Eric Cameron Stoltz is a theater-trained actor and producer who has starred in both independent and studio films. He was born on September 30, 1961 in Whittier, California, to Evelyn Vawter, a violinist and schoolteacher, and Jack Stoltz, an elementary school teacher. He has German, English, and Scottish ancestry. Eric was raised in both American Samoa and Santa Barbara, California, where by the age of fourteen, he was earning money by playing piano for the local musical theater productions, including "Mame" starring 'Anthony Edwards .
Attended San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, California. Fellow students included Anthony Edwards , Cady Huffman and Kathy Ireland.
Sister is Catherine Stoltz, professional opera singer.
Dropped out of USC.
Director Cameron Crowe promised him a role, however small, in every film he makes. Though Crowe hasnt cast him in any of his films since Jerry Maguire .
Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1984" in John Willis Screen World, Vol. 43.
(1980-1983) Lived with Ally Sheedy (they met in college). They both appeared in Our Guys: Outrage at Glen Ridge .
Nominated for a Drama Desk Award for "Great Performances" {Our Town} .
(1985-1989) Dated Jennifer Jason Leigh. They both appeared in Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Sister, Sister .
(1990-1998) Lived with Bridget Fonda. They both starred in Singles , Bodies, Rest & Motion , Grace of My Heart and Mr. Jealousy .
Member of the Actors Studio.
Worked as a production assistant on the films Say Anything... and Illegally Yours to learn from the famed first assistant director Jerry Ziesmer about the production side of filmmaking.
Is a vegetarian.
He was cast as Marty McFly in Back to the Future after Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale were unable to get Michael J. Fox , their first choice for the part due to scheduling conflicts. After only five weeks of filming, he was let go from the film because Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale felt he was "too intense" for the character. Michael J. Fox , who was then available, took over the part.
Was nominated for Broadways 1989 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) for a revival of Thornton Wilder s "Great Performances" {Our Town} .
Spent three months in a wheelchair in preparation for his role in the film The Waterdance .
Lived in American Samoa for a few years as a child.
According to a 1992 Movieline Interview, the casting agents for Mask had refused to let him in to read for the part. When he had finally finagled his way into an audition via a sympathetic receptionist, he arrived for his big chance before the casting people wearing a stocking over his face. And he got the part. Now he really put the technique to work. Reportedly he also insisted on being called Rocky, never Eric. But he went further than that. "I walked around town with the mask on. It was important to get peoples reactions in grocery stores and post offices and see what they would say when they saw me strolling down the street. I just wanted to get an idea of how Rocky may have felt, which was horrible. People were generally cruel and mean. They would make snide comments. Kids threw things at me. People took pictures and asked, Hey, are you in the circus?".
Has appeared with James Spader in four films: A Killer in the Family , The New Kids , 2 Days in the Valley and Keys to Tulsa .
(March 2004) Appearing on Broadway with Richard Dreyfuss in Arthur Penn s production of Larry Gelbart s "Sly Fox".
(January 2010) Currently appearing as "Daniel Graystone" in the Syfy Channel drama "Caprica" .
He has German, English, and Scottish ancestry.
Lost out on the role of Marty McFly in Back to the Future , but later appeared in The Fly II , as a character named Marty who becomes a fly.
Was considered for the role of Detective Vic Mackey on "The Shield" .
if,they are hungry, they eat; if they are attracted to their co-star, they,act on it, married or not, no matter what destruction may ensue. These,people obviously should be in therapy.
We were just kids in college. We lived together in a commune on,Hollywood Boulevard. It was a huge old Victorian house called the,Harris Hollywood House, and there were four or five rooms filled with,ex-patriots from England, a handful of homeless people, lots of young,aspiring actors. It was cheap and the atmosphere was exciting. It was a,wonderful, messy, fervent time filled with crazy people starting their,careers and very excited about what might happen.
I think violence, cynicism, brutality and fashion are the staples of our diet. I think in the grand history of story-telling, going back to people sitting around fires, the dark side of human nature has always been very important. Movies are part of that tradition. .
