Zachary Michael Cregger (born March 1, 1981) is an American comedian, actor, and filmmaker. Cregger is a founding member of the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids U' Know and starred in the sitcoms Friends with Benefits, Guys with Kids, and Wrecked. He wrote and directed the horror films Barbarian (2022), Weapons (2025), and Resident Evil (2026), also producing the latter two.
Early life and education
Zachary Michael Cregger was born on March 1, 1981, and raised in Arlington, Virginia. He performed in various local comedy and music groups before moving to Brooklyn, New York to attend the School of Visual Arts.
Career
Actor and comedian
Cregger is a founding member of the Whitest Kids U' Know comedy troupe, formed alongside Trevor Moore and Sam Brown in 2000. While shooting an independent film, he met Darren Trumeter who subsequently joined the group. The Whitest Kids U' Know garnered success locally and online, leading to an invitation to the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado in 2006. The troupe won the award for Best Sketch Group and attracted the attention of several networks. Following the showcase, Fuse ordered a sketch series from the group. The Whitest Kids U' Know aired its first season on the network in 2007 before moving to then-sister network IFC. The series ran for five seasons before concluding in 2011.
Alongside Moore, he starred in and co-directed the films Miss March and The Civil War on Drugs. The latter received a limited theatrical release and aired as a recurring serial during the final season of The Whitest Kids U' Know. The troupe's second feature film, Mars, premiered at the Tribeca Festival in Lower Manhattan, New York on June 6, 2024. In 2008, Cregger made his first film appearance in Deb Hagan's directorial debut College. In 2011, he joined the cast of the NBC sitcom Friends with Benefits. He then starred on the NBC sitcom Guys with Kids from 2012 to 2013. From 2016 to 2018, he starred as Owen O'Connor on the TBS sitcom Wrecked.
Filmmaker
Cregger wrote and directed the 2022 horror film Barbarian, starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long. He wrote and directed the 2025 horror film Weapons, receiving critical acclaim and several accolades including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Amy Madigan. He wrote and directed Resident Evil (2026), based on the video game franchise of the same name from Capcom.
In December 2025, it was announced that he will serve as a producer on a feature film adaptation of Torso for Netflix. At the Warner Bros. Pictures panel at CinemaCon 2026, a new film directed by Cregger, the science fiction thriller The Flood, was announced. It is set for release on August 11, 2028, and will be co-produced with Amblin Entertainment. Jennifer Lawrence was cast in the lead role, and it was the last film greenlit by Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca at Warner Bros. In the same panel, New Line announced a Weapons prequel titled Gladys, set for release on September 8, 2028, which is expected to be co-written with Zach Shields, but will not be directed by Cregger.
In 2026, Cregger was announced to be writing a film adaptation of Trevor Henderson's internet phenomenon Siren Head, with Brian Duffield set to direct.
Personal life
In 2013, Cregger met Sara Paxton in Austin, Texas on the set of Love & Air Sex while they portrayed an on-screen couple. They were engaged in 2018 and married in October 2019.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Miss March | Yes | Yes | No | Co-directed and co-written with Trevor Moore | |
| 2021 | The Civil War on Drugs | Yes | Yes | Executive | ||
| 2022 | Barbarian | Yes | Yes | No | ||
| 2024 | Mars | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2025 | Weapons | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also composer | |
| Companion | No | No | Yes | |||
| 2026 | Resident Evil | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | College | Cooper | ||
| 2009 | Miss March | Eugene Bell | ||
| 2011 | The Death and Return of Superman | Hal Jordan / Green Lantern | Short film | |
| 2013 | Love & Air Sex | Jeff | ||
| 2014 | Date and Switch | Greg | ||
| 2016 | Opening Night | Micky | ||
| 2018 | Doubting Thomas | Graham | ||
| 2021 | The Civil War on Drugs | Abraham Lincoln / various roles | ||
| 2022 | Barbarian | Everett | ||
| 2024 | Mars | Kyle Capshaw / various roles (voices) | ||
| 2026 | Resident Evil | Intercom (voice) |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Creator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Lounge | Yes | |||
| 2004–2006 | Uncle Morty's Dub Shack | Yes | |||
| 2006 | Comedy Zen | Yes | |||
| 2007–11 | The Whitest Kids U' Know | Yes | Yes | Executive | Yes |
| 2021 | Sasquatch | No | No | Executive | No |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Dean Stamper | Episode "Brotherly Love" |
| 2007–11 | The Whitest Kids U' Know | Various roles | Main cast |
| 2011 | Friends with Benefits | Aaron | |
| 2012–13 | Guys with Kids | Nick | |
| 2014 | About a Boy | T.J. | Recurring role |
| 2015 | The McCarthys | Doug | Episode "The Ref" |
| 2016–18 | Wrecked | Owen | Main role |
| 2019 | Adam Ruins Everything | Berch | Episode "Adam Ruins Nature" |
| Just Roll with It | Brent | Episode "Gator's Reunion" |
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Category | Title | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astra Film Award | 2026 | Best Original Screenplay | Weapons | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Award | 2026 | Best Original Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Fangoria Chainsaw Award | 2023 | Best Director | Barbarian | Nominated | |
| Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| 2026 | Best Director | Weapons | Pending | ||
| Best Screenplay | Pending | ||||
| Producers Guild of America Award | 2026 | Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures | Nominated | ||
| Writers Guild of America Award | 2026 | Best Original Screenplay | Nominated |
