Zachary Knight "Zach" Galifianakis (born October 1, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian, actor and pianist known for his numerous film and television appearances including his own Comedy Central Presents special. He garnered attention for his role as Alan Garner in the comedy films The Hangover (2009) and The Hangover Part II (2011) directed by Todd Phillips. He also co-starred in Phillips' road trip comedy Due Date (2010). He also co-starred with Eliza Dushku in the short lived Fox TV Series "Tru Calling".
Galifianakis was born in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. His mother, Mary Frances (née Cashion), ran a community center for the arts, and his father, Harry Galifianakis, was a heating oil vendor. Galifianakis' paternal grandparents emigrated from Crete, Greece,and Galifianakis was baptized in his father's Greek Orthodox faith. His mother has Ulster-Scots ancestry. He has two siblings, a younger sister, Merritt, and an older brother, Greg. His cousin is Washington Post cartoonist Nicholas Galifianakis. His uncle, Nick Galifianakis, was a congressman from North Carolina between 1967 and 1973. He attended Wilkes Central High School, and subsequently attended but did not graduate from North Carolina State University, where he was a communications major.