Nick Zano
Zano at the 2015 Television Critics Association’s Press Tour
Born (1978-03-08) March 8, 1978 (age 46)
Nutley, New Jersey, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active2002–present
Partner(s)Leah Renee Cudmore
(2014–present)
Children2

Nick Zano (born March 8, 1978) is an American actor. Zano is known for having played Vince in The WB's sitcom What I Like About You. He hosted MTV's former infotainment program about the film industry, Movie House, and briefly worked as an MTV News correspondent before he began an acting career. His recurring roles on television include Drew Pragin on Melrose Place, Pete on Happy Endings, P.J. Hillingsbrook on 90210, and Johnny on 2 Broke Girls. He also starred as a lead on the NBC sitcom One Big Happy and as Arthur in the TV series Minority Report. He is best known as Dr. Nathaniel "Nate" Heywood / Steel in The CW Arrowverse, starring on Legends of Tomorrow.

Early life

Zano was born in Nutley, New Jersey.[1] He lived in Florida as a child. While attending Wellington High School he was active in the drama and television departments. Throughout his junior and senior years, he and his classmates produced a weekly off-beat skit comedy show that aired on the school's television station. While working on the show, Zano also wrote, starred in and directed student films that made their way to the JVC Universal Film Competition, a festival in which over 800 local high schools participate.[2]

Career

Shortly after graduating from high school, Zano moved to Hanover, Pennsylvania, and landed a job developing films and television projects for a small production company.[3] During that time, he also was the associate producer for Living Position, a World AIDS Day television special hosted by Lou Diamond Phillips. While selling shoes in a trendy Los Angeles boutique, a customer went back to her office and told her supervisors she'd just met a man who would be a wonderful on-air personality. The woman was an employee at MTV, which led to Zano's hosting job of MTV News' Movie House.[4] In 2003, he landed the role of Vince in The WB's sitcom What I Like About You, starring Amanda Bynes and Jennie Garth.[5] Zano made his first appearance in the second season and remained until the fourth and final season, which ended March 24, 2006. Afterwards, he went on to host and executive produce his MTV reality show Why Can't I Be You?.[6]

Zano at the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Earth Made of Glass in April 2010

The following year, Zano appeared alongside Haylie Duff and Frankie Muniz in the independent romantic comedy My Sexiest Year.[7] The film, which received mixed reviews, had its world premiere at the 2007 Hamptons International Film Festival. In 2008 he appeared in a supporting role opposite Drake Bell in MGM's teen comedy film College.[8] Zano also appeared in Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead later that year.[9][10] In 2009, Zano co-starred in The Final Destination, the fourth installment of the Final Destination film series.[11] He also guest starred on the ABC sitcom Cougar Town, starring Courteney Cox.[12] In 2010, he had a recurring role on The CW's Melrose Place.[13]

In 2011 he started a recurring role on 2 Broke Girls as Johnny, a graffiti artist who regularly flirts with Max (Kat Dennings).[14] In 2011 he also co-starred in the romantic comedy Scents and Sensibility as Brandon.[15] In 2012, Zano scored a recurring role on another CW series, 90210, in which he played a billionaire who goes into business with Annie (Shenae Grimes).[16] On November 27, 2011, Zano starred as David Morretti in the ABC family Christmas themed movie Desperately Seeking Santa opposite Laura Vandervoort.[17] Beginning in December 2012, Zano began a recurring role in season three of the ABC sitcom Happy Endings as Pete, Penny's new love interest.[18]

In 2013, Zano appeared on Mom as Anna Faris' (main character's) boyfriend for two episodes.

In February 2014, Zano signed on to play the male lead in Liz Feldman and Ellen DeGeneres' NBC comedy pilot One Big Happy. The show centers on Lizzy (played by Elisha Cuthbert), a lesbian who gets pregnant just as her straight male best friend Luke (the father of the child), played by Zano, meets and marries the love of his life, Prudence.[19] The show was ordered to series on May 9, 2014, and debuted mid-season in early 2015. In 2015, Zano starred as Arthur, described as having a hard shell, borne of years of difficult experience in the outside world that Dash avoided, in the Fox drama Minority Report, based on the 2002 Steven Spielberg film of the same name.[20]

From 2016 to 2022, Zano starred as Dr. Nate Heywood/Citizen Steel, a historian whose grandfather was the hero known as Commander Steel, a member of the Justice Society of America on The CW series Legends of Tomorrow.[21] He starred on the show's latter six seasons, appearing in 94 episodes.[22]

Personal life

Zano is in a long-term relationship with actress Leah Renee Cudmore. In July 2016, she gave birth to their son.[23][24] Their second child, a daughter, was born in 2018.[25]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Catch Me If You Can James Uncredited
2004 Fat Albert Camera salesman
2007 My Sexiest Year Pierce
2008 College Teague
Beverly Hills Chihuahua Bryan
Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead Bobby Lawrence Direct to video
2009 The Final Destination Hunt Wynorski
2011 Scents and Sensibility Brandon Hurst
10 Years Nick Vanillo
2013 Lost Luck James

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2003–2006 What I Like About You Vince 54 episodes
2005 One Tree Hill Himself Episode: "Somewhere a Clock Is Ticking"
Everything You Want Quinn Andrews Television film
2007 7th Heaven Dr. Jonathan Sanderson 3 episodes
2009 Cougar Town Josh 5 episodes
2010 Melrose Place Drew Pragin 5 episodes
2010–2011 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Dr. Miller 2 episodes
2011 Drop Dead Diva Tim Klein Episode: "Hit and Run"
Desperately Seeking Santa David Moretti Television film
2011–2012 2 Broke Girls Johnny 11 episodes
2012 90210 Preston Hillingsbrook 6 episodes
2012–2013 Happy Endings Pete 8 episodes
2014 Mom David 2 episodes
Friends with Better Lives Handy Randy Episode: "Pros and Cons"
2015 One Big Happy Luke 6 episodes
Minority Report Arthur 10 episodes
2016–2022 Legends of Tomorrow Nate Heywood / Steel Main role (season 2-7)
2016 Arrow Nate Heywood / Steel Episode: "Invasion!"
2023 Obliterated Chad McKnight Main role

References

  1. ^ Thompson, Kevin D. "THE SHORT, METEORIC RISE OF NICK ZANO", The Palm Beach Post, February 22, 2004.
  2. ^ "Nick Zano Biography". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "Nick Zano biography and filmography | Nick Zano movies". Tribute.ca. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  4. ^ "Nick Zano". TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 6, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  5. ^ "What I Like About You". TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 6, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  6. ^ "Nick Zano". TV.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  7. ^ "My Sexiest Year". Amazon UK. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  8. ^ "College (2008) Cast and Crew - Cast Photos and Info - Fandango". Fandango. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  9. ^ "Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead". ComingSoon.net. October 6, 2008. Archived from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  10. ^ Beverly Hills Chihuahua, archived from the original on October 11, 2016, retrieved August 26, 2016
  11. ^ Mintzer, Jordan (August 26, 2009). "Review: 'The Final Destination'". Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  12. ^ "'Cougar Town' News: Lisa Kudrow Visits While Nick Zano May Move Out To 'Melrose Place'". MTV. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  13. ^ "Exclusive: 'Cougar Town' hottie Nick Zano relocating to 'Melrose Place'?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  14. ^ "'Cougar Town' hunk Nick Zano to recur on '2 Broke Girls'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  15. ^ "Scents and Sensibility". Dove Family Friendly Movie Reviews. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  16. ^ Richenthal, Matt (February 23, 2012). "90210 First Look: Welcome, Nick Zano!". TV Fanatic. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  17. ^ "Breaking News - ABC Family to Premiere Original Movie "Desperately Seeking Santa," Sunday, November 27". The Futon Critic. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  18. ^ Dave Nemetz (December 1, 2012). "'Happy Endings' exclusive first look: Nick Zano tells us about playing Penny's new love interest". Yahoo. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  19. ^ Lesley Goldberg (February 10, 2014). "Nick Zano to Co-Star in NBC's Lesbian Comedy". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  20. ^ Prudom, Laura (June 30, 2015). "Nick Zano Joins Fox's 'Minority Report'". Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  21. ^ "Nick Zano boards 'Legends of Tomorrow' as series regular". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  22. ^ Gelman, Vlada (March 2, 2022). "Legends of Tomorrow: [Spoiler] Not Returning for Potential Season 8". TVLine. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  23. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Nick Zano and Girlfriend Leah Renee Expecting First Baby!". Entertainment Tonight. June 10, 2016. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  24. ^ "Nick Zano and Leah Renee Welcome a Baby Boy". Entertainment Tonight. August 1, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  25. ^ "'Legends of Tomorrow' Star Nick Zano Shares Heartfelt Reason Why He Isn't in "Wet Hot American Bummer"". ComicBook. November 12, 2018. Archived from the original on November 30, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2022.

External links

MTV News correspondents in the United States
Authority control databases
Categories