The Roloff family was introduced to the world on a reality show that premiered in 2006. It followed the Roloff family that included parents Matt and Amy, and their four children: Zach, Jeremy, Molly, and Jacob.
What the family was looking to get with this reality show was to give a sincere and real sample of what it is like to live with their particular conditions and to show that, like anyone else, they are capable of having a normal life. The difference lies in that they must do different things and equip their homes according to their needs, but at the end of the day they are people like anyone.
The reality show has come to have 12 seasons, where fans have seen the ups and downs of the family, their new projects, the weddings of their children and even the births of their grandchildren. Thanks to the reality show the children of Matt and Amy Roloff managed to create a platform to boost their personal careers. Zach is one of the eldest sons of Matt and Amy, he is currently 28 years-old and he is already a man who has settled down and has his own family. Today we will talk about 15 curious facts about this television star that readers probably did not know before.
15 Zach Is Younger Than His Twin
People who started watching the reality show from the beginning probably know that Zach and Jeremy are twins.
During the reality show Zach explained that Jeremy was older by a few seconds. They maintain a very close relationship. Both brothers are always there for the other to advise and have fun, as well as being a support for the other when they need it. And in one episode the brothers shared their opinions regarding their relationship and how their life has changed now that they were married and expecting their first child at the same time: “We used to be kids hanging out then we’re husbands and wives hanging out and now we’re entering this next season of parents hanging out,” Jeremy adds. “I think we’re in that moment of realizing, ‘Wow. This is the last couple hangouts we’re going to have until we’re parents.’ ”
Throughout the seasons these brothers have shown us that despite the differences, the most important thing is the family and being with our loved ones need us. Zach and Jeremy have stayed together through the years and now that they are husbands and have children, they are enjoying sharing the experience together. In addition, Jeremy and his wife Audrey have moved to Oregon to be closer to Jeremy's family.
14 Zach Has Achondroplasia
Zach is the only one of his brothers who suffers from achondroplasia, this is a bone growth disorder that causes a disproportionate dwarfism. Dwarfism is defined as a condition of short stature upon reaching adulthood.
The people who have this condition are of short stature with a torso of normal size and short extremities. Achondroplasia is the most common type of disproportionate dwarfism and is common in men and women as well.
According to the Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) the disorder occurs in approximately 1 in 25,000 live births, the achondroplasia occurs during an early fetal development when the skeleton is composed of cartilage.
Usually, most of the cartilage eventually becomes bone. However, if the person suffers from achondroplasia, much of the cartilage will not develop in bone, and this is caused by mutations in the FGFR3 gene.
The Health Line website, explains that the FGFR3 gene instructs our body to produce a protein necessary for the growth and maintenance of bones. Mutations in the FGFR3 gene make the protein hyperactive. This interferes with normal skeletal development.
Like Matt and Amy, Zach has had to learn to live with his condition, and although he has to do things differently, and sometimes take longer than a person who has a normal height, Zach has learned to lead a normal life and be happy.
13 Soccer Was A Big Deal For Him
Although many may think that people with dwarfism can not practice many activities, especially sports or athletic activities, "Little People Big World", throughout the seasons we have seen how Zach has always been quite athletic.
In fact, Zach started playing soccer since he was a boy and has tried to keep himself active in that regard. And because soccer is one of his greatest passions, Zach became a youth soccer coach for the Beaverton, Oregon, Tualatin Hills United soccer club, and in recent years he has been training the team. According to the team's website, Zach has 10 years of experience as a football coach, he even organizes special charity tournaments to raise awareness about dwarf athletics and he has been dedicating his life to one of his greatest passions while helping others. Zach considers being a coach one of the most rewarding things in his life, in fact, he told Lock Laces:
"My most rewarding experience has been seeing all the kids that come back every year at tryouts. I love seeing the kids come back that I had the previous year, and it feels great that they want to come back and be a part of the same team and have me coach again. It means they enjoyed their experience and want to stay."
12 Zach Doesn’t Have Another Job
Unlike his brother Jeremy, who studied photography at the Brooks Institute of photography in Santa Barbara, California, and who also has a series of independent businesses with his wife Audrey as their blog "Beating 50 Percent" which is also accompanied by the website of his wife where they sell products related to the blog; Zach seems to have chosen a different type of lifestyle.
And although both brothers are constantly helping with the family business, and according to In Touch Weekly, Zach seems to be more involved because he does not have a regular job. His income comes from the reality show for which he has dedicated 100% to be a television star and to be a coach of the soccer team for the Beaverton, Oregon, Tualatin Hills United soccer club. And after the birth of their son Jackson, Zach and Tori have decided to stay at home with the baby and be full-time parents while continuing filming the reality show.
However, in several episodes Zach has made it clear that at some point he hopes to lead the family business, because he has spent his entire life working on the Roloff farm, knowing how everything works and what they need so that the business continues to prosper .
In fact, recently the family launched its first 100% organic pumpkin sauce on the market.
11 They Welcomed Their Son On May 2017
Curiously, months after Tori's announcement about her pregnancy, Audrey and Jeremy would announce that they were also expecting their first child, the difference was that Jeremy and his wife would have a daughter while their his brother would have a boy. Tori's pregnancy was followed by the cameras of the family reality show until the birth.
Moreover, due to the large size of the baby's head, the doctors suggested to the couple to have a delivery by C-Section because in their case it was impossible for Tori to have a natural delivery.
Zach and Tori discussed their fears and expectations regarding the birth process with some of their relatives. And Tori expressed her fears about being on the operating table and that she expects anesthesia to put her to sleep completely and not feel any pain. Her husband Zach consoled her while telling her there was no reason to worry because he would be there with her throughout the birth process. But Tori also said she was worried about how Zach would react to observing the process. She told him not to look because part of the procedure includes doctors doing what they have to do to get the baby out, including interacting with other organs. Tori said in the show “I just don’t want you to pass out,” she told her husband “You almost passed out getting a shot."
In May of 2017 the couple received their first child, whom they decided to call Jackson Kyle Roloff, and they also confirmed that Jackson was born with achondroplasia, the same kind of dwarfism that his father, Zach, has.
10 Zach's Son Recently Hurt His Arm
Jackson Roloff was born with Achondroplasia, and as we previously explained, children born with dwarfism face other types of difficulties during their development and activities that are routine for others can be a challenge for them. According to Hollywood Gossip, Tori recently shared on her Instagram account that her one-year-old son, Jackson, had injured his arm during the weekend while he was walking. Tori was scared and documented the whole process on social media while taking her son to the hospital.
After the incident, Tori shared a picture of her baby with her arm bandaged and explained the following:
“Nothing slows this kid down… the past 24 hours have been pretty stressful but this kid has shown us time and time again just how much of a trooper he truly is,” Tori captioned two photos of her son with his injured arm.
“He hurt his arm yesterday afternoon playing and trying to walk like one year olds do. We thought maybe something called ‘nursemaids elbow’ but after two times of a doctor trying to reduce it to no avail (which by the way is absolutely the worst thing to see your child in that much pain) it could possibly be a fracture but still not sure,” she explained.
“So this poor thing is stuck in a splint until we can know for sure. He has not let it slow him down though and is back to his happy smiley self-thank goodness!” she continued.
Tori concluded, “Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for baby j! Little man is on the mend and will be back to conquering the world soon! #babyjroloff #zandtpartyofthree.”
9 He Had Several Medical Complications As A Child
Achondroplasia's symptoms or complications are all physical. Therefore, Zach has had to face various operations throughout his life.
According to Health Line, in general, children who are born with achondroplasia have problems such as short stature with respect to the average child of their age and gender, arms and short legs, especially the upper arms and thighs, compared to the height of the body, short fingers, a head disproportionately large compared to the body, an abnormally large and prominent forehead, an underdeveloped area of the face between the forehead and the upper jaw. While in adulthood they can face problems such as decreased muscle tone, which can cause delays in walking and other motor skills, hydrocephalus, or "water in the brain", spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal that can compress the spinal cord. In addition to presenting in both cases recurrent infections in the ears, difficulties to bend their limbs, the development of arched legs and develop a more severe spinal stenosis.
Due to the large number of conditions that people with dwarfism present, they are often constantly visiting their doctor and performing check-ups to ensure they are in good health.
8 He Met His Wife When She Used To Work On Zach's Family Farm
But not everything in Zach's life has been health problems. In 2010 he met Tori who years later would become his wife.
The Roloff family owns a farm in Helvetia, Oregon, and Tori met Zach in 2010 when she was working on his family’s farm picking squash during pumpkin season.
Tori during an interview with People Magazine said “A coworker told me, ‘Zachary really thinks you’re cute, but doesn’t think you’ll ever go out with him,’ ” says Tori.
"Our first date lasted five hours, and we’ve been together ever since.” Then during that same interview Zach explained “Tori brought me out of my shell and made me more social,” says Zach. “She gave me confidence.”
Ironically before starting to leave with Zach, Tori was more terrified to be part of the reality show than for the health of Zach. During the interview, Tori explained “We’re such a unique pairing, and we have a really cool story to share, but it was terrifying,” she says. “But the show has helped me realize I shouldn’t worry about what other people think.”
The couple has been together since then, and although they have received criticism for the difference between them (Tori is of normal height), the couple has shown us that at the end of the day the most important thing is respect, tolerance, and love.
7 He Never Dated Anyone Before Meeting Tori
During the first seasons, we always saw how Jeremy went out with some girls, but Zach seemed not very interested in the idea of having dates. In fact, his father Matt Roloff always seemed to insist on the subject and even some fans began to worry because Zach seemed to be having a lonely life in the field of love.
But it is normal that people who suffer from dwarfism often feel insecure about their physical appearance. Sometimes they are afraid of rejection, which is why they tend to be more introverted than people of normal height, although, like everything in life, this depends on the personality of each person and is not a rule for sure. Zach during his teenage years seemed to enjoy soccer, be with his friends and go to school more than thinking about girls, but everything changed in 2010 when he met Victoria Elizabeth Patton, aka Tori.
And after finding enough courage, Zach invited Tori out, and since then they have been inseparable. And Yes! Zach had his first kiss with Tori just as she was his first girlfriend. Is there something more romantic than that? Impossible!. Besides, during an interview with People Magazine Zach explained that it was not until he met Tori, that he really thought about having a girlfriend "I'd never really dated before".
6 His Height Has Never Bothered His Wife
At the beginning of the reality show when Tori was introduced to the program for the first time after dating a while, Matt and Amy were quite skeptical with the relationship. In fact Amy confessed in a moment that she was worried that Tori would break her son's heart.
Luckily, with the passage of time, Tori showed us that her intentions were good and she really was in love with Zach. And regarding the height difference? She simply does not care. In fact, during a weekend, Tori witnessed a conversation between what appeared to be a couple of average height, and during their conversation, they seemed to perpetuate the generalization that in a couple, men should be taller than women. So she took her Instagram and said the following:
"So I was wandering target...as I do...when I heard a man say to his wife, 'Well at least I’m taller than you.' And the wife responded with, 'Well I would hope so.' Some of us just have the idea of beauty and love so backwards," the 26-year-old wrote in her caption. "It doesn’t come from outward appearances but rather from inner beauty. I don’t love Zach because of how he looks (although he is quite handsome if I do say so myself) but rather what things weigh on his heart. It doesn’t matter to me that I’m taller than my husband. Honestly, it gives me an excuse to never wear heels. Ever. I can’t imagine my life if I had never given my husband a chance because he was shorter than me. Love people because of their minds. Not their bodies."
5 Zach Popped The Question A Few Months After Jeremy's Engagement
And yes, it seems that both brothers decided to commit the same year. Jeremy was dating Audrey Mirabella Botti back then, whom he curiously also met in 2010, the same year that Zach met Tori.
In Jeremy's case, he and his future wife met on a blind date by mutual friends. And although at first they had a relationship of friends at a distance, their relationship became something romantic. On March 15, 2014, Jeremy proposed to Audrey.
“You’re the one I want to team up with for life,” Audrey wrote on Instagram. “Jeremy James Roloff, to say I love you is an understatement.” And according to Good Housekeeping, the couple were still long distance at that moment, and they planned their wedding in different states, only living in the same area for a month before their big day.
A month after his brother's engagement, Zach proposed to Tori on their three year anniversary in an open field, and with the help of his brothers Jeremy and Jacob, they managed to capture the moment of the proposal with some spectacular photos
He shared the good news on his Instagram and Facebook “She said yes! It’s been a brilliant 24 hours and totally excited for what the future holds.” Meanwhile, Tori wrote, “Words can not describe how much I love you. Saying I love you sometimes doesn’t even seem like it scratches the surface. You are the most amazing man, and I pray that I become the best wife to you, and do all in my power to make you happy. I love you FIANCE!!!"
4 After Proposing To His Girlfriend, It Came Out That His Parents Were Getting Divorce
Unfortunately in the midst of the good news about the wedding of the Roloff's older children, in March 2014 Amy and Matt announced that they were going to divorce after 3 decades together.
To avoid speculation, the couple made a public announcement where they expressed the following: "After 27 years of marriage, it is with great sadness that we have come to the difficult decision to file for divorce. We are proud of what we have accomplished together, including raising our four wonderful children, who have grown to become remarkable adults and building our strong and ongoing successful businesses," the statement read. "Our kids and our ever-growing family, and the love and support we have for them, will be our priority. We will continue to work together side-by-side in the daily responsibilities for our many current ventures. We would like to thank our family, friends, and all our fans for their continued support and understanding during this difficult time."
And during an episode of the reality show, they explained how was the process of separation of their possessions. "It's a little hard to divide up 28 years of belongings. It's not a fun process." Matt said, and then Amy added, "This is hard. Life happens sometimes and we don't plan for that to happen to us. It's just what is happening to us right now." But the parents of 4 have tried to handle it in the best possible way and to be there for their children.
Currently, each one has moved on in their love life. Matt is dating Caryn Chandler, who was once the family's farm manager, and Amy has been dating Chris Marek, a photographer-turned real estate agent in Oregon.
3 Zach And Tori Were Worried About The Possibilities Of Their Son's Genetics
When Tori and Zach began to consider the possibility of having children they knew that their chances were 50/50. However, the couple wanted to live that experience and definitely wanted to have their own children.
During an interview with People Magazine, when the good news was learned that both reality stars from "Little People, Big World", just had their first child, they explained to the magazine that they knew the percentage and chances they have of having a child inheriting achondroplasia, which is the most common form of dwarfism and the type of dwarfism that Zach has, but their only thought was being wonderful and loving parents. “We knew our chances of having a dwarf, but it didn’t matter. We just knew we wanted to be parents, however God wanted it to happen,” Tori said.
Back then, the mom-to-be explained that “I just pray that he’s caring and thoughtful, like his father,” says Tori, who is taking a “gap year” to stay home with Jackson before returning to teaching. “I just want him to be a good person.” And Zach added “Whatever he wants to do in life, we’re going to find a way to help him do it. That’s our job in life now.”
2 Zach And Tori Got Married At His Family Farm
For the ecclesiastical wedding the couple chose to marry on the farm of the Roloff family, the ideal location to have around 200 guests and the most beautiful landscapes. They tied the knot in 2015. And according to an interview with People Magazine the couple wanted to be sure the wedding stood out from the venue. “We wanted the farm to be the decoration and not to overwhelm it,” Tori told. “It was all very natural; the bridesmaids even picked out their own dresses,” added Zach.
Tori and Zach admit that they were a little nervous about saying their “I dos” in front of nearly 200 guests and the world because their wedding was part of a spinoff of the reality show.
“Neither of us likes being the center of attention,” Zach told the magazine. “We’re not spotlight kind of people. But we were, in that moment together,” he said, referring to seeing Tori walk down the aisle. “It was just perfect.”
Tori’s Bernese Mountain Dog, Sully, made an appearance at the family-focused ceremony, and Zach’s brother, Jeremy, served as best man. And the night before the wedding Amy decided to cook something special for the 12-person crew (along with 33 other guests). “She cooked for 45 people. That was a big task for her,” said Zach.
1 Zach's Wife Graduated From Washington State University
Victoria Elizabeth Patton was not always a television celebrity. Before being Mrs. Roloff, Tori had a life away from the cameras and public scrutiny.
In fact, Tori graduated in 2013 and she got a degree in elementary education, just a year before Zach proposed marriage to her. And since graduating, Tori started working as a kindergarten teacher in the Portland area, because she wanted to have a real job.
In addition, Tori has shown us in several episodes of the reality show how much she adores children and how she loves teaching them new things, which is why we should not be surprised by her natural skills as a mother.
However, the couple explained in one of the episodes of the reality show that although they had not talked about becoming parents, they had an idea of the kind of parenting they would give their future children. In 2016 the couple announced that they were expecting their first child and that they were very excited to become parents for the first time.
When the couple decided it was time to start a family they agreed that by the time Tori had to take her maternity leave, it would be better if she takes a year off to raise their little baby. So, the new mom said goodbye to her day job teaching at the kindergarten.
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