Biography
Serving as his actress mother's legacy, Zen Gesner began gracing the big screen with his chiseled good looks in 1994, when he had small roles in Dumb & Dumber (starring
Jim Carrey and
Jeff Daniels) and
Victim.
He was born to
Nan Martin on June 23, 1970, in Van Nuys, CA, and began crafting his skill as an actor immediately following high school. After studying fencing and stage combat at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he returned to the U.S. West Coast. There he had two sons, Finn and Rory, borne of wife Cynthia Farrelly Gesner. As brother-in-law of producers
Peter Farrelly and
Bobby Farrelly, handsome Gesner has appeared in several major motion pictures since breaking into the biz.
Following along the comedy route of Dumb & Dumber, Gesner had parts in 1996's
Kingpin starring
Woody Harrelson, as well as the hilarious
There's Something About Mary -- starring
Ben Stiller -- in 1998. His television appearances include the
Adventures of Sinbad series beginning in 1996, along with several other cameos including an episode of
Friends and
All My Children. He also appeared in the Farrelly brothers' 2001 feature
Shallow Hal, a romantic comedy starring
Jack Black of Tenacious D, and
Gwyneth Paltrow. ~ Sarah Sloboda, All Movie Guide