Steve Zahn is a native of Marshall, Minnesota, who was introduced to improvisational theatre in high school. He enrolled at Gustavus-Adolphus College in Minnesota, but dropped out after his freshman year and moved home, getting work in a local machine shop. Crashing the auditions of a local dinner theatre's production of "Biloxi Blues", he won a leading role and soon began to consider an acting career.

In 1989, he auditioned for the prestigious American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and trained there for the next two years. Following a move to New York City, Zahn settled in Hoboken, N.J., and survived the life of a struggling actor through a series of odd jobs. Cast in Tommy Tune's road production of "Bye Bye Birdie", he travelled with the show for 13 months, and as a fringe benefit, met his wife Robyn, who was an actress-dancer in the show. (too bad, ladies!!!)

When the tour ended, Steve was cast in a play at the renowned Playwright's Horizon called "Sophistry". Written by Jonathan Mark Sherman, it co-starred actor Ethan Hawke. It was there that Steve was seen by actor-director Ben Stiller, who was about to direct Hawke in the feature film "Reality Bites", and offered Steve a co-starring role. Additionally, he was featured in Eric Bogosian's play "Suburbia" at the Mitzi Newhouse Theater, which led to a role in the feature film "Crimson Tide" starring Denzel Washington and "Race The Sun", starring Halle Barry, which was filmed entirely in Australia.

In the fall of 1996, Steve starred in Tom Hanks' hit movie "that thing you do!", receiving rave reviews as the freespirited and girlcrazy 'Lenny'. The film was featured as the Gala Closing Film in the Toronto International Film Festival. In preparation for the role, Steve spent hours with a guitar tutor, and still enjoys playing acoustically. His musical preferences range from John Prine to Rage Against The Machine to anything bluegrass.

In the spring of 1997, Steve appeared in Richard Linklater's "subUrbia". A prominent entry in the Sundance Film Festival, it is an adaptation of Eric Bogosian's stageplay. Steve appears as 'Buff', a role which he filled Off-Broadway at the Lincoln Center.








HBO's "Subway Stories: Tales From The Underground" aired in August of 1997. The TV movie consisted of 10 short stories based on true experiences of New York subway riders. Steve appears in the third story, "The 5:24", along with Jerry Stiller ("Seinfeld").

Among his friends and co-stars, Steve is probably best known for his outstanding sense of humor and charismatic personality. Says, Tom Everett Scott (drummer in "that thing you do"), "Steve's like stress relief, so I have to hang out with him!". Steve and wife Robyn Peterman (Sony Pictures' "Sour Grapes") currently reside in westcentral New Jersey.