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Kevin Zegers

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Kevin Zegers
Zegers at the 2013 WonderCon
Born (1984-09-19) September 19, 1984 (age 40)
Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActor
Years active1992–present
Spouse
Jaime Feld
​
(m. 2013)​
Children2

Kevin Zegers (born September 19, 1984) is a Canadian actor. He is known for his roles as Josh Framm in the Air Bud film series, Toby Osbourne in Transamerica (2005), Damien Dalgaard in the CW teen drama Gossip Girl, and as rookie FBI Agent Brendon Acres on the ABC crime drama The Rookie: Feds. He has also starred in the films Dawn of the Dead (2004), It's a Boy Girl Thing (2006), The Jane Austen Book Club (2007), Fifty Dead Men Walking (2008), Frozen (2010), The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, and Nighthawks (2019).

Early life

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Zegers was born in Woodstock, Ontario,[1] the son of Mary-Ellen (née Veldman), a teacher, and Jim Zegers, a quarry worker.[2][3][4] He has two sisters, Krista and Katie. (The latter is also an actress; she appeared with him in John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness.)[5] He is of Dutch descent; all four of his grandparents were born in the Netherlands.[6] He attended St Mary's Catholic High School in Woodstock.[citation needed]

Zegers is active in sports, especially basketball, ice hockey, and golf.[7][8] He played on the Hollywood Knights celebrity basketball team, raising money for local Los Angeles schools.[9]

Career

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Early work

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Zegers began his performing career at the age of six, appearing in about 30 TV commercials.[5] His first film role was at the age of seven, in a small part in the Michael J. Fox comedy Life with Mikey (1993), playing a younger version of Fox's character.[1] Subsequently, he made a guest appearance on the acclaimed science fiction series The X-Files, playing a stigmatic child, Kevin Kryder, in the 1995 episode "Revelations," and had a recurring role on the Canadian TV series Traders (1996).[10][11] During this time, he appeared in several made-for-television films, including Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story, The Silence of Adultery, and Rose Hill, and as Noah Thompson in the "Let's Get Invisible!" episode of Goosebumps.[12]

His career received a major boost when he won the role of Josh Framm in Air Bud (1997), a film about a lonely boy who befriends a basketball-playing dog. Air Bud launched a franchise, with four sequels. Zegers appeared in four of the films, as well as a similar title, MVP: Most Valuable Primate (2000), which featured a hockey-playing chimp.[13]

Zegers at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival

Around that time, he starred in other family-friendly fare, including A Call To Remember (1997) with Joe Mantegna,[14] Nico the Unicorn (1998) with Elisha Cuthbert, Treasure Island (1999) with Jack Palance, and Time Share (2000) with Nastassja Kinski.[15] He also played a boy who discovers he is a clone in the TV series So Weird (1999).[16] While also headlining numerous family/animal films, between 1997 and 2004, Zegers had starring or costarring roles in many low-budget horror films, often Canadian, including Shadow Builder, Komodo (1999), Wrong Turn (2003), and Fear of the Dark and The Hollow (both 2004).[17]

In Four Days (1999), Zegers played a nameless boy devoted to his bank-robber father. He also appeared in the short-lived American television series Titans (2000), opposite Yasmine Bleeth, for which he was chosen by producer Aaron Spelling. It was his first regular television series role. Zegers had previously worked with Bleeth in the 1999 film It Came from the Sky, where he played a mentally disabled child visited by an angel-like couple.[18] He co-starred with Harry Hamlin in Sex, Lies & Obsession (2001), a Lifetime Network film about sex addiction, and with Gena Rowlands and James Caan in The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie (2003), a television film drama that won three Daytime Emmy awards: Outstanding Children/Youth/Family Special, Outstanding Performer (Rowlands), and Outstanding Writing.[19]

In the summer of 2003, he filmed the drama Some Things That Stay at the same time as the remake of Dawn of the Dead, shuttling across Canada between sets. Around this time, he also continued his television work, appearing on Smallville in 2003 and House in 2004.

2005–present

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In 2005, he had a major role in the Academy Award-nominated independent film Transamerica, co-starring Felicity Huffman. Zegers' performance as Toby Osbourne, the street-hustling bisexual son of a trans woman (Huffman) was praised by several critics, and he won the Trophée Chopard for Male Revelation at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.[20] Director Duncan Tucker said he had to overcome his initial wariness over Zegers' good looks before casting him for the role.[21] Variety's reviewer wrote that "Zegers... finds multiple dimensions in pic's potentially most clichéd character...,"[22] and The Hollywood Reporter's critic said, "As a boy who considers sex his chief talent, Zegers... conveys Toby's essential sweetness and hunger for real affection, making him much more than just a vain or damaged kid."[23]

Also in 2005, he appeared with Shailene Woodley in Felicity: An American Girl Adventure, a television film set in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1775, based on the American Girl book series.[24] He played 15-year-old Benjamin "Ben" Davidson, an apprentice at a shop owned by Felicity's father.[25] In 2006, Zegers played supervillain Concussion in the comedy Zoom, with Tim Allen, and had the lead role opposite Samaire Armstrong in the romantic comedy It's a Boy Girl Thing.[26] He guest-starred as Damien Dalgaard in Gossip Girl from 2009 until 2010, and returned again in late 2010 for multiple episodes throughout season 4. He appeared in Rock Mafia's 2010 music video "The Big Bang", and in 2012, played the male protagonist in the television series Titanic: Blood and Steel.[27][28][29]

Zegers portrayed Alec Lightwood in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013).[30] He joined the cast of Fear the Walking Dead for the series' fourth season.[31]

Personal life

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In August 2013, Zegers married Jaime Feld, a talent agent.[32] The couple had twin girls in August 2015.

In 2024, Zegers announced he had converted to Judaism.[33]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1993 Life with Mikey Little Mikey Chapman
1994 In the Mouth of Madness Kid Appeared with his real-life sister Katie
1996 Specimen Bart
1997 Air Bud Josh Framm
1998 Shadow Builder Chris Hatcher
Air Bud: Golden Receiver Josh Framm
Nico the Unicorn Billy Hastings
1999 Treasure Island Jim Hawkins
Four Days Simon
Komodo Patrick Connally
2000 The Acting Class Lou Carpman
Air Bud: World Pup Josh Framm
MVP: Most Valuable Primate Steven Westover
2002 Virginia's Run Darrow Raines
Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch Josh Framm
2003 Wrong Turn Evan
Fear of the Dark Dale Billings
The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie Charlie Proud
2004 Dawn of the Dead Terry
The Hollow Ian Cranston
Some Things That Stay Rusty Murphy
2005 Transamerica Toby Wilkins
2006 Zoom Connor Shepard / Concussion
It's a Boy Girl Thing Woody Deane/Nell Bedworth
2007 The Jane Austen Book Club Trey
Normal Jordie
The Stone Angel John Shipley
2008 Gardens of the Night Frank
The Narrows Mike Manadoro
Fifty Dead Men Walking Sean
2009 The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll Spyder
2010 Frozen Dan Walker
2011 Vampire Simon
Girl Walks into a Bar Billy
The Entitled Paul Dynan
2013 The Colony Sam
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Alec Lightwood
All the Wrong Reasons Simon Brunson
2015 The Curse of Downers Grove Chuck
2017 Aftermath John Gullick
Another Kind of Wedding Kurt
2019 Nighthawks Chad
2022 Corrective Measures Captain Jason Brody

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1992 Street Legal Jeremy Morris Episode: "It's a Wise Child"
1993 & 1996 Tales from the Cryptkeeper 6X (voice)/Jermey (voice) Episodes: "Grounds for Horror" & ""Uncle Harry's Horrible House of Horrors"
1995–1996 The Magic School Bus Mikey Ramon Voice role, 2 episodes
1994 Free Willy Einstein (voice) Episode: "Cry of the Dolphin"
Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story Larry McLinden in 1954 Television film
1995 Road to Avonlea Gordon Bradley Episode: "A Time to Every Purpose"
The X-Files Kevin Kryder Episode: "Revelations"
The Silence of Adultery Steven Harlett Television film
1996 Goosebumps Noah Thompson Episode: "Let's Get Invisible!"
The Cold Heart of a Killer Matthew Arnold Television film
1996–1997 Traders Sean Blake Recurring role (seasons 2 & 3), 7 episodes
1997 Rose Hill Cole Clayborne at 13 Television film
A Call to Remember Ben Tobias
1999 Twice in a Lifetime Young Flash Jericho Episode: "Blood Brothers"
So Weird Ryan Ollman Episode: "Second Generation"
It Came from the Sky Andy Bridges Television film
2000 Time Share Thomas Weiland Television film
2000–2001 Titans Ethan Benchley Main role
2001 Sex, Lies & Obsession Josh Thomas Television film
2003 Smallville Seth Nelson Episode: "Magnetic"
2004 House Brandon Merrell Episode: "Occam's Razor"
2005 Felicity: An American Girl Adventure Benjamin "Ben" Davidson Television film
2009–2011 Gossip Girl Damien Dalgaard Recurring role (seasons 3–4), 10 episodes
2012 Titanic: Blood and Steel Mark Muir Main role
2014 Gracepoint Owen Burke
2016 Notorious Oscar Keaton
2018 Dirty John Toby Sellers Recurring role
Fear the Walking Dead Melvin Recurring role (season 4)[31]
2019 Hell's Kitchen Himself Represented St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at a private dinner service; episode: "Poor Trev"
What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage Episode: "Flaremenon"
2021 Rebel[34] Nate[35] Main role
2022–2023 The Rookie: Feds Brendon Acres Main role

Music video

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Year Title Artist
2010 "The Big Bang" Rock Mafia

Awards

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Year Award Category Work Result
1998 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film: Leading Young Actor Air Bud Won
Best Performance in a TV Movie/Pilot/Mini-Series: Supporting Young Actor A Call to Remember Nominated
Best Performance in a TV Movie or Feature Film: Young Ensemble Rose Hill
YoungStar Award Best Young Actor in a Comedy Film Air Bud
1999 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film: Leading Young Actor Air Bud: Golden Receiver
2001 Young Artist Award MVP: Most Valuable Primate
2006 Cannes Film Festival Trophée Chopard – Male Revelation Transamerica Won[36]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Zegers preparing for latest role - Woodstock Sentinel Review - Ontario, CA". Woodstock Sentinel Review. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  2. ^ "CANOE - JAM! Movies: Zegers the new hot Canuck". Jam.canoe.ca. January 12, 2006. Archived from the original on September 16, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  3. ^ Rizzo, Carita. "Kevin Zegers | Celebrities". Hollywood.com. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 12, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ a b "The Kevin Zegers Gallery". Cpps90.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  6. ^ "KZ MOTH EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 2012 « Kevin Zegers – Man of the Hour". Kz-manofthehour.com. June 7, 2012. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  7. ^ "Kevin Zegers - Biography". ca.hellomagazine.com. October 8, 2009. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  8. ^ Simonpillai, Radheyan (April 25, 2013). "Kevin Zegers". NOW Magazine.
  9. ^ "HollywoodKnights.com > The Knights Gazette". www.hollywoodknights.com.
  10. ^ "The X-Files - Season 3 Episode 11" – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  11. ^ Johnston, I. Paul (June 4, 2014). "Canadian Star Of The Week: Kevin Zegers". Archived from the original on November 17, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  12. ^ "9 Actors Who Terrified Us In The Original Goosebumps". Much.com.
  13. ^ "Kid-Friendly 'MVP' Is Chimp Off the Old Block". Los Angeles Times. October 20, 2000.
  14. ^ "A Poignant Holocaust Tale in 'Remember'". Los Angeles Times. August 30, 1997.
  15. ^ Thomas, Leah Marilla (April 23, 2018). "New Villains Arrived On 'Fear The Walking Dead' & Their Tactics Are… Unusual". Bustle.
  16. ^ "TV Guide". Triangle Publications. April 13, 2002 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ "Bram Stoker's SHADOWBUILDER w/ Rooker and Todd Hits Blu-ray in August". June 18, 2018.
  18. ^ Kelly, Brendan (May 21, 1998). "It Came From The Sky".
  19. ^ Staff, Multi Channel News (September 24, 2002). "Showtime to Air Mrs. Ritchie". Multichannel.
  20. ^ "Chopard and the Cannes Festival: A nine-year idyll". Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH. June 14, 2006. Retrieved March 10, 2007.
  21. ^ "AfterElton.com - Interview with Transamerica Director Duncan Tucker (page 2)". May 13, 2006. Archived from the original on May 13, 2006.
  22. ^ Cockrell, Eddie (February 21, 2005). "Transamerica".
  23. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 20, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ^ "Felicity: An American Girl Adventure - Movie Review". www.commonsensemedia.org. August 2, 2007.
  25. ^ Tripp, Valerie (June 13, 1991). Meet Felicity: An American Girl. Pleasant Company. ISBN 9781562470043 – via Google Books.
  26. ^ Dwyer, Michael. "SWAP SLOP". The Irish Times.
  27. ^ "Miley Cyrus embarrassed by Kevin Zegers kiss". CTVNews. November 18, 2010.
  28. ^ "'Titanic: Blood and Steel' Star Kevin Zegers on Mastering Accents, Movie vs. TV Roles and Working With the 'Boss of Actors' (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter. October 8, 2012.
  29. ^ "Titanic: Blood & Steel recounts building of fateful ship - CBC News". CBC. September 18, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  30. ^ Tatiana Siegel, Borys Kit, Kevin Zegers Joins Fantasy Epic 'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones', August 1, 2012, The Hollywood Reporter
  31. ^ a b Petski, Denise (December 5, 2017). "'Fear The Walking Dead': Kevin Zegers Digs Up Role In Season 4". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  32. ^ Kevin Zegers Marries Jaime Feld, People Magazine, Sheila Cosgrove Baylis, 08/04/2013
  33. ^ "Instagram".
  34. '^ "Rebel Drama From Greys Boss, Starring Katey Sagal, Gets Series Order at ABC". TVLine.com. September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  35. ^ Petski, Denise (September 23, 2020). "Kevin Zegers & Sam Palladio Join Katey Sagal In Erin Brockovich-Inspired ABC Drama 'Rebel'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  36. ^ "Q&A WITH KEVIN ZEGERS". Anthem magazine. September 20, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
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