Zach Galligan

Zachary Wolfe Galligan, born on February 14, 1964, in New York City, is an American actor recognized for his extensive career starting in the mid-1980s. He is the son of Carol Jean Galligan, a psychologist, and Arthur John Galligan, a lawyer and founding partner of Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky. Galligan graduated from Columbia University. His debut major role was as Billy Peltzer in the iconic 1984 film “Gremlins,” a horror-comedy that established his presence in popular culture. Prior to this, he filmed “Nothing Lasts Forever” though it remained unreleased for several years.

Galligan reprised his role as Billy Peltzer in the 1990 sequel, “Gremlins 2: The New Batch.” In addition to the “Gremlins” franchise, he starred as Mark Loftmore in the 1988 horror comedy “Waxwork” and its 1992 sequel, “Waxwork II: Lost in Time.” Beyond these notable film series, Galligan has a diverse filmography, including appearances in television movies such as “Surviving: A Family in Crisis” (1985), where he co-starred with Molly Ringwald, and a recurring role as William ‘Hickey’ Hicks in “The Lawrenceville Stories” from 1987-1989. His career also includes numerous guest appearances on television episodics and roles in independent films.

More recently, Galligan has continued to engage with his best-known character, Billy Peltzer, through voice work and brand collaborations. In early 2021, he appeared in a Mountain Dew commercial, reuniting with Gizmo, a character from “Gremlins.” He also joined the animated series “Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai” in 2022, providing the voice for Henchman #2. Galligan has expanded his creative endeavors to include voice acting for projects like the progressive rock band Gandalf’s Fist’s album “The Clockwork Fable” in 2016.