Eric Thal

Eric Thal (born August 10, 1965)[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

Born 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

Thal's film career started 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
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

Thal 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
  1. "Eric Thal Biography". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  2. Feighner, Jan (February 19, 1998). "Haverford Grad Thal in Oprah miniseries "The Wedding"". The Suburban Publications.
  3. Webb, Pamela (January 20, 1994). "Ten Minutes With Actor Eric Thal". The Mainliner.
  4. Burke-Block, Candace (August 24, 1992). "Jack-of-all-trades Makes Mark in Movies". The Columbus Dispatch/New York Times Special Features.
  5. Brennan, Sandra. "Eric Thal: About This Person". The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  6. "Yahoo! Movies". Eric Thal Biography. Archived from the original on 2007-02-21.
  7. Sterritt, David (July 23, 1992). "Despite Flaws, "A Stranger" Aptly Visits Family Values". The Christian Science Monitor.
  8. Toppman, Lawrence (July 17, 1992). "Lumet recycles the Apple but finds community". The Times Union.
  9. Rea, Steven (February 6, 1992). "Moore Has a Hand in Film's Success". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  10. "Movie Stars". The Oxford Eagle. February 20, 1992.
  11. "MGM's Six Degrees of Separation 1993". Yahoo! Movies.
  12. Holden, Stephen (October 22, 1994). "The Puppet Masters FILM REVIEW; Suspense? Yes. Horror? Of Course". The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  13. Putman, Dustin. "The Movie Boy". Dustin's Review: Wishful Thinking. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  14. Ralske, Josh. "Joe's So Mean to Josephine: Review Summary". The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  15. Feinstein, Howard (September 27, 1998). "Film Reviews: Mixing Nia". Variety. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  16. Deming, Mark. "Snow Falling on Cedars Summary". Starpulse.com. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  17. Antani, Jay. "On DVD: Mouth to Mouth". AMC Film Critic. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  18. ""Good Guy" After Party at the Tribeca Film Festival (Eric Thal)". Zimbio. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  19. O'Connor, John J. (December 6, 1996). "Lansbury as Santa's Neglected, Determined Wife". The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  20. Stewart, Bhob. "AMG AllMovie Guide: Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Wedding". answers.com. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  21. White, Timothy (February 16, 1998). "Halle Berry Must Choose Between a Black Man and White Man in TV Movie". Jet: Cover, 54–58.
  22. Vineberg, Steve (March 3, 2002). "Exercising a Genius for Shaking Loose the Truth". The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  23. "Hack: Cast & Details". TV Guide. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  24. "Eric Thal Performer Credits". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
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