Eric Stoltz

Eric Stoltz (born September 30, 1961) is an American actor, director and film producer. He played 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 1985, Stoltz was the original actor cast as Marty McFly in the movie Back to the Future before the role was recast with Michael J. Fox. In 2010, he portrayed Daniel Graystone in the science fiction television series Caprica, and became a regular director on the television series Glee.

Not to be confused with Eric Stults.

Eric Stoltz
Stoltz promoting Caprica in April 2009
Born	(1961-09-30) September 30, 1961 Whittier, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Actor, director, producer
Years active	1978–present
Spouse(s)	Bernadette Moley ( m. 2005)

Early life

Stoltz was born in Whittier, California, the son of Evelyn B. (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, 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] He moved to New York in 1981 and studied with 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 (1984), Say Anything... (1989), Singles (1992), and Jerry Maguire (1996).

Originally cast as Marty McFly for Back to the Future in late 1984, he was replaced with Michael J. Fox after about a month of filming.[12] Five weeks after filming had begun, a deal was reached with the producers of Family Ties so that the film would shoot around Fox’s television schedule, so Fox replaced Stoltz in the film. Scenes that had already been filmed were shot again featuring Fox.[13] Some of the original footage, where Stoltz does not appear but was on set, was used in the film.[14] Stoltz 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 film Some Kind of Wonderful, written and produced by John Hughes.

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.[16]

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.[17]

A performance of this production was featured on Great Performances: Live from Lincoln Center, which received a 1989 Emmy nomination.[18]

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 Sup(Y)port Award at the 1998 Los Angeles Film Festival.[19]

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, 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).[20] 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.[21]

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.[22]

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.[23] 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 Glee, directing a total of 12 episodes, including "Nationals", in which the Glee club finally wins the championship.[24]

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 ten episodes, as well as starring alongside Téa Leoni in several episodes as her brother, Will Adams.[25]

Personal life

Eric met Bridget Fonda in 1986 and they began dating in 1990. The relationship ended after eight years.[26]

Filmography

Actor

Film

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	Jerry Maguire	Ethan Valhere
1997	Keys to Tulsa	Richter Boudreau
1997	Anaconda	Dr. Steven Cale
1997	Mr. Jealousy	Lester Grimm, aka Vince	Executive producer
1997	Highball	Darien
1998	Hi-Life	Jimmy
1998	The Rocking Horse Winner	Uncle Joe	Short film
1998	A Murder of Crows	Thurman Parks III
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	Galassi
2015	Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant	Russ Peterson
2018	Her Smell	Howard

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	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"

Director

Film

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

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"
2014–2016	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"

He has directed 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

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!, 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, retrieved October 10, 2011
6. "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. "The Grass Is Always Greener over the Septic Tank (1978)", The New York Times, retrieved October 10, 2011
11. "Eric Stoltz Trivia", Get Movie Link, archived from the original on March 31, 2012, retrieved October 10, 2011
12. The Many Faces of Michael J. Fox, Screen Rant, retrieved October 10, 2011
13. "Why original Marty McFly Eric Stoltz was fired from Back to the Future". Digital Spy. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
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. "Eric Stoltz". IMDb. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
17. Featured Actor (Play), Broadway World, retrieved October 10, 2011
18. Performances of note, PBS, retrieved October 10, 2011
19. Los Angeles Film Festival Archive, Los Angeles Film Festival, archived from the original on September 29, 2011, retrieved October 10, 2011
20. My Horrible Year! Video, OV Guide, retrieved October 10, 2011
21. The Residents – Give It To Someone Else, YouTube, retrieved October 10, 2011
22. Eric Stoltz, Pop Tower, archived from the original on March 20, 2012, retrieved October 10, 2011
23. "Grey's Scoop: Death Becomes Guest Star Eric Stoltz", TV Guide, retrieved October 10, 2011
24. "Eric Stoltz", section: Filmography – Director. IMDb (Internet Movie Database). Retrieved November 14, 2015.
25. IMDB
26. unknown (July 13, 1998). "Fonda Memory: Actors Bridget Fonda and Eric Stoltz End Their Eight Year of Unwedded Bliss". People Magazine. Retrieved April 8, 2011.

External links

• Eric Stoltz on IMDb