Zach Woods
A master of awkward, cerebral comedy who turned corporate sycophants and tech weirdos into some of television's most memorably cringe-inducing characters.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American actor·Birthday: September 25·Millennials
Biography
Zach Woods specializes in the anatomy of discomfort. With a background in improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade, he broke out as the painfully earnest Gabe Lewis on 'The Office,' a man utterly consumed by corporate jargon. He then perfected a new strain of anxious comedy as Jared Dunn on 'Silicon Valley,' the morally conflicted 'head of business development' whose loyalty was both touching and terrifying. Woods brings a unique vulnerability to his roles, often playing men whose intelligence is trapped in a spiral of social anxiety. His performances are studies in subtlety, built on a foundation of precise line readings and a hauntingly sincere gaze that makes even the most bizarre character profoundly human.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Zach was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Zach Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Zach's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the fan-favorite character Jared Dunn across all six seasons of HBO's critically acclaimed series 'Silicon Valley'.
- Played a series regular role as Gabe Lewis for three seasons on the American version of 'The Office'.
- Starred as the reclusive billionaire Edgar Minnows in the first season of Apple TV+'s 'The Afterparty'.
- Performed as a core member of the improv and sketch comedy group 'The Upright Citizens Brigade' in New York.
Did You Know?
He was a student at the prestigious St. Paul's School in New Hampshire.
Woods appeared in a viral video titled 'The Website Is Down,' a comedy sketch about IT support.
He provided the voice for the AI assistant 'GARY' in the film 'The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part'.
He is a frequent collaborator with writer-director Mike Judge, appearing in 'Silicon Valley' and 'Extract'.
“I think awkwardness is just the gap between who we are and who we think we should be.”
