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Zach Grenier

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Zach Grenier
Grenier in 2018
Born
Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma mater
OccupationActor
Years active1987–present
Websitezachgrenier.info

Zach Grenier is an American actor. He is known for his work with director David Fincher, and his roles as Andy Cramed on the television series Deadwood (2004–06) and David Lee on The Good Wife (2010–16) and its spinoff The Good Fight (2020–22). He has also starred in various Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for 33 Variations.

Early life and education

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Grenier was born in Englewood, New Jersey.[1] His mother, who was an announcer on a Polish-language radio program, met his father when he was working as a sound engineer at WBNX in the Bronx in the late 1930s.[2] He is a graduate of Ann Arbor Pioneer High School.[3]

He attended University of Michigan, and later earned a Master of Fine Arts in acting from Boston University.[4][5]

Career

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Grenier was a regular cast member on C-16 from 1997 to 1998.[6] He appeared in the first season of the television show 24 as Carl Webb; played Andy Cramed, the gambler who brought the plague to town, on Deadwood; and appeared in several episodes of Law & Order.

In 2010, he was cast on the television series The Good Wife as David Lee, a senior attorney, a role that soon became part of the recurring ensemble. He was promoted to series regular at the start of the fifth season in September 2013.[7]

Grenier has also had a prolific career in film. Notably, he played Edward Norton's boss in Fight Club and Mel Nicolai in Zodiac, both David Fincher films. He appeared in the 1988 film Talk Radio as finance guru Sid Greenberg, a role he played in the original stage version of the script. In the film Twister, he played Eddie, Dr. Jonas Miller's assistant. He played Mr. Reilly, one of the Callahan Auto Parts associates, in Tommy Boy. He appeared in Donnie Brasco as a marriage therapist. He played the role of Professor Cardiff in the 2006 horror film Pulse.

In 2009, he appeared on Broadway opposite Jane Fonda in 33 Variations,[8] earning a Tony Award nomination.

Partial stage credits

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Year Title Role(s) Venue Notes Ref.
1986 The Tooth of Crime Referee, Galactic Jack Hartford Stage, Hartford [9]
1987 Talk Radio Sid Greenberg, Caller Public Theater, New York [9]
1989 Mastergate Various Criterion Center Stage Right, New York [8]
1991 The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui Emanuele Giri Classic Stage Company Theatre, New York [10]
1992 Creditors Gustav Public Theater, New York [10]
Woyzeck Captain [10]
1993 The Fiery Furnace Louis Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York [9]
Born Guilty Peter Greenwald Theatre, New York [10]
1994 Three Birds Alighting on a Field Yoyo, Boreman New York City Center, New York [10]
1995 Uncle Vanya Ivan Petrovich Voinitsky Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven [9]
1996 Rhinoceros John Theater Four, New York [10]
1997 A Question of Mercy Dr. Robert Chapman New York Theatre Workshop, New York [10]
1999 Voices in the Dark Egan Longacre Theatre, New York [8]
2004 Good Canary Susan Stein Shiva Theater, Poughkeepsie Workshop [9]
2006 Stuff Happens Dick Cheney Public Theater, New York [9]
2007 Tartuffe Tartuffe McCarter Theatre, Princeton [9]
Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven [9]
2008 A Man for All Seasons Thomas Cromwell Todd Haimes Theatre, New York [8]
2009 33 Variations Ludwig van Beethoven Eugene O'Neill Theatre, New York [8]
La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla [9]
2010 Lenin's Embalmers Vlad Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York [9]
Gabriel Von Pfunz Linda Gross Theater, New York [9]
2011 Man and Boy Mark Herries Todd Haimes Theatre, New York [8]
2013 The Vandal Man Linda Gross Theater, New York [9]
2015 Doctor Faustus Mephistopheles Classic Stage Company Theatre, New York [9]
2017 Death of a Salesman Willy Loman O'Reilly Theater, New York [9]
Describe the Night Nikolai Linda Gross Theater, New York [9]
2018 Kings Sen. John McDowell Public Theater, New York [9]
Antigone in Ferguson Harlem Stage Gatehouse, New York [9]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1988 Kenny Jesse
Working Girl Jim
1989 See No Evil, Hear No Evil Jerk
1990 A Shock to the System Executive
1991 Problem Child 2 Voytek Claukinski
Delirious Mickey
Liebestraum Barnard Ralston IV
1993 The Contenders Transgender
Cliffhanger Davis
The Man Without a Face Dr. Lionel Talbot
1995 Tommy Boy Ted Reilly
Cafe Society Milton Macka
Drunks Al
Reckless Anchor Person Trish
The Stars Fell on Henrietta Larry Ligstow
1996 Twister Eddie
Mother Night Joseph Goebbels
Maximum Risk Ivan Dzasokhov
1997 Donnie Brasco Dr. Berger
White Lies Terry Seabrooks
Under The Bridge John
1999 Ride With the Devil Mr. Evans
Fight Club Richard Chesler
2000 Shaft Harrison Loeb
Chasing Sleep Geoffrey
2001 Swordfish Assistant Director Bill Joy
2006 Pulse Professor Cardiff
Rescue Dawn Squad Leader
2007 Zodiac Mel Nicolai
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Mr. Sherman / Rafke
2008 The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond Mr. Fenstermaker
2009 Earthwork The Mayor
2011 J. Edgar John Condon
2014 RoboCop Senator Hubert Dreyfus
Free the Nipple Jim Black
2015 Manhattan Romance Trevor
2017 Crown Heights Detective Cassel
2022 She Said Irwin Reiter

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 The Equalizer Wirth Episode: "A Community of Civilized Men"
1987–88 Kate & Allie Engineer 2 episodes
1987, 1989 Miami Vice Internal Affairs Officer, Eric Terry Episode: "Theresa" and "Miracle Man"
1988–89 Tattingers Sonny Franks 11 episodes
1989 A Man Called Hawk Ken Whitewood Episode: "Choice of Chance"
The Equalizer Pack Episode: "The Caper"
1991 The Golden Girls Vaczy Episode: "The Case of the Libertine Belle"
1991–2022 Law & Order Various characters 7 episodes
1993, 2000 NYPD Blue Rudolf Wentz Episode: "NYPD Lou"
Detective Lou Simpkins Episode: "Tea and Sympathy"
1994 Normandy: The Great Crusade Robert Slaughter (voice) TV movie
The Cosby Mysteries Episode: "Our Lady of Cement"
1995 New York News Mike Paretti Episode: "Forgotten"
1996 Gang in Blue Joe Beckstrem TV movie
1997–98 C-16 Jack DiRado Main cast
1999 Ally McBeal Attorney Benson Episode: "Sex, Lies and Politics"
2000 Judging Amy Dr. Norman Golden Episode: "The Out-of-Towners"
The Practice Detective R. Larson Episodes: "Summary Judgements" and "Show and Tell"
2001 Laughter on the 23rd Floor Brian Doyle TV movie
The Whistle-Blower Louis T. Weitzman TV movie
The X-Files Dr. Herman Stites Episode: "Alone"
Curb Your Enthusiasm Lane Michaelson Episodes: "The Doll" and "The Massage"
2001–02 24 Carl Webb 9 episodes
2002 JAG Colonel Boyett Episode: "Code of Conduct"
Without a Trace Ricardo Episode: "Pilot"
Robbery Homicide Division Skip Dayton Episode: "2028"
The Guardian Henry Thomas Episode: "The Living"
Star Trek: Enterprise Renth Episode: "The Catwalk"
2003 Veritas: The Quest Hossik Episode: "Reunion"
2004 Touching Evil FBI Special Agent Hank Enright Main cast
Dr. Vegas Detective Rosen Episode: "Limits"
Crossing Jordan Norman Farrell Episode: "Fire in the Sky"
2004–06 Deadwood Andy Cramed 9 episodes
2005 CSI: NY Ross Howell Episode: "Recycling"
Medium Professor Leonard Cardwell Episode: "The Other Side of the Tracks"
2005–07 Boston Legal U.S. Attorney Chris Randolph 2 episodes
2006 CSI: Miami Professor Meyer Episode: "Fade Out"
Numb3rs Peyton Shoemaker Episode: "Provenance"
The Nine Sean McDermott 3 episodes
2007 Cold Case Ambrose Stone in 1919 Episode: "Torn"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Dr. Kachler Episode: "Dead Doll"
2009 The Philanthropist Tyler Timson Episode: "Kashmir"
2010–11 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Judge Miranski 2 episodes
2010–16 The Good Wife David Lee Recurring (seasons 1–4), regular (seasons 5–7); 62 episodes
2013 Zero Hour Wayne Blanks 3 episodes
2014 The Blacklist Novak Episode: "Madeline Pratt (No. 73)"
Turks & Caicos Dido Parsons TV movie
2016 BrainDead Dean Healy 8 episodes
2017 Chicago P.D. Father Bill McSorley Episode: "Sanctuary"
Blindspot Herman Episode: "Solos"
2017, 2020–22 The Good Fight David Lee Guest (seasons 1, 6); main role (seasons 4–5)[11]
2018–19 Ray Donovan Ed Feratti 6 episodes
2019 God Friended Me James Abbott Episode: "The Lady"
2020 Devs Kenton 7 episodes
2022 FBI: Most Wanted Vasily Matrushok Episode: "Decriminalised"
Killing It Jim Gallant Episode: "The Hard Place"
2024 FBI: International Graham Simmons Episode: "You'll Never See it Coming"
2025 FBI Peter Episode: "Captured"

Awards and nominations

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Award Year Category Work Result Ref.
Drama Desk Award 2006 Outstanding Ensemble Stuff Happens Won [8]
Lucille Lortel Award 2013 Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Storefront Church Nominated [9]
Outer Critics Circle Award 2009 Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play 33 Variations Nominated [9]
Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Play Nominated [8]

References

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  1. ^ https://playbill.com/article/playbillcoms-cue-a-zach-grenier-com-158071
  2. ^ "What's Up, Zach Grenier? The Man and Boy Star on TV-Land, Jane Fonda Fandom and 'Farming' with Frank Langella". Broadway.com. October 7, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  3. ^ Jenn McKee (March 21, 2012). "Ann Arbor's 'The Good Wife' star Zach Grenier leads all-star cast in local 'Ajax' and 'Philoctetes' reading". The Ann Arbor News.
  4. ^ Cantwell, Lois; Neighbor (January 22, 2010). "Patch Profiles Tony-Nominated Actor Zach Grenier". Maplewood, NJ Patch. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  5. ^ Shewey, Don (September 9, 2025). "Culture Vulture: Richard Foreman memorial". Another Eye Opens. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  6. ^ Terrace, Vincent. Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2007 (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co., 2008), p.331.
  7. ^ Stanhope, Kate (June 20, 2013). "The Good Wife Promotes Zach Grenier to Series Regular". TV Guide. Archived from the original on January 4, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "Zach Grenier – Broadway Cast & Staff". IBDB.com. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Zach Grenier". About the Artists. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "Zach Grenier". Spectra Theater. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  11. ^ Ausiello, Michael (December 21, 2019). "The Good Fight: [Spoiler] Returning as a Series Regular — 2020 First Look". TVLine. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
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