Steve Zahn (The White Lotus / Silo / Out Of Sight) • #381

Summary

Films To Be Buried With – Episode #381: Steve Zahn

Podcast: Films To Be Buried With with Brett Goldstein
Guest: Steve Zahn (The White Lotus, Silo, Out of Sight)
Release Date: December 17, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this engaging, candid episode of Films To Be Buried With, host Brett Goldstein welcomes beloved actor, writer, and producer Steve Zahn. Through laughter and insightful conversation, the two traverse Zahn’s life and legacy via films that shaped him—from childhood obsessions with pirates to creating personal indie films with family. Expect reflections on work, friendship, grief, love, the art of crying at movies, and even a hilarious near-death experience. Zahn is open, funny, and deeply genuine, offering both filmic revelations and personal anecdotes that honor the show’s playful but profound theme: our lives, as told through the movies we love.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introductions & Career Catch-up

[01:30-09:14]

• Brett gives a warm, effusive intro, listing Steve Zahn’s wide-ranging credits.
• Zahn discusses his recent work:
  • Filming Silo Season 4 in London ("It's my favorite city in the world." [07:22])
  • Upcoming film Anaconda (out Christmas Day, with Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Thandiwe Newton)
    ("It’s really funny and so dumb. It’s kind of perfect for right now." [08:12])
  • Writing & producing She Dances, a personal indie project co-starring his daughter (releasing March 27)
    ("When it’s your baby, it’s a completely different experience." [09:28])
• On what keeps his career moving:
  "Show up early and have an opinion and don’t be a dick." ([05:49]) Brett: "Hit your mark and be nice." ([06:00])

The Fictional Death Scenario

[11:18-14:49]

• Steve's brush with death:
  He once laughed so hard at his son and his girlfriend that he passed out, hit his head, and ended up in hospital.
  "I died laughing. How did he die? He was laughing so hard, he died." ([12:49])
• On death & the afterlife:
  Open uncertainty, with hope for "something" but no belief in a bad place.
  "I guess I’m…I hope there’s something. Right? But at this point, I don’t know." ([14:20])
• Brett’s heaven for Zahn: endless fishing in every environment, surrounded by other happy fishermen, talking films. ([14:53])

Early Cinematic Memories

[15:35-16:50]

• First vivid movie memory: Disney’s Peter Pan—but Zahn only cared about Captain Hook.
  "I didn’t care about anything but the pirate." ([15:46])
• As a child, he’d dress up and act out Daniel Boone and other adventure scenes for the theme song—clear early signs of the performer within.

Films That Shaped Steve Zahn

Most Frightening

[17:43-19:27]

• The Shining and The Changeling ("...scared the pants off me. It might not be a great movie but it’s a great story." [17:59])
• Joyride is the closest he's come to horror as an actor.

Most Moving / Tearjerkers

[19:27-20:41]

• Zahn admits to being a huge crier:
  • She Dances—his own film, made with his daughter and filled with home movies: "Destroys me every time." ([20:09])
  • The Deer Hunter: "The end of that movie—I'm sobbing." ([20:23])

"Bad" Films He Loves

[20:43-21:24]

• Road House ("If that was on right now, I would watch it. Roadhouse is Daniel Boone for grown-ups." [21:27])

Films He’s Grown Out Of

[21:34-22:58]

• Red Dawn (on Beta): "If I watch it now, I go like, this is silly... Russians parachuting in Colorado. Dumb." ([21:57])

Most Meaningful Experience

[24:53-27:25]

• Silence of the Lambs, watched with his now-wife, Robin:
  "At that moment, I knew I would marry her…I would never watch a movie ever again with her." ([25:15])
• Their relationship:
  Together since 1990; married since 1994. Robin’s a successful novelist; they mostly watch reality TV together ("eight-part murder show binge" [26:14]), but not films.

Most Relatable Film

[28:30-29:44]

• Jeremiah Johnson ("It’s really solitary, nature, simple…that’s me in another life." [28:33])
• Never Cry Wolf also cited as influencing his affinity for solitude and nature.

Life, Work, and Relationships

• Zahn enjoys solitude on his Kentucky farm, but loves the camaraderie of set life ("That’s my favorite thing about working—the circus." [29:17])
• He and Robin are both "hermits," enjoying both togetherness and separateness in country life.

Sexiest and Troubling Films

[30:33-32:15]

• Sexiest: Nine 1/2 Weeks, Betty Blue, and his own Out of Sight
  ("Betty Blue is an excellent answer…one of the greatest openings." [31:05])
• Most "troubling": The Sound of Music—he had a crush on the older daughters and Julie Andrews as a kid. "You can’t say that, dad, that’s weird." ([32:10])

Pinnacle of Cinema

[32:30-34:13]

• Brett predicts Steve will say The Godfather ("everyone does," [32:47]), and Steve promptly pivots:
• Instead, Steve praises Peter Weir’s Master and Commander:
  "When it was over, I thought, this might be a perfect movie…” ([33:04])
• Peter Weir lauded as underrated, along with Rob Reiner; also mentions The Truman Show, Dead Poet’s Society, Fearless.

Films Rewatched Most

[34:23-35:16]

• Jeremiah Johnson and The Deer Hunter are revisited frequently.
  "The Deer Hunter…that’s like a Bible, a cornerstone for me and my peers." ([34:45])
• Reminisces about his New York actor “gang”—Sam Rockwell, Ethan Hawke, Josh Hamilton, Robert Sean Leonard, Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Laughter & Comedy

[38:16-39:19]

• "What film made you laugh the most?"
  • Raising Arizona ("Great film." [38:27])
  • Bottle Rocket ("I laughed so hard...I was out of my mind." [39:24])
  • Hilarious story of watching Bottle Rocket on a plane, coincidentally next to a fellow auditionee, both watching the same film but only Zahn in hysterics.

Worst Film

[36:51-38:12]

• Lamb ("I might have been a little buzzed, but…oh my god, this is horseshit!" [37:43])
• Acknowledges it’s beautifully shot but left him baffled; also jokes Road House could be both best & worst.

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Memorable Quotes

• Steve Zahn: “Show up early and have an opinion and don’t be a dick.” ([05:49])
• On Death: “He died laughing. How did he die? He was laughing so hard, he died.” ([12:49])
• On Marriage & Films: “At that moment, I knew I would marry her…And I knew I would never watch a movie ever again with her.” ([25:15])
• On Indie Filmmaking: “When it’s your baby, it’s a completely different experience…you really understand, you just solve problems all day.” ([09:28])
• On Master and Commander: “It might be a perfect movie—acted well, written well, score, it’s shot impeccably, unbelievable.” ([33:04])
• On Friends: "It’s kind of a cornerstone of a lot of my peers. I could text Sam Rockwell right now…random line from [Deer Hunter]…he would end it.” ([35:00])

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Core Films Mentioned (With Context)

| Title | Context | Time | |-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Peter Pan | First film memory; obsessed with pirates | [15:46] | | Daniel Boone (TV) | Childhood role-play inspiration | [16:50] | | The Changeling | Most scared he’s been by a film | [17:59] | | The Shining | Another scary favorite | [17:54] | | Joyride | Closest he's acted in a horror | [19:00] | | She Dances | His indie film, most emotional film; made with family | [20:09] | | The Deer Hunter | Consistent tearjerker & touchstone with acting peers | [20:23], [34:45]| | Road House | Beloved "bad" film, guilty pleasure | [21:27] | | Red Dawn | Film he "outgrew" watching on Beta as a teen | [21:52] | | Silence of the Lambs | Most meaningful screening (with his wife) | [24:53] | | Jeremiah Johnson | Film he most relates to | [28:30] | | Never Cry Wolf | Kindred spirit to Johnson, solitude themes | [28:59] | | Nine 1/2 Weeks; Betty Blue | Sexiest films | [30:49], [31:02]| | Sound of Music | “Troubling boners"/childhood crushes | [31:40] | | Master and Commander | Objectively greatest film | [33:04] | | The Godfather | Almost picked as greatest film | [32:48] | | Raising Arizona | Comedy that made him laugh most | [38:27] | | Bottle Rocket | Another laugh-out-loud comedy | [38:36] | | Lamb | "Worst" film experience | [37:43] | | Way Out West (Laurel & Hardy)| Film he’d take to heaven for movie night | [42:40] |

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Notable Timestamps

• [05:49] Zahn’s three-step philosophy for professional longevity: “Show up early and have an opinion and don’t be a dick.”
• [12:49] Hilarious near-death experience: “He died laughing…”
• [20:09] On She Dances: “Destroys me every time.”
• [25:15] On watching Silence of the Lambs with his future wife.
• [33:04] High praise for Master and Commander: “Might be a perfect movie.”
• [39:24] Telling the Bottle Rocket on a plane story.

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Final Resting Film: The Movie To Be Buried With

[42:47]

• Zahn would take Way Out West (Laurel & Hardy) to heaven: "It matches my death…there’s a great scene where he’s just, like, laughing hysterically…"
  Childhood nostalgia—Friday night screenings with his dad, a chaplain, and family popcorn.

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Upcoming Projects & Plugs

• Anaconda (release Christmas Day 2025): Comedy with Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Thandiwe Newton. "All those guys are old friends. It was like doing that movie was insane. We just hung out..." ([43:49])
• She Dances (March 27, 2026): His deeply personal indie film; limited theatrical release.
• Silo, Season 4: Filmed in London, Apple TV+.
• Chad Powers: New football show, second season filming.

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Tone & Language

Steve Zahn is open, wry, and straightforward, reveling in the messy humanity of movies, family, and career. There’s humor laced with earnestness, a genuine love for his craft and life, and a humility about his journey. Brett Goldstein matches this with warmth, sly jokes, and deep cinephile enthusiasm—creating an environment where Zahn’s best stories shine.

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For Listeners Who Haven’t Heard the Episode…

This conversation is a treasure trove for fans of movies and character actors alike, filled with honest talk about joy, loss, craft, aging, and what really matters—family, friendship, good work, laughter, and watching movies that make you feel alive.

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Memorable Quote for the Road:
"Show up early and have an opinion and don’t be a dick." – Steve Zahn [05:49]

Transcript

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[Brett Goldstein]

Look out. It's only Films to be Buried with. Hello and welcome to Films to be Buried With. My name is Brett Goldstein. I'm a comedian and actor writer director of Tumbleweeds and I love film. As David Viscott once said, if you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed, and you have the courage to get through all of Kill Bill, the Whole Bloody Affair without ever going to the toile. Every week I invite a special guest over. I tell them they've died. Then I get them to discuss their life through the films that meant the most to them. Previous guests include Barry Jenkins, Kevin Smith, Sharon Stone, and even Ken Bambles. But this week we have the actor, comedian, writer and producer and legend. It's Mr. Steve Zan. You can still watch my film all of youf, which I made with Will Bridges and Imogen Poots on Apple tv. Thank you to everyone who said such nice things about it. Watch it again if you've seen it once. But if you watched it for the first time, watch. We really hope that you love it. We're very proud of this film. We hope you love it too. Shrinking Season 3 will premiere Wednesday, January 28th on Apple TV. Head over to the [e-mail] Brett Goldstein where you get an extra 20 minutes with Steve. We talk beginnings and endings. He tells me a hell of a secret. You get the whole episode uncut, ad free and as a video. Check it out [e-mail] BrettGoldstein so, Steve Zahn. You might know him from the White Lotus or Dallas Buyers Club or about 100 other roles across film and TV. I first saw him in one of my favorite films, out of Sight. He's fucking brilliant. Be sure to check out Anaconda, which he's in Christmas Day. And Steve's new film, she Dances that he co wrote, produced and stars in. That will be in cinemas March 27. This is my first time meeting Steve. We recorded this on Zoom the other week. We had a lovely time and I really think you're going to enjoy this one. So that's it for now. I very much hope you enjoy episode 381 of Films to be Buried With. Hello and welcome to Films to be Buried With. It is I, Brett Goldstein, and I am joined today by a legend of the game. You know him from Joyrider. He's a daddy day carer. He's a national security error. He saved Silvermann. He's a White Lotuser. He was the thing you did. He's coming into Anaconda. He's a Sahara. He's War of the Planet the Apes. He's a diary of a wimpy killer. If I said that. He's a reality by it, sir. And to me. I first discovered him and loved him in one of my all time favorite films, out of Sight. I can't believe he's here, but he is. Will you please welcome to the show. It's the great, the amazing, the brilliant. It's Steve Zahn.

[Steve Zahn]

Yay. Thanks, man.

[Brett Goldstein]

You're welcome. It's very nice to meet you, Steve Zahn.

[Steve Zahn]

It's nice to meet you.

[Brett Goldstein]

Am I saying your name right?

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, I go Zahn. Zan Zane. I'll answer all of them. It's spelled Zahn.

[Brett Goldstein]

Okay. I'd hate to have been this bigger fan of yours and realizing in that moment when I finally meet you that I Don't know how to say your name.

[Steve Zahn]

See, I do that all the time. I'm the worst.

[Brett Goldstein]

I like.

[Steve Zahn]

I'm the worst.

[Brett Goldstein]

Listen, I've loved you since out of Sight, which is one of my favorite films. And I'm sure you know this and maybe have heard this, but because of the soundtrack, which had snippets of dialogue on it, which I listen to all the time.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, it's great.

[Brett Goldstein]

I've had your voice in my head for long, like, years of my life having you go, yup, in my ear.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, that's great. Yeah. That was really thrilling when I heard that for the first time. I was so excited to be on a soundtrack.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah. So cool. You haven't. You haven't. You haven't stopped. You haven't stopped, young man. Are you a workaholic? Are you okay?

[Steve Zahn]

No, no. You know what? I work to live. I really do. So there's been definite, you know, low points and slow points and, you know, there's periods of independent film that don't pay anything and where you're like, oh, man, I have to sell something. And then I've always kind of lucked out. Just kind of like, I've always been able to. To tread water and just keep my head, you know, above. I don't know how that happens, but show up early and have an opinion and don't be a dick.

[Brett Goldstein]

There you go. That's a pretty good set of rules. I mean, have an opinion. I mean, you don't even need that one. I just say, shut up and be nice. Sharp and time. Be nice.

[Steve Zahn]

That works. Hit your mark and be nice.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah, yeah. Do you have an opinion? Did I need one?

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

No, have it. Have an opinion, but also just be nice about it.

[Steve Zahn]

Just in case. Just in case. In your back pocket.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yes.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

I call it having a. There was a. There was an actor that we worked with who had a smaller part on a thing, but every time it was, like, his coverage, he'd do so much funny shit. So much funny shit. And it was always like, how much did he bring in his bag today? That was what we'd say.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

How big he's brought today?

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

Sometimes I go, I brought a little suitcase for me today. I hope that's okay. Got some ideas in it.

[Steve Zahn]

That's great. Yeah, yeah. Because we're all plumbers. Right?

[Brett Goldstein]

Come in, come in. What you got? What are you working on at the moment? Are you allowed to talk about. Are you filming at the minute?

[Steve Zahn]

Oh, my God. It's been really Good for me. Lately I'm working on a show in London. I've been here since August. It's the fourth season of Silo, which is an Apple show, this kind of post apocalyptic show that I'm in.

[Brett Goldstein]

I hear this show is amazing. I'm afraid I haven't seen it yet, but so here. It's amazing.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, no, it's really good.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

So I'm finishing that.

[Brett Goldstein]

Forgive me for not knowing. Have you always been. Have you been in all four seasons or are you.

[Steve Zahn]

No, I came in in season two.

[Brett Goldstein]

Okay.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah. So season two, three and four.

[Brett Goldstein]

Do you love the cast and the crew? Is it. Is it to keep coming back?

[Steve Zahn]

It is. And I love London. It's my favorite city in the world.

[Brett Goldstein]

Oh, great.

[Steve Zahn]

I live. I live in Hackney. I live out in Victoria Park Village.

[Brett Goldstein]

Ah, you're cool. You're a cool guy.

[Steve Zahn]

I'm a regular at the Empress across the street. And you know the ginger pig and the bottle apostle.

[Brett Goldstein]

Man, you're just. You're totally a Londoner.

[Steve Zahn]

That's great. I love it here.

[Brett Goldstein]

Oh, that's cool. That's good.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

Oh, so you're near the end of Silo?

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, next week. I'm done.

[Brett Goldstein]

And you have a film coming soon, correct?

[Steve Zahn]

I have a film coming out Christmas day called Anaconda.

[Brett Goldstein]

That's how. On Christmas Day?

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

With Jack Black.

[Steve Zahn]

With Jack Black and Paul Rudd and Tandaway Newton.

[Brett Goldstein]

I'm really excited.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, it's. It's. It's one of those big things. Huge. It's really funny and so dumb.

[Brett Goldstein]

Right.

[Steve Zahn]

It's kind of perfect for right now.

[Brett Goldstein]

Oh, good.

[Steve Zahn]

It's just stupid.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah. Okay.

[Steve Zahn]

Really funny. Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

You ever written, you ever written.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, the first thing I've written once I co wrote a movie with my partner Rick Gomez and it's called she Dances. And it's a movie that we made and it comes out in March. It's a tiny movie that's going to have a theatrical release March 27th. Yeah. So that's.

[Brett Goldstein]

It's really exciting.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

You made one of the ten films for cinema. That's so cool. That's the dream.

[Steve Zahn]

This is. Yeah. No one. Doesn't happen anymore, man.

[Brett Goldstein]

Doesn't have anymore. That's amazing. That's fantastic. Did you. Can I ask? Because I'm obsessed with film. Did you make it, then sell it or had you pre sold it? Like how. How did you get distribution?

[Steve Zahn]

We had financed. We had some people that financed it, low budget, and then we made it and then we found a distributor.

[Brett Goldstein]

Amazing.

[Steve Zahn]

And someone bought it and decided it should be in 50 to 75 houses in 10 markets. And we're going to be at Palm Springs next in January. And that's great. It's that, you know, when it's your baby.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

It's completely different experience. And I'm a late. I'm a late bloomer to the whole producing and that whole thing.

[Brett Goldstein]

So having made your own film, has it, since you've gone back to acting something else? Has it changed the way you feel on set? Like, are you much more like Jesus, leave.

[Steve Zahn]

No, like, now. I read scripts really fast. Hey, will you read this script? I'm like, right away. I'm not going to let you sit.

[Brett Goldstein]

That's nice.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah. What you produce, it's a completely different ball game. You really understand, you know that you just solve problems all day, which is kind of fun. But it can be, obviously, really trying and hard.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah.

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[Brett Goldstein]

Steve, Fuck. I forgot to tell you something. I should have probably told you when we were trying to sort out your headphones. You've died. You're dead.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

D, E, D, dead. How did you die?

[Steve Zahn]

I had this experience recently. I was with my son, his girlfriend, and we were sitting in the living room and I was laughing. They make me laugh. Sounds really funny.

[Brett Goldstein]

It's good.

[Steve Zahn]

And I was laughing to the point where. And if you. If you know me, you know that this happens a lot where I literally have to crawl out of a room. Like, I laugh that hard and I'm sober and I. I was laughing so hard I had to leave the room. So I got up and I went for the kitchen and I. And right as I Got to the kitchen. I coughed. I remember going, yeah. And I lost all of my oxygen that anything left in me. And I. I passed out and I hit the floor and I didn't die. I came to with blood everywhere, and I had to go to the emergency room and I had to, you know, convince the doctors that I didn't have a heart attack. And I was laughing and no one believed me. True story. But I thought. I remember thinking sitting there in the

[Brett Goldstein]

emergency room up to this point was true.

[Steve Zahn]

It was absolutely true.

[Brett Goldstein]

Okay.

[Steve Zahn]

But I thought that would be. That. That's it right there. That's how you go.

[Brett Goldstein]

You wish you hadn't woken up.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, I died laughing. How do he die? He was laughing so hard. He died. I think it's possible he.

[Brett Goldstein]

He died laughing. Well, to be fair, I think it was more the contusion to the brain as his.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, I would have.

[Brett Goldstein]

That would have hit the floor.

[Steve Zahn]

It would have been like, you know, like. Yeah, curved, you know. Yeah. Next snap back, but he was laughing. Does that work?

[Brett Goldstein]

Does it? It's a great death and it has never happened before. And I'm really happy to hear it.

[Steve Zahn]

I mean, it could be like I was laughing so hard. I. I didn't know it. Wandered into the street and I got hit.

[Brett Goldstein]

Bus. Which do you prefer? Chin free brain or hit by bus?

[Steve Zahn]

You know, like, just the mirror. I was. I was. It's just the. The mirror. The mirror bent over, like, and got hit. That's it.

[Brett Goldstein]

Jesus Christ. Well, the only thing that. Listen, I'm all for this death. Not.

[Steve Zahn]

But it was quick.

[Brett Goldstein]

It was quick. It's good for you. I worry your son and his girlfriend are never going to make a joke again. Do you know what I mean? I think they're going to feel like they.

[Steve Zahn]

No, they do. They always tell me. They always tell me to sit down.

[Brett Goldstein]

Right. Okay. Do you worry about death? Steve said.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah. I'm sorry. Well, no, I don't know. I'm getting a little older now, so it's like, you know, things start. Your body starts changing and all that, and you start going, wow, wow. But I don't. I. I'm pretty. Yeah. I don't dwell on. I really don't.

[Brett Goldstein]

What do you think happens after you die?

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah. I don't know, man. I guess I'm. I. I hope that there's something. Right. But at this point, I don't know. I don't know.

[Brett Goldstein]

Okay.

[Steve Zahn]

There's a place we go to. I know that there. I don't think there's a Bad place that you go to.

[Brett Goldstein]

Okay, I agree with that.

[Steve Zahn]

I don't believe in that. Maybe we go back out into some kind of thing.

[Brett Goldstein]

Do you want to know what happens?

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

Well, there's a heaven and you're going to it.

[Steve Zahn]

Oh, awesome.

[Brett Goldstein]

And you're right. There is no bad place. There's heaven and it's filled with your favorite thing. What's your favorite thing?

[Steve Zahn]

My favorite thing? Well, like fishing.

[Brett Goldstein]

Oh, my God. You're going to love heaven. You know what heaven is? It's fucking lakes. It's seas, it's calm, it's beautiful. It's every type of environment you want to fish in. There's fly fishing. There's deep sea fishing. There's sitting on the dock of a bay. Fishing. There's fishing in a pond. Fishing. There's fisher price fishing. There's all the fishing and all the fishermen are there. And women. And they're very excited to see you and they want to talk to you about your life through film. The first thing they ask you, what's the first film you remember seeing? Still Steve Sahlin. Can't even say your first name anymore.

[Steve Zahn]

The first film I remember really thought about this. It's like I have to go back to Michigan. So I was probably three. And I remember watching Peter Pan.

[Brett Goldstein]

The Disney.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah. And I remember not caring about anything but the pirate. That's it. I didn't care about anything else. I didn't care about the story. I didn't. Nothing. Nah, not into it.

[Brett Goldstein]

You were Hook all the way.

[Steve Zahn]

It was all. It was all the pirate stuff.

[Brett Goldstein]

Right. Did you then see Hook? Was Hook your dream movie?

[Steve Zahn]

I didn't. Yeah. No, no, it didn't like. It didn't. It didn't make that kind of. That was just the first one I truly remember. You know what I mean? So it didn't have this kind of. I don't have a tattoo of it.

[Brett Goldstein]

Right. Do you have siblings?

[Steve Zahn]

I do have siblings. I have two sisters.

[Brett Goldstein]

Older, Younger one.

[Steve Zahn]

Older one younger.

[Brett Goldstein]

Okay. Did you all see Peter Pan together, do you think?

[Steve Zahn]

Yes, we did. It was mandatory viewing in my house. It was on Saturday night, I'm sure.

[Brett Goldstein]

Did you then play Peter Pan, as in around the house?

[Steve Zahn]

I played Hook.

[Brett Goldstein]

You played Hook?

[Steve Zahn]

I played the pirate. I wouldn't play Peter Pan.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah, you don't give a fuck about Peter Pan.

[Steve Zahn]

I played. I needed a sword.

[Brett Goldstein]

Right.

[Steve Zahn]

I was the kind of kid that there was a show called Daniel Boone. Right. And I would wait on our TV box and I would wait for Daniel Boone. To start. And I would put a coonskin cap on, and I had a belt with this, and I had cowboy boots. And I would set up my sister's table and chairs in there. And they're fake. You know, there's little kitchen, play area. And I would just wait for the song to come on. Like, Daniel Boom was a man, was a big man. And I would have a fake fight

[Brett Goldstein]

with nothing, with the air, just with

[Steve Zahn]

me and, like, fake people around, go over the table. That was it. I don't think I watched the show. I just had a fake fight. To the song.

[Brett Goldstein]

To the song. So that was me. So you as an actor, you was an actor then?

[Steve Zahn]

I don't know. Maybe. Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

What's the film that scared you the most? Do you like being scared?

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, I'm gonna say there's a couple movies, but, like the Shining. Yeah, that's pretty.

[Brett Goldstein]

It's pretty scary.

[Steve Zahn]

There's another movie, though. It's called the Changeling.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yes.

[Steve Zahn]

And it's with George C. Scott. And it's a great ghost story. And I think I was younger when I saw that, and it scared the pants off me.

[Brett Goldstein]

What. What is the premise of the Changeling?

[Steve Zahn]

The Changeling is. It's a. George C. Scott is this. I think he's a pianist. Yeah. And he loses his wife and his daughter in a car accident. And so he moves to a different city. He rents this big mansion, and he's going to, you know, change his life, get a new life going. And he's in this house that is haunted. And because of his experience, the ghost of this house feels like it has a connection with him. And he's trying to solve the mystery of why this kid. It's a kid in his house. He's. He's solving the mystery, and then he solves the mystery, and the kid's spirit, you know, goes away, but he's tormented by this. It's a great movie. It's a great movie. It might not be a great movie, but it's a great story.

[Brett Goldstein]

Have you ever done a horror?

[Steve Zahn]

I've only done, like, Joyride was a thriller.

[Brett Goldstein]

Oh, yeah. Is great.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah. John Doe.

[Brett Goldstein]

John Doe. The great John Doe.

[Steve Zahn]

Like a really. Yeah. Really good movie. And I think that's the closest that

[Brett Goldstein]

I've come to, like, you know, Joyride is great. John Dahl is great.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, it was. It was a great movie. Yeah, it holds up.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah. But most of his stuff does. He's very good.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

What about crying? What's the film that made you cry the most? Are you a crier?

[Steve Zahn]

I'm a huge crier. Yeah. I'm the worst of all time. I truly am. I asked my kids, you know, this is gonna. This is horrible, but it's the truth. If there's anything I'm saying during this thing, this is the absolute truth.

[Brett Goldstein]

Okay.

[Steve Zahn]

The movie I made, she dances. I did it with my daughter. She plays my daughter. It's kind of a personal movie. My whole family's in it. Our home movies from when kid. The kids re up there. That's. That's in the movie. So that just. That just kills you right there.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

And it's a movie about overcoming grief. And I've seen this movie 50 times. 60 times. Right. Destroys me every time. Okay, so that's. That's that. But it's true that that is the truth.

[Brett Goldstein]

The truth.

[Steve Zahn]

But I, you know, if I watch, like, the Deer Hunter, you know, the end of that movie, I'm in, I'm sobbing. But there's. There's plenty of movies out there that just make me, you know, I'm excited about.

[Brett Goldstein]

She dances. I didn't realize it was so personal.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

That's a big deal.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

You put it all out there.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

What's the film that you love? People don't really like it. It is not critically acclaimed, but you love it unconditionally.

[Steve Zahn]

This one's hard, man. But I think I'd answer it wrong. Like, I would say, like, Roadhouse.

[Brett Goldstein]

That is a totally fair answer. That's a fair answer. Not a critically acclaimed film, but it's a great film.

[Steve Zahn]

The old one, right?

[Brett Goldstein]

Patrick Swayze, great movie.

[Steve Zahn]

It is the craziest movie ever. Yeah. Like, it's insane.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

Right?

[Brett Goldstein]

I mean, sweeping up eyeballs.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah. I don't know if you want that the answer to be campy, but it kind of falls into that kind of, you know, because. Brilliant. If that was on right now, I would watch it.

[Brett Goldstein]

Roadhouse is Daniel Boone for grown ups.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, it is. Maybe that's why I like it.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah. You just like the soundtrack and you can fake punch people. On the other hand, is there a film that you used to love very much, but you've watched it recently and you've thought, oh, I don't like this anymore, because you've changed.

[Steve Zahn]

I'm gonna say Red Dawn.

[Brett Goldstein]

Another Patrick Swayze. Tell me, Thomas Howe, is that the school gets taken.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah. It's ridiculous. I used to love it because, look, my mom went in the 80s, right? There was. There was the whole debate, like, VHS or Beta. And my mom is like consumer Reports lady, okay? So she does all her research, even back in the 80s without the Internet. And she was like, steve. I was like, mom, vhs. And she's like, steve, Beta. The Beta quality is like way up here. VHS is. It's not going to be around. Beta is going to take over. And so we bought a Beta and the only movie we had was Red Dawn. That was it. I was like, mom, yeah. There's so many Beta movies. So we watch Bread dawn at my house, like my buddies and I in the summertime in high school. And we would like, turn the sound down. We knew it that. That well. But if I watch it now, I go like, this is silly. Like Russians parachuting Cubans. You know, like parachuting in Colorado. Dumb.

[Brett Goldstein]

I love that. That was the only film we had that. I mean.

[Steve Zahn]

Yes, that was it.

[Brett Goldstein]

It is a perfect film for a teenage boy though, isn't it?

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, it is. Is kind of perfect.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

Like, what would you do? I'd never. You couldn't be in my group, man. You couldn't cut the mustard if Russians

[Brett Goldstein]

parachuted into your school.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah. What'd you do? Let's get these wrist rockets. Russians hate wrist rockets.

[Brett Goldstein]

You do that.

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[Steve Zahn]

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[Brett Goldstein]

What is the film that means the most to you? Not necessarily the film itself is any good, but the experience you had seeing it will always make it meaningful to you? Steven Zahn.

[Steve Zahn]

Whenever I see Silence of the Lambs, I remember watching it with my girlfriend. And she can't watch movies like that. She was horrible and would pace and want to know what happens and talk constantly and get up and move and it was insane. And I just wanted to watch the fucking movie. And at that moment, I knew that I would marry her. And I still am married to this woman. And I knew in that moment that I would never watch a movie ever again with her. And we really don't watch movies together because I can't do it if she sits in the room with me. We're watching my show, she'll go, does he. Does it? Does he die? Like, I'm not gonna tell you and I have to tell her. And then we get in a big fight. So we don't watch stuff together.

[Brett Goldstein]

You've answered, like the question I've sort of had all my life, which is, could you marry someone that would talk through films? And the answer is yes, you can. You just can't watch films.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, you can, you can.

[Brett Goldstein]

You just. You just have to watch films separately.

[Steve Zahn]

There are certain things. There's a. There's a ground where we can meet and we can watch stuff, you know,

[Brett Goldstein]

what is that ground? Like reality tv, I assume that's something.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, it's kind of like. It's kind of like, you know, the, the Murdoch family murder show.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yes.

[Steve Zahn]

It's an eight part thing.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

And we'll binge it.

[Brett Goldstein]

Okay.

[Steve Zahn]

We watch that stuff.

[Brett Goldstein]

But a proper film, you're like, I'm going in the other room now.

[Steve Zahn]

If there's any kind of story. Because she's a writer. She. She's a writer, right. She. She writes novels and she's. So she wants. She's always, you know, putting together stories and, you know, she's constantly writing. So she wants to know how long you been married? Since 94. 31.

[Brett Goldstein]

31 years.

[Steve Zahn]

We met in 1990. Wow. And so we've been together a long time. Her name's Robin Peterman.

[Brett Goldstein]

Robin Pierman.

[Steve Zahn]

I just. Just for the people if they want to buy our books.

[Brett Goldstein]

Where did you meet? How did you meet?

[Steve Zahn]

We met doing the national tour. A musical, Bye Bye Birdie.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

With Annie Ranking and Tommy Tune. Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

I love and Ranking.

[Steve Zahn]

And we did 13 months on the road.

[Brett Goldstein]

Wow.

[Steve Zahn]

In 19. Yeah. So it was like eight shows a week for 13 months, man.

[Brett Goldstein]

So. So Robin Peterman with acting at the time in the show with you.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah. She did a lot of Broadway, a lot of dancing. A lot of, you know, and then once we had kids, that kind of ended. And then she, she was like, I'm going to write books. I was like, really? Yeah. Right now she's New York Times best.

[Brett Goldstein]

I'll be in the other room watching films on my own.

[Steve Zahn]

Oh, man. If it wasn't for this stuff, I'd be digging holes, dude.

[Brett Goldstein]

How long into the 30 month tour? Right away you were kissing. Right away, you're in love. Right away.

[Steve Zahn]

No, no. She walked in, she was a week late. She was on a chorus line to her, right? And then she came in. Her. She. They had to give her another week and she came in and I was bummed out because I thought, man, I don't like any of these girls. This is like, this is prime, man. And then she walked in like smoking and swearing. I was like, right there. I like that. So it was pretty quick.

[Brett Goldstein]

I loved Anne ranking. How was she as a person? She was great.

[Steve Zahn]

She was awesome. She. I would, I would stand off stage and watch her every night. I had, I had an entrance after this dance and I always came up and watched her dance. She was absolutely beautiful and really cool and theater and, you know, raspy voice and, you know, really amazing. Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

Nice. That's pretty cool, man. That's cool. You've been married 31 years. Well done.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

What is the film you most relate to?

[Steve Zahn]

Jeremiah Johnson?

[Brett Goldstein]

Tell me for why it has got

[Steve Zahn]

to be top five. For me, I love Robert Redford Sidney Pollock movie. It's really solitary nature, simple. And I. First time I saw that, I was like, oh, that's. That's me. That's me in. In another life, you know? You know, another one that's like, that is. Is never cry wolf.

[Brett Goldstein]

I don't know. Never cry wolf.

[Steve Zahn]

So good, man. It's like 1986, 5. But a guy that just goes up in Alaska and he's just a buffoon and has to study the wolf. And it's beautiful. It's a beautiful movie.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah. So do you like to be alone fishing?

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, yeah, I do. I live on a farm in Kentucky and I'm really happy not seeing people. And that's why I love going to work. Because then I love the camaraderie and I love the circus. That's my favorite thing about working. Like. And I learned that during COVID right. We went to work and it sucked because we couldn't hang out, we couldn't joke around on set. And I was like, this is miserable, horrible. And so. Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

How does it work with Robin Peterman. If you like to be alone, or do you like to be alone together.

[Steve Zahn]

We're both kind of hermits. We both ultimately kind of are. You know, we kind of like that. And we work. We. We're good in our cave together. It works well.

[Brett Goldstein]

So you're kind of separate, but together you're in the same place.

[Steve Zahn]

Yes.

[Brett Goldstein]

Doing your own.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, she's. She's writing and doing that I'll be out here doing. I know. When she's in a deadline. I don't go in the house back there. I go around. I go in this door. You know, if I have to take a leak, I don't take a leak. Back where she's writing.

[Brett Goldstein]

No, thank you.

[Steve Zahn]

No, I go. I take an extra. Because out in the country, you don't pee inside.

[Brett Goldstein]

Kidding me.

[Steve Zahn]

It's crazy.

[Brett Goldstein]

You got a whole farm to be.

[Steve Zahn]

That's weird.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah. You got to fucking water the crops and shit.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

What is the sexiest film you've ever seen? I mean, you're in one of them outside. Mm.

[Steve Zahn]

That's a pretty sexy movie.

[Brett Goldstein]

It's a very sexy movie.

[Steve Zahn]

That's really good. I mean, I was going to say like nine and a half weeks.

[Brett Goldstein]

Great answer. Of course.

[Steve Zahn]

I mean, I mean, it's kind of like ding, ding, ding. Yeah, of course.

[Brett Goldstein]

But it works.

[Steve Zahn]

It's pretty hot. Cheese. Yeah. Amazing.

[Brett Goldstein]

Amazing.

[Steve Zahn]

That's done. All they do. Betty Blue.

[Brett Goldstein]

Oh, my God. Betty Blue.

[Steve Zahn]

Come on. What?

[Brett Goldstein]

One of the greatest openings.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

Betty Blue is an excellent answer. Hasn't come up for a while.

[Steve Zahn]

I'm going to go with that one.

[Brett Goldstein]

Okay.

[Steve Zahn]

I keep throwing out three answers.

[Brett Goldstein]

Sorry. Breaking rules. There is a subcategory to this question.

[Steve Zahn]

Yes.

[Brett Goldstein]

Troubling boners. Worrying Wydons. A film. You were aroused by that you weren't sure you should. This is the Sound of Music. It depends what you're troubled by. The nuts. It's super troubling. If it's the children. It's not okay if it's nuts.

[Steve Zahn]

You know. You know, the older daughters were. I had a crush on them. They could sing. They were really. They were. And then Julie Andrews was like, I like that short hair. Kind of like. She was like, I liked her.

[Brett Goldstein]

She wasn't messing around.

[Steve Zahn]

I just remember as a kid, that was one. That was one of the first movies I saw, too, in the theater.

[Brett Goldstein]

Nice.

[Steve Zahn]

It might have been the first one, Sound of Music. It might. But I said that to my daughter, and she was like, you can't say that. Like. What? It's like that's dad. That's. That's. That's weird.

[Brett Goldstein]

That's not weird. It's a great. It's an all time classic. It's a beautiful movie.

[Steve Zahn]

You know when they're flirting, they're dancing, they're dancing out, you know, with what's his name, Kurt. Peter.

[Brett Goldstein]

When they're out in the back and it's like the Nazi game going on 70.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah. Yeah. And then he ends up being a. Yeah. And discovers them and.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah. Oh, my God. Okay. What is objectively the greatest film of all time might not be your favorite, but it is the pinnacle of cinema.

[Steve Zahn]

I know everybody probably says this, but, like, I don't think you can get. Okay, I'm not going to say the one I was going to say.

[Brett Goldstein]

Was it the Godfather?

[Steve Zahn]

It was. Yeah. But no, no, I'm not. I'm not saying that. I told you I wasn't going to say it and I'm not going to say you said it.

[Brett Goldstein]

But if it had been something else, I'd have said say it. But it was the Godfather.

[Steve Zahn]

Okay, here's.

[Commercial Safety Announcer]

Here it is.

[Brett Goldstein]

Here.

[Steve Zahn]

Ready? Here it is.

[Brett Goldstein]

Only because everyone says, I watched this

[Steve Zahn]

movie about a year ago and when it was over, I thought this might be a perfect movie. I don't know if it's the greatest movie of all time, but it's hard to be a perfect movie, right? Acted, well written well, the score, it shot like impeccably unbelievable. And the story is just rock solid. It's Peter Weir's master and commander.

[Brett Goldstein]

Great answer. What a great answer.

[Steve Zahn]

That's a great movie.

[Brett Goldstein]

Great. Peter Weir is fucking brilliant.

[Steve Zahn]

He. He is one of the most underrated. Like, correct. Like you want to talk about legends in film.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah. He's with that guy Rob Reiner, I think, in that they've done so many different types of films that people don't think of them as. They're not in the list, but they should be on the list of fucking genius.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

Truman show and Master. And Commander. Dead Poet Society.

[Steve Zahn]

Dead poets.

[Brett Goldstein]

Fearless.

[Steve Zahn]

Fearless. That's one I haven't seen in a long time. Like that movie. Amazing, those performances in that. I mean, come on, there's a movie. You want to cry.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

It bust you up.

[Brett Goldstein]

Peter Weir. Let's give him a round of applause. People are talking about Peter Weir enough.

[Steve Zahn]

I agree.

[Brett Goldstein]

What is the film that you could or have watched the most over and over again?

[Steve Zahn]

That. Well, I mean, Jeremiah Johnson. I've seen that a million times. I could just do the dialogue. I mean, honestly, the Deer Hunter. I've watched that so many times. I think that's like a. You know, it's like a Bible. It's kind of like. It's kind of a cornerstone of a lot of my peers. Right. Like, I could. I could text Sam Rockwell right now, and it could be just a random line from that movie, and it'd be the. The front half of it, and he would end it.

[Brett Goldstein]

That's very sweet.

[Steve Zahn]

Like, it's.

[Brett Goldstein]

It's. It's.

[Steve Zahn]

That's what we wanted to do. You know what I mean? When we were young actors in New York, we were like, that's what I want to do, man. And that time was already gone, in a way, but that's what we strived. That's was. That was the goal, you know?

[Brett Goldstein]

Who's your gang? Who's your, like, school year if it's you and Sam Rockwell.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, Sam was part of it. Rick Gomez, he was pounding the pavement in New York. Ethan Hawk. Ethan Hawke was at my wedding. You know, he's in. She dances. He plays my best friend.

[Brett Goldstein]

This feels, you know, it's like, amazing.

[Steve Zahn]

You know, Josh Hamilton, Robert Sean Leonard. Phil Hoffman was a part of that whole crew. He was a naked angels downtown. It was all those guys that, you know, we. We all. We all competed for parts and then ended up at the same bar, you know. It was just great.

[Brett Goldstein]

That's nice.

[Steve Zahn]

Back in the day. Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

Were all those people. All those people you've mentioned are brilliant. Did you. Did you know they were brilliant way before? Like, were they always brilliant? Or was any of them like, oh, wow, I didn't know you turn out this good.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, no, I think we all had a mutual respect for each other. I mean, that's a great question.

[Brett Goldstein]

Thanks, man.

[Steve Zahn]

It's like. Yeah, it's. It's like Ethan had already done movies, you know, he had done. When I met him, he had already done Dead Poets, and he had done oh, I see. You know.

[Brett Goldstein]

Okay. And Robert swelling.

[Steve Zahn]

But. Yeah, I was never surprised. Like, of course. You know, and then we were like, where are all those other guys? Here they go.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

You know, there's just. It just chipped away. It's like. It's like, now there's this. There's this really cool group of guys. Like, it just. I don't know. It's comforting. It's nice to kind of reach a point in your career where, you know, you have these friends who are amazing.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah, that's nice. Really cool. On the other end of the scale, what's the worst film you've ever seen.

[Steve Zahn]

Okay. I was in Healdsburg, Sonoma county, and I was visiting my partner and his wife. Right. Rick and Jenny. And we were, we were watching this movie, really excited about it. I might have been a little buzzed, but we were watching it and it was one of those things where you're like, I think this is, this is going to be genius. This is like an independent kind of cool. And maybe I'm just slow here, maybe I have a little jet lag, I don't know. But. And then like 3/4 of the way through the movie, no one has said anything right? And I just said, oh my God, this is horseshit. We just started laughing and I don't think it's horseshit. And I know the filmmakers probably going to hate them, but it was called Lamb. You ever see that? It was like a, a movie made in Iceland.

[Brett Goldstein]

I think I know what it is. I haven't seen it.

[Steve Zahn]

And it was kind of beautiful and interesting, but it just like, wait a second, she had a kid and it's a lamb and is it killing? And the goat comes down and kills the. I, I, I couldn't. It was, maybe it was the night. Maybe it was that night. And that's horrible. It's not the worst movie. It's actually shot beautifully. Yeah. Maybe it's Roadhouse. Maybe that's it.

[Brett Goldstein]

Life is complicated.

[Steve Zahn]

Pretty bad. It's pretty bad. Might come around.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

Might be the worst and the greatest of all time.

[Brett Goldstein]

Not bad to make both lists in one film. You've done a lot of comedy. You're very funny. You're about to be an anaconda. Very funny. What's the film that made you laugh the most? Steve Zahn or Zane?

[Steve Zahn]

I'm gonna say Raising Arizona. Great film, I think. Can I throw out another one?

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah, of course.

[Steve Zahn]

Bottle Rocket.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

Wes Anderson.

[Brett Goldstein]

Bottle Rocket. First one made you laugh.

[Steve Zahn]

I remember I was on a plane when I saw Bottle Rocket. I had flown to LA to audition and it was a crazy in person audition. It's insane. It was Jack Nicholson at Redwood, right?

[Brett Goldstein]

Wow.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah. And one of the guys that was there and I don't know his name, he, he came out and I was like, oh, wow, that's crazy. That guy's in there for this part. And so I went in and read. I didn't get the part, but he didn't either. And I got on the plane and the guy that was, I was flying back to New York sat next to me. It's true. And it's back when they were like, would you like to watch a movie? Here's your case.

[Brett Goldstein]

All right. Yeah, yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

Remember? And it was like, would you like to pick from the movies? And I was like, oh, bottle racket.

[Brett Goldstein]

Interesting.

[Steve Zahn]

Put it in. He watched the movie. I watched the movie, and I laughed so hard on that. I was just like, I was out of my mind. And at the end, you know, we give our things back, and he just turned to me and he said, it was so fun watching you laugh. And I don't even know what you were watching. He said, and he hated his movie, right? He was. He didn't laugh at all. And he said, oh, my God, it was so great laughing. So what did you watch? I said, bottle rocket. And he said, that's what I watched.

[Brett Goldstein]

Wow.

[Steve Zahn]

And I thought, how crazy, right? We went in to read to the same part, and yet completely opposite, right? He was. He was just like, really?

[Brett Goldstein]

What. What happened to that guy?

[Steve Zahn]

I don't know. I don't think he was an actor. I think he was like a. A designer.

[Brett Goldstein]

Okay.

[Steve Zahn]

Like a famous designer. Then that. They were like, come see if you can. That.

[Brett Goldstein]

That is really interesting, though. Tells you a lot. Steve Zahn or Zane, you've been wonderful. However, when you were hanging out with your son and his girlfriend, they're funny. They're both funny. Your son's funny, his girlfriend's also funny.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

And they made you laugh, and you really started laughing, and you were like, come on, guys, give me a break. And they carried on being funny. You're like, no, no, no, no, no. You start crawling around the floor. You guys, stop it. They're making jokes, making jokes. You stand up and you're laughing so much, and you head towards the kitchen, but then you pause to cough, but you have no air left. And so all the oxygen goes from your brain. You pass out, you smash to the kitchen floor. They run in. Oh, my God. You wake up again. Oh, sorry. And they go, God, you scared us. And then you go, ha, ha ha. You start laughing again. They go, dad, Jesus. As you get up and you're laughing and you laughing. No, they've stopped me. They go, you're so silly. You go, no, no, no. You run out into the street. They go, dad, dad. You're like, ha, ha ha ha. And then you bend over. Ha ha ha. And then the mirror of a number 55 bus goes. Takes your head off. Your son, his girlfriend scream, ah. The people on the back scream, ah. Coming out your neck. I'm walking past with a coffin. You know what I'm like. And I go, what's all the commotion? And your son and Gavin screaming, oh, dad. He just laughed his head off. Laughed his head off. That sounds like a good way to go. The bus driver goes, I don't think it was the laughing that killed him. And he comes out. He's out. He's furious. He's like, this is. This is going to be a lot of paperwork. I go, don't worry about it. We'll get rid of the body. Can you give me a hand? All the people off the bus come lift you into the coffin, but it's a fucking mess. Your head's been crushed under the bus. There's bits of you everywhere. I'm, like, peeling you off the pipe. It's a nightmare. I had to stuff all of you in. The coffin's smaller than I expected. There's only enough room in this coffin. It's absolutely round in there. It's only enough room for me to slide 1 DVD in the side for you to take across to the other side. And on the other side, it's movie night every night. What film are you taking to show the fishermen and women when it is your movie night in heaven? Please. Steve Zant.

[Steve Zahn]

Wow. Because you phrased it. I'm sharing it with everybody. And it's not just for me.

[Brett Goldstein]

Not what life is.

[Steve Zahn]

And there's a great movie.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

And I'm pretty sure it's called Way Out West. It's Laurel and Hardy and it matches my death.

[Brett Goldstein]

Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

There's a great scene where they hide the deed and stands. I think it's stance, you know, I always mix them up. The little guy and they stick it down his shirt. And then the woman is going after the deed and he's just, like, laughing hysterically. There's this great scene where he's just like. And he's brilliant. And it's a really great, funny movie. And when I was a kid, my dad, he was a chaplain at a university. And on Friday nights, he would. We had a screen and he would bring home a projector and a 16 mil and he would bring us and bring movies and we'd make popcorn and he would play us. Lauren Hardy movie.

[Brett Goldstein]

Wow, that's so cool. Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

Different movies, too, but I always remember he always had a Laurel and Harley.

[Brett Goldstein]

That's really beautiful, man. They're gonna love that in heaven.

[Steve Zahn]

I think so.

[Brett Goldstein]

And no one else has brought it. Steve Zun, what a pleasure it has been talking to you. Would you please tell people what to look out for in the Coming months, starring, written or directed by you.

[Steve Zahn]

Anaconda comes out Christmas, Christmas time. They're doing a show. Yeah. With Jack Black and Paul Rudd and Tandaway Newton and those guys. All those guys are old friends. It was like doing that movie was insane. We just hung out and just. That was so great. I'm doing a movie called Chad Powers.

[Brett Goldstein]

Oh, yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

It's a football show. Yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

I played a coach, Jamie. Jamie Lee, who was one of the writers on it. She works on Ted Lasso with me.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Brett Goldstein]

That's lovely. Yeah.

[Steve Zahn]

So that show I'm shooting, second season, my movie, she Dances, comes out March 27th.

[Brett Goldstein]

Sounds brilliant.

[Steve Zahn]

And Silo, that's coming out next summer. You know, keeping busy.

[Brett Goldstein]

Steve Zion, what a pleasure. Thank you for your time. I know you're a busy boy. I really appreciate it. It was really fun to talk to you and thank you.

[Steve Zahn]

Yeah, this was a blast. Thank you. Really fun.

[Brett Goldstein]

I hope you have a wonderful death. Thank you. Good day to you. So that was episode 381. Head over to the [e-mail] BrettGoldstein for the extra 15 minutes of chat secrets and videos with Steve, go to Apple podcast, give us a five star rating. Right. About the film that means the most to you and why is it lovely to read? It helps numbers and my neighbor Maureen really appreciates it. You can still see our film, all of you, on Apple tv. And you can see shrinking in January. Thank you so much to Steve for his time. Thanks to Scrubius Pip and the Distraction Pieces network. Thanks to Buddy P's for producing it. Thanks to Adam Richardson for the graphics and Lisa Layden for the photography. Come and join me next week for more amazing guests. That's it for now. In the meantime, have a lovely week and please, now more than ever, be excellent to each other.

[Steve Zahn]

Sam,

[Brett Goldstein]

Nine one one.

[Steve Zahn]

What's your emergency?

[Commercial Narrator]

You need to send the police.

[Steve Zahn]

He's going to kill me.

[Commercial Narrator]

He killed all the others.

[Steve Zahn]

Who killed the others, ma'?

[Brett Goldstein]

Am?

[Steve Zahn]

He found me.

[Commercial Advertiser]

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