Biography

For more than fifteen years, Zak Penn has carved out a successful and eclectic career in the film industry. While Penn is best known for his work as a screenwriter on Hollywood blockbusters, he is equally devoted to his role as director of independent, experimental and improvisational films. Penn first directed and co–starred with Werner Herzog in INCIDENT AT LOCH NESS, his award–winning “hoax” documentary about the legendary director’s attempts to make a film about the equally legendary monster. Penn's most recent directorial effort, THE GRAND, starring Woody Harrelson, Ray Romano, Cheryl Hines and Chris Parnell is currently in theaters. Born and raised in New York City, Penn attended Wesleyan University and soon after began his career as a screenwriter when he sold his first script, LAST ACTION HERO, at the age of twenty–three. Since then, Zak has been a credited writer on PCU, INSPECTOR GADGET, BEHIND ENEMY LINES, X-MEN II, ELEKTRA & X-MEN: THE LAST STAND. He is currently working on a remake of DIRTY DOZEN for Warner Brothers as well as developing an UNTITLED TV PILOT for ABC.