A once-dashing actor who enjoyed the peak of his fame during the 1980s and 1990s appeared almost unrecognisable when recently spotted navigating the winter streets of New York City. The California-born performer, now largely out of the public eye, was seen bundled against the cold in a bulky anorak and knit cap, with a surgical mask tucked beneath his chin during his Manhattan outing last week.
From Humble Beginnings to Hollywood Stardom
Eric Stoltz first entered the cinematic world with a minor, uncredited role as "Stoner Bud" in the 1982 coming-of-age classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High. His breakthrough arrived just three years later with the critically acclaimed 1985 drama Mask, where he portrayed Rocky Dennis, a teenager disfigured by craniodiaphyseal dysplasia, commonly known as "lionitis."
This powerful performance opposite Cher, who played his mother Dusty, earned Stoltz a Golden Globe nomination and catapulted him into the Hollywood spotlight. Cher's own performance in the film won her the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival, though she was famously overlooked at that year's Oscars before winning two years later for Moonstruck.
The Back to the Future That Never Was
Perhaps one of the most intriguing chapters in Stoltz's career involves a role he almost made iconic. During the mid-1980s, he was originally cast as Marty McFly in Robert Zemeckis's time-travel comedy Back to the Future. However, after five weeks of filming, Stoltz was reportedly dismissed from the production.
Christopher Lloyd, who played Doc Brown in the franchise, later reflected on the decision, stating in an interview for the book We Don't Need Roads: The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy: "I felt for Eric. He was a really good actor. Although he was doing the part well, he was not bringing that element of comedy to the screen." The role ultimately went to Michael J. Fox, who made it his signature character.
A Career Working With Hollywood's Elite
Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Stoltz built an impressive filmography alongside some of the era's biggest names. He starred in John Hughes's 1987 teen drama Some Kind of Wonderful alongside Lea Thompson, and appeared in Cameron Crowe's beloved romantic comedy Say Anything... two years later, sharing the screen with John Cusack and Ione Skye.
Quentin Tarantino fans will instantly recognise Stoltz as Lance, the laid-back, long-haired drug dealer who provides an adrenaline shot to save Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) during her heroin overdose in the cult classic Pulp Fiction. His diverse roles continued with appearances in the 1997 creature feature Anaconda, featuring Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, and Jon Voight.
Life Beyond Acting
In more recent decades, Stoltz has transitioned significantly behind the camera, establishing himself as a prolific television director. His directorial credits include episodes of numerous popular series such as Glee, Grey's Anatomy, Nip/Tuck, Nashville, and How to Get Away with Murder.
On the personal front, Stoltz was in a seven-year relationship with actress Bridget Fonda during the 1990s before their separation in 1997. For the past twenty years, he has been married to Irish singer Bernadette Moley, with whom he shares a daughter.
The actor's recent low-profile appearance in New York stands in stark contrast to his vibrant Hollywood heyday, serving as a reminder of how time transforms even the most familiar faces from cinema's recent past.
