Zen Gesner

Gesner in 2014, photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Zen Brant Gesner

Place of Birth: Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: June 23, 1970

Ethnicity: German, English, Irish, French, one eighth Norwegian, one sixteenth Mexican

Zen Gesner is an American television and film actor. His roles include the shows The Adventures of Sinbad and All My Children, and the films There’s Something About Mary, Me, Myself & Irene, Shallow Hal, Boat Trip, Fever Pitch, and The Ringer (2005).

He is the son of stage actress and comedian Nan Martin and architect Harry Gesner. His father’s Wave House (1957) has been suggested as an inspiration for the Sydney Opera House. Zen is married to actress and entertainment lawyer Cynthia Farrelly Gesner, with whom he has three children. Cynthia is the sister of film directors, screenwriters, and producers Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly. He has often appeared in their films.

Zen’s paternal grandfather was Harry Martin Gesner (the son of Henry L. Gesner and Emma Wells Knapp). Harry Gesner was born in New York, and was an inventor and engineer. Henry was born in New York, the son of Henry Gesner and Christina Clark. Emma was born in New York, the daughter of Martin F. Knapp and Mary Catherine Blakeney/Blakeley.

Zen’s paternal grandmother was Ethel Elizabeth Harmer (the daughter of Alexander Francis Harmer and Felicidad Eleadora Abadie). Ethel Harmer was born in California, and was an artist. Zan’s great-grandfather Alexander F. Harmer was a prominent California painter. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Sylvanus B. Harmer and Matilda Nye Ward. Zen’s great-grandmother Felicidad was born in California, the daughter of Dominique/Domingo Abadie, who was from France; and of Maria del Refugio Fernandez Lugo, who was of Mexican descent.

Zen’s maternal grandfather was named Clarence Martin. Clarence was born in Illinois.

Zen’s maternal grandmother was Frances Wyman Clow (the daughter of Sherwin John Clow and Tora/Tena “Flora” Halverson Ulemoee). Frances was born in Minnesota. Sherwin was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, to parents from England, John Stevenet Clow and Agnes Louisa Redman. Tora was born in Lom, Norway, the daughter of Halvor Quale and Katinka Moe.