Biography
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Jean Zarzour has been a working artist since the age of 17, when she moved to New York to study acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and The Stella Adler Conservatory when Stella Adler was her teacher!
For the 1st 28 years of her career, Jean began working as a narrator, actor and spokesperson in Corporate Videos while voicing hundreds of Radio and TV commercials. She moved on to TV, Film, Theater, Dance, Improv and more Corporate Communications in the U.S., England, Wales and Italy. While studying in NY, she was hired as a receptionist for Jim Henson Associates to answer phones, type actor rejection letters, sample marketing merchandise and sign Miss Piggy autographs. It was, by far, the best "real" job she has ever had!
Later, Jean worked for legendary David Garth at Garth Associates (political consultant to Mayor Ed Koch and the Anderson Presidential Campaign) where she mastered the art of schmoozing.
Jean spent 2 years in England where she worked as a print model, taught dance at 4 popular dance and fitness studios and choreographed fashion shows at Earls Court Exhibition Center. She returned to Cleveland and for one year, was up to her elbows in other people's toilets & laundry giving her the time to audition until she began work as an actor again.
In the same year, Jean was cast in a musical at The Cleveland Play House and her first feature film opposite Joe Pesci, both of which earned her AFTRA, SAG and AEA memberships. She began training and working with an Improv troupe, which led to agent representation and gigs as a morning drive-time, comic sidekick on 3 top radio stations in Cleveland; WZAK, WLTF & WMMS.
In 1989, Jean founded Lipschtick Entertainment, building a renowned reputation for putting the "Show" in "Business" with customized comedy and Laugh & Learn Workshops for hundreds of corporations, nationwide since 1989.
In 2006, Jean founded Find Your Voice Acting Institute, providing training in TV, Film and Voice Acting, Live Presentations and Voice Over Demo production, nationwide.
Early in her film career, Neil Simon wrote the part of Flo especially for Jean in the film version of his play, Lost In Yonkers. It was an honor to work with him and director Martha Coolidge. Since then she has worked opposite luminaries like James Coburn, Jake Gyllenhaal, Hank Azaria, Josh Gad, Michael Imperioli, David Morse, Shaquille O'Neal, Seth Rogen, Ben Stein, Rob Lowe, Paul Ben-Victor, Ray Abruzzo, Joey "Pants" Pantoliano and Cate Blanchett in Where'd You Go Bernadette, Directed by Richard Linklater.
Jean appeared in 2, multiple Film Festival award winning short films, Snow Globe & The Cat (opposite Joel McKinney Miller Brooklyn Nine Nine) directed by Rick Page (Brooklyn Nine Nine & Blockbuster) and Seventy Times Seven, which won 6 awards for Best Short Film and Best 1st Time Director for Bryan Reeves, adapted from a short play by Peter Anthony Fields.
On March 21, 2025, Jean can be seen as Elsa Anastasia in the feature film Alto Knights, opposite Robert De Niro and Debra Messing, Directed by Barry Levinson.
In March 2025, Jean appears as Erika's Mother opposite Morris Chestnut in the 1st Ep. of Watson on CBS.
MAR 12 - APR 6, 2025 Jean will appear in the Pulitzer Prize winning play, English, by Sanaz Toossi at Tipping Point Theater, in Michigan.
