What Eric Stoltz Has Done Since He Was Fired From Back To The Future (2024)

Eric Stoltz has far from faded into obscurity since infamously being fired and replaced by Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly in Robert Zemeckis' sci-fi movie Back to the Future. The actor has appeared in numerous theater, film, and television productions, receiving various accolades and appearing alongside big names such as Bruce Willis, Winona Ryder, and John Travolta. Aside from acting, Stoltz has also accumulated notable credits for producing and directing.

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. Although Stoltz getting the ax caused shock among many cast members, like Doc Brown's actor Christopher Lloyd, and the production setbacks had many wondering whether the movie would be released, the actor change saved Back to the Future. Fox's iteration of Marty added a proper comedic tone to the role and movie, something that Stoltz lacked. Despite the firing, Stoltz went on to have a long and lustrous career in Hollywood.

Why Eric Stoltz Was Fired From Back To The Future

Producers Wanted Marty McFly To Be Less Dramatic & More Comedic

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 a tragedy, not a comedy. So, he played Marty as serious instead of giving him a lighter, more comedic personality. After reviewing footage from the first few weeks of shooting, director Robert Zemeckis concluded that Stoltz's portrayal of Marty wasn't right and ruined the movie's humor. While the film could be read as a tragedy, Stoltz's interpretation of Back to the Future didn't work for the producers. Therefore, he was fired and replaced with Michael J. Fox.

Christopher Lloyd famously had doubts about Fox's characterization of Marty. In the end, it worked out for 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 as it did. Nevertheless, Stoltz's career continues to be rich and diverse, which he admits may not have been possible without being fired from Back to the Future. Reflecting on the event years later, Stoltz told Moviehole that his dismissal from the film actually ended up being "freeing" and allowed him to pursue other goals. He said:

"I went back to acting school, I moved to Europe, I did some plays in New York, and I actually invested in myself in a way that was much healthier for me."

Eric Stoltz Continued Acting After He Was Fired From Back To The Future

Stoltz Didn't Let The Setback Ruin His Career

Eric Stoltz's career didn't suffer after Back To The Future, as he continued acting and took on roles in films such as The Fly II, Killing Zoe, Little Women, and Jerry Maguire. He also pursued his lifelong passion for theater, taking part in various Broadway and off-Broadway productions, and in 1989 was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in Our Town. In 1994, he appeared in Quentin Tarantino's iconic moviePulp Fiction, widely considered one of the greatest films of all time. Stoltz's performance as Lance earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Male.

Eric Stoltz's Most Notable Movie & TV Roles

The Actor's Feature Film Debut Was Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Proving that he wasn't about to let being fired shake him, Eric Stoltz appeared as Rocky Dennis in the 1985 film Mask shortly after being fired from Back to the Future. 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 much praise from critics. He also appeared in other noteworthy movies and television shows, such as Say Anything, Some Kind of Wonderful, Grey's Anatomy, Madam Secretary, and more.

Where Is Eric Stoltz Now?

Eric Stoltz Mostly Directs & Produces Now (But Still Acts)

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. He continued working in entertainment behind the scenes and on smaller independent films, though. Stoltz's directing credits include the short films The Bulls and The Grand Design, as well as episodes of Law and Order, Madam Secretary, Grey's Anatomy, and Glee.

In addition to his work in visual media, Stoltz has voiced several audiobooks, including works by Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde. He is also credited as a voice actor in the 1999 film Hercules: Zero to Hero and on television shows such as Frasier and American Experience. Stoltz has 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, Bull, and most recently, the Max political drama The Girls on the Bus. Consequently, Stoltz's career has thrived after the Back to the Future incident.

Back to the Future

PG

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Sci-Fi

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown. In 1955, he meets his parents when they were his age, and must step in to make sure they wind up together before he gets back to 1985.

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Release Date

July 3, 1985

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

Writers

Robert Zemeckis , Bob Gale

Cast

Claudia Wells , Christopher Lloyd , James Tolkan , Thomas F. Wilson , Michael J. Fox , Wendie Jo Sperber , Crispin Glover , Marc McClure , Lea Thompson

Runtime

116 minutes

Source: Moviehole