Edward Furlong

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Edward Furlong
Furlong at the 2009 London Film Con
Born
Edward Walter Furlong

(1977-08-02) August 2, 1977 (age 46)
Glendale, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1990–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2006; div. 2009)​
PartnerMonica Keena (2009–2013)
Children1

Edward Walter Furlong (born August 2, 1977) is an American actor. He won Saturn and MTV Movie Awards for his breakthrough performance at age 13 as John Connor in James Cameron's 1991 science fiction action film Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which was followed by a mini-sequel, short attraction film T2-3D: Battle Across Time.

In 1992, he gave an Independent Spirit Award-nominated turn opposite Jeff Bridges in American Heart, and earned a second Saturn Award nomination for his work in Pet Sematary Two. He won a Young Artist Award for his performance alongside Kathy Bates in A Home of Our Own (1993) and appeared in Before and After (1996) with Meryl Streep and Liam Neeson.[1] Furlong received acclaim for his starring roles in the 1998 motion pictures Pecker, co-starring Christina Ricci, and American History X, co-starring Edward Norton.[1] He had significant roles in the comedy Detroit Rock City (1999) and the crime drama Animal Factory (2000).

Early life[edit]

Edward Furlong was born August 2, 1977,[2] in Glendale, California, the son of Eleanor Torres, a youth-center worker, and Heinrich Bruno Wittig. Furlong is of Mexican descent on his mother's side, and has also described himself as "part Russian".[3][4][5][6]

Furlong's father died when he was about three years old.[7] His mother's sister, Nancy Tafoya, and their half-brother, Sean Furlong, obtained custody of him for several years, including 1990–1991, when he began his acting career. Initially, the two served as Furlong's managers.[3][4][5][6]

Career[edit]

1990s[edit]

In 1991, Furlong began his film career as John Connor in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, a role that earned him an MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Role and a Saturn Award for best young actor. He was discovered for the part by casting director Mali Finn while visiting the Pasadena Boys and Girls Club in September 1990.

He followed this role with a string of moderately successful high-profile films and independent films, sharing the screen with Meryl Streep and Liam Neeson in Before and After (1996); Tim Roth, Maximilian Schell and Vanessa Redgrave in Little Odessa (1995); Jeff Bridges in American Heart (1993); and Anthony Edwards and Clancy Brown in Pet Sematary Two (1992).

In 1993, he was featured in Aerosmith's music video for "Livin' on the Edge". He played the lead role of Michael Brower, a horror and videogame-obsessed teen in the sci-fi horror film Brainscan (1994). In 1995, he starred in the film adaptation of Truman Capote's The Grass Harp. He reprised his role as John Connor in the 1996 theme park ride T2-3D: Battle Across Time alongside Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Patrick.

In 1998, he starred in American History X alongside Edward Norton and appeared in his first comedy role in Pecker, directed by John Waters. Of his title role in Pecker, Furlong stated, "It's true most of the characters that I've played so far are kind of like suicidal. Really dark roles, which I like. But I wanted to do something different and John gave me a chance to do that."[8]

In 1998, he starred in the film Detroit Rock City. During filming, he met Natasha Lyonne whom he then dated. He played a young convict in Steve Buscemi's film Animal Factory (2000).

2000s[edit]

Furlong's career and stardom declined considerably after 2000, with most of his subsequent films being released straight to DVD.[9] In 2001 he took a role in I Cavalieri che fecero l'impresa aka The Knights of the Quest, a little-seen film by Italian filmmaker Pupi Avati. Furlong was expected to play John Connor again in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003); however, Nick Stahl was cast just before filming began.[10] He later elaborated to have had a deal to reprise his role and was removed after the producers discovered his drug addiction.[11]

In 2004, he appeared in a music video for Metallica's "The Unnamed Feeling",[12] and played Jimmy in the low budget independent film Jimmy & Judy (2004), during which time he met Rachael Bella. The two became romantically involved and later married.[13] He played the lead in The Crow series' fourth film The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005), alongside David Boreanaz and Tara Reid, which was planned for a theatrical release but upon release was widely panned by critics and audiences and was released to DVD after one week in limited theaters. He appeared in Night of the Demons, the 2009 remake of the 1988 horror classic, which was shot in New Orleans and released straight to DVD.

In 2006 and again in 2010, he appeared in five episodes of the television program CSI: NY as Shane Casey.

2010s[edit]

Furlong in 2010

Furlong appeared in two scenes of Seth Rogen's film The Green Hornet (2011). Next he starred in This Is Not a Movie, an English-language Mexican film written and directed by Olallo Rubio and co-starring Peter Coyote and Edi Gathegi. He was featured as Fixer in the crowdfunded pilot Star Trek: Renegades.

In 2019, James Cameron confirmed that Furlong would be returning to reprise his role of John Connor.[14] It was later reported that his facial likeness would be used via CGI in Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) with Jude Collie as a CGI stand-in,[15][16] and he was involved in one day of filming for facial capture performance, as John Connor was killed off in the opening scene.[17]

2020s[edit]

In 2023, Furlong was slated to star in the movie Forest Hills alongside Shelley Duvall and Dee Wallace[18] as well as Charlie's House.[19]

Other work[edit]

In October 1992, Furlong released an album in Japan called Hold on Tight, with a cover of "People Are Strange" by the Doors.

Personal life[edit]

When Furlong was 16 he began a relationship with his stand-in and tutor, 26-year-old Jacqueline Domac, whom he had met when he was 13. They eventually began living together. When California's statutory rape law changed in 1994 to allow the prosecution of adult women who have sex with minors, his uncle Sean Furlong filed a complaint against Domac alleging rape, but was unsuccessful in having Domac prosecuted.[4] In May 1999, Domac sued Edward Furlong for domestic violence and for 15 percent of everything he had made in the previous three years, including his pay for Pecker and American History X, which she claimed that she was owed because she had worked for Furlong as his manager.[20]

Furlong married Rachael Bella on April 19, 2006. The couple's son was born in September 2006.[13] On July 8, 2009, she filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences.[21] Later in 2009, she sought to dissolve the restraining order she had filed, so that he could visit their child.[22] In 2012, Bella alleged in court documents that their six-year-old son tested positive for cocaine, which led a judge to rule Furlong's visits had to be supervised.[23]

Substance abuse and legal problems[edit]

Furlong's mugshot in Los Angeles, 2014

Furlong has battled alcoholism and drug addiction throughout his career. He first went into rehab in October 2000.[24] In 2006, Furlong stated he was "on and off" hard drugs from ages 22 to 26 and added that "I was a heroin and cocaine addict. It was really scary." and "I don't even think about (partying) anymore. It seems lonely now: running and clubbing and doing coke. I have nightmares about doing hard drugs. I'll wake up and I'm like, 'Did I relapse?'"[25]

In September 2009, Bella filed a restraining order against Furlong after he allegedly punched her in a drug-fueled altercation.[9] In 2010, he received three years of probation for violation of the civil protective order obtained by Bella.

In October 2012, Furlong was arrested and charged with felony domestic violence against his girlfriend Monica Keena.[26] In November 2012, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting Keena.[27] In January 2013, he was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery against Keena and arraigned on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for a December 12 misdemeanor domestic violence charge also involving Keena.[28] In March 2013, he was sentenced to 180 days in jail for a violation of probation after he "used force" against his ex-girlfriend, and for violation of a protective order, prohibiting approach and contact with Keena.[29] He was arrested again in May 2013 for assaulting his girlfriend and avoided a further prison sentence after agreeing to five years' probation, 90 days rehab for drug addiction, and one year of domestic violence counseling. He had served 61 days in jail.[30]

Rehabilitation and reconciliation[edit]

After his arrest in 2013, Furlong committed to rehabilitation.[31]

In February 2021, he reunited with his American History X co-star, Ethan Suplee, on Suplee's podcast American Glutton to discuss Furlong's recovery from drug addiction and compulsive eating. At the time of publication, he was three years sober from alcohol and illegal substances. Speaking on his initial hesitancy to maintain sobriety, he said, "I genuinely was afraid of facing what I would be without all that, because I carried all that as who I was."[32]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day John Connor Acting debut
1992 Pet Sematary Two Jeff Matthews
American Heart Nick Kelson
1993 A Home of Our Own Shayne Lacey
1994 Brainscan Michael Brower
Little Odessa Reuben Shapira
1995 The Grass Harp Collin Fenwick
1996 T2-3D: Battle Across Time John Connor Short attraction film, a mini-sequel to Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Before and After Jacob Ryan
1998 Pecker Pecker
American History X Danny Vinyard
1999 Detroit Rock City 'Hawk'
2000 Animal Factory Ron Decker
2001 Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy Himself
The Knights of the Quest Simon Di Clarendon Italian film originally titled I Cavalieri Che Fecero L'impresa
2003 Three Blind Mice Thomas Cross
2005 Intermedio Malik
The Crow: Wicked Prayer Jimmy Cuervo / The Crow
Cruel World Philip Markham
Venice Underground Gary
2006 Jimmy and Judy Jimmy Wright
The Visitation Brandon Nichols
High Hopes Tye
The Covenant: Brotherhood of Evil David Goodman Presented originally as Canes at the Cannes Film Festival of 2006
Warriors of Terra Chris
2007 Living & Dying Sam
2008 Dark Reel Adam Waltz
2009 Stoic Harry Katish
Darfur Adrian Archer Released on DVD as Attack on Darfur
Night of the Demons Colin Levy
2010 Kingshighway Dino Scarfino
2011 The Green Hornet Mr. Tupper
This Is Not a Movie Pete Nelson
The Mortician Petrovsky
Below Zero Jack / Frank
Witness Insecurity Johnny Released on DVD as Absolute Killers
Tequila Smith
2012 For The Love of Money Tommy
Crave Ravi
Paranormal Abduction Frank
2013 Matt's Chance Matt
The Zombie King Samuel Peters / The Zombie King
Assault on Wall Street Sean Also known as Bailout: The Age of Greed
Awakened Thomas Burton
2014 Stitch Marsden
The Last Light Noah
Aftermath Brad
2015 A Perfect Vacation Berto Also known as Awaken
2016 A Winter Rose Willy
2017 The Reunion Skip
2019 Terminator: Dark Fate John Connor Facial motion capture and reference only[33]
2023 Heart of a Champion Troy
The Forest Hills Billy

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1991 Saturday Night Live John Connor Episode: "Linda Hamilton / Mariah Carey" (uncredited)
1992 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Himself Guest
1993 Late Night with Conan O'Brien Himself Guest
2001 The Andy Dick Show Himself Episode: "Kid Krist"
2003 V Graham Norton Himself Guest
On ne peut pas plaire à tout le monde Himself
2005 Poorman's Bikini Beach Himself Episodes: "Ms. Melt the Ice", "Perfect 10 Mansion", "Freakfest 2005"
2006, 2010 CSI: NY Shane Casey Episodes: "Hung Out to Dry", "Raising Shane", "Redemption", "The 34th Floor", "Vacation Getaway"
2012 Perception Pete Episode: "Nemesis"
The Glades Way N.E. Bey/Wayne Balldinger Episode: "Public Enemy"
Arachnoquake Charlie TV movie
2014 FanGirl Academy: 101 Himself Episode: "Movie Magic 101"
2015 Star Trek: Renegades Fixer Episode: "Pilot"
2015–2016 From the Mouths of Babes Himself Documentary

Music videos[edit]

Year Title Artist Ref.
1993 "Livin' on the Edge" Aerosmith [34]
2004 "The Unnamed Feeling" Metallica [35]
2007 "Still in Love with You" Five A.M. [36]

Awards[edit]

Year Award Category Film Result
1992 MTV Movie Award Best Breakthrough Performance Terminator 2: Judgment Day Won
1992 Saturn Award Best Performance by a Younger Actor Terminator 2: Judgment Day Won
1993 Saturn Award Best Performance by a Younger Actor Pet Sematary Two Nominated
1994 Independent Spirit Award Best Supporting Male American Heart Nominated
1994 Young Artist Award Best Youth Actor Leading Role in a Motion Picture Drama A Home of Our Own Won
1994 Young Artist Award Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Motion Picture (shared with Miles Feulner, Clarissa Lassig, Amy Sakasitz and Sarah Schaub) A Home of Our Own Nominated
1998 ACCA Best Actor in a Supporting Role American History X Nominated
1999 Young Artist Award Best Supporting Young Actor Performance in a Feature Film American History X Nominated

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Flint Marx, Rebecca. Edward Furlong: Biography. Allmovie. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  2. ^ Rose, Mike (August 2, 2018). "Today's top celebrity birthdays list for August 2, 2018". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Gliatto, Tom (August 5, 1991). "Problemo Child". People. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Karlin, Susan (April 15, 1994). "Edward Furlong's rocky career". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Staff, Movieline (March 1, 1992). "Children of Paradise". Movieline. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Movieline Staff (1996). "Edward Furlong: Melancholy Baby". Movieline.
  7. ^ Heinrich Brüno Wittig
  8. ^ Henri B'har (September 13, 1998 ). "Press Conference on 'Pecker' at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival". Film Scouts Interviews. Retrieved on June 26, 2011.
  9. ^ a b Grossberg, Josh (January 13, 2011). "Timeline of a Trainwreck: The Edward Furlong Edition". E! Online UK. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  10. ^ Bonin, Liane (April 30, 2002). "Meet Terminator 3's hot new star". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  11. ^ "Fans Supporting Edward Furlong's Recovery And the Truth Behind T3's Re-Casting of John Connor | TheTerminatorFans.com". www.theterminatorfans.com. June 24, 2019.
  12. ^ Steffan Chirazi (December 3, 2003). "THE UNNAMED FEELING: VIDEO". Metallica.com. Archived from the original on December 15, 2005.
  13. ^ a b Laudadio, Marisa (September 22, 2006). "Edward Furlong, Wife Welcome a Son". People. Archived from the original on December 6, 2006. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  14. ^ "Edward Furlong Officially Returning as John Connor in Terminator: Dark Fate". comicbook.com. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  15. ^ Franklin, Garth (July 20, 2019). "Rumor On Furlong's "Dark Fate" Role Revealed". Dark Horizons. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  16. ^ Miska, Brad (July 19, 2019). "About Edward Furlong's 'Terminator: Dark Fate' Return as John Connor". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  17. ^ McCreesh, Louise (November 27, 2019). "Terminator's John Connor star responds to Dark Fate's controversial twist: "It kinda bums me out."". Digital Spy. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  18. ^ Squires, John (January 17, 2023). "'The Forest Hills' – Edward Furlong and Jamie Marsh Discuss the Film's 'Brainscan' Reunion [Exclusive]". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  19. ^ Dick, Jeremy (July 14, 2022). "Edward Furlong Wraps Filming on New Movie After Four Years of Sobriety". MovieWeb. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  20. ^ "EX-KID STAR EDDIE BEAT OLDER LOVER: SUIT". New York Post. May 11, 1999. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  21. ^ Everett, Cristina (July 9, 2009). "Edward Furlong and wife Rachael Bella are divorcing". New York Daily News.
  22. ^ "Eddie Furlong's Wife: Drop Restraining Order". NBC Los Angeles. October 20, 2009. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  23. ^ "'Terminator' Actor Arrested Again For Domestic Violence; Edward Furlong Begged For Help In October". iDigital Times. January 15, 2013. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  24. ^ Minotta, Mauricio (March 19, 2001). "Rehab for Edward Furlong | General News". Hollywood.com. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  25. ^ Tauber, Michelle (December 11, 2006). "Clean Start". People. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  26. ^ ""Terminator 2" Star Edward Furlong Arrested for Alleged Domestic Violence". NBC4 Washington. October 30, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  27. ^ "Edward Furlong Arrested Again On Suspicion Of Domestic Violence". Los Angeles Times. January 15, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  28. ^ "EActor Edward Furlong charged in alleged domestic violence case". Toronto Sun. July 2, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  29. ^ "'Terminator 2' Actor Edward Furlong Gets 180 Days in Jail". ABC News. March 6, 2013.
  30. ^ "Edward Furlong ordered to rehab after striking plea deal in assault case". Toronto Sun. July 2, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  31. ^ Parker, Ryan (July 22, 2019). "Edward Furlong's Terminator Return Renews Focus on Domestic Violence Past". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  32. ^ "American Glutton: Edward Furlong: Actor on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  33. ^ Ryan, Jim. "Actor Edward Furlong on Terminator: Dark Fate, De-Aging, The Doors And Advice For His Younger Self". Forbes.
  34. ^ "Aerosmith – Livin' On the Edge" – via YouTube.
  35. ^ "Metallica – The Unnamed Feeling" – via YouTube.
  36. ^ "Five A.M. – Still in Love with You" – via YouTube.

External links[edit]

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