Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1985-04-22
- Born Place: USA
Also Known As:
Zachary Gottsagen, Zachary Robin Gottsage, זאקרי גוטסייגן, Закари Готтзаген, Закарі Ґоттзаґен, Ζάκαρι Γκοτσάγκεν
Zack Gottsagen
Zack Gottsagen is an American actor born on April 22, 1985. He is a trailblazer in the entertainment industry, widely recognized for being the first person with Down syndrome to star as a lead in a major motion picture, the 2019 film The Peanut Butter Falcon. Gottsagen, who has been acting since the age of three, trained at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts in Palm Beach County, Florida. He has spoken about his passion for acting and his determination to succeed in the industry despite the limited opportunities for actors with disabilities.His breakthrough role in The Peanut Butter Falcon was a direct result of his own initiative. After meeting filmmakers Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz at a summer camp, he told them to write a movie for him to star in. The resulting film, which also starred Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson, was a critical and commercial success. His authentic, charismatic, and often improvised performance earned him numerous accolades, including the Hollywood Critics Association's Newcomer Award.Beyond his acting credits, Gottsagen is a powerful advocate for disability rights. He was the first person with Down syndrome to present an award at the Academy Awards in 2020. He has used his platform to speak about the importance of inclusion and representation in media, and he has also been involved in activism, advocating for the rights of people with disabilities on both a local and national level. His other film credits include Becoming Bulletproof (2014), Best Summer Ever (2020), and a role in the 2025 film Night Always Comes.
