Eric Stoltz
AGE 38 -
IN FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH YOU PORTRAYED A CRAZED TEENAGER. WERE THERE ANY SIMILARITIES TO YOUR OWN TEENAGE YEARS? I was terribly awkward, funny-looking and short. I was uncomfortable with myself. I didn't listen to anyone. I hope I have changed.
IN PETER BOGDANOVICH'S 1985 FILM MASK, YOU WORE HEAVY MAKEUP. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? It was a bizarre experience. I felt blinded not being able to use my face, one of my acting tools. That was my first lead in anything other than theatre. I was so inexperienced and overwhelmed, the level of panic was huge.
DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A ROMANTIC? I am a romantic every day other than Valentine's Day. I rebel against it when I'm told to do so by a Hallmark card. I enjoy giving and receiving flowers, gifts and romantic notes on a pillow. Men love to be wooed. I love to be wooed!
WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION? I have a family photo album that my mother made. I have my grandfather's First World War uniform that is special to me. I also have the family Bible.
WHAT'S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU'VE DONE TO GET ATTENTION? I honestly don't know. So much of my life has been spent trying to avoid attention. As an actor you get so much attention, much of it is not deserved. I exit through back doors of restaurants and dress in disguises. I try to blend in and not win attention.
IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO RELIVE YOUR LIFE, WOULD YOU CHANGE ANYTHING? Sure! I'd be much more aware of how precious time is and how important it is to let people know that you care about them while you have the chance.
IF YOU COULD HAVE DINNER WITH THREE FAMOUS PEOPLE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Chris Farley, Jesus Christ and Gandhi would make great dinner guests.
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS CONSIDER YOUR WORST PERSONALITY TRAIT? Giving interviews where I talk about myself. You have no idea how annoying that is to others. I get so much guff about my thoughtless and flip comments. I am aware of it and I'm trying to work on it.
IS THERE A PERSON OR EVENT THAT HAS HAD A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON YOUR LIFE? My grandfather had a major influence on my life. He was a jack of all trades. He lived through the San Francisco earthquake. He fought in the First World War. He was a teacher, a farmer and a railroad engineer. I used to sit on his lap and ask him stories about the world. I wanted to grow up to be just like him.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE/DISLIKE MOST ABOUT SHOW BUSINESS? I hate all the BS and I love all the BS. I enjoy hearing stories about who's sleeping with who and whose marriage is breaking up. It's fun stuff.There's also something disgusting about wanting to know. But I happen to like feeling dirty and disgusting sometimes.