Zack Peter
American comedian

Zack Peter

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American comedian
Gender:
Male
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Birth:
15 June 1993(Los Angeles, USA)
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The details
Biography

Introduction

Zack Peter (Born Peter Zachary Gonzalez, June 15, 1993) is an American comedian, podcast host, writer, and activist. He first received recognition for his advocacy work for autism awareness. He has published a total of four books and currently hosts the weekly podcasts, #NoFilter with Zack Peter and #Adulting: Life Hacks to Get Your Sh*t Together.

In 2009, he was even named one of 2009's Teens that Inspire by Examiner.com.

Zack was also featured in The Parents' Guide to Raising CEO Kids by Sarah Cook.

He is featured in the forthcoming documentary, Sibling Warrior: Healing My Brother's Autism, featuring his family's journey with his brother with autism.

Early life

Peter grew up in Los Angeles, CA. His mother's name is Nancy. She was a contestant on the Sci-Fi reality show Estate of Panic in the episode "Don't Burst My Bubble" in 2008 and was even pranked by Zack on Lifetime's Prank My Mom. He has a total of six siblings. Two from his mother (Elijah Joeb and Ethan) and four from his father.

Career

Advocacy

In March 2009, Peter organized and hosted the first Play Now for Autism event. The fundraiser was a sports clinic for children with autism. The event raised over $2,000 which was donated to help autism research. Zack says that he started Play Now for Autism in honor of his younger brother with autism, Ethan, also known as "Deets."

Following Play Now for Autism, he then began hosting an internet talk-radio show, "it's on with Zack." The show started in July 2009 and ended in December 2011. On the show, Peter interviewed guests active in the autism community, covered recent news, and hosted debates.

In October 2009, his first book, Saving Deets!: A Family's Journey with Autism was released, which was later re-released in November 2010.

His advocacy efforts continued with events like Laugh Now for Autism, Rock Now for Autism, and his work with Jenny McCarthy's autism foundation, Generation Rescue, which he became Executive Director of in 2018. After nearly 10 years with the foundation, he ended his term in the summer of 2019.

Comedy

In 2011, Zack began performing stand-up, performing at a variety of clubs in Los Angeles, including the world-famous Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store. He even performed with comedians from Chelsea Handler's hit late-night talk show on E!, Chelsea Lately at the 2011 Laugh Now for Autism benefit show. "

He has written two books of humor essays, Charity Bites! and When Life Hands You Lemons. . . Throw Them At People!.

He hosted a short-lived YouTube series Just Plain Ridiculous with Zack and Ry from 2012 to 2013.

In April 2015, he began hosting #NoFilter with Zack Peter, a weekly entertainment podcast.

Literary

Zack has authored and self-published three books: Saving Deets!: A Family's Journey with Autism, Charity Bites!: The Untold Stories of the Dog-Eat-Dog World of Autism Activism, and When Life Hands You Lemons. . . Throw Them At People: A Book About Growing Up, Screwing Up, and Moving Up, with Just an Ounce of Maturity. His first book was published when he was sixteen, and his third when he was nineteen.

Zack Peter signing books at the Saving Deets! book launch in November 2010.

He writing has also been featured on a variety of sites, including Conscious Magazine, POPSUGAR, and Men's Health.

His fourth book, A Shot Of Hope, was released in October 2014 with Skyhorse Publishing, and later sold to Simon and Schuster.

Published works

  • Saving Deets!: A Family's Journey with Autism (2009)
  • Saving Deets!: A Family's Journey with Autism, Second Edition (2010)
  • Charity Bites!: The Untold Stories of the Dog-Eat-Dog World of Autism Activism (2011)
  • When Life Hands You Lemons. . . Throw Them At People! (2012)
  • A Shot of Hope: Real Wisdom From a Real Sibling Warrior Providing Real Hope for Autism (2014)

Awards

Year Award Category Result Notes
2009 MSAAFinc. Award Young Hero's Literary Work of the Year Won Won for Saving Deets!
2009 Examiner.com Recognition 2009's Teens That Inspire Won Recognition (not official award)
2011 Association of Fundraising Professionals Award Outstanding Youth Volunteer Won Nominated by Generation Rescue. Zack accepted the award in Los Angeles on November 16, 2011.
2013 WEGO Health Activist Award Hilarious Health Activist Nominated Announced by WEGO Health on October 10, 2013; results pending.