Eric Stoltz

Not to be confused with Eric Stults.
Eric Stoltz

Stoltz promoting Caprica, April 2009
Born September 30, 1961
Whittier, California, U.S.
Occupation Actor, Director, Producer
Years active 1978–present

Eric Stoltz (born September 30, 1961) is an American actor, director and producer. He is known for playing the role of Rocky Dennis in the biographical drama film Mask, which earned him the nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture,[1] and has appeared in a wide variety of films from mainstream fare like Some Kind of Wonderful to independent films like Pulp Fiction, Killing Zoe, and Kicking and Screaming. In 2010, he portrayed Daniel Graystone in the science fiction television series Caprica, and became a regular director on the television series, Glee.

Early life

Stoltz was born in Whittier, California, the son of Evelyn B. (née Vawter),[2] a violinist and schoolteacher who died in 1994, and Jack Stoltz, an elementary school teacher.[3] He has two sisters, mezzo soprano Catherine Stoltz[4] and writer Susan R. Stoltz.[5] He was raised in both American Samoa and Santa Barbara, California, where as a child, he once earned money playing piano for local musical theatre productions.[6] He attended the University of Southern California, but dropped out after his junior year.[7] When he moved to New York for his studies in 1981, he met Stella Adler and Peggy Feury.[8]

Career

1978–1999

In the 1970s Stoltz joined a repertory company that performed ten plays at the Edinburgh Festival. He returned to the United States in 1979, when he entered USC as a drama student, but subsequently dropped out to pursue film and TV roles.[9] In 1978, he was cast as Steve Benson in the TV adaptation of Erma Bombeck's The Grass Is Always Greener Over The Septic Tank.[10]

Director Cameron Crowe and Stoltz became friends while making Stoltz's first feature film, Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), which Crowe wrote and in which Stoltz had a minor role. According to Stoltz, Crowe promised Stoltz a role in all of his future films.[11] He appeared in each of Crowe's next four films, The Wild Life, Say Anything..., Singles, and Jerry Maguire.

In 1984, Stoltz was originally cast for the role of Marty McFly in Back to the Future but was replaced by Michael J. Fox.

Originally cast as Marty McFly for Back to the Future in late 1984, he was replaced after five weeks of filming, when Michael J. Fox (the director's first choice for the role) agreed to divide time between the movie and his television sitcom, Family Ties.[12] The director, Robert Zemeckis, said that while Stoltz provided an admirable performance, it lacked the precise comedic sense that Zemeckis was seeking.[13] Some of the original footage, where Stoltz does not appear but was on set, was used in the film.[14] Stolz playing the character was referenced in the 2010 episode of Fringe titled "Peter" when, in a parallel universe, a theater marquee reads "Back to the Future starring Eric Stoltz".[15]

In 1985, Stoltz garnered attention with a Golden Globe nomination starring as Rocky Dennis in Mask. Among other roles in the 1980s, he appeared in the 1987 hit, John Hughes's Some Kind of Wonderful.

During the 1990s, Stoltz went back and forth between stage, film, and television, appearing in studio and independent films such as Pulp Fiction (1994) and The Waterdance (1992). He also produced the films Bodies, Rest & Motion in 1993, Sleep with Me in 1994, and Mr. Jealousy in 1997. He continued to appear on the New York stage both on Broadway (Three Sisters, Two Shakespearean Actors, Arms and the Man) and off-Broadway (The Importance of Being Earnest, The Glass Menagerie, Sly Fox and Our Town). He was nominated for a Tony Award as Featured Actor for his performance as George Gibbs in the 1989 Broadway revival of Thornton Wilder's Our Town.[16] A performance of this production was featured on Great Performances: Live From Lincoln Center, which received a 1989 Emmy nomination.[17]

On television, he had a recurring role as Helen Hunt's character's ex-boyfriend on Mad About You (five episodes, 1994–1998), spent a year on Chicago Hope (1994), and did some TV and cable movies such as Inside (1996) (directed by Arthur Penn) and The Passion of Ayn Rand (1999), with Helen Mirren. Stoltz received the Indie Support Award at the 1998 Los Angeles Film Festival.[18]

2000–present

During the first part of the 2000s, he starred with Gillian Anderson in The House of Mirth (2000), based on the novel by Edith Wharton. From 2001 to 2002, he had a recurring role as the English teacher-poet August Dimitri in ABC's Once and Again, where Julia Whelan's character, a teenager, fell in love with his character. He directed an episode of the show in 2002. In 2003, he played his first leading TV role in Out of Order, which was canceled after five episodes. In 2004, he appeared in The Butterfly Effect as a child molester; the following year, he guest-starred in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace as Debra Messing's love interest. He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his direction of the cable movie My Horrible Year! (2001).[19] He also directed a short film entitled The Bulls,[6] as well as the highest rated episode of Law & Order in 2005, entitled "Tombstone". He appeared in the music video of The Residents' "Give it to Someone Else", featured on The Commercial DVD.[20]

He has contributed essays to the books City Secrets — New York as well as Life Interrupted by Spalding Gray, and appears on the children's CD Philadelphia Chickens.[21]

Beginning in 2007, Stoltz directed episodes of the drama series Quarterlife, which began airing as webisodes and were then picked up to air on the NBC network in 2008. Stoltz played a serial killer in need of medical attention in three episodes of the fifth season of Grey's Anatomy.[22] He has also directed two episodes of Grey's Anatomy, as well as ten episodes of Glee.

Stoltz starred as Daniel Graystone, inventor of the Cylons, in the science fiction television series Caprica, a prequel set 58 years before the Battlestar Galactica series.

As of 2009, he has become a regular director of Glee, and has directed ten episodes, including "Nationals", in which the Glee club finally wins the championship.

In 2011 Stoltz is seen back on the silver screen with the film Fort McCoy, he earned accolades for his leading role as a conflicted barber of German heritage forced to suppress his American patriotism after moving his family to a post-World War II military base which houses a German POW camp.

Filmography

Actor

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1982 Fast Times at Ridgemont High Stoner Bud
1984 Surf II Chuck
1984 Running Hot Danny Hicks
1984 The Wild Life Bill Conrad
1985 The New Kids Mark
1985 Mask Rocky Dennis Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
1985 Code Name: Emerald Lt. Andy Wheeler
1987 Some Kind of Wonderful Keith Nelson
1987 Lionheart Robert Nerra
1987 Sister, Sister Matt Rutledge
1988 Greasy Lake The Narrator Direct-to-video
1988 Manifesto Christopher
1988 Haunted Summer Percy Shelley
1989 The Fly II Martin Brundle
1989 Say Anything... Vahlere
1990 Memphis Belle Sgt. Danny "Danny Boy" Daly
1991 Money Franck Cimballi
1992 The Waterdance Joel Garcia
1992 Singles The Mime
1993 Bodies, Rest & Motion Sid Producer
1993 Naked in New York Jake Briggs
1994 Killing Zoe Zed
1994 Pulp Fiction Lance Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
1994 Sleep with Me Joseph Producer
1994 Little Women John Brooke
1995 Killing Time Stop N Start Manager Short film
1995 The Prophecy Simon
1995 Rob Roy Alan MacDonald
1995 Never Say Goodbye Aids Benefit by Yoko Ono Man From Hamptons Direct-to-video short film
1995 Fluke Jeff Newman
1995 Kicking and Screaming Chet
1996 Grace of My Heart Howard Cazsatt
1996 2 Days in the Valley Wes Taylor
1996 Keys to Tulsa Richter Boudreau
1996 Jerry Maguire Ethan Valhere
1997 Highball Darien
1997 Anaconda Dr. Steven Cale
1997 Mr. Jealousy Lester Grimm, aka Vince Executive producer
1998 Hi-Life Jimmy
1998 The Rocking Horse Winner Uncle Joe Short film
1998 A Murder of Crows Thurman Parks III
1999 Hercules: Zero to Hero Theseus (voice)/The Grim Avenger (voice) Direct-to-video
2000 It's a Shame About Ray Mr. Stoltz Short film
2000 Jesus & Hutch Jesus Short film
2000 The Simian Line Sam Donovan
2000 The House of Mirth Lawrence Selden
2001 Things Behind the Sun Dan
2001 Harvard Man Teddy Carter
2002 The Rules of Attraction Mr. Lawson
2003 Happy Hour Levine
2003 When Zachary Beaver Came to Town Otto
2004 The Butterfly Effect Mr. Miller
2004 Childstar Fresno Burnbaum
2005 Hello Max Short film
2005 The Honeymooners William Davis
2006 The Lather Effect Mickey
2007 The Grand Design Josh Short film (executive producer)
2009 Sparks Joseph Short film
2011 Fort McCoy Frank Stirn Producer
2014 5 to 7 Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1978 James at 15 Jack Episode: "Hunter Country"
1978 The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank Steve Benson TV movie
1979 A New Kind of Family Burt Episode: “Invasion of Privacy’’
1979 The Seekers First Boy TV movie
1980 The Waltons Sr. Boy #1 Episode: "The Valediction"
1980 Eight Is Enough Kurt Harper Episode: "Finally Grad Night"
1981 Walking Tall David Coombs Episode: "The Killing of McNeal County's Children"
1981 Knots Landing Luke Episode: "Man of the Hour"
1981 The Violation of Sarah McDavid Pete Brady TV movie
1982 Paper Dolls Steve TV movie
1982 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Kevin Episode: "Challenges"
1983 The Fall Guy Little Juice Atkins Episode: "One Hundred Miles a Gallon"
1983 Love, Sidney Rick Episode: "The Movie"
1983 A Killer in the Family Ricky Tison TV movie
1983 St. Elsewhere Eddie Carson Episodes:
"Under Pressure"
"Entrapment"
"All About Eve"
1984 Things Are Looking Up Neil 'Trout' Troutman TV movie
1989 Great Performances George Gibbs Episode: "Our Town"
1990 American Playhouse Younger Edward Episode: "Sensibility and Sense"
1991 A Woman at War Franz Bueller TV movie
1992 The Heart of Justice David Leader TV movie
1993 Foreign Affairs Fred Turner TV movie
1993 Frasier Don (voice) Episode: "Miracle On Third Or Fourth Street"
1994 Roomates Bill Thomas TV movie
1994 – 1998 Mad About You Alan Tofsky 6 episodes
1995 Fallen Angels Nick Ballestier Episode: "A Dime a Dance"
1995 Partners Cameron Episode: "How Long Does It Take to Cook a 22-Pound Turkey?"
1996 Don't Look Back Jesse Parish TV movie
1996 Inside Marty Strydom TV movie
1997 Homicide: Life on the Street Drew Kellerman Episode: "Wu's on First?"
1998 Blackout Effect John Dantley TV movie
1998–1999 Hercules Theseus (voice)/The Grim Avenger (voice) Episodes:
"Hercules and the Minotaur"
"Hercules and the Grim Avenger"
1998–1999 Chicago Hope Dr. Robert Yeats Series regular
1999 The Passion of Ayn Rand Nathaniel Branden TV movie
1999 Our Guys: Outrage at Glen Ridge Prosecutor Bob Laurino TV movie
2000 Common Ground Johnny Burroughs TV movie
2000 One Kill Capt. Wallker Randall TV movie
2000 The Last Dance Todd Cope TV movie
2001 My Horrible Year! Uncle Charlie TV movie (director)
2001 – 2002 Once and Again August Dimitri 7 episodes (directed Episode 3.13 "Falling in Place")
2002 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Father Michael Sweeney Episode: "Silence"
2003 Out of Order Mark Colm TV mini-series
2005 Will & Grace Tom Cassidy Episodes:
"Friends with Benefits"
"Kiss and Tell"
2005 The Triangle Howard Thomas Episodes:
"Episode 1.1"
"Episode 1.2"
"Episode 1.3"
2007 Medium Sonny Troyer Episode: "We Had a Dream"
2007 Close to Home Det. Chris Veeder/Chris Veeder Episodes:
"Drink the Cup"
"Fall from Grace"
"Eminent Domain"
2008 Blank Slate Sean Sullivan TV movie
2009 Grey's Anatomy William Dunn Episodes:
"Wish You Were Here"
"Sympathy for the Devil"
"Stairway to Heaven"
2009 - 2010 Caprica Daniel Graystone Lead role (directed "Unvanquished")
2011 Leverage Alan Scott Episode: "The Long Way Down Job"
2013 Maron Danny Episode: "Projections"
2014 Blue Arthur WIGS Original Series

He directs & produces many shows on The Learning Channel, TLC Network.

Director

Films

Year Title Notes
2005 The Bulls Short film
2007 The Grand Design Short film
2014 Confessions of a Teenage Disciple[23] Independent film

He directs many shows on The Learning Channel, TLC Network.

Television

Year Title Notes
2001 My Horrible Year! TV movie
2002 Once and Again Episode: "Falling in Place"
2005 Law & Order Episode: "Tombstone"
2007 Boston Legal Episodes:
"Dumping Bella"
"The Object of My Affection"
2008 Quarterlife Episodes:
"Anxiety"
"Home Sweet Home"
2008 Grey's Anatomy Episodes:
"Brave New World"
"These Ties That Bind"
2009 Nip/Tuck Episode: "Lola Wlodkowski"
2009 – 2011 Private Practice Episodes:
"Do the Right Thing"
"Eyes Wide Open"
"War"
"If You Don't Know Me By Now"
2010 Huge Episode: "Talent Night"
2010 Caprica Episode: "Unvanquished"
2010 – 2014 Glee Episodes:
"Duets"
"Blame It on the Alcohol"
"Prom Queen"
"The Purple Piano Project"
"Mash Off"
"Yes/No"
"Big Brother"
"Prom-asaurus"
"Nationals"
"Makeover"
"Guilty Pleasures"
"Opening Night"
2011 Off the Map Episode: "On the Mean Streets of San Miguel"
2012 Californication Episode: "Love Song"
2012 White Collar Episode: "Ice Breaker"
2013 Nashville Episodes:
"There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight"
"Take These Chains from My Heart"
2014 How to Get Away with Murder Episodes:
"He deserved to die"
2014 – 2015 Madam Secretary Episodes:
"Just Another Normal Day"
"Collateral Damage"
"Whisper of the Ax"
"There But For the Grace of God"

He directs many shows on The Learning Channel, TLC Network.

Producer

Films

Year Title Notes
1993 Bodies, Rest & Motion
1994 Sleep with Me
1997 Mr. Jealousy Executive producer
2005 The Bulls Short film (executive producer)
2006 The Lather Effect Associate producer
2007 The Grand Design Short film (executive producer)
2011 Fort McCoy

He produces many shows on The Learning Channel, TLC Network.

References

  1. ↑ Eric Stoltz Awards, TV Guide, retrieved October 10, 2011
  2. ↑ FAMILY ASSOCIATION (PDF), VawterFamily.org, retrieved October 10, 2011
  3. ↑ "Eric Stoltz - Biography", Yahoo!, retrieved December 1, 2012
  4. ↑ 2 Late Artists Get Overdue Chicago Tribute, Chicago Tribune, December 10, 1991, retrieved October 10, 2011
  5. ↑ About Susan, Susan R. Stoltz Official Website, retrieved October 10, 2011
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Exclusive Interview : Eric Stoltz, Movie Hole, retrieved October 10, 2011
  7. ↑ Eric Stoltz Bio, Tribute, retrieved October 10, 2011
  8. ↑ About Eric Stoltz Memorabilia & Collectibles, Hollywood Memorabilia, retrieved October 10, 2011
  9. ↑ Eric Stoltz Biography, Movies Pad, retrieved October 10, 2011
  10. ↑ "The Grass Is Always Greener over the Septic Tank (1978)", New York Times, retrieved October 10, 2011
  11. ↑ "Eric Stoltz Trivia", Get Movie Link, retrieved October 10, 2011
  12. ↑ The Many Faces Of Michael J. Fox, Screen Rant, retrieved October 10, 2011
  13. ↑ "Revealed: The actor who spent five weeks filming Back to the Future before being bumped for Michael J Fox", Daily Mail (London), October 15, 2010, retrieved October 10, 2011
  14. ↑ Never-before-seen footage of Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly in Back To The Future, IO9, retrieved October 10, 2011
  15. ↑ "Fringe Flashback: Eric Stoltz In Back To The Future", Fringe Television, retrieved October 10, 2011
  16. ↑ Featured Actor (Play), Broadway World, retrieved October 10, 2011
  17. ↑ Performances of note, PBS, retrieved October 10, 2011
  18. ↑ Los Angeles Film Festival Archive, Los Angeles Film Festival, retrieved October 10, 2011
  19. ↑ My Horrible Year! Video, OV Guide, retrieved October 10, 2011
  20. ↑ The Residents – Give It To Someone Else, YouTube, retrieved October 10, 2011
  21. ↑ Eric Stoltz, Pop Tower, retrieved October 10, 2011
  22. ↑ Grey's Scoop: Death Becomes Guest Star Eric Stoltz, TV Guide, retrieved October 10, 2011
  23. ↑ http://www.negativschnitt.de/eric_stoltz/

External links

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