Zack, who lives in his own apartment, supplemented his income by working at a local movie theater until it closed last month and took small acting roles. A new adventure movie is currently in production and it stars Zachary Gottsagen, an actor living with Down syndrome. Find out what your cat is trying to tell you with a new cat app, Princess Diana died when Harry was just 12 years old, Penn. In The Peanut Butter Falcon, a coming-of-age tale about a young man named Zak who runs away from a nursing home … He enrolled in a performing arts school and took acting lessons, and after years of training and dedication to the craft, Gottsagen achieved what many thought would be impossible. Last night, Zack Gottsagen made history by becoming the first Oscar presenter with Down's Syndrome. The star of The Peanut Butter Falcon, he took to the stage with his friend and co-star Shia LaBeouf to a standing ovation at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. ; LaBeouf stars alongside Zack Gottsagen in "The Peanut Butter Falcon," a film about a young man with Down syndrome's journey to becoming a professional wrestler. Zak runs away from his care home to make his dream of becoming a … Not that he dreamt … In The Peanut Butter Falcon, a coming-of-age tale about a young man named Zak who runs away from a nursing home … If they watch me in a movie, maybe they’ll think that they can do anything too. Gottsagen was the one to say ‘The Oscar goes to…’ with LaBeouf, 33, announcing The Neighbour’s Widow to be the winner. 3:12. The actor received a standing ovation after presenting with co-star Shia LaBeouf for the live-action short film category. MARK RALSTON / AFP/Getty Images. 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The critically acclaimed new movie "The Peanut Butter Falcon" took an unusual path to Hollywood and has made an unlikely star of Zack Gottsagen, an actor who has Down syndrome. “It’s fantastic, it’s his dream,” said his stepmother Trish. It also stars Shia LaBeouf as a small-time outlaw turned unlikely coach who joins forces with Zak (Zack Gottsagen), a young man with Down’s syndrome who is on the … He is an unmarried guy as he is focusing on his career in acting. Maybe someone else with a disability will follow their dreams because of me.”. Filmmakers Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz met Zack at a camp for actors with disabilities 6 years ago. Find out more about Zack … Meet Zack Gottsagen, the actor with Down syndrome at the Oscars with Shia LaBeouf. keeping his low-profile, he has ever let anyone know about his parents and siblings. From Fan to Friend. Zack also wowed his costars. MIAMI (CBSMiami) — SXSW Film Festival audience award-winner The Peanut Butter Falcon, stars Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson and newcomer Zack Gottsagen. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Photos: Jared Wilson From Down Syndrome WorldTM Issue 1 2019 Film wins Audience Award at the prestigious South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, and audiences fall in love with Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s […] The film stars Zack Gottsagen, a 35-year-old actor who has Down syndrome, and it’s Gottsagen’s own life that is grist for the story. Gottsagen’s mom Shelley helped him get to where he is today by fighting Palm Beach County when it rejected his application to a performing arts magnet school. Zack Gottsagen becomes first Oscar presenter with Down syndrome. Gottsagen plays Zak, a man who runs away from a nursing home to attend a professional wrestling school. Gottsagen is an actor with Down syndrome and, in … “He said I really want to be in feature films and Mike and I had been making short films and commercials and smaller things, so it was kind of this perfect moment when we were looking to make something bigger and we had fallen in love with Zack for past three years,” said Nilson. You’ll just be raving about Zack Gottsagen. And he’s a movie star ‘Peanut Butter Falcon’ actor on his star-making role alongside Shia LaBeouf Upon his insistence, Zack was the first child with Down syndrome to be fully included in the Palm Beach County school district. LaBeouf invited his The Peanut Butter Falcon co-star Zack Gottsagen to join him at the Oscars, marking Gottsagen's first time at the star-studded event. Zack Gottsagen stars in The Peanut Butter Falcon. The Peanut Butter Falcon star Zack Gottsagen made history at the 92nd annual Oscars as the first presenter with Down syndrome. JC Olivera/WireImage. The pair, who star in The Peanut Butter Falcon together, teamed up … It's that time of year again... via: Getty Images. Zack Gottsagen, Actor: The Peanut Butter Falcon. The star of the film is a young man called Zack Gottsagen. MARK RALSTON / AFP/Getty Images. It was hard sometimes, but I knew if I worked hard, I would do a good job, and I did. “They’ve always been my great friends.”. Working with an idol isn’t the only positive that’s come out of the experience of … Zack Gottsagen presented an award alongside his co-star Shia LaBeouf at the prestigious ceremony. February 9, 2020, 7:26 PM. "I’m really proud of myself," Gottsagen tells PEOPLE of starring in The Peanut Butter Falcon alongside Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson. The star of the film is a young man called Zack Gottsagen. OSCARS viewers defended Shia LaBeouf tonight after trolls said he laughed at actor Zack Gottsagen on stage. Zack Gottsagen has lived with Down syndrome for 35 years, but he's also lived with a dream. While rubbing elbows with David Heath, better known as Gangrel the Vampire Warrior, Zach said he is ready for the ring and excited to talk about his movie. For filmmakers Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson, the inspiration for their new film “The Peanut Butter Falcon” came from one person: Zack Gottsagen, a 34-year-old actor with Down syndrome. “Down syndrome won’t stop me,” Gottsagen says. Eleanor (played by Dakota Johnson) is on the hunt for them,” Schwartz explained. Awards season is in full swing and last night, it was the turn of the hotly anticipated Oscars. Zack Gottsagen Is The First Oscars Presenter With Down’s Syndrome. The 92nd Oscars saw history being made when The Peanut Butter Falcon star Zack Gottsagen became the first presenter with Down Syndrome to give away the award in any category. Shelley, now 64, filed suit saying that he should not be denied access due to disability. “For me it was kind of fun and exciting and for me I love working with these two always,” said Zack. Meet Zack Gottsagen, the actor with Down syndrome at the Oscars with Shia LaBeouf. The film also stars Shia Labeouf and Dakota Johnson. Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagen speak onstage during the Academy Awards. Featured: Dakota Johnson, Zack Gottsagen, and his mothers, Shelley and Trish, and Shia LaBeouf at Global’s Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show. CBS4’s Lisa Petrillo met Zack, his proud mom and stepmom, and others from the film at Gangrel’s Wrestling in Dania Beach. There are not a lot of actors with disabilities and with Down syndrome in particular that get these opportunities. Zack Gottsagen was the first student with Down syndrome to be fully included in mainstream classes in the Palm Beach County School District, according to … “He’s creatively masterful. “My name is Zachary Gottsagen and I’m the main star of The Peanut Butter Falcon,” he said proudly to Petrillo. The Peanut Butter Falcon opens in South Florida theaters Friday. Zack Gottsagen dreamed of being an actor as he grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida. … He was my rock.”, Adds Johnson, 29: “Working with Zack was the most honest and loving experience I’ve had with another actor. The unknown 34-year-old makes his big-screen debut (opposite Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson). RELATED VIDEO: Ms. The ceremony saw Gottsagen take to the stage alongside co-star Shia LaBeouf to present the Oscar for … The action adventure comedy co-stars Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson. And he’s a movie star ‘Peanut Butter Falcon’ actor on his star-making role alongside Shia LaBeouf. Credit: The Peanut Butter Falcon is a modern Mark Twain-esque adventure. HeyUGuys 6,395 views. “Down syndrome won’t stop me,” Gottsagen says. “It’s about a young man with Down syndrome who breaks out of a retirement home to chase his dream of meeting his favorite wrestler and going to wrestling school and he meets  up with a small time outlaw on the run played by Shia LaBeouf and then they go and have a wild adventure. “I knew I could do it. “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” out this year, is about a man with Down syndrome (played by Gottsagen), who runs away from a care home to follow his dreams of becoming a … February 9, 2020, 7:26 PM. “The Peanut Butter Falcon” features box office mainstays Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson, but the lead role in the road trip comedy is held by Zack Gottsagen, who has Down syndrome. He was the first child with Down’s syndrome to be fully included in the Palm Beach County school district and graduated from Dreyfoos School of the Arts, as a theatre major in 2004. “The Peanut Butter Falcon” star Zack Gottsagen made history as the first Oscars presenter with Down Syndrome, taking the stage with his co … While some thought Gottsagen’s acting goal seemed unlikely because he has Down syndrome, Gottsagen never let that stop him. The critically acclaimed new movie "The Peanut Butter Falcon" took an unusual path to Hollywood and has made an unlikely star of Zack Gottsagen, an actor who has Down syndrome. Up and coming actor Zack Gottsagen appeared on This Morning today to discuss his role in The Peanut Butter Falcon. (KGTV) — For "The Peanut Butter Falcon" star Zack Gottsagen, his first time on the Academy Awards stage was a first-ever for the Oscars. The critically acclaimed new movie 'The Peanut Butter Falcon' took an unusual path to Hollywood and has made an unlikely star of Zack Gottsagen, an actor who has Down syndrome. Zack Gottsagen has dreamed of becoming a Hollywood star for a long time, having the star role in a recent movie, this dream may become a reality for the actor with Down’s syndrome. Zack Gottsagen is best known for working on Bulletproof (2012), The peanut butter falcon (2019) and the best summer ever (2020). The duo each took turns to take a line from the TV prompter. Actor Zack Gottsagen, who recently starred in "The Peanut Butter Falcon" made Oscar history as the first award presenter with Down syndrome. His work on 2014’s Becoming Bulletproof, about actors with disabilities, caught the eyes of writers Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, who were so impressed that they wrote a role for him in Peanut Butter Falcon. “There were times his eyes were the only thing I could look at,” LaBeouf says. Gottsagen, who calls South Florida home, has Down syndrome. On February 9, 2020, he made Academy Awards show history by becoming the first person with Down's Syndrome to present the Best Live Action Short Film with his The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) co-star Shia LaBeouf. Read full article. Oscars 2020 Red Carpet Fashion: See the Stars’ Styles Read article Zack Gottsagen, an American actor with Down’s syndrome, is tipped for Oscar glory for his lead role in The Peanut Butter Falcon, which airs this October. They instantly became best friends and the two wrote the film around him. Gottsagen plays the leading role of a young man who escapes from the nursing home where he is living to pursue his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. Gottsagen plays a young man Down syndrome who runs away from a nursing home. Released in the US back in August of this year, the Peanut Butter Falcon is a modern Mark Twain adventure story. Zak (Zack Gottsagen) is a young man with Downs who has been resigned to a nursing home due to a plot-facilitating state oversight. He’s pure light, and he totally changed my heart.”, “People think that someone with Down can’t do things,” Zack says. “The 3 of us decided to undertake this journey and it took us 5 years to get here and we’re here now.”. Gottsagen, who calls South Florida home, has Down syndrome. The two had originally met Gottsagen while volunteering at a camp for actors with disabilities, where they worked with him on the 2012 short film “Bulletproof Jackson.” Gottsagen plays Zak, a man who runs away from a nursing … Text us for exclusive photos and videos, royal news, and way more. The Academy Awards turned into something of a coming out party for one actor you may not know. Zack Gottsagen is a 34-year-old actor with Down’s syndrome from Florida, USA, who has been acting since the age of 3. Drew Weisholtz. “I would dream of working with him someday.”. Now Gottsagen stars in the new film The Peanut Butter Falcon with LaBeouf, 33, and Dakota Johnson. He is an actor, known for The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019), Best Summer Ever (2020) and Sacramento River Cats project. ©2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. In the movie, Zak (Gottsagen) escapes his residential nursing home to follow his dream of training under his professional wrestling idol. You'll get the latest updates on this topic in your browser notifications. Wheelchair USA 2019 Winner Brittany Hawley: ‘My Pain Is Driving Me To Be Who I Want To Be’. (CBS4). In case you have missed the buzz, the film ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’ has been released today in cinemas. Shia LaBeouf, left, and Zack Gottsagen present the award for best live action short film at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Shia LaBeouf recently told the UK's Channel 4 that a costar with Down syndrome saved him after a string of embarrassing incidents culminated in his arrest in July 2017 on charges of disorderly conduct, obstruction, and public drunkenness. CBS4’s Lisa Petrillo met Zack, his proud mom and stepmom, and others from the film at Gangrel’s Wrestling in Dania Beach. Zack Gottsagen was born on April 22, 1985 as Zachary Robin Gottsagen. While filming The Peanut Butter Falcon, Shia LaBeouf said his co-star with Down’s syndrome ‘saved him’ after a string of embarrassing incidents. Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagen are interviewed for their movie The Peanut Butter Falcon which also stars Dakota Johnson. The star of the film is a young man called Zack Gottsagen. For his two moms, seeing Zack doing what he loves means the world. Zack Gottsagen is a movie star. “I knew I could do it. Gottsagen plays a young man Down syndrome who runs away from a nursing home. Coyote Ugly Turns 20: Where Is the Cast Now? It's that time of year again... via: Getty Images. The Peanut Butter Falcon actor Zack Gottsagen made history after becoming the first ever individual with Down’s Syndrome to present an award at the Oscars. “For me I get to watch and see how they do work and use their talent, and they’re so strong,” he said. By viewing our video content, you are accepting the terms of our. Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz & Zack Gottsagen Interview - The Peanut Butter Falcon Premiere - Duration: 3:12. Awards season is in full swing and last night, it was the turn of the hotly anticipated Oscars. We just really want to make a difference so that the world is more inclusive of all people,” said his Mom Shelley Gottsagen. Zack Gottsagen has Down syndrome. (A genetic condition, Down causes developmental delays and mild to moderate intellectual disabilities.) Shia LaBeouf was protective of his Peanut Butter Falcon costar Zack Gottsagen at the 2020 Academy Awards on Sunday, February 9. It was hard sometimes, but I … 10 months ago. The Academy Awards turned into something of a coming out party for one actor you may not know. It also stars Shia LaBeouf as a small-time outlaw turned unlikely coach who joins forces with Zak (Zack Gottsagen), a young man with Down’s syndrome who is on the run from the nursing home where he’s been forced to live. The Peanut Butter Falcon star Zack Gottsagen made history at … If you would like to opt out of browser push notifications, please refer to the following instructions specific to your device and browser: this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Directed by Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz. The Peanut Butter Falcon is a modern Mark Twain-esque adventure. I’m really proud of myself.”, For more on Zach Gottsagen, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on stands Friday. “The Peanut Butter Falcon” features box office mainstays Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson, but the lead role in the road trip comedy is held by Zack Gottsagen, who has Down syndrome. With Zack Gottsagen, Ann Owens, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern. Zack Gottsagen, 33, who has Down Syndrome, sweeps up after a movie inside Alco Capital Theater in Boynton Beach Thursday, June 28, 2018. Introducing ... PEOPLE's Products Worth the Hype. “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” a movie starring Zack Gottsagen, an actor with Down syndrome has a summer release date — Aug. 9. Read more: Oscars highlights. They had their first presenter with Down syndrome, Zack Gottsagen. Gottsagen is an actor with Down syndrome and, in … Opening in 500 theaters nationwide on Aug. 23, “The Peanut Butter Falcon” is an unorthodox buddy comedy starring Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagen, an … The Peanut Butter Falcon star Zack Gottsagen made history as the Academy Awards' first presenter with Down syndrome at the 2020 Oscars on Sunday. ; LaBeouf stars alongside Zack Gottsagen in "The Peanut Butter Falcon," a film about a young man with Down syndrome's journey to becoming a professional wrestler. “Zack is a role model and inspiration not just for people with Down syndrome, but for all of us,” says Whitten. (KGTV) — For "The Peanut Butter Falcon" star Zack Gottsagen, his first time on the Academy Awards stage was a first-ever for the Oscars. Shia LaBeouf recently told the UK's Channel 4 that a costar with Down syndrome saved him after a string of embarrassing incidents culminated in his arrest in July 2017 on charges of disorderly conduct, obstruction, and public drunkenness. The Peanut Butter Falcon . Upon his insistence, Zack was the first child with Down syndrome to be fully included in the Palm Beach County school district. Read full article. Lisa Petrillo asked Zack what he likes so much about wrestling. Drew Weisholtz. Zack Gottsagen presented an award alongside his co-star Shia LaBeouf at the prestigious ceremony. “We really feel like this movie can make a difference in the world. Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagen speak onstage during the Academy Awards. Zack Gottsagen has shiny black hair with sparkling blue eyes. Zack Gottsagen is a movie star. Making this movie with his two friends was everything for Zack. To Whitten’s surprise, The Peanut Butter Falcon family immediately rallied, and LaBeouf, Johnson, Nilson, Schwartz, and other crew members … Zack Gottsagen has Down syndrome. “I want to prove them wrong. Broward Brings Back Curfew Due To Rising COVID Cases, Keys Traffic Stop Leads To Large Drug Seizure, Attorney Says Broward Holiday Curfew Has No Teeth, Holiday Forecast Calls For 'Falling Iguanas' In South Florida, Dolphins Move Past Raiders In Rebuilding Process, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony Asks Judge To Toss Lawsuit Claiming He Is Unfit For Office, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis Calls Broward County’s Proposed Curfew ‘Draconian’, Court Deals Blow To Proposed Miami-Dade Charter School, Former Florida COVID Data Scientist Rebekah Jones Demands FDLE Return Phone, Computer Equipment. The Oscars 2020 award show did what has never been done before. Shia LaBeouf was protective of his Peanut Butter Falcon costar Zack Gottsagen at the 2020 Academy Awards on Sunday, February 9. He received a standing ovation. It also stars Shia LaBeouf as a small-time outlaw turned unlikely coach who joins […] The actor had starred in the movie, The Peanut Butter Falcon.His co-star from the movie, Shia LaBeouf presented the Oscar along with him for the category of a … The Peanut Butter Falcon is a modern Mark Twain-esque adventure.