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IMDbPro

Ben Zook

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Writer
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Ben Zook
Ben is currently one of the creators, producers and stars of the hit gay web series, "Where the Bears Are!" The award-winning comedy mystery is a worldwide success with over 50 MILLION VIEWS online and was named "Best Gay Web Series" of 2012 and 2018 by Queerty.com. He also creates original comedy content for his youtube channel.

He's also the original writer of the Sony PIctures movie, "Jack and Jill" starring Adam Sandler, Al Pacino and Katie Holmes. Ben's other feature projects include Tom, Dick and Harry, and Weddingville for New Line, Housemom for MGM, My Gay Ghost for Patriot Pictures, and I Hate Valentine's Day for Revolution Studios.

For television, Ben co-wrote two sketch comedy pilots with Joey Soloway and Faith Soloway of Transparent, including Headcheese for MTV, and Mall-o-rama for ABC. He also wrote and performed in Bob Odenkirk's sketch pilot for FOX entitled, Next!

Ben is best known for his work in the Chicago Improv and Theatre scene, as well as the Los Angeles Alternative Comedy scene. Born and raised in Kansas, he went on to attend Indiana University, where he studied Music and Theatre. After graduation, he moved to Chicago, where he studied improvisation at the famed Second City.

He was also a founding member of Chicago's Annoyance Theatre, where, under the direction of Improv God, Mick Napier, he co-wrote and performed in such hits as, The Real Live Brady Bunch, That Darn Anti-Christ and Manson: The Musical. He also co-wrote and directed the highly successful, Tippi Portrait of a Virgin: An Afterschool Special Gone Bad. While there, Ben performed with Jon Favreau, Andy Richter, Steve Carrell, Melanie Hutsell, Jane Lynch, Matt Walsh, Kate Flannery, and Jeff Garlin, among many talented others.

After performing in The Real Live Brady Bunch in New York, L.A. and San Francisco, Ben moved to Los Angeles, where he co-wrote, directed, and performed in several stage hits including, Not Without My Nipples!, with Janeane Garofalo and Molly Shannon, Baby Jesus and his Holiday Pixies with Ana Gasteyer, Theatre a Go-Go's production of Valley of the Dolls, and the runaway hit, Phoxes, a stage version of the 1980 Jodie Foster cult movie.

Ben was also a fixture in the Los Angeles Alternative Comedy scene where he performed regularly with people like Jack Black, Will Ferrell, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Sarah Sliverman, Zack Galifinakis, and Fred Armisen among others, in hit shows like Laura Milligan's Tantrum, Character Assassination, Beachwood Palace Jubilee, Media Whore, For Entertainment Purposes Only, and Slap and Tickle, among others.

Ben is also the head writer/director of the highly successful sketch comedy group, Margot's Bush, along with fellow performers Sam Pancake, Melanie Hutsell, Pat Towne, Loretta Fox, Joe Liss, Brett Paesel and Eliza Coyle.

Ben and writing partner, Stephen Falick, co-wrote and co-directed the 80s dance spoof, Can't Stop Dancing!, which featured Ben, along with Janeane Garofalo, Noah Wyle, Ileanna Douglas, Kathy Griffin, Bob Odenkirk, David Cross, Fred Willard, Anthony Edwards and Margaret Cho. The film was an audience favorite at The Palm Springs Film Festival, The Seattle Film Festival and Outfest.

Ben also starred in the indie feature comedy, The Thin Pink Line, along with Jason Priestley, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, and Mike Myers among others.
BornFebruary 5, 1964
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BornFebruary 5, 1964
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  • Awards

Photos8

Winner 2018 Queerty Award for Best Web Series
Ben Zook
Ben Zook
Ben Zook in Reno 911! (2003)
Rick Copp, Joe Dietl, Ben Zook, Chad Sanders, and Ian Parks in Where the Bears Are (2012)
Ben Zook
Janeane Garofalo, Illeana Douglas, Noah Wyle, Kathy Griffin, Laura Innes, Carrie Aizley, John Aylward, Shaune Bagwell, Margaret Cho, David Cross, Bruce Daniels, Melanie Hutsell, Michael Irpino, Taylor Negron, Bob Odenkirk, Brett Paesel, Fred Willard, and Ben Zook in Can't Stop Dancing (1999)

Known for

Scott Beauchemin, Rick Copp, Joe Dietl, George Sebastian, Ben Zook, Chad Sanders, Ian Parks, Tim Hooper, Adam Ridge, and Ryan Oji in Where the Bears Are (2012)
Where the Bears Are
7.3
TV Series
  • Nelson Dorkoff
  • Nelson
Adam Sandler in Jack and Jill (2011)
Jack and Jill
3.3
  • Writer
  • 2011
Janeane Garofalo, Illeana Douglas, Noah Wyle, Kathy Griffin, Laura Innes, Carrie Aizley, John Aylward, Shaune Bagwell, Margaret Cho, David Cross, Bruce Daniels, Melanie Hutsell, Michael Irpino, Taylor Negron, Bob Odenkirk, Brett Paesel, Fred Willard, and Ben Zook in Can't Stop Dancing (1999)
Can't Stop Dancing
4.3
  • Randy Rubio
  • 1999
The Thin Pink Line (1998)
The Thin Pink Line
3.5
  • Faggles
  • Mr. Wintergarden
  • 1998

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

  • Scott Beauchemin, Rick Copp, Joe Dietl, George Sebastian, Ben Zook, Chad Sanders, Ian Parks, Tim Hooper, Adam Ridge, and Ryan Oji in Where the Bears Are (2012)
    Where the Bears Are
  • Sorry (2008)
    Sorry
  • Reno 911! (2003)
    Reno 911!
  • Mystro Clark, Jennifer Elise Cox, Jane Lynch, Sam Pancake, Jack Plotnick, and Wendi McLendon-Covey in Lovespring International (2006)
    Lovespring International
  • Primetime Glick (2001)
    Primetime Glick
  • John Carroll Lynch, Drew Carey, Diedrich Bader, Craig Ferguson, Kathy Kinney, Christa Miller, and Ryan Stiles in The Drew Carey Show (1995)
    The Drew Carey Show
    • (as Benjamin Zook)
  • Rose McGowan and Robert Forster in Roads to Riches (2002)
    Roads to Riches
  • Janeane Garofalo, Illeana Douglas, Noah Wyle, Kathy Griffin, Laura Innes, Carrie Aizley, John Aylward, Shaune Bagwell, Margaret Cho, David Cross, Bruce Daniels, Melanie Hutsell, Michael Irpino, Taylor Negron, Bob Odenkirk, Brett Paesel, Fred Willard, and Ben Zook in Can't Stop Dancing (1999)
    Can't Stop Dancing
  • The Thin Pink Line (1998)
    The Thin Pink Line
  • David Cross and Bob Odenkirk in Mr. Show with Bob and David (1995)
    Mr. Show with Bob and David
  • Comedy Product

Producer

  • Scott Beauchemin, Rick Copp, Joe Dietl, George Sebastian, Ben Zook, Chad Sanders, Ian Parks, Tim Hooper, Adam Ridge, and Ryan Oji in Where the Bears Are (2012)
    Where the Bears Are

Writer

  • Scott Beauchemin, Rick Copp, Joe Dietl, George Sebastian, Ben Zook, Chad Sanders, Ian Parks, Tim Hooper, Adam Ridge, and Ryan Oji in Where the Bears Are (2012)
    Where the Bears Are
  • Adam Sandler in Jack and Jill (2011)
    Jack and Jill
  • I Hate Valentine's Day (2009)
    I Hate Valentine's Day
  • Janeane Garofalo, Illeana Douglas, Noah Wyle, Kathy Griffin, Laura Innes, Carrie Aizley, John Aylward, Shaune Bagwell, Margaret Cho, David Cross, Bruce Daniels, Melanie Hutsell, Michael Irpino, Taylor Negron, Bob Odenkirk, Brett Paesel, Fred Willard, and Ben Zook in Can't Stop Dancing (1999)
    Can't Stop Dancing

Personal details

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    • February 5, 1964
    • Kansas City, Missouri, USA
    • Joe Dietl? - present

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    Performed in Bob Odenkirk's sketch pilot for FOX entitled, Next!.

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