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Eric Stoltz

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Eric Stoltz
Stoltz promoting Caprica in April 2009
Born
Eric Cameron Stoltz

(1961-09-30) September 30, 1961 (age 63)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • producer
Years active1978–present

Eric Stoltz (born September 30, 1961) is an American actor, director and producer. He played Rocky Dennis in the biographical drama film Mask (1985), which earned him the nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.[1]

He has appeared in a wide variety of films, from mainstream ones including Some Kind of Wonderful to independent films such as Pulp Fiction, Killing Zoe, and Kicking and Screaming. He was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in Pulp Fiction. 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 and education

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Stoltz was born in Whittier, California, the son of Evelyn (née Vawter),[2] a violinist and schoolteacher, and Jack Stoltz, an elementary school teacher.[3] He has two sisters, Catherine, an opera singer,[4] and Susan, a writer.[5]

Stoltz was raised in both American Samoa and Santa Barbara, California.[6] He attended the University of Southern California, but dropped out after his junior year.[7] He moved to New York in 1981 and studied acting with Stella Adler and Peggy Feury.[8]

Career

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1978–1999

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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. He dropped out to pursue film and television roles.[9]

In 1978, he was cast as Steve Benson in the television adaptation of Erma Bombeck's The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank.[10]

Director Cameron Crowe and Stoltz became friends when the latter appeared in his first feature film, Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). Crowe wrote it and Stoltz had a minor role. According to Stoltz, Crowe promised Stoltz roles in all of his future films.[11]

Stoltz was cast in each of Crowe's next four films, The Wild Life (1984), Say Anything... (1989), Singles (1992) and Jerry Maguire (1996).

In 1985, Stoltz received a Golden Globe nomination for starring performance as Rocky Dennis in Mask. Among his other roles in the 1980s, he appeared in the 1987 film Some Kind of Wonderful, written and produced by John Hughes.[citation needed]

Stoltz was originally cast as Marty McFly in Back to the Future. His view of the movie clashed, however, with that of the director, Robert Zemeckis. While the film was to become a sci-fi comedy (and box office smash hit), Stoltz had read the script from a more serious angle, apparently focusing on the tragic consequences of going back to live a life that was not one's own. Five weeks into shooting, Zemeckis replaced Stoltz with Michael J. Fox.[12][13]

In 1989, Stoltz starred as the lead character of the sequel The Fly II. The movie was a hit, grossing aprox 38.9 million dollars worldwide.

During the 1990s, Stoltz went back and forth between stage, film and television, appearing in studio and independent films such as The Waterdance (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994), Grace of My Heart (1996) and Anaconda (1997).

During the 1990s, Stoltz produced the films Bodies, Rest & Motion (1993), Sleep with Me (1994) and Mr. Jealousy (1997).[14]

He continued to appear on the New York stage, both on Broadway (Three Sisters, Two Shakespearean Actors, Arms and the Man, Our Town) and off-Broadway (The Importance of Being Earnest, The Glass Menagerie, Sly Fox). 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.[15]

A performance of this production was featured on Great Performances: Live from Lincoln Center, which received a 1989 Emmy nomination.[16]

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 television and cable films such as Inside (1996) (directed by Arthur Penn) and The Passion of Ayn Rand (1999), with Helen Mirren. Stoltz received the Indie Supporter Award at the 1998 Los Angeles Film Festival.[17]

2000–present

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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, wherein 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).[18] 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.[19]

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.[20]

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.[21] He has also directed two episodes of Grey's Anatomy.

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.

He became a regular director of the series, Glee, directing a total of 12 episodes, including "Nationals", in which the Glee club finally wins the championship.[22]

In 2011, Stoltz was 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 housing a German POW camp.

Starting in 2014, Stoltz became the producing director of the CBS political drama series Madam Secretary. The following year he became one of its four executive producers, alongside Morgan Freeman and Barbara Hall and has directed more than 10 episodes, as well as starring alongside Téa Leoni in several episodes as her brother, Will Adams.[23]

Personal life

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Stoltz and Bridget Fonda began dating in 1990 (they had met four years before). The relationship ended after eight years.[24]

Stoltz is a vegetarian.[25]

Filmography

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Actor

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 Fast Times at Ridgemont High Stoner Bud
1984 Surf II Chuck
Running Hot Danny Hicks
The Wild Life Bill Conrad
1985 The New Kids Mark
Mask Rocky Dennis Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Code Name: Emerald Lt. Andy Wheeler
1987 Some Kind of Wonderful Keith Nelson
Lionheart Robert Nerra
Sister, Sister Matt Rutledge
1988 Greasy Lake The Narrator Direct-to-video
Manifesto Christopher
Haunted Summer Percy Shelley
1989 The Rachel Papers Guy at restaurant Uncredited
The Fly II Martin Brundle
Say Anything... Vahlere
1990 Memphis Belle Sgt. Danny "Danny Boy" Daly
1991 Money Franck Cimballi
1992 The Waterdance Joel Garcia
Singles The Mime
1993 Bodies, Rest & Motion Sid Producer
Naked in New York Jake Briggs
1994 Killing Zoe Zed
Pulp Fiction Lance Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
Sleep with Me Joseph Producer
Little Women John Brooke
1995 Killing Time Stop N Start Manager Short film
The Prophecy Simon
Rob Roy Alan MacDonald
Never Say Goodbye Aids Benefit by Yoko Ono Man From Hamptons Direct-to-video short film
Fluke Jeff Newman
Kicking and Screaming Chet
1996 Grace of My Heart Howard Cazsatt
2 Days in the Valley Wes Taylor
Jerry Maguire Ethan Valhere
1996 Inside Marty Strydom Crime / Drama
1997 Keys to Tulsa Richter Boudreau
Anaconda Dr. Steven Cale
Mr. Jealousy Lester Grimm, aka Vince Executive producer
Highball Darien
1998 Hi-Life Jimmy
The Rocking Horse Winner Uncle Joe Short film
A Murder of Crows Thurman Parks III
2000 It's a Shame About Ray Mr. Stoltz Short film
Jesus & Hutch Jesus
The Simian Line Sam Donovan
The House of Mirth Lawrence Selden
2001 Things Behind the Sun Dan
Harvard Man Teddy Carter
2002 The Rules of Attraction Mr. Lawson
2003 Happy Hour Levine
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town Otto
2004 The Butterfly Effect Mr. Miller
Childstar Fresno Burnbaum
2005 Hello Max Short film
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 Galassi
2015 Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant Russ Peterson
2018 Her Smell Howard
2019 Lucky Day Voice of Authority Voice

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1978 James at 15 Jack Episode: "Hunter Country"
The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank Steve Benson TV movie
1979 A New Kind of Family Burt Episode: “Invasion of Privacy’’
The Seekers First Boy TV movie
1980 The Waltons Sr. Boy #1 Episode: "The Valediction"
Eight Is Enough Kurt Harper Episode: "Finally Grad Night"
1981 Walking Tall David Coombs Episode: "The Killing of McNeal County's Children"
Knots Landing Luke Episode: "Man of the Hour"
The Violation of Sarah McDavid Pete Brady TV movie
1982 Paper Dolls Steve Stratton
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Kevin Episode: "Challenges"
1983 The Fall Guy Little Juice Atkins Episode: "One Hundred Miles a Gallon"
Love, Sidney Rick Episode: "The Movie"
A Killer in the Family Ricky Tison TV movie
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
1993 Foreign Affairs Fred Turner
Frasier Don (voice) Episode: "Miracle On Third Or Fourth Street"
1994 Roommates Bill Thomas TV movie
1994–1998 Mad About You Alan Tofsky 6 episodes
1995 Fallen Angels Nick Ballestier Episode: "A Dime a Dance"
Partners Cameron Episode: "How Long Does It Take to Cook a 22-Pound Turkey?"
1996 Don't Look Back Jesse Parish TV movie
Inside Marty Strydom
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 Grim Avenger"
Chicago Hope Dr. Robert Yeats Series regular
1999 The Passion of Ayn Rand Nathaniel Branden TV movie
Our Guys: Outrage at Glen Ridge Prosecutor Bob Laurino
2000 Common Ground Johnny Burroughs
One Kill Capt. Wallker Randall
The Last Dance Todd Cope
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"
The Triangle Howard Thomas Episodes:
"Episode 1.1"
"Episode 1.2"
"Episode 1.3"
2007 Medium Sonny Troyer Episode: "We Had a Dream"
Close to Home Det. 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
2014–2019 Madam Secretary Will Adams Episodes:
"Catch and Release"
"Invasive Species" (uncredited)
"Tectonic Shift"
"Ghosts"
2022 Bull Matthew Price 2 episodes
2022 The Good Fight Judge Meachem Episode: "The End of STR Laurie"
2024 The Girls on the Bus John Spencer

Director

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Film

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Year Title Notes
2005 The Bulls Short film
2007 The Grand Design
2017 Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk Independent film
Class Rank

Television

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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"
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"
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"
White Collar Episode: "Ice Breaker"
Made in Jersey Episode: "Ridgewell"
2013 Nashville Episodes:
"There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight"
"Take These Chains from My Heart"
"Hanky Panky Woman"
2014 How to Get Away with Murder Episode: "He deserved to die"
Black Box Episodes:
"Jerusalem"
"Forget Me"
Believe Episode: "Perception"
2014–2019 Madam Secretary Episodes:
"Just Another Normal Day"
"Collateral Damage"
"Whisper of the Ax"
"There But For the Grace of God"
"The Doability Doctrine"
"The Greater Good"
"Vartius"
"The Linchpin"
"The Race"
"Article 5"
"Off the Record"
"Refuge"
"E Pluribus Unum"
"Requiem"
"Winter Garden"
"Strategic Ambiguity"
"The Great Experiment"
"Hail to the Chief"
"Leaving the Station"
2020–2022 Bull Episodes:
"Prison Break"
"The Bad Client"
"A Friend in Need"
"Gone"
"False Positive"
"Goodbye"

He has directed many shows on The Learning Channel, TLC Network.

Producer

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Films

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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
2017 Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk

Television

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Year Title Notes
2014–2019 Madam Secretary Co-executive producer (Seasons 1-2)
Executive producer (Seasons 3-6)
2020–2022 Bull Executive producer (Seasons 5-6)

References

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  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!, archived from the original on November 13, 2013, 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, archived from the original on August 4, 2011, retrieved October 10, 2011
  6. ^ a b "Exclusive Interview: Eric Stoltz". Movie Hole. April 8, 2007. Archived from the original on August 26, 2011. 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. ^ Hal Erickson (November 2, 2012), "The Grass Is Always Greener over the Septic Tank (1978)", Movies & TV Dept., The New York Times, archived from the original on November 3, 2012, retrieved October 10, 2011
  11. ^ "Eric Stoltz Trivia", Get Movie Link, archived from the original on March 31, 2012, retrieved October 10, 2011
  12. ^ "Why original Marty McFly Eric Stoltz was fired from Back to the Future". Digital Spy. June 29, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2018. [verification needed]
  13. ^ "Never-before-seen footage of Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly in Back To The Future", IO9, October 12, 2010, retrieved October 10, 2011
  14. ^ "Eric Stoltz". IMDb. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  15. ^ "Featured Actor (Play)", Broadway World, retrieved October 10, 2011
  16. ^ "Performances of note", Masterpiece, archived from the original on February 7, 2012, retrieved October 10, 2011
  17. ^ "Los Angeles Film Festival Archive", Los Angeles Film Festival, archived from the original on September 29, 2011, retrieved October 10, 2011
  18. ^ "My Horrible Year! Video", OV Guide, retrieved October 10, 2011
  19. ^ "The Residents – Give It To Someone Else", YouTube, archived from the original on December 22, 2021, retrieved October 10, 2011
  20. ^ "Eric Stoltz", Pop Tower, archived from the original on March 20, 2012, retrieved October 10, 2011
  21. ^ "Grey's Scoop: Death Becomes Guest Star Eric Stoltz", TV Guide, retrieved October 10, 2011
  22. ^ "Eric Stoltz", section: Filmography – Director. IMDb. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  23. ^ IMDB
  24. ^ "Fonda Memory: Actors Bridget Fonda and Eric Stoltz End Their Eight Year of Unwedded Bliss". People. Vol. 49, no. 27. July 13, 1998. Archived from the original on March 30, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  25. ^ "20 Things You Didn’t Know About Eric Stoltz". Retrieved September 16, 2020.
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