Zak Knutson (born January 4, 1974, in Detroit, Michigan) is a director, producer, writer, and actor.

Zak Charles Knutson
BornJanuary 4, 1974 (1974-01-04) (age 50)
Occupation(s)American actor and film producer
Years active1993–present
SpouseMolly Glover (2010-present)

Career

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1990s

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Starting in 1993, Knutson acted in multiple television programs including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Coach, Beverly Hills, 90210, and The John Larroquette Show.

2000s

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In 2000, Knutson landed an assistant role at View Askew Productions.[1] In 2005, he created the production company Chop Shop Entertainment[1][2] with longtime friend Joey Figueroa.

2010s

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The last Chop Shop project was Milius, a documentary on Hollywood rebel John Milius. The film opened at the SXSW Film Festival in 2013. The film also played at the Telluride Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival. In 2014, Knutson directed Marvel 75: From Pulp to Pop[3] for Marvel and ABC Television. Knutson directed Shock the World, a documentary about Jesse Ventura's path from professional wrestler to governor of Minnesota. Shock the World premiered April 2015 at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival.[4][5]

Knutson directed Marvel's Captain America: 75 Heroic Years, which aired on ABC on January 19, 2016.[6]

The film Supercon, starring Clancy Brown, Maggie Grace and John Malkovich, was written by Knutson (along with Dana Snyder and Andy Sipes) and is directed by Knutson.[7]

Personal life

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In his youth, Knutson was an avid surfer and a fan of the film Big Wednesday.[8] Knutson worked as a bouncer in the mid 1990s[9] and as a tour guide for Universal Studios Hollywood.[10]

Filmography

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Year Film Director Producer Editor Actor Notes
1993 The John Larroquette Show Yes Episode "There's a Mister Hitler Here to See You" as Hanz
1994 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Yes Episode "I Know Why the Caged Bird Screams" as Football Player #2
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Yes Episode "Civil Defense" as Pakled Commander
Coach Yes Episodes "The Popcorn Bowl" and "Out of Control" as Doug Prescott
1995 Sisters Yes Episode "Sleeping with the Devil" as Drunk Frat Guy
Burke's Law Yes Episode "Who Killed Cock-a-Doodle Dooley?" as Detective Dan Cutter
Species Yes As Club Doorman (uncredited)
2001 FreakyLinks Yes Episode "Subject: Still I Rise" as Production Assistant
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Yes (voice) (uncredited) as The C.L.I.T.
2004 Snowball Effect: The Story of 'Clerks' Line producer
Clerks 10th Anniversary Q & A Yes Producer
Clerks: The Lost Scene Yes (voice) as Mr. Dwyer
2005 Laws of Gambling Yes Yes As Bartender
The Ape Yes Also Line producer
2006 Clerks II Yes As the Sexy Stud
Train Wreck! Yes Yes Yes
Back to the Well: the making of Clerks II Yes Yes Yes
2007 The Art of Travel: Production Webisodes Yes Yes Yes
Good Time Max Yes Yes (co-producer); As Carl
2008 Sold Out: A Threevening with Kevin Smith Yes Yes Yes co-produced; co-directed
2009 Fanboys Yes As Bob the Trucker
Popcorn Porn - Watching Zack and Miri Make a Porno Yes Yes Yes
2011 Kevin Smith: Too Fat for 40 Yes Yes Yes
Tracing Amy - The Chasing Amy Doc Yes Yes Yes
Hollywoo Yes As Paramount Head of Security
2012 Kevin Smith: Burn in Hell Yes Yes Yes
Get the Gringo Yes As Hitman 2
Spoilers With Kevin Smith Yes Yes Producer:

Episode #1.10 You Don't Know Dick: 'K. Phillip'
Stiller? I Never Met Her
Aurora's Dark Knight
Peter Parker Pecked a Pack of Powers
I Don't Wanna Miss a Thong
Gore Score and Severed Ears Ago
Cruising to the Oldies
Ridley Me This, Fatman
Girls Just Wanna Have Guns

Director:

Episode #1.10
You Don't Know Dick: 'K. Phillip'
Stiller? I Never Met Her
Aurora's Dark Knight
Peter Parker Pecked a Pack of Powers
I Don't Wanna Miss a Thong
Gore Score and Severed Ears Ago
Cruising to the Oldies
Ridley Me This, Fatman
Girls Just Wanna Have Guns

2013 Milius Yes Yes Yes
2014 Tusk Yes As Ernest Hemingway
Marvel 75: From Pulp to Pop Yes
2015 Shock the World Yes
2016 Marvel's Captain America: 75 Heroic Years Yes
2018 Supercon Yes Also writing credit

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2013 SXSW Film Festival Audience Award Milius Nominated
2013 Sitges - Catalan International Film Festival New Visions Award Milius Won

References

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  1. ^ a b "Milius". USC Cinema Arts. 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
  2. ^ "Meet the 2013 SXSW Filmmakers #6: Zak Knutson and Joey Figueroa Teach Film History with 'Milius". 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
  3. ^ "TV Review: 'Marvel, 75 Years: From Pulp to Pop!'". 2014-11-04. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
  4. ^ "'Shock The World' about Jesse Ventura's surprise rise to Governor at Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival". Miami Herald. 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
  5. ^ "Jesse Ventura's path to governor traced in new documentary". 2015-03-18. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
  6. ^ "Celebrate one of the world's most iconic in 'Marvel's Captain America: 75 Heroic Years' on January 19!". 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  7. ^ "Zak Knutson Blames Poor Press Release For Similarities Between Supercon And The Big Con Job". 2016-07-07. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  8. ^ "Joey Figueroa and Zak Knutson interview: Milius". 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
  9. ^ "Meet the 2013 SXSW Filmmakers #6: Zak Knutson and Joey Figueroa Teach Film History with 'Milius". 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
  10. ^ "Milius interview – Joey Figueroa and Zak Knutson". 2013-11-30. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
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