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