Zach Gilford was born Zachary Michael Gilford on January 14, 1982, in Evanston, Illinois, USA. His mother is Anne Gilford, and his father is Steve Gilford.

Zach Gilford graduated from Evanston Township High School. After graduating in 2000, he attended Northwestern University and majored in theatre. His ancestors are Swedish and Russian-Jewish.

Gilford began his professional acting career as a trip leader with Adventures Cross-Country, followed by a position on the staff of YMCA Camp Echo. He has conducted wilderness and adventure trips for adolescents in Hawaii, Alaska, British Columbia, California, and the South Pacific. He reportedly decided to make acting his career after hurting his leg while playing high school football.

Zach Gilford began his acting career in 2003. He made his acting debut in the short film Handbook to Casual Stalking. Then followed breakthrough roles as Matt Saracen, the main character in the TV series Friday Night Lights, and Maxwell McKinder in the 2006 film The Last Winter. Being a part of the main cast from seasons 1 to 3 of the latter, he played recurring roles in seasons 4 and 5.

Zach Gilford siblings: Who are Zach Gilford’s siblings?

If he has siblings, nothing is known about them as of the time of writing.