Zach Galifianakis: Comedy's Sensitive, Sarcastic Sensation

 

Share

0

Galifianakis isn't always inappropriate. The 41-year-old, North Carolina born-and-bred actor claims his true self bears little resemblance to his over-the-top "Hangover" character. His turn as a psych ward patient turned teen mentor in "It's Kind of a Funny Story" isn't his first in a serious movie -- besides "Up in the Air," he appeared in Penn's 2007 Oscar-nominated "Into the Wild," which probably explains how he got Penn on "Between Two Ferns" -- but it is his most meaty.

Zach Galifianakis 'Hates' Hollywood Types Watch Video

Jason Schwartzman: Fake Detective Watch Video

'Hangover' Star on the Morning After Watch Video

"I think I tricked [directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck] into believing that I could pull it off -- a more serious thing," he said. "I was also kind of flattered to be a part of something that was a little bit more of a sensitive story than just a big, loud comedy."

Zach Galifianakis, sensitive? Certainly. But there's no stopping his sarcastic streak, especially when he gets going about those Hollywood ego-maniacs he loves to hate.

"My mom needs to get permission to call me. Sometimes I will call her back," he said. "I will go 'Hi mom, it's Zach Galifianakis, what do you want to talk about?' She will say 'Why don't you call?' and I say 'I've changed. It's a new realm. I am hanging out with the California Raisins, McGruff the Crime Dog, a lot of other Hollywood types and I don't have time for my family.'"