Zachary Wolfe Galligan is an American actor. He is best known for starring as Billy Peltzer in the comedy-horror films Gremlins (1984) and Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990).
Galligan at the Chiller Theatre Expo in New Jersey in 2013
Gremlins is a 1984 American comedy horror film directed by Joe Dante, written by Chris Columbus, and starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday, and Frances Lee McCain, with Howie Mandel providing the voice of Gizmo, the main mogwai character. It draws on legends of folkloric mischievous creatures that cause malfunctions—"gremlins"—in the British Royal Air Force going back to World War II. The story follows young man Billy Peltzer, who receives a strange creature as a pet, which then spawns other creatures that transform into aggressive, imp-like monsters that wreak havoc on Billy's town during Christmas Eve.
Theatrical release poster by John Alvin
Chris Columbus conceived of the idea for Gremlins and wrote the initial draft as a spec script.
Zach Galligan was a relatively unknown actor when cast as the lead character Billy.
Comedian Howie Mandel provided the voice for Gizmo.