Edward Furlong

{{short description|American actor (b. 1977)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Edward Furlong

| image = Edward Furlong (53725363105).jpg

| caption = Furlong in 2024

| birth_name = Edward Walter Furlong

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|08|02}}

| birth_place = Glendale, California, U.S.

| years_active = 1990–present

| occupation = Actor

| partner = Monica Keena

| spouse = {{marriage|Rachael Bella
|2006|2009|reason=div}}

| children = 1

}}

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 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 in A Home of Our Own (1993) and appeared in Before and After (1996). Furlong received acclaim for his starring roles in the 1998 motion pictures Pecker and American History X.Flint Marx, Rebecca. [http://www.allmovie.com/artist/edward-furlong-p25376 Edward Furlong: Biography]. Allmovie. Retrieved August 28, 2013. He had roles in the comedy Detroit Rock City (1999) and the crime drama Animal Factory (2000).

Early life

Edward Furlong was born August 2, 1977,{{cite news|last=Rose|first=Mike|title=Today's top celebrity birthdays list for August 2, 2018|work=The Plain Dealer|date=August 2, 2018|access-date=August 2, 2018|url=https://www.cleveland.com/expo/life-and-culture/erry-2018/08/56391aa86c8078/todays-top-celebrity-birthdays.html}} in Glendale, California, the son of Eleanor Torres (née Tafoya), 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".{{cite web | url=https://people.com/archive/problemo-child-vol-36-no-4/| title=Problemo Child | publisher=People| date=August 5, 1991 | access-date=November 10, 2019| last=Gliatto | first=Tom}}{{cite news|last=Karlin |first=Susan |url=https://ew.com/article/1994/04/15/edward-furlongs-rocky-career/|title=Edward Furlong's rocky career|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=April 15, 1994 |access-date=November 10, 2019}}{{cite web|last=Staff |first=Movieline |url=http://movieline.com/1992/03/01/children-of-paradise/ |title=Children of Paradise |publisher=Movieline |date=March 1, 1992|access-date=May 21, 2014}}{{cite web|author=Movieline Staff|url=http://movieline.com/1996/03/01/melancholy-baby/ |title=Edward Furlong: Melancholy Baby |publisher=Movieline |date=1996}} Ms. Torres also had another child, who was born circa 1981 and is Edward's maternal half brother.{{cite web | url=https://people.com/archive/problemo-child-vol-36-no-4/| title=Problemo Child | publisher=People| date=August 5, 1991 | access-date=November 10, 2019| last=Gliatto | first=Tom}}

Furlong never met his biological father, who died in June 1980 when Edward was two years old.[https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LRC1-9TL/heinrich-br%C3%BCno-wittig-1929-1980 Heinrich Brüno Wittig] He had a step-father during the early part of his childhood, Eleanor's then-husband Moises Torres, but the couple's marriage ended before Edward appeared in Terminator 2.{{cite web | url=https://people.com/archive/problemo-child-vol-36-no-4/| title=Problemo Child | publisher=People| date=August 5, 1991 | access-date=November 10, 2019| last=Gliatto | first=Tom}}

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.

Career

= 1990s =

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."Henri B'har (September 13, 1998 ). "[http://www.filmscouts.com/scripts/interview.cfm?File=joh-wat Press Conference on 'Pecker' at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival]". Film Scouts Interviews. Retrieved on June 26, 2011.

In 1998, he starred in the film Detroit Rock City. During filming, he met Natasha Lyonne whom he then dated.{{cite magazine |last1=Sevigny |first1=Chloe |title=Fabulous Friends |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a2341/chloe-sevigny-natasha-lyonne-interview-0614/ |magazine=Harper's Bazaar |date=May 22, 2014 |access-date=January 19, 2025}} He played a young convict in Steve Buscemi's film Animal Factory (2000).

=2000s=

File:Edward Furlong 2009.jpg]]

Furlong's career and stardom declined considerably after 2000, with most of his subsequent films being released straight to DVD.{{cite web | url=http://uk.eonline.com/news/220430/timeline-of-a-trainwreck-the-edward-furlong-edition | title=Timeline of a Trainwreck: The Edward Furlong Edition | publisher=E! Online UK | date=January 13, 2011 | access-date=December 9, 2013 | first=Josh | last=Grossberg}} In 2001 he took a lead role in the medieval drama I Cavalieri che fecero l'impresa aka The Knights of the Quest, a little-seen film by Italian filmmaker Pupi Avati. He was expected to play John Connor again in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003); however the role was recast and given to Nick Stahl shortly before filming began.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/04/30/meet-terminator-3s-hot-new-star/|title=Meet Terminator 3{{'}}s hot new star|date=April 30, 2002 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |last=Bonin |first=Liane |access-date=November 10, 2019}} When speaking about the history of his substance abuse and its effects on his career Furlong has said that he had been hired to reprise his role in Terminator 3, in what would have been a very lucrative deal for him, but was removed by the producers after an overdose incident which violated the terms of his contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theterminatorfans.com/fans-supporting-edward-furlongs-recovery-and-the-truth-behind-t3s-re-casting-of-john-connor/|title=Fans Supporting Edward Furlong's Recovery And the Truth Behind T3's Re-Casting of John Connor | TheTerminatorFans.com|date=June 24, 2019|website=www.theterminatorfans.com}}

In 2004, he appeared in a music video for Metallica's "The Unnamed Feeling",{{cite web | url=http://www.metallica.com/index.asp?item=1661 | title=THE UNNAMED FEELING: VIDEO | work=Metallica.com | date=December 3, 2003 | author=Steffan Chirazi | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215154033/http://www.metallica.com/index.asp?item=1661 | archive-date=December 15, 2005}} 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. He played the eponymous lead in the superhero film franchise The Crow's fourth film, The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005), co-starring with David Boreanaz and Tara Reid. The film was initially planned for a theatrical release but was widely panned by critics and audiences, and was released to DVD after running for 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=

File:Edward Furlong image 2.JPG

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.{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/movies/2019/07/18/terminator-dark-fate-eddie-furlong-john-connor-return/|title=Edward Furlong Officially Returning as John Connor in Terminator: Dark Fate|website=comicbook.com|date=July 18, 2019 |access-date=July 18, 2019}} 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,{{cite web |last=Franklin |first=Garth |title= Rumor On Furlong's "Dark Fate" Role Revealed |url=https://www.darkhorizons.com/rumor-on-furlongs-dark-fate-role-revealed/ |website=Dark Horizons |date=July 20, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2019}}{{cite web |last=Miska |first=Brad |title= About Edward Furlong's 'Terminator: Dark Fate' Return as John Connor |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3573841/edward-furlongs-terminator-dark-fate-return-john-connor-spoilers/ |website=Bloody Disgusting |date=July 19, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2019}} and he was involved in one day of filming for facial capture performance, as John Connor was killed off in the opening scene.{{cite web |last=McCreesh |first=Louise |title=Terminator's John Connor star responds to Dark Fate's controversial twist: "It kinda bums me out." |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a30011906/terminator-dark-fate-john-connor-death-edward-furlong-reaction/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=November 27, 2019 |date=November 27, 2019}}

=2020s=

In 2023 Furlong appeared in the movie Charlie's Horse/Heart of a Champion{{cite web|last=Dick|first=Jeremy|title=Edward Furlong Wraps Filming on New Movie After Four Years of Sobriety|url=https://movieweb.com/edward-furlong-four-years-sober/|website=MovieWeb|date=July 14, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2023}} and in The Forest Hills, which was a crowdfunded project mostly shot in 2023 and released in 2024, with Shelley Duvall and Dee Wallace.{{cite web|last=Squires|first=John|title='The Forest Hills' – Edward Furlong and Jamie Marsh Discuss the Film's 'Brainscan' Reunion [Exclusive]|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/exclusives/3747401/the-forest-hills-edward-furlong-and-jamie-marsh-discuss-the-films-brainscan-reunion-exclusive/|website=Bloody Disgusting|date=January 17, 2023|access-date=August 23, 2023}} In 2024 Furlong starred in the Lovecraftian horror film Unspeakable: Beyond the Wall of Sleep, shot and released that year.

=Other work=

In October 1992, Furlong released a pop-music album in Japan, titled Hold on tight, which included a cover of "People Are Strange" by the Doors.

Personal life

When Furlong was 16 he was openly in a relationship with his sometime stand-in and tutor, 29-year-old Jacqueline Domac, whom he had met on Terminator 2 when he was 13. The two eventually began living together. When California's statutory rape law was 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 statutory rape of his nephew, but was unsuccessful in having Domac prosecuted. In May 1999, Domac sued Edward Furlong for domestic violence and for 15 percent of his earnings 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.{{Cite news|url=https://nypost.com/1999/05/11/ex-kid-star-eddie-beat-older-lover-suit/|title=EX-KID STAR EDDIE BEAT OLDER LOVER: SUIT|date=May 11, 1999|work=New York Post|access-date=November 17, 2017|language=en-US}}

Furlong married the actress Rachael Bella on April 19, 2006. The couple had a son, born in September 2006.{{cite news |url=http://people.aol.com/people/article/0,26334,1537647,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206224514/http://people.aol.com/people/article/0%2C26334%2C1537647%2C00.html |archive-date=December 6, 2006 |access-date=December 11, 2013 |title=Edward Furlong, Wife Welcome a Son |date=September 22, 2006 |magazine=People |last=Laudadio |first=Marisa}} On July 8, 2009, Bella filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences.{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/edward-furlong-wife-rachael-bella-divorcing-article-1.399398 |title=Edward Furlong and wife Rachael Bella are divorcing |date=July 9, 2009 |last=Everett |first=Cristina |newspaper=New York Daily News }} Later in 2009, she sought to dissolve the restraining order she had previously filed, so that Furlong could visit their child.{{Cite web|title=Eddie Furlong's Wife: Drop Restraining Order|url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/eddie-furlongs-wife-drop-restraining-order/2098893/|access-date=August 22, 2021|website=NBC Los Angeles|date=October 20, 2009 |language=en-US}} In 2012, Bella alleged in court documents that their six-year-old son had tested positive for cocaine, which led a judge to rule Furlong's visits must be supervised.{{cite web |url=http://www.idigitaltimes.com/terminator-actor-arrested-again-domestic-violence-edward-furlong-begged-help-october-347846 |title='Terminator' Actor Arrested Again For Domestic Violence; Edward Furlong Begged For Help In October |website=iDigital Times|date=January 15, 2013|access-date=July 5, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107162610/http://www.idigitaltimes.com/terminator-actor-arrested-again-domestic-violence-edward-furlong-begged-help-october-347846 |archive-date=November 7, 2016 }}

=Rehabilitation and reconciliation =

After his arrest in 2013, Furlong committed to rehabilitation.{{cite news|first=Ryan|last=Parker|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/edward-furlongs-terminator-return-renews-focus-domestic-violence-past-1226096|title=Edward Furlong's Terminator Return Renews Focus on Domestic Violence Past|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 22, 2019 |access-date=July 22, 2019}}

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 hesitation 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".{{Cite web|title=American Glutton: Edward Furlong: Actor on Apple Podcasts|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/edward-furlong-actor/id1490933138?i=1000509655595|access-date=August 10, 2021|website=Apple Podcasts|language=en-US}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1991

| Terminator 2: Judgment Day

| John Connor

| Acting debut

rowspan="2" |1992

| Pet Sematary Two

| Jeff Matthews

|

American Heart

| Nick Kelson

|

1993

| A Home of Our Own

| Shayne Lacey

|

rowspan="2" | 1994

| Brainscan

| Michael Brower

|

Little Odessa

| Reuben Shapira

|

1995

| The Grass Harp

| Collin Fenwick

|

rowspan="2" | 1996

| T2-3D: Battle Across Time

| John Connor

| Short attraction film, a mini-sequel to Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Before and After

| Jacob Ryan

|

rowspan="2" | 1998

| Pecker

| Pecker

|

American History X

| Danny Vinyard

|

1999

| Detroit Rock City

| 'Hawk'

|

2000

| Animal Factory

| Ron Decker

|

rowspan="2" | 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

|

rowspan="4" | 2005

| Intermedio

| Malik

|

The Crow: Wicked Prayer

| Jimmy Cuervo / The Crow

|

Cruel World

| Philip Markham

|

Venice Underground

| Gary

|

rowspan="5" | 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

|

rowspan="1" | 2007

| Living & Dying

| Sam

|

rowspan="1" | 2008

| Dark Reel

| Adam Waltz

|

rowspan="3" | 2009

| Stoic

| Harry Katish

|

Darfur

| Adrian Archer

| Released on DVD as Attack on Darfur

Night of the Demons

| Colin Levy

|

2010

| Kingshighway

| Dino Scarfino

|

rowspan="6" | 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

|

rowspan="3" | 2012

| For The Love of Money

| Tommy

|

Crave

| Ravi

|

Paranormal Abduction

| Frank

|

rowspan="4" | 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

|

rowspan="3" | 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{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimryan1/2019/12/13/actor-edward-furlong-on-terminator-dark-fate-de-aging-the-doors-and-advice-for-his-younger-self/|title=Actor Edward Furlong on Terminator: Dark Fate, De-Aging, The Doors And Advice For His Younger Self|first=Jim|last=Ryan|website=Forbes}}

rowspan="2" | 2023

| Heart of a Champion

| Troy

|

The Forest Hills

| Billy

|

2024

| Unspeakable: Beyond the Wall of Sleep

| Ambrose London

|

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1991

| Saturday Night Live

| John Connor

| Episode: "Linda Hamilton / Mariah Carey" (uncredited)

1992

| The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

| rowspan="6" | Himself

| rowspan="2" | Guest

1993

| Late Night with Conan O'Brien

2001

| The Andy Dick Show

| Episode: "Kid Krist"

rowspan="2"|2003

| V Graham Norton

| Guest

On ne peut pas plaire à tout le monde

|

2005

| Poorman's Bikini Beach

| 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"

rowspan="3"|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=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Title

! Artist

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

1993

| "Livin' on the Edge"

| Aerosmith

| {{cite web|title=Aerosmith – Livin' On the Edge| date=December 24, 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nqcL0mjMjw|via=YouTube}}

2004

| "The Unnamed Feeling"

| Metallica

| {{cite web|title=Metallica – The Unnamed Feeling| date=October 26, 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTU6NLovI_Q|via=YouTube}}

2007

| "Still in Love with You"

| Five A.M.

| {{cite web|title=Five A.M. – Still in Love with You| date=December 30, 2007 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0sL5Mqx0Yc|via=YouTube}}

Awards

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#b0c4de;"| Year

! style="background:#b0c4de;"| Award

! style="background:#b0c4de;"| Category

! style="background:#b0c4de;"| Film

! style="background:#b0c4de;"| 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

|{{nom}}

1994

|Independent Spirit Award

|Best Supporting Male

|American Heart

|{{nom}}

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

|{{nom}}

1998

|ACCA

|Best Actor in a Supporting Role

|American History X

|{{nom}}

1999

|Young Artist Award

|Best Supporting Young Actor Performance in a Feature Film

|American History X

|{{nom}}

References

{{Reflist}}