Interrupted by Matt Jones – Episode 34: Steve Zahn (2020 Interview)

Release Date: April 2, 2026
Guest: Steve Zahn
Host: Matt Jones

Episode Overview

In this replay of a 2020 interview, Matt Jones sits down with actor and Kentucky resident Steve Zahn. The conversation covers Steve’s unique Hollywood career, his life in Kentucky, thoughts on acting, family life, the challenges of working during the pandemic, and his experiences with some of the most iconic moments in film, TV, and Kentucky culture. Their rapport is open and humorous, blending storytelling with reflections on fame, work ethic, and personal priorities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Coping With COVID and Life at Home

Timestamps: 02:09 – 07:05

• Steve Zahn describes his experience during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly how the entertainment industry completely shut down, unlike some other jobs.
• Zahn found comfort being home in Kentucky but reflected on the oddity of being certain he wouldn’t suddenly have to leave for work.
• Quote:
  "When I'm home, it's ... a sanctuary, and it makes me happy. But I'm always aware of possibly having to leave in two weeks. So it's been very strange to be here for six months and know that's not gonna happen." (02:58, Steve Zahn)
• Discussion about how pandemic-era masks have affected public recognition and changed the way people interact and read facial cues.
• Humorous moment:
  "If you're like, really ugly, but you have, like, pretty eyes, this is your time, man!" (07:33, Steve Zahn)

Life as a Working Actor: Offers, Auditions, and Anxieties

Timestamps: 07:49 – 13:00

• Zahn reflects on how he receives most of his roles now as offers rather than through auditions but sometimes prefers to audition to prove himself.
• Discusses the unpredictable nature of acting work, comparing it to being a sought-after sports free agent:
  "It might be more than that, or it's so weird. ... Sometimes you go through three months, and you don't [get] anything." (10:19, Steve Zahn)
• He gets more offers than he takes, and his decision is influenced more by scripts or people he knows than by agents’ input.
• Technical difficulties with Zoom video provide a lighthearted break.

Generational Fame and Unexpected Recognition

Timestamps: 13:00 – 19:48

• Many people today know Zahn best from Diary of a Wimpy Kid—a generational phenomenon for kids turned adults.
• Discusses how actors become subconscious touchstones for fans based on their age and what they were watching.
• Anecdote: Nearly dying on set during That Thing You Do! after a massive camera crane accident—
  "There was this big jib which is a big crane ... and the whole thing is coming right at me, falling. ... If [the crew guy] didn't yell out, I would—it would crush me." (15:51-17:43, Steve Zahn)
• Zahn reveals he's a Lutheran minister’s son, bringing up his father’s literary sermons and early life in Minnesota college communities.

From Soap Operas to Hollywood “Breaks”

Timestamps: 20:43 – 25:59

• Reliving his early days moving to New York and acting on All My Children in “under five” speaking roles—just enough to pay the rent.
• Hated the soap experience:
  "I absolutely hated it. … It was just not—I didn't get it." (22:02, Steve Zahn)
• First real “break” cited as Reality Bites, not the soaps, as that validated his career.
• Remained close friends with industry peers, especially Ethan Hawke, Sam Rockwell, and Josh Hamilton—a recurring friend group across decades and projects.

Luck, Preparation, and Family in Acting

Timestamps: 25:59 – 33:43

• Acting careers rely on preparedness, but luck still plays a large role.
• Zahn's advice to his daughter about the business:
  "Be so good they can't ignore you—and that's it." (27:32, Steve Zahn)
• Despite a reputation for confidence, he admits to persistent nerves, even after decades, especially on big productions like Planet of the Apes: "...I have to be as good as that set. Don’t screw it up." (30:11, Steve Zahn)
• Believes nerves are healthy and signal deep care for the craft:
  "When you stop being nervous before you perform, when that stops, you’re done." (33:19, Steve Zahn)

Navigating Big Budget and Indie Productions

Timestamps: 28:04 – 31:31

• Compared working on massive productions (Sahara, Planet of the Apes) to indie films (Cowboys): "Those were cities that moved … But there's no difference when the cameras roll." (28:28 – 29:22, Steve Zahn)

Fame, Typecasting, & the Realities of Recognition

Timestamps: 33:43 – 37:48

• Slow buildup of fame—20 films in before people recognized him.
• TV’s fragmentation today means big shows can go virtually unnoticed by segments of the public.
• Reflected on how Treme earned critical praise but little mainstream attention, though it developed a lasting audience among certain fans and in New Orleans.

Immersion and Research: Portraying New Orleans

Timestamps: 37:48 – 39:46

• Zahn explained his total immersion in New Orleans music and culture for Treme and his love-hate with the city: "I went to every club I could. I just immersed myself in that city. And for four years, I did. … I miss that city. I hate that city. And I love that city." (37:58, Steve Zahn)

Money, Work Ethic, & Choosing Projects

Timestamps: 40:04 – 43:38

• Debunks online net worth rumors ($25 million cited) and says he works both for income and because he loves good projects.
  "Even when I’m crunched for money ... I can't help but try to do good stuff. It's just who I am." (40:38, Steve Zahn)
• Sharing how “favor” jobs happen with old friends like Ethan Hawke—sometimes done just to keep relationships and reunite with pals.
• Anecdote: Acting with Sam Rockwell and the gang in Blaze was a reunion rather than a calculated career step.

Behind the Scenes: Mad Dogs and Adam Sandler

Timestamps: 43:57 – 51:45

• Zahn clarifies he didn’t hate Mad Dogs as a show, just that the experience of making it was miserable due to getting dengue fever, mismanagement, and tough working conditions: "It wasn’t as fun as it could have been. If it’s not fun, it’s a sin." (47:16 – 49:32, Steve Zahn)
• Contrasts this with Adam Sandler film sets, which he describes as generous, fun, family- and crew-focused workplaces:
  "He just makes it to, like, hang out with his buddies..." (49:45, Matt Jones)

Stereotypes, Public Interactions, and the Stoner Label

Timestamps: 51:45 – 54:14

• Zahn discusses being pigeonholed as a "stoner" due to early roles, though that’s not who he is.
• On fan interactions—people sometimes expect “crazy” or “wild” behavior because of his characters, which can be tricky, especially when he’s having a bad day.

Life in Kentucky: Embracing Community and Local Identity

Timestamps: 54:14 – 58:32

• Why Kentucky? Zahn loves its sense of history and community, being deeply involved in preservation efforts like the Perryville Battlefield.
• "There's something about this place ... I'll never leave it ... it's really a paradise." (56:26, Steve Zahn)
• Observes that, unlike in NYC or LA, Kentucky's cultural roots are still visible and tangible.

Becoming a True Kentuckian

Timestamps: 57:07 – 61:17

• Zahn reflects on being fully integrated: farming, dove hunting, local politics, friendships.
• Discussion on the embrace of Kentucky identity versus many natives who move away after achieving success.
• Relates how even after 17 years, locals still ask where he’s originally from.

Big Kentucky Sports Fan – UK Football & Basketball

Timestamps: 59:11 – 65:47

• Zahn inherited his UK sports fandom through his wife’s family and became passionate about local football and basketball.
• Describes his sports-watching temperament:
  "I was so loud and I was so animated that I was literally kicked out. I had to start listening to the games on the radio." (61:45, Steve Zahn)
• True die-hard, pacing and experiencing mood swings based on game outcomes.
• Memorable moment: Matt recalls spotting Zahn leaving a UK-Vanderbilt SEC final in New Orleans, confirming his status as a real, suffering fan.
• During filming Treme in New Orleans, clarified with producers he wouldn’t work during UK basketball tournament games.

Views on The Pandemic and Politics

Timestamps: 65:04 – 66:22

• Zahn remains cautious about COVID (as of 2020), planning to avoid crowds at sporting events; advocates mask-wearing for the sake of public health and returning to work.
• Touched on his political involvement, referencing support for Amy McGrath and belief in civic engagement.

What’s Next for Steve Zahn?

Timestamps: 66:22 – 69:16

• Discussed upcoming roles:
  • The Good Lord Bird (Showtime, with Ethan Hawke)
  • Cowboys (won Best Actor at Tribeca)
  • Gringa (playing a washed-up soccer star/surfer)
• Zahn is humble about accolades and future prospects, more excited by the craft and experience than the buzz.

Closing Thoughts

Timestamps: 69:18 – 70:02

• Steve Zahn remains available, genuine, and connected to Kentucky, ending with gratitude and an open invite to join Matt’s radio show for more football talk.

Notable Quotes

• On coping with career insecurity:
  "We all feel like this is the last gig and they're gonna come and take your union card away from you and go, you had a long run, man. But we figured you out. You actually suck." (31:31, Steve Zahn)

• Advice for aspiring actors:
  "You gotta be so good that they can’t ignore you, and that’s it." (27:32, Steve Zahn)

• On Kentucky’s character:
  "You get a sense of history … got your families that settled here and they're still here. … It's really a paradise." (56:20 – 57:02, Steve Zahn)

• On the joy of acting on Adam Sandler movies:
  "He just makes it to, like, hang out with his buddies..." (49:45, Matt Jones)

Memorable and Lighthearted Moments

• On face masks helping with anonymity:
  "If you're, like, really ugly, but you have pretty eyes, this is your time, man. You've been waiting for this." (07:33, Steve Zahn)
• On public perception:
  "Every time I tell people I know you, they all assume like you're some kind of stoner because of all the things you've played over the years." (51:45, Matt Jones)
• On Kentucky’s pride in him staying:
  "We're used to having all of these people from this state have success and leave, but ... not a whole lot of examples of people having success and coming here." (58:15, Matt Jones)

Conclusion

This episode is a candid, witty, and insightful look into Steve Zahn’s life as a working actor, Kentuckian, and family man. He shares the deep, sometimes strange realities of Hollywood, the blend of luck and hard work needed for success, and how Kentucky’s sense of community and history provides grounding against the uncertainty of show business. Zahn’s humility, humor, and local pride shine throughout a conversation sure to resonate with movie buffs, Kentuckians, and anyone navigating career or life’s unpredictability.

For more from Matt Jones and guests like Steve Zahn, tune in Thursdays at 6pm EST on 840 WHAS.