- He was cast as Marty McFly in Back to the Future (1985) after Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale were unable to get Michael J. Fox, their first choice for the role 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 role. He later went on to play the title role in The Fly II (1989) where his character's name was also Martin. So he went from playing Marty(short for Martin) McFly to Martin THE fly.
- Director Cameron Crowe promised him a role, however small, in every film he makes. Though Crowe hasn't cast him in any of his films since Jerry Maguire (1996).
- According to a 1992 Movieline Interview, the casting agents for Mask (1985) had refused to let him in to read for the role. 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 role. 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 people's 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?'".
- Worked as a production assistant on the films Say Anything (1989) and Illegally Yours (1988) to learn from the famed first assistant director Jerry Ziesmer about the production side of filmmaking.
- (1980-1983) Lived with Ally Sheedy (they meet each other in college). They both appeared in Our Guys: Outrage at Glen Ridge (1999).
- Spent three months in a wheelchair in preparation for his role in the film The Waterdance (1992).
- (1990-1998) Lived with Bridget Fonda. They both starred in Singles (1992), Bodies, Rest & Motion (1993), Grace of My Heart (1996) and Mr. Jealousy (1997).
- Has appeared with James Spader in four films: A Killer in the Family (1983), The New Kids (1985), 2 Days in the Valley (1996) and Keys to Tulsa (1997).
- Raised in both American Samoa and Santa Barbara, California, where as a child he once earned money playing piano for local musical theatre productions.
- (1985-1989) Lived with Jennifer Jason Leigh. They both appeared in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) and Sister, Sister (1987). She was considered for the role of Veronica in The Fly (1986). Stoltz was the title character in that's movie's sequel.
- Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1984" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 43.
- Was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Our Town (1989).
- Attended San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, California. Fellow students included Anthony Edwards, Cady Huffman and Kathy Ireland.
- Has two sisters: Catherine Stoltz, a professional opera singer, and Susan Stoltz, a writer.
- Member of the Actors Studio.
- Born 65 days before fellow Californian Roy L. 'Rocky' Dennis, whom he played in Mask (1985).
- He was considered for the role of Detective Vic Mackey on the crime drama The Shield (2002), which went to Michael Chiklis.
- Attended the University of Southern California, but dropped out after his junior year.
- Has appeared in four films directed by Cameron Crowe: The Wild Life (1984), Say Anything (1989), Singles (1992) and Jerry Maguire (1996).
- He has appeared in two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) and Pulp Fiction (1994).
- Was nominated for Broadway's 1989 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) for a revival of Thornton Wilder's Our Town (1989).
- Born on the exact same date as singer-actress Crystal Bernard (of Wings (1990) fame).
- Has English, German and Scottish ancestry.
- Lost out on the role of Marty McFly in Back to the Future (1985), but later appeared in The Fly II (1989), as Martin Brindle who becomes a housefly.
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