Zach Galifianakis

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Zach Galifianakis with singer Fiona Apple in the music video for her single "Not About Love" (2006).

Zach Galifianakis (pronounced [zæk ˌgæ.lə.fə.ˈnæ.kəs]) or Zachary Knight Galifianakis (born October 1, 1969 in Wilkesboro, North Carolina) is an American comedian, actor, and writer. His cousin Nicholas Galifianakis is a newspaper cartoonist, and his uncle Nick Galifianakis is a former U.S. Congressman. His brother Paul (Greg) Galifianakis currently lives in Austin, TX.

According to his myspace page, he lives part time on his farm in the mountains of North Carolina and in Venice Beach, CA.

He attended North Carolina State University, pursuing a degree in Communication and Film. He failed a course before graduation and left for New York City in 1992. His original goal was to pursue acting, although he eventually became a stand-up comic.

In 2001 Zach Galifianakis co-starred in the film, Out Cold. He has had small roles in Corky Romano, Below, Bubble Boy and Heartbreakers, and has parts in "Visioneers" and "Into the Wild," which are to be released in 2007.

Galifianakis got his start on television in 2002 as the host of his own talk show, called Late World with Zach. His next television role was as a coroner named Davis in the FOX drama Tru Calling, which lasted from 2003 to 2005. He has also appeared many times on Jimmy Kimmel Live and has made two appearances on Reno 911! as "Frisbee".

More recently, Galifianakis performed on a tour called the "Comedians of Comedy" with Brian Posehn, Patton Oswalt, and Maria Bamford. They chose to perform at live rock clubs as opposed to comedy clubs to try to reach a different audience. Much of the tour was taped, and has been featured in both a short-lived TV series on Comedy Central and a full length movie that has appeared at SXSW and on Showtime.

In 2006, Galifianakis was featured in Fiona Apple's music video for the song, "Not About Love". In the video, he is seen lip synching the lyrics to the song. In June 2006 Galifianakis released the single "Come Over and Get It (Up in 'Dem Guts)", a comedic rap/hip-hop/dance song which features Apple's vocals.

Galifianakis starred as Alan Finger on the Comedy Central show Dog Bites Man, a fake news program that caught people during candid moments as they acted under the impression that they are being interviewed by a real news crew. In addition, he was on an episode of the Comedy Central show, The Sarah Silverman Program, as Fred the Homeless Guy. He also has a recurring guest role as a doctor on the animated Adult Swim show Tom Goes to the Mayor and appeared in the new show Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!.

A DVD featuring Galifianakis's work, Live at the Purple Onion, was released on March 6th, 2007.

[edit] Quotes

"You know you're an alcoholic when the bartender knows your name... and you've never been to that bar before."
"Guys, have you ever woken up with an erection, and then you realize you're just in a massage chair at Brookstone...and then you yell out: 'I'll take it!'"
"Three years ago my sister was diagnosed with multiple personalities, and there's nothing funny about that. But she phoned me the other day...and my caller ID exploded."
"I wish there was a morning after pill for Denny's Moons over My Hammy."
"When you look like I do, It's hard to get a table for one at Chuck E. Cheese."
"That show 'The Amazing Race'- is that about white people?"
"Actually, Galifianakis is my stage name. My real name is Chad Fartchamber. Some other guy had that name. It's a Dutch name- we made ovens."
"I would start a revolution, but... I just bought a hammock."
"I'm working on this new screenplay. It's called "Schindler's List 2: Let's Get This Party Started."
"I look like a much more attractive version of Reid Evans with hair."
"I want to move to India or Pakistan, and become a cab driver."
"My name's Zach Galifianakis... I hope I'm pronouncing that right."
"I just released a DVD. It's selling like whatever the opposite of 'hotcakes' is."
"At what age do you tell a highway it is adopted?"
"I have a lot of growing up to do. I realized that the other day in my fort."
"I want to open up a store for cross-dressers. I'll call it 'Susan B. Anthony'"