David Krumholtz, born on May 15, 1978, is an American actor whose career has spanned decades, encompassing Broadway, film, and television. From his early roles as a child actor to his more recent critically acclaimed performances, Krumholtz has proven his versatility and staying power in a competitive industry. This article delves into his journey, highlighting not only his professional achievements but also the personal challenges he has faced and overcome, including a significant transformation in his health and well-being.
Early Career and Breakthrough Roles
Krumholtz's career began at the young age of 13 when he auditioned for and won the role of Young Charlie in the Broadway play Conversations with My Father (1992), alongside seasoned actors like Judd Hirsch, Tony Shalhoub, and Jason Biggs. This debut launched him into the world of film, with co-starring roles in Life With Mikey (1993) with Michael J. Fox and Addams Family Values (1993) with Christina Ricci. His role in Life With Mikey earned him a Young Artist Award nomination in 1993.
While these roles garnered critical attention, Krumholtz became widely known to younger audiences as Bernard the Elf in The Santa Clause (1994) and its sequel, The Santa Clause 2 (2002). In 1994, Krumholtz co-starred in his first television series, Monty, with Henry Winkler; the show lasted only a few episodes. Krumholtz later starred in several short-lived series over the years. Along the way, he had the opportunity to work with Jason Bateman (Chicago Sons, 1997), Tom Selleck (The Closer, 1998), Jon Cryer (The Trouble with Normal, 2000), and Rob Lowe (The Lyon's Den, 2003).
Transition to Diverse Roles
As Krumholtz matured, he transitioned into more diverse and complex roles, breaking away from the child actor stereotype. He appeared in The Ice Storm (1997), directed by Ang Lee, and Slums of Beverly Hills (1998), starring Alan Arkin and Natasha Lyonne. In 1999, Krumholtz starred as Michael Eckman in the popular teen movie 10 Things I Hate About You with Larisa Oleynik, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Julia Stiles, and Heath Ledger.
Krumholtz's first role as a leading man was in the romantic comedy You Stupid Man (2002), opposite Milla Jovovich. Although never released theatrically in the United States, You Stupid Man, directed by Edward Burns's brother Brian Burns, was released on DVD (2006). He also carried another leading role in Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie (2002), which premiered on FX Networks. Big Shot was a true story based on the Arizona State University basketball fixing scandal in 1994. Krumholtz played Benny Silman, a college student and campus bookmaker, who was jailed for his part in shaving points off key Arizona State basketball games. In 2005, Krumholtz played Max in My Suicidal Sweetheart (formerly Max and Grace), once again starring opposite actress Natasha Lyonne. Krumholtz also returned to smaller roles in the successful films Ray (2004) and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004), along with its two sequels. In September 2005, he was seen in Joss Whedon's science fiction film Serenity as "Mr. Universe", a hacker and information broker.
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Numb3rs and Continued Success
From 2005 to 2010, Krumholtz starred on the CBS television show Numb3rs, portraying Charlie Eppes, a genius who used mathematics to help his FBI agent brother Don (Rob Morrow) solve crimes. The cast of Numbers also included Judd Hirsch and Peter MacNicol, who appeared with Krumholtz in Addams Family Values as a camp counselor. Critic Matt Roush (TV Guide) called Krumholtz's work on Numbers "probably his best TV work to date". Numbers was cancelled by CBS on May 18, 2010. He starred in the 2010 TV film/series pilot Tax Man on Fox but was not picked up to series.
In recent years, he has had minor roles in the Coen brothers films Hail Caesar! (2016) and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), while also appearing in films such as This Is the End (2013), The Judge (2014), Sausage Party (2016), and Wonder Wheel (2017). He had a prominent recurring role as adult filmmaker Harvey Wasserman in the first two seasons of the HBO drama series The Deuce, before being promoted to a series regular for the third season.
In fall 2022, Krumholtz returned to the stage to play the role of Hermann Merz in the original Broadway cast of Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt at The Longacre Theater in New York City. Variety described his performance as "vulnerable and powerful". He earned a nomination for the Drama League Award for Outstanding Performance.
Health Challenges and Transformation
In July 2011, Krumholtz was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. While he has remained relatively private about the specifics of his treatment and recovery, it's clear that this experience had a profound impact on his life.
On October 4, 2024, Krumholtz was interviewed by The New York Times regarding cannabis reliance; Krumholtz had lost over 100 pounds and was hospitalized several times.
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Reflections on Career and the Industry
Krumholtz has been candid about the challenges and absurdities of working in Hollywood. He acknowledges the constant rejection, the struggle for meaningful roles, and the pressures that can lead to paranoia and self-doubt. He has also spoken about the importance of staying grounded and finding meaning outside of his career, particularly through his family.
Krumholtz recalls a time when Christopher Nolan complimented his performance as Charlie Eppes in Numbers. He couldn’t help but hold out hope that Nolan would cast him someday, and the opportunity finally came in the form of Oppenheimer.
Recent Projects and Future Endeavors
In the indie comedy Lousy Carter, Krumholtz plays the closest character to himself of his career.
Krumholtz was cast in Oppenheimer as the physicist Isidor Rabi, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and friend to J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Personal Life
Krumholtz married actress Vanessa Britting in 2010. They have two children.
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