Eric Stoltz has far from faded into obscurity since being fired and replaced by Michael J. Fox in the comedic cinema classic Back to the Future. The actor has appeared in hundreds of theatre, film, and television productions, receiving multiple accolades and appearing alongside big names such as Bruce Willis, Winona Ryder, and John Travolta. Eric Stoltz has also earned numerous credits for producing, directing, and voice acting.
Eric Stoltz was fired from Back to the Future after 6 weeks of filming, and much of the footage had to be reshot with Fox as Marty. Producers were scrambling at the time to find a replacement, as they had to start over pretty late in the game. Stoltz getting the ax caused shock among many cast members. People like Doc Brown's Christopher Lloyd had their doubts about the project after the incident, and studios wondered if the film would be made at all.
Incidentally, Eric Stoltz being fired from Back to the Future saved the movie, as Michael J. Fox's iteration of Marty McFly added a proper comedic tone to the role. An actor is rarely cut almost 2 months into production, as it causes massive setbacks and budgeting issues. However, there's a reason why Eric Stoltz was fired from Back to the Future. Here's Stoltz's career after BTTF, and why he was axed from the 80s classic in the first place.
What Eric Stoltz Did Straight After Back To The Future
Eric Stoltz appeared as Rocky Dennis in the 1985 film Mask shortly after being fired from Back to the Future. In this hauntingly emotional film, Stoltz plays a teenage boy with craniodiaphyseal dysplasia who is rejected by his peers but loved by those who know him, starring alongside musical legend Cher. Stoltz’s performance in Mask earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture and garnered attention from critics. He later appeared in the beloved late 80s teen comedies Say Anything and Some Kind of Wonderful.
Eric Stoltz's career didn't suffer after Back To The Future, as he later took on roles in films such as Killing Zoe, Little Women, and Jerry Maguire during the 90s. He continued to pursue his lifelong passion for live theatre, taking part in four Broadway productions between the late 80s and early 2000s, and in 1989 was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in Our Town. In 1994 he appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s iconic crime drama Pulp Fiction, a movie that is widely considered to be one of the greatest of all time, and in which Eric Stoltz's performance as Lance earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Male. Stoltz also produced the romantic comedy film Mr. Jealousy in 1997.
What Eric Stoltz Has Done Recently
Despite Eric Stoltz’s early career being unaffected by his Back to the Future firing, the actor's big-screen career began to slow down following the turn of the century. However, he continued working in entertainment behind the scenes and on smaller independent films. He produced and acted in the 2011 World War II drama Fort McCoy, which won the 2010 Hollywood Discovery Award for Best Feature Film. Stoltz’s directing credits include the short films The Bulls and The Grand Design, as well as several episodes of Law and Order, Madam Secretary, Grey’s Anatomy, and Glee.
In addition to his work in visual media, Eric Stoltz has voiced several audiobooks, including works by Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde. He is credited as a voice actor in the 1999 film Hercules: Zero to Hero and on television shows such as NBC sitcom Frasier, and PBS docuseries American Experience. Stoltz has also made a few recent film and television appearances, including a small role in the 2018 film Her Smell and roles in TV series such as Madam Secretary and Bull, both of which he also produced.
Why Eric Stoltz Was Fired From Back To The Future
Eric Stoltz was fired from Back to the Future because of his dramatic approach to Marty McFly's role. Stoltz insisted that the movie was not a comedy — he thought it was a tragedy. The movie didn't have what the directors were looking for in playing the part as such. So, quite simply, the way he played Marty McFly ruined the movie's humor. While Back to the Future could be read as a tragedy, since Marty changes his life and then doesn't get to experience any of it, Stoltz's read on the movie didn't work for the directors or the producers. Therefore, he was fired from Back to the Future and replaced with Michael J. Fox. Christopher Lloyd famously had doubts about Fox's characterization up to 6 weeks into filming. In the end, it worked out the best for the 80s comedy, as a dramatic rendition of the film would've been tonally wonky and likely wouldn't have changed cinema history like it did (ironically).
Eric Stoltz's career continues to be a rich and diverse one, which he admits may not have been possible without being fired from Back to the Future. Reflecting on the event years later, Stoltz said (via Moviehole) that his dismissal from the film actually ended up being “freeing” and allowed him to pursue other goals. “I went back to acting school, I moved to Europe, I did some plays in New York,” he recalled, “and I actually invested in myself in a way that was much healthier for me.” Stoltz’s upcoming projects are unknown, and with such a wide variety of skills and ventures, there is no telling what the future holds.