Basic Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Zeppelin Adele Gilford |
| Date of Birth | November 29, 2017 |
| Age | 7 (turning 8 in November 2025) |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Parents | Zach Gilford (born January 14, 1982) and Kiele Sanchez (born October 13, 1977) |
| Siblings | Younger brother, Revel (born circa early 2021) |
| Grandparents | Paternal: Steve and Anne Gilford; Maternal: Oscar Sanchez |
| Notable For | Eldest child of actors; born via surrogate following her parents’ 2015 pregnancy loss |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California (private, low-profile family life) |
| Public Presence | Occasional cameos in her father’s social media posts; no independent accounts |
A Family Narrative of Resilience
Zeppelin Adele Gilford’s arrival in late 2017 was more than a birth—it was a lantern lit after a long night. Her parents, actors Zach Gilford and Kiele Sanchez, had weathered profound heartbreak in 2015 when a late-term loss shattered their first pregnancy. In the wake of that grief, they chose surrogacy, piecing together hope one careful decision at a time. Zeppelin’s birth became a turning point, a quiet celebration tucked into a private Los Angeles life.
As a young child, Zeppelin’s story is not about red carpets or credits but about family cadence: birthdays, art projects, and weekend lunches. She appears now and then on her father’s social media—fleeting snapshots of everyday magic—while her mother remains steadfast in shielding family moments from the glare. In a landscape obsessed with visibility, her childhood unfolds closer to the ground, where the grass is real and the pace is gentle.
Parents and Roots
Zach Gilford, known to many as Matt Saracen from Friday Night Lights, has built a career across soulful dramas and chilling thrillers, including Midnight Mass and Criminal Minds: Evolution. He grew up in Evanston, Illinois, the son of Steve and Anne Gilford, a household blending Jewish and Lutheran traditions. That mixed heritage adds texture to Zeppelin’s family tapestry.
Kiele Sanchez’s path threads through television and film with roles in Lost, A Perfect Getaway, Kingdom, and The Purge: Anarchy. Born in Chicago, she brings Puerto Rican roots through her father, Oscar Sanchez, a racetrack jockey agent. Before meeting Zach, she was married to filmmaker Zach Helm (2001–2008), underscoring a life lived in creative circles.
The couple met in 2010 while working on the pilot The Matadors, got engaged in November 2011, and married on December 29, 2012. Their partnership—personal and sometimes professional—spanned more than a decade, including a high-profile screen pairing in Criminal Minds: Evolution. In 2025, they entered a new chapter with a divorce filing and plans for joint custody, reframing their family structure while aiming to maintain stability for their children.
Siblings and Home Life
Zeppelin became a big sister around early 2021 with the birth of her brother, Revel. The pandemic-era timing complicated family logistics; Zach was filming Midnight Mass and later shared that he missed the birth due to travel restrictions and work commitments. Even so, the family adjusted, expanding the orbit of daily rituals—bedtime stories, sibling dynamics, and the evolving choreography of co-parenting.
The Gilford-Sanchez home life remains grounded. There are no personal channels blasting updates, no tell-all interviews about school or routines. That restraint reads as deliberate: Zeppelin’s childhood is a protected garden, tended with privacy and care.
Name Story and Meaning
Names carry weather. “Zeppelin” was chosen simply because Zach and Kiele loved its distinctive sound—lofty and light, without the expected nod to the rock band. “Adele,” her middle name, anchors that buoyancy with heritage, honoring Zach’s grandmother. Together, the names feel like a kite on a steady line: playful up top, rooted underneath.
Recent Mentions and Media Footprints
Public glimpses of Zeppelin surface at family inflection points:
- In 2022, her parents portrayed a married couple in Criminal Minds: Evolution, weaving work and home into one storyline.
- In December 2024, Zach experienced a severe allergic reaction and was later photographed out in Los Angeles with Zeppelin, a rare sighting that underscored ordinary recovery amid unusual headlines.
- In April 2025, Zach filed for divorce, requesting joint legal and physical custody of both children. As proceedings moved forward, the emphasis remained on a low-drama, child-centered arrangement.
Beyond these moments, Zeppelin’s media footprint is modest—occasional birthday tributes, snapshots from a photo shoot, and a handful of early clips from 2017 welcoming her arrival. There’s no independent account, no curated public persona. Her parents’ choices keep that door gently closed.
Selected Timeline
| Date | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Parents meet | Zach Gilford and Kiele Sanchez connect while filming the pilot The Matadors. |
| November 2011 | Engagement | The couple gets engaged after more than a year of dating. |
| December 29, 2012 | Marriage | Private ceremony marks the start of their 12-year marriage. |
| August 2015 | Pregnancy announcement | Expecting a son due in November. |
| October 2015 | Late-term loss | Their son, named Winter, is stillborn; the family enters a period of profound grief. |
| Early 2017 | Surrogacy path | After careful consideration, they choose surrogacy to build their family. |
| November 29, 2017 | Zeppelin’s birth | Born via surrogate in Los Angeles; a joyful milestone after hardship. |
| ~February 2021 | Revel’s birth | Zeppelin becomes a big sister; Zach later shares he missed the birth due to filming. |
| 2022 | On-screen collaboration | Zach and Kiele play a married couple in Criminal Minds: Evolution. |
| December 2024 | Health scare | Zach suffers a severe allergic reaction; photographed with Zeppelin while recovering. |
| April 2025 | Divorce filing | Zach files for divorce; joint custody requested for Zeppelin and Revel. |
| Mid–2025 | Co-parenting focus | Public updates remain minimal; family prioritizes privacy and stability. |
Context: Career and Finances
As a child, Zeppelin has no career, accolades, or income of her own—nor should she. Her life is measured in school days, family dinners, and small milestones, not in credits or contracts. Her parents’ acting careers underpin the household’s financial context, with public estimates placing Zach’s net worth in the mid–single-digit millions and Kiele’s around a couple of million. Those figures do not attach to Zeppelin or Revel; they simply sketch the professional backdrop against which her childhood unfolds.
FAQ
Who is Zeppelin Adele Gilford?
She is the eldest child of actors Zach Gilford and Kiele Sanchez, born in 2017 in Los Angeles.
When was Zeppelin born?
She was born on November 29, 2017.
Where was she born?
In Los Angeles, California.
Was Zeppelin born via surrogate?
Yes, her parents chose surrogacy following a late-term loss in 2015.
Does she have any siblings?
She has a younger brother, Revel, born around early 2021.
What do her parents do?
Both are actors; Zach is known for Friday Night Lights and Criminal Minds: Evolution, while Kiele starred in Lost and Kingdom.
Are her parents still together?
They filed for divorce in 2025, with joint custody requested for the children.
What does her name mean?
“Zeppelin” was chosen for its unique sound; “Adele” honors Zach’s grandmother.
Is Zeppelin on social media?
No; she appears occasionally in her father’s posts but has no independent accounts.
How old is she now?
She is 7 years old, turning 8 in November 2025.
