Actor Takes Back Seat to Gremlins

Zach Galligan is the first to admit his debt to gremlins, those demons with whom he co-stars a second time this summer in “Gremlins II.”

Galligan, 24, made his movie starring debut in the original “Gremlins,” which snagged $300 million worldwide six years ago. Now the sequel is off to the financial races.

But Galligan, a Columbia University graduate, is smart enough to know that it isn’t his charisma that is luring moviegoers. It’s those barbarous creatures who delight in destroying everything in sight.

In fact, the personable Galligan plays something of a wimp as the gremlins turn him every way but loose for a second time. However, his character does rally at the finale to zonk the little creeps into oblivion--until, that is, the inevitable “Gremlins III” comes along.

Galligan took a break from his schedule to muse about this association with his raucous little co-stars.

“I’ve been surprised by the reaction of friends who have seen this sequel,” he said with a grin. “You could say I have a rather thankless part. I’m the Bud Abbott of the movie, the straight man.

“That’s always a little frustrating because as an actor I want to do more, a few moments in which I can create for myself. But I’m well aware that audiences come to see the gremlins and that’s the way it should be. They are really fascinating creatures to watch in action. They never stop raising havoc.

“There just isn’t enough time in a gremlin picture to put much meat on the characters of Kate and Billy, the roles Phoebe (Cates) and I play. No one bothers to make our parts more interesting. So we ad-lib what we can to show the relationship between us.

“The gremlins are the stars. Even John Glover, who plays the Donald Trump-type character so beautifully, is overshadowed by them.”

Galligan laughed and recalled W. C. Field’s immortal admonition to actors: “Never work with animals or children.”

“It’s true,” Galligan said. “Only gremlins are bigger scene-stealers than any kids or real-life animals.”

After Galligan completed his scenes, he said, he had no idea what director Joe Dante was doing with the gremlins and puppeteers who operated the imps until he saw the completed picture.