Ziv Zaifman is an American singer and actor best known for his vocal performance in the 2017 musical film The Greatest Showman. He sang the opening section of “A Million Dreams,” representing the younger version of P. T. Barnum.
Although actor Ellis Rubin portrayed young Barnum onscreen, Rubin lip-synced to Ziv Zaifman’s prerecorded vocals during the musical sequence. Zaifman’s performance became widely recognized through the film’s commercially successful soundtrack.
In addition to his work on The Greatest Showman, Zaifman has appeared in television and film productions, including The Blacklist, To Dust, and Search Party. His documented career combines recorded music, screen acting, and stage performance.
Profile Summary
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ziv Zaifman |
| Profession | Singer and actor |
| Date of Birth | July 7, 2004 |
| Age | 22 years old |
| Birthplace | Clearwater, Florida, United States |
| Birth Sign | Cancer |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | Singing the young P. T. Barnum section of “A Million Dreams” |
| Notable Film | To Dust |
| Notable Television Credits | The Blacklist and Search Party |
| Major Soundtrack | The Greatest Showman |
| Notable Song | “A Million Dreams” |
Early Life and Background
Ziv Zaifman was born on July 7, 2004, in Clearwater, Florida. His birth date places him under the Cancer zodiac sign.
Limited verified information is publicly available about his parents, siblings, or early home life. His public biography is primarily documented through his acting, singing, and educational activities.
Ziv Zaifman later attended Tenafly High School in New Jersey and was associated with its class of 2022. He participated in school theater and appeared as Mr. Green in a production of the stage comedy Clue.
His interest in performance included both singing and acting. He pursued professional auditions while continuing his education and gained screen experience before completing high school.
In an interview published during his school years, Ziv Zaifman discussed the uncertainty involved in acting auditions and the importance of accepting rejection as part of the profession. His comments presented acting as a developing interest rather than a guaranteed long-term career.
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Career and Professional Journey
Early Television Work
One of Zaifman’s earliest documented television credits came in 2017, when he appeared in the NBC crime drama The Blacklist.
He played Aaron Edelstein in the episode “Philomena (No. 61).” The guest role gave him professional television experience during the early stage of his career.
The appearance came in the same year that his work on The Greatest Showman introduced his singing voice to an international audience.
The Greatest Showman and “A Million Dreams”
Zaifman’s most recognizable professional achievement is his performance on “A Million Dreams,” a song written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul for The Greatest Showman.
The number follows P. T. Barnum from childhood into adulthood as he imagines creating a more ambitious and extraordinary life. Zaifman performs the vocal section associated with the young Barnum.
Ellis Rubin plays the character onscreen during the childhood portion of the film. Rubin’s performance uses Zaifman’s recorded singing voice, meaning the visual and vocal parts were performed by different artists.
Ziv Zaifman is credited on the soundtrack alongside Hugh Jackman and Michelle Williams. Jackman performs as the adult Barnum, while Williams appears as Barnum’s wife, Charity.
This arrangement is similar to other vocal casting decisions in the film. Loren Allred, for example, provided the singing voice used for Rebecca Ferguson’s character, Jenny Lind. Zaifman and Allred were both soundtrack vocalists, though they performed for different characters and songs.
Acting Role in To Dust
Ziv Zaifman appeared in the 2018 film To Dust, a comedy-drama directed by Shawn Snyder.
He played a supporting character named Moishe. The film starred Géza Röhrig as Shmuel, a grieving widower, and Matthew Broderick as Albert, a community college biology professor.
The story examines grief, faith, and mortality through an unconventional partnership between its central characters. Zaifman’s participation added a feature-film acting credit to his developing career.
Search Party Appearance
Zaifman later appeared in the television series Search Party. He described the role as that of a bully, allowing him to portray a personality that differed from his own.
His comments about the experience emphasized one of the central aspects of acting: temporarily adopting the behavior and perspective of another person.
The credit expanded his television experience beyond the dramatic setting of The Blacklist and demonstrated his ability to work in productions with different tones.
Stage and School Theater
Alongside professional work, Zaifman participated in theater during high school.
His appearance as Mr. Green in Clue gave him experience in live performance, where actors must sustain a character without the repeated takes available in film and television production.
School theater also allowed him to continue developing his acting skills while managing his education and professional auditions.
Major Achievements and Recognition
Vocal Performance on a Globally Recognized Song
“A Million Dreams” became one of the best-known songs from The Greatest Showman. Zaifman’s voice is heard during the song’s opening childhood sequence, making his contribution an important part of the recording.
The song’s success introduced Zaifman to listeners who may not have been aware that a separate singer provided the young Barnum vocals.
His performance is frequently associated with Ellis Rubin because Rubin appears onscreen. However, Zaifman’s role should be accurately described as the recorded singer for the young character rather than the actor who portrayed him visually.
Contribution to a Grammy-Winning Soundtrack
The Greatest Showman soundtrack won the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media in 2019.
Zaifman contributed to the album as one of the vocalists on “A Million Dreams.” His participation therefore connects him to a Grammy-winning soundtrack, although the award was presented for the album rather than as an individual competitive Grammy credited solely to him.
The soundtrack’s success remains the most prominent source of recognition in his career.
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Early Work Across Several Performance Formats
Zaifman gained experience in recorded music, television, feature film, and live theater while still young.
His credits in The Blacklist, To Dust, and Search Party show a career that extended beyond one widely recognized soundtrack performance.
There is no clearly documented record of individual acting awards. His professional recognition is primarily associated with his vocal contribution to The Greatest Showman and his early screen roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ziv Zaifman?
Ziv Zaifman is an American singer and actor. He is best known for providing the young P. T. Barnum vocals on “A Million Dreams” from the 2017 film The Greatest Showman.
How old is Ziv Zaifman?
Ziv Zaifman is 22 years old. He was born on July 7, 2004, in Clearwater, Florida.
Did Ziv Zaifman appear onscreen in The Greatest Showman?
Zaifman did not portray young P. T. Barnum onscreen. Actor Ellis Rubin played the character and lip-synced to Zaifman’s prerecorded singing voice during “A Million Dreams.”
What role did Ziv Zaifman play in The Blacklist?
Zaifman played Aaron Edelstein in the 2017 episode “Philomena (No. 61)” of the NBC crime drama The Blacklist.
What other movies and television shows has Ziv Zaifman appeared in?
His documented credits include the film To Dust and television appearances in The Blacklist and Search Party. His best-known musical credit remains The Greatest Showman soundtrack.
Conclusion
Ziv Zaifman is a singer and actor whose most prominent work came through his performance on “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman. While Ellis Rubin portrayed young P. T. Barnum onscreen, Zaifman supplied the character’s recorded singing voice.
Born in Clearwater, Florida, in 2004, he began gaining professional experience as a young performer. His screen credits include The Blacklist, To Dust, and Search Party, while his school activities included live theater.
Zaifman’s contribution to a Grammy-winning soundtrack remains his most widely recognized achievement. Public information about his current professional plans is limited, so his biography is best understood through his verified music, film, television, and theater credits.