Eric Thal [1] is an American film and stage actor, perhaps best known as Ariel in Sidney Lumet's A Stranger Among Us; Sam Nivens in The Puppet Masters; Samson in Samson and Delilah; Meade Howell in The Wedding; and Rick in Six Degrees of Separation.
Youth
editBorn in Niskayuna, New York, to Joan, a home-maker, and Herbert L. Thal, Jr., an electrical engineer, Thal, the youngest of five children, was raised on The Main Line of Philadelphia.[2] He began performing as a magician[1] and started studying acting at age 14, with Richard Brewer,[3] formerly of the Hedgerow Theatre. He graduated from The Haverford School and attended Lafayette College for one year, studying engineering and education, before moving to New York to pursue acting. He worked a variety of jobs including telemarketer, waiter, construction worker, janitor, and massage therapist, before being cast in his first film role in 1991.[4]
Career
editThal's film career started with the 1992 thriller A Stranger Among Us, when Sidney Lumet cast him in the lead role of Ariel opposite Melanie Griffith, after he auditioned for a smaller role.[5][6] The film, written by Robert J. Avarech, portrays a murder that takes place in a Hasidic community, with Thal playing the role of the son of The Rebbe.[7][8] He went on to play Alex Perkins, opposite Penelope Ann Miller, in The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag[9][10] and the character Rick in the film Six Degrees of Separation, alongside Heather Graham and Will Smith.[11] Thal had no scenes with Donald Sutherland in Six Degrees of Separation, but went on to play the role of his son in The Puppet Masters,[12] directed by Stuart Orme. He also worked alongside Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Beals, James LeGros and Jon Stewart in Wishful Thinking.[13] He starred opposite Sarah Polley in Joe's So Mean to Josephine,[14] directed by Peter Wellington. He co-starred alongside Karyn Parsons and Isaiah Washington in Mixing Nia.[15] Other lead roles include Carl Heine, Jr. in Snow Falling on Cedars,[16] directed by Scott Hicks, and the role of Harry opposite Elliot Page in Mouth to Mouth.[17] He also appeared in the romantic comedy film The Good Guy,[18] which premièred at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Thal also appeared in a number of TV mini-series and shows. He starred opposite Elizabeth Hurley and alongside Dennis Hopper, Diana Rigg, and Michael Gambon in the TV movie Samson and Delilah.[19] He played opposite Halle Berry in the TV movie The Wedding,[20] produced by Oprah Winfrey, directed by Charles Burnett, and based on the book by Dorothy West. On February 16, 1998 Jet Magazine's cover featured Halle Berry between Thal and Carl Lumbly, with the title, "Halle Berry Must Choose Between A Black Man And White Man In TV Movie 'The Wedding.'"[21] Thal played Detective John Cahill in the unaired American pilot of Ultraviolet, which was produced by Howard Gordon and Chip Johannessen. He appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Tommy Hedges, and twice in Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Didier Foucault (alias Dennis Dupont)[22] and Don Craddock. He was a guest star in the final episode of Hack,[23] alongside David Morse.
Thal originated the role of The Special Witness in Christopher Durang's Sex and Longing on Broadway at The Cort Theatre in 1996.[24]
Filmography
edit| Date | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | A Stranger Among Us | Ariel |
| 1992 | The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag | Alex Perkins |
| 1993 | Six Degrees of Separation | Rick |
| 1994 | The Puppet Masters | Sam Nivens |
| 1996 | Joe's So Mean to Josephine | Joe |
| 1996 | Samson and Delilah (TV movie) | Samson |
| 1997 | Wishful Thinking | Jack |
| 1998 | The Wedding (TV miniseries) | Meade Howell |
| 1998 | Mixing Nia | Matt |
| 1999 | Shift (TV movie) | Eddie |
| 1999 | Snow Falling on Cedars | Carl Heine, Jr. |
| 1999 | Prisoner of Love | Johnny |
| 2000 | The $treet (TV series – "Rebound") | Mike |
| 2001 | The Shaft | Jeffrey |
| 2001 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV series – "The Extra Man") | Didier Foucault (alias Dennis Dupont) |
| 2002 | Ed (TV series – "The Road") | Frank |
| 2003 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV series – "Appearances") | Tommy Hedges |
| 2004 | Hack (TV series – "The Reckoning") | Danny Jannik |
| 2005 | Mouth to Mouth | Harry |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV series – "Dollhouse") | Don Craddock |
| 2006 | Looking for Sunday | Jared |
| 2008 | Paper Angels (short) | Frank Rice |
| 2009 | The Good Guy | Stephens |
Personal life
editThal lives in New York City. He actively became interested in music in the 1990s and plays guitar, drums, and piano.[2] He is the owner and founder of American English Master, and works as a dialect coach.
References
edit- ^ a b "Eric Thal Biography". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ a b Feighner, Jan (February 19, 1998). "Haverford Grad Thal in Oprah miniseries "The Wedding"". The Suburban Publications.
- ^ Webb, Pamela (January 20, 1994). "Ten Minutes With Actor Eric Thal". The Mainliner.
- ^ Burke-Block, Candace (August 24, 1992). "Jack-of-all-trades Makes Mark in Movies". The Columbus Dispatch/New York Times Special Features.
- ^ Brennan, Sandra (2007). "Eric Thal: About This Person". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ "Yahoo! Movies". Eric Thal Biography. Archived from the original on 2007-02-21.
- ^ Sterritt, David (July 23, 1992). "Despite Flaws, "A Stranger" Aptly Visits Family Values". The Christian Science Monitor.
- ^ Toppman, Lawrence (July 17, 1992). "Lumet recycles the Apple but finds community". The Times Union.
- ^ Rea, Steven (February 6, 1992). "Moore Has a Hand in Film's Success". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ "Movie Stars". The Oxford Eagle. February 20, 1992.
- ^ "MGM's Six Degrees of Separation 1993". Yahoo! Movies.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Holden, Stephen (October 22, 1994). "The Puppet Masters FILM REVIEW; Suspense? Yes. Horror? Of Course". The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ Putman, Dustin. "The Movie Boy". Dustin's Review: Wishful Thinking. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ Ralske, Josh (2007). "Joe's So Mean to Josephine: Review Summary". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ Feinstein, Howard (September 27, 1998). "Film Reviews: Mixing Nia". Variety. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ Deming, Mark. "Snow Falling on Cedars Summary". Starpulse.com. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ Antani, Jay. "On DVD: Mouth to Mouth". AMC Film Critic. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ ""Good Guy" After Party at the Tribeca Film Festival (Eric Thal)". Zimbio. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ O'Connor, John J. (December 6, 1996). "Lansbury as Santa's Neglected, Determined Wife". The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ Stewart, Bhob. "AMG AllMovie Guide: Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Wedding". answers.com. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ White, Timothy (February 16, 1998). "Halle Berry Must Choose Between a Black Man and White Man in TV Movie". Jet: Cover, 54–58.
- ^ Vineberg, Steve (March 3, 2002). "Exercising a Genius for Shaking Loose the Truth". The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ "Hack: Cast & Details". TV Guide. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ "Eric Thal Performer Credits". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved September 21, 2011.