres

Comedy76%, 32 films
Drama29%, 12 films
Adventure21%, 9 films
Romance21%, 9 films
Action14%, 6 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Behind the award
As a producer of the show, Galifianakis took home the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program at the 66th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
A first
Zach Galifianakis Live at the Purple Onion, his stand-up concert film from 2006, was among the first original programs Netflix offered.
First role
Galifianakis took his first leading role in Visioneers, an independent film that premiered in 2008. It came out on direct-to-DVD.
Own stunts
On March 6, 2010, during Saturday Night Live's 35th season, Galifianakis served as host. He shaved off his beard partway through for a sketch, then wore a fake one when the show ended.
A change of course
The Comedians of Comedy, a periodic packaged tour, brought together Zach Galifianakis, Patton Oswalt, Brian Posehn and Maria Bamford. To reach a different audience, the four chose live rock clubs rather than comedy clubs.
Beyond film
Galifianakis could be seen lip-synching the words to Fiona Apple's "Not About Love" video in 2006. That June he released "Come On and Get It (Up in 'Dem Guts)", a comedic hip-hop dance single featuring Apple's vocals.

Zach Galifianakis movies on Netflix

Lilo & Stitch2025IMDb rating 6.7as Jumba
Thelma the Unicorn2024IMDb rating 5.7as Crusty Trucker (voice)
Winner2024IMDb rating 6.5as Ronald Winner
The Beanie Bubble2023IMDb rating 6.3as Ty
The Bob's Burgers Movie2022IMDb rating 7.0as Felix Fischoeder
Ron's Gone Wrong2021IMDb rating 7.1as Ron
Between Two Ferns: The Movie2019IMDb rating 6.1as Zach Galifianakis
Missing Link2019IMDb rating 6.7as Mr. Link (voice)
The Sunlit Night2019IMDb rating 6.1as Haldor
A Wrinkle in Time2018IMDb rating 4.3as The Happy Medium
The Lego Batman Movie2017IMDb rating 7.3as Joker (voice)
Tulip Fever2017IMDb rating 6.2as Gerrit
Keeping Up with the Joneses2016IMDb rating 5.9as Jeff Gaffney
Masterminds2016IMDb rating 5.9as David Ghantt
Queen Mimi2015IMDb rating 7.2as Himself
Tig2015IMDb rating 7.4as Himself
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)2014IMDb rating 7.7as Jake
Are You Here2013IMDb rating 5.3as Ben Baker
The Hangover Part III2013IMDb rating 5.9as Alan
The Campaign2012IMDb rating 6.1as Martin Sylvester 'Marty' Huggins
Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie2012IMDb rating 5.4as Jim Joe Kelly
Puss in Boots2011IMDb rating 6.6as Humpty Alexander Dumpty (voice)
The Hangover Part II2011IMDb rating 6.5as Alan
The Muppets2011IMDb rating 7.1as Hobo Joe
Dinner for Schmucks2010IMDb rating 5.9as Therman
Due Date2010IMDb rating 6.5as Ethan Tremblay
It's Kind of a Funny Story2010IMDb rating 7.1as Bobby
Operation: Endgame2010IMDb rating 4.9as Hermit
G-Force2009IMDb rating 5.1as Ben
The Hangover2009IMDb rating 7.7as Alan
Up in the Air2009IMDb rating 7.4as Steve
Youth in Revolt2009IMDb rating 6.4as Jerry
Gigantic2008IMDb rating 6.0as Homeless Man
Visioneers2008IMDb rating 5.9as George
What Happens in Vegas2008IMDb rating 6.1as Dave the Bear
Into the Wild2007IMDb rating 8.0as Kevin
Super High Me2007IMDb rating 6.0as Himself
The Comedians of Comedy2005IMDb rating 7.2as Himself
Below2002IMDb rating 6.1as Weird Wally
Bubble Boy2001IMDb rating 5.7as Bus Stop Man
Heartbreakers2001IMDb rating 6.3as Bill
Out Cold2001IMDb rating 6.3as Luke

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Hangover2009 Comedyas Alan
IMDb rating 7.7945K votes
The Hangover Part II2011 Comedyas Alan
IMDb rating 6.5586K votes
The Hangover Part III2013as Alan
IMDb rating 5.9369K votes
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)2014as Jake
IMDb rating 7.7704K votes
Due Date2010as Ethan Tremblay
IMDb rating 6.5375K votes
Puss in Boots2011as Humpty Alexander Dumptyvoice
IMDb rating 6.6215K votes
The Campaign2012as Martin Sylvester 'Marty' Huggins
IMDb rating 6.1144K votes
It's Kind of a Funny Story2010as Bobby
IMDb rating 7.1152K votes

Most often with

Todd Phillips directed four of these films, Jay Roach two and Jared Hess two. Sarah Silverman appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Sarah Silverman

Jeffrey Tambor

Ken Jeong

Kristen Schaal

Ed Helms

Will Ferrell

Todd PhillipsDirector, 4 films Jay RoachDirector, 2 films

Jared HessDirector, 2 films

Films together

Sarah Silverman5 films together, 2001 to 2022
Sarah Silverman's page
- The Bob's Burgers Movie2022IMDb rating 7.0Galifianakis as Felix FischoederSilverman as Ollie Pestovoice
- Tig2015IMDb rating 7.4Galifianakis as HimselfSilverman as Himself
- The Muppets2011IMDb rating 7.1Galifianakis as Hobo JoeSilverman as Greeter
- Super High Me2007IMDb rating 6.0Galifianakis as HimselfSilverman as Himself
- Heartbreakers2001IMDb rating 6.3Galifianakis as BillSilverman as Linda
Jeffrey Tambor4 films together, 2009 to 2013
Jeffrey Tambor's page
- The Hangover Part III2013IMDb rating 5.9Galifianakis as AlanTambor as Sid
- The Hangover Part II2011IMDb rating 6.5Galifianakis as AlanTambor as Sid Garner
- Operation: Endgame2010IMDb rating 4.9Galifianakis as HermitTambor as Devil
- The Hangover2009IMDb rating 7.7Galifianakis as AlanTambor as Sid
Ken Jeong4 films together, 2009 to 2013
Ken Jeong's page
- The Hangover Part III2013IMDb rating 5.9Galifianakis as AlanJeong as Mr. Chow
- The Hangover Part II2011IMDb rating 6.5Galifianakis as AlanJeong as Mr. Chow
- The Muppets2011IMDb rating 7.1Galifianakis as Hobo JoeJeong as 'Punch Teacher' Host
- The Hangover2009IMDb rating 7.7Galifianakis as AlanJeong as Mr. Chow
Kristen Schaal4 films together, 2010 to 2024
Kristen Schaal's page
- Thelma the Unicorn2024IMDb rating 5.7Galifianakis as Crusty TruckervoiceSchaal as Goat Girlvoice
- The Bob's Burgers Movie2022IMDb rating 7.0Galifianakis as Felix FischoederSchaal as Louise Belcher
- The Muppets2011IMDb rating 7.1Galifianakis as Hobo JoeSchaal as Moderator
- Dinner for Schmucks2010IMDb rating 5.9Galifianakis as ThermanSchaal as Susana
Ed Helms4 films together, 2009 to 2021
Ed Helms's page
- Ron's Gone Wrong2021IMDb rating 7.1Galifianakis as RonHelms as Graham
- The Hangover Part III2013IMDb rating 5.9Galifianakis as AlanHelms as Stu
- The Hangover Part II2011IMDb rating 6.5Galifianakis as AlanHelms as Stu
- The Hangover2009IMDb rating 7.7Galifianakis as AlanHelms as Stu
Will Ferrell3 films together, 2012 to 2019
Will Ferrell's page
- Between Two Ferns: The Movie2019IMDb rating 6.1Galifianakis as Zach GalifianakisFerrell as Will Ferrell
- The Campaign2012IMDb rating 6.1Galifianakis as Martin Sylvester 'Marty' HugginsFerrell as Rep. Camden 'Cam' Brady
- Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie2012IMDb rating 5.4Galifianakis as Jim Joe KellyFerrell as Damien Weebs
Todd PhillipsDirector, 4 films, 2009 to 2013
All films by Todd Phillips
- The Hangover Part III2013IMDb rating 5.9Galifianakis as Alan
- The Hangover Part II2011IMDb rating 6.5Galifianakis as Alan
- Due Date2010IMDb rating 6.5Galifianakis as Ethan Tremblay
- The Hangover2009IMDb rating 7.7Galifianakis as Alan
Jay RoachDirector, 2 films, 2010 to 2012
All films by Jay Roach
- The Campaign2012IMDb rating 6.1Galifianakis as Martin Sylvester 'Marty' Huggins
- Dinner for Schmucks2010IMDb rating 5.9Galifianakis as Therman
Jared HessDirector, 2 films, 2016 to 2024
All films by Jared Hess
- Thelma the Unicorn2024IMDb rating 5.7Galifianakis as Crusty Truckervoice
- Masterminds2016IMDb rating 5.9Galifianakis as David Ghantt
Also three films together10 more actors
- Patton OswaltKeeping Up with the Joneses (2016), Super High Me (2007) and The Comedians of Comedy (2005)
- Matt WalshKeeping Up with the Joneses (2016), Due Date (2010) and The Hangover (2009)
- Bradley CooperThe Hangover Part III (2013), The Hangover Part II (2011) and The Hangover (2009)
- Jason SudeikisMasterminds (2016), The Campaign (2012) and What Happens in Vegas (2008)
- Jemaine ClementThelma the Unicorn (2024), The Lego Batman Movie (2017) and Dinner for Schmucks (2010)
- Bob OdenkirkTim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012), Operation: Endgame (2010) and Super High Me (2007)
- Justin BarthaThe Hangover Part III (2013), The Hangover Part II (2011) and The Hangover (2009)
- Gillian VigmanThe Hangover Part III (2013), The Hangover Part II (2011) and The Hangover (2009)
- Sondra CurrieThe Hangover Part III (2013), The Hangover Part II (2011) and The Hangover (2009)
- Sasha BarreseThe Hangover Part III (2013), The Hangover Part II (2011) and The Hangover (2009)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Zach Galifianakis's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$5.2 billion

30 of the 42 films have a worldwide figure.

30Worldwide figure
2Never in cinemas
2Streaming, short cinema run
8Figure not found

Top grosser

Lilo & Stitch2025Jumba$1.0 billion

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 74% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Lilo & Stitch2025as Jumba
$1.0B20.1% of the total
2
The Hangover Part II2011as Alan
$587M11.4% of the total
3
Puss in Boots2011as Humpty Alexander Dumpty (voice)
$555M10.8% of the total
4
The Hangover2009as Alan
$469M9.1% of the total
5
The Hangover Part III2013as Alan
$362M7.0% of the total
6
The Lego Batman Movie2017as Joker (voice)
$312M6.0% of the total
7
G-Force2009as Ben
$293M5.7% of the total
8
What Happens in Vegas2008as Dave the Bear
$219M4.3% of the total