Zack Gottsagen

Zachary Robin Gottsagen (born April 22, 1985) is an American actor and rapper. He had a breakout role for the film The Peanut Butter Falcon.

Zack Gottsagen
Born	Zachary Robin Gottsagen (1985-04-22) April 22, 1985 (age 39) United States
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2019–present

Career

His screen debut happened as an infant in an instructional film on natural childbirth.^[1]

While at Zeno Mountain Farm, a camp for people with and without disabilities, Gottsagen met Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz. At his request for them to make a film with him as the star, Nilson and Schwartz wrote and directed The Peanut Butter Falcon. In the film, Gottsagen had a starring role as an aspiring professional wrestler with Down Syndrome.^[2]

In 2020, Gottsagen became the first person with Down Syndrome to be a presenter at the Academy Awards, when he and Shia LaBeouf presented the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 92nd Academy Awards.^[3] In 2019, he was recognized as a Breakthrough Entertainer by the Associated Press.^[4]

Gottsagen starred with Felicity Huffman in an ABC television pilot based on the life of Susan Savage, owner of the minor league baseball team the Sacramento River Cats.^[5]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2012	Bulletproof (short)	Gar Vunderson / Grimm Jim	[6]
2014	Becoming Bulletproof (documentary)	self	[6][1]
2019	The Peanut Butter Falcon	Zak	[4]
2020	Best Summer Ever	Cheerleader	[7]
TBA	Night Always Comes	Kenny	[8]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Work	Result	Ref.
2020	Palm Springs International Film Festival Rising Star Award	The Peanut Butter Falcon	Won	[9]
	Hollywood Critics Association Newcomer Award	The Peanut Butter Falcon	Won	[10]

References

1. "Zack Gottsagen - 2018 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award Recipient". Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
2. Rosen, Lisa (2019-12-03). "Zack Gottsagen has Down Syndrome. And a movie role. And a best bud named Shia LaBeouf". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
3. "'The Peanut Butter Falcon' Star Zack Gottsagen Takes Stage as First Oscar Presenter With Down Syndrome". Hollywood Reporter. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
4. Isaza, Marcela (2019-12-17). "Breakthrough Entertainer: Zack Gottsagen realizes a dream". Associated Press. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
5. Andreeva, Nellie (November 30, 2020). "Felicity Huffman To Headline Baseball TV Comedy In Acting Return; ABC Nabs Project Co-Starring Zack Gottsagen From Becky Hartman Edwards & Kapital". Deadline. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
6. "Zack Gottsagen". Reel Abilities. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
7. Kranking, Emily (March 27, 2020). "5+ Independent Movies Starring Actors With Disabilities You Can Stream". The Mighty. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
8. "'Night Always Comes': Jennifer Jason Leigh, Stephan James, Julia Fox, Randall Park & More Join Vanessa Kirby In Upcoming Netflix Thriller". theplaylist.net. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
9. Gonzalez, Umberto (December 4, 2019). "Zack Gottsagen to Receive Rising Star Award From Palm Springs International Film Festival". The Wrap. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
10. Andreeva, Nellie (April 9, 2020). "'The Peanut Butter Falcon' Star Zack Gottsagen Inks Talent Deal With Kapital Entertainment". Deadline. Retrieved November 30, 2020.

External links

• Zack Gottsagen at IMDb