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Zen Gesner
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Born: Jun 23, 1970
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Zen’s name is derived from the Japanese religious sect that preaches enlightenment through meditation. Before he was born, his father and mother visited Japan and became enamored by the country’s architecture and its religion.
The son of renowned stage actress, Nan Martin, Zen was Five when his mother created a starring role for him in a home movie in which Zen discovers an ancient Spanish sword which evokes a vision of an old Conquistador.
Zen’s initial interest was in music. He plays the piano and trumpet. Serious interest in acting was not stirred until high school, where he answered an audition for a small part in a production of "Hamlet." "They were looking for a trumpet player and I played the trumpet," Zen recalled. "That’s when I was Bitten by the bug. ‘Hamlet’ had it all -- swordfighting, action and high drama. By my senior year, I was performing in major roles in plays such as ‘Nicholas Nickleby’ and ‘The Sound of Music.’" He also was the school’s drum major, where he set the pace for Santa Monica High School’s 160-piece marching band in Santa Monica, California.
By this time, Zen had set his sights on an acting career. After graduating from high school, Zen joined Orange County, California’s South Coast Repertory Company. There, he performed in bit parts and watched and learned from the wings.
On a lark, he also applied to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, which counted among its alumni such esteemed actors as Richard Harris and Stacey Keach...[MORE]
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