Zen Gesner


Actor

About

Also Known As
Zen Brant Gesner
Birth Place
Van Nuys, California, USA
Born
June 23, 1970

Biography

The dashing, darkly handsome Zen Gesner brought swashbuckling into the 1990s starring in the title role in the syndicated series "The Adventures of Sinbad" (1996-98). Although a native of Southern California, the athletic actor was well trained to be the adventurer of lore, having excelled in fencing and stage fighting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. The son of actress N...

Family & Companions

Cynthia Farrelly Gesner
Wife
Attorney, actor. Married July 29, 1995 in Massachusetts; sister of writer-directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly.

Biography

The dashing, darkly handsome Zen Gesner brought swashbuckling into the 1990s starring in the title role in the syndicated series "The Adventures of Sinbad" (1996-98). Although a native of Southern California, the athletic actor was well trained to be the adventurer of lore, having excelled in fencing and stage fighting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. The son of actress Nan Martin, Gesner began acting professionally after attending Santa Monica High School, joining the South Coast Repertory Theatre in Orange County, CA. After attending LAMDA and serving as assistant to the fight director for the Royal Opera House in London, Gesner returned to the USA. He made his feature film debut playing the small--but noticed--role of an FBI agent in "Dumb and Dumber" (1996), directed by his brother-in-law Peter Farrelly. Gesner, who surfed extensively in his youth, also played a surfer in the Chris Isaak music video "Somebody's Crying" and reteamed with his in-law for a featured role in "Kingpin" (1996), opposite Woody Harrelson and Randy Quaid.

Life Events

1975

At age five was directed by mother in a short film (date approximate)

1996

Starred in syndcated series "The Adventures of Sinbad"

1996

Played a surfer in Chis Isaak music video, "Somebody's Crying"

1996

Made first screen appearance playing an FBI agent in "Dumb and Dummber", director by his brother-in-law Peter Farrelly

1998

Had small role in "There's Something About Mary"

1998

Joined cast of ABC daytime drama "All My Children" (September)

2000

Appeared in "Me, Myself & Irene"

Family

Harry Gesner
Father
Architect. Born c. 1923.
Nan Martin
Mother
Actor. Born on July 15, 1928; previously married to musician Robert Dolan.
Casey Martin Dolan
Half-Brother
Musician. Born on January 7, 1954.
Finn Harry Gesner
Son
Born on July 24, 1997 in Capetown, South Africa.
Rory Farrelly Gesner
Son
Born on October 9, 2000 in Santa Monica, California.

Companions

Cynthia Farrelly Gesner
Wife
Attorney, actor. Married July 29, 1995 in Massachusetts; sister of writer-directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly.

Bibliography