Adrian Zmed

Zmed was born in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of three sons of George Zmed,[3] later known as George Zmed-Smith (1916–2010), a Romanian Orthodox priest, who served from 1952 until his retirement in 1983,[1] and his wife, Persida (née Golub) Zmed,[4] later known as Sadie Smith (1923–2015).[5] George Zmed was a first-generation American born in Chicago to Romanian parents, Nicolae and Paraschiva (née Bălan), who had emigrated from Comloşu Mare, Timiș County in the early 20th century. At the age of five, George and his family returned to Romania, where he was educated; he returned to the United States in November 1952. George and Persida (also Romanian-born) were married October 15, 1942, in Timișoara. The couple had three sons, in the following order: Cornel, Walter, and Adrian.[6]

Adrian graduated from Lane Tech High School in Chicago. He began playing American football for the school's team until, when playing in 1968,[1] he broke a leg bone which in turn punctured a major artery.[7] He quit sports and began acting, appearing in his high school's production of Guys and Dolls. After being featured on a local TV show as one of Chicago's top high school performers, Zmed transferred to the Goodman School of Drama[1] and began studying voice at the Chicago Conservatory of Music.[7] He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Goodman School of Drama.

Zmed's first major acting gig was the role of Danny Zuko in the national touring company production of Grease.[1] He later appeared in the Broadway musical three times, twice in the role of Zuko. At 40, Zmed revived the role of Zuko in the 1995 Broadway revival.

Zmed provided the voiceover for Toth in the 2002 video game Star Wars Jedi Starfighter. He was also under contract from June 2008 to April 2009 with Princess Cruise Lines to perform Adrian Zmed, in Concert... aboard the Coral Princess and the Island Princess.

In 2006, he filmed a 30-second public service announcement for the non-profit organization Dogs Deserve Better.

Zmed has been married three times. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Fitzner,[17] in 1976. Their two sons, Zachary and Dylan, are rock musicians who have been members of the rock band The Janks[18] and the Bird Dogs, an Everly Brothers tribute band.[19]

Zmed married Broadway actress/singer Susan Wood in 1995;[20] that marriage also ended in divorce.

He married Lyssa Lynne Baker on October 5, 2012.[21] They held another (smaller) wedding in Thailand on November 23, 2012.[22]

Zmed remains friends with his co-star and childhood television hero William Shatner. He spoke in a 2016 interview with Las Vegas Magazine about Shatner:

I learned so much just watching him...it's a very different energy on camera than onstage. Instead of reaching the last person 50 rows away from you, you're reaching someone three feet in front of you, which is really daunting...His camera technique was just incredible. He was so relaxed and all. I learned so much in term of the moment, on how you readjust your energy, how you get efficient with camera technique. And just the stories. When he directed, he would mentor me. I do consider Bill a mentor, no question about it...Oh yeah. He was very helpful in saying, "Be smart with the money that you're making during T.J. Hooker and be smart with the decisions you're making in terms of your career"...I did heed his advice on making good choices.[23]

• Adrian Zmed at IMDb
• Adrian Zmed at the Internet Broadway Database
• Adrian Zmed at Internet Off-Broadway Database