Zachary Levi, the middle child among two sisters, was born Zachary Levi Pugh on September 29, 1980, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Susan (Hoctor) and Darrell Alton Pugh. His parents chose to use his middle name as his stage surname due to his birth name, "Pugh," which has Welsh origins and sounds too similar to "Pew." Additionally, Zachary's ancestry is a rich blend of Irish, English, French, German, Scottish, and Swiss.
Zachary's early life was marked by frequent moves, but his family eventually settled in Ventura County, California. At the tender age of six, he began his journey in the world of acting, singing, and dancing through school and local theater productions.
After graduating from Buena High School, Zachary packed his bags and headed to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. He started his career in theater, taking on roles in regional productions such as Grease, The Outsiders, Oliver, The Wizard of Oz, and Big River. His portrayal of Jesus in Ojai's Godspell caught the attention of Hollywood, paving the way for his future success.
Zachary's early television appearances included a supporting role in the 2002 television movie Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie, alongside David Krumholtz, Tory Kittles, Jennifer Morrison, and Nicholas Turturro. He then landed a recurring role as Kipp Steadman in the TV series Less Than Perfect (2002),starring alongside Sara Rue, Andrea Parker, Eric Roberts, Andy Dick, and Sherri Shepherd.
Zachary's next notable appearance was in the 2003 television movie See Jane Date on the WB, alongside Charisma Carpenter, Holly Marie Combs, Linda Dano, and Rachelle Lefevre. In his free time, Zachary enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including skateboarding, snowboarding, skydiving, and participating in various sports.
After spending nearly a decade in Los Angeles, Zachary relocated to Austin, Texas. In 2019, he starred in the action-comedy film Shazam! (2019),playing the title superhero, a magical older version of teenager Billy Batson played by Asher Angel. The film and his performance received widespread acclaim.
