Zach Gilford graduated with a theater degree from Northwestern University. He made his film debut in the 2003 short Handbook to Casual Stalking, and later starred in the films The Last Winter (where he appeared alongside FNL co-star Connie Britton), Dare, and Post Grad, alongside Alexis Bledel.
Gilford is best known for his portrayal of quarterback Matt Saracen in the NBC series Friday Night Lights. Critics have, in particular, praised his performance in the fourth season episode "The Son", where his character grappled with the death of his absentee father. He stayed as a regular until the end of the fourth season, although he returned for several episodes in the fifth and final season.
Gilford joined the cast of the ABC medical series, Off The Map. After the show's cancellation, he moved on to star on the FOX series The Mob Doctor as Dr. Brett Robinson.
FILM:
- Handbook to Casual Stalking (2003)
- The Last Winter (2006)
- Rise (2007)
- Dare (2009)
- Post Grad (2009)
- The River Why (2010)
- Super (2010)
- Answers to Nothing (2011)
TELEVISION:
- Friday Night Lights (regular, 2006-2010; recurring, 2010-2011)
- Off The Map (regular, 2011)
- The Mob Doctor (regular, 2012-present)