Judge Reinhold was on track to become a huge movie star in the 1980s, but his career took a sudden turn.
Judge Reinhold, known for “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” nearly became a leading man in “Vice Versa” until a scandal over an alleged “executive murder plot” derailed the film and his career, he told Vanity Fair.
Judge Reinhold’s Biography
| Name | Judge Reinhold’s |
| Age | 67 years |
| Net Worth | $2.5 million |
| Country | American |
Judge Reinhold starred with Fred Savage in the 1988 body-swap movie ‘Vice Versa,’ where they played a father and son. Despite Reinhold’s earlier success in other films, ‘Vice Versa’ didn’t do well at the box office.
He explained that in 1986, David Puttnam, the producer of “Chariots of Fire,” became the CEO of Columbia Pictures. Puttnam aimed to lower the salaries of lead actors while increasing their share of the profits.
Reinhold believed in his ideas, but unfortunately, he didn’t get enough time to prove them because he claimed higher-ups in the industry conspired against him.
He said that Puttnam openly criticized the high salaries and shared his plans, which angered many people. By the time the movie was ready for release, people had already decided to get rid of him because they didn’t like him.
The actor praised Puttnam, calling him “really, really cool,” and expressed trust in him. He said, “I believed in him. He said, ‘I want you to be the model. Take a pay cut, and if the movie succeeds, you’ll share in the profits.’ That’s fair. So, we’ll reduce the upfront cost.”
Before ‘Vice Versa’ premiered, ‘Like Father, Like Son’ with a similar plot had already hit theaters. Judge Reinhold noted ‘Like Father, Like Son’ began filming after his movie. ‘Vice Versa’ faced tough box office competition and struggled to find viewers.
That is the reason I’m disheartened,” Reinhold told Vanity Fair. “I was glad for the film, yet the studio pulled it not long before Easter break whenever it got an opportunity. It was extreme after the entirety of our endeavors.
In 1992, he told the Los Angeles Times, “That was the finish of my extravagant Hollywood vocation. From that point forward, the telephone recently quit ringing.”
A few years earlier, in 1980, Judge Reinhold’s first movie was released under two titles: “Running Scared” and “Desperate Men.” Despite its low budget, he proudly mentioned that he had won the role over Dennis Quaid.
During filming in the Everglades, Reinhold recalled the director admitting, “We’re strapped for cash and might not finish. Can we pay you when we’re back in LA?”
He added, “I told them, ‘I may be new to this, however, I’m not puzzled.’ They had a ’59 Cadillac in the film, and I said, ‘Let me have that vehicle, and you have an arrangement.'”
They fixed it fast,” he said. “My mom had an accident with the car in Boca Raton while I was auditioning for ‘Ordinary People’ in LA. Turns out it was stolen, but by the time I called from LA, it was too late.
A year later, he landed a small role in “Stripes,” alongside Bill Murray, John Candy, and Harold Ramis. It was during this time that he picked up a trick he later used when acting with Eddie Murphy – gripping his legs tightly to stifle laughter.
I used to squeeze my thigh so hard in my pockets to stop myself from laughing,” he said. “I couldn’t mess up a scene with Bill. Sometimes you can even see Candy almost crack up.
In 1982, he got a part in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” because he lived in the same building as the director, Amy Heckerling, and was dating her assistant. He got lucky because Heckerling originally wanted Nicolas Cage for the role, but Cage was too young at just 17.
Since he was only 17, they would have had to comply with child labor laws for filming schedules,” he explained. “It wouldn’t have been possible to keep him on a full schedule within the budget. So, with much regret, they had to release him.
He ended up getting the role because his girlfriend suggested he could do it instead. He then filmed a very memorable scene from “Fast Times” where his character is caught masturbating by his crush, played by Phoebe Cates.
When you take that scene out of context, it seems creepy,” Reinhold confessed. “But when I first read the script, I found it hilarious. It turned out to be one of the silliest and most daring things I’ve ever done. Even though it was staged, it felt incredibly intimate and humiliating.
He got a handle on it, “When I read the substance, I believed that it was entertaining. However, upon the arrival of the shooting… I don’t know how Phoebe felt, but rather we both felt abnormal. We needed to manage it. The crowd doesn’t see that, and they shouldn’t need to consider it, yet it’s not basic, something like that. I just went with it. What aided was that I was awkward.”
Two years after “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” came out, “Beverly Hills Cop” premiered, but it started as something quite different. Initially, Sylvester Stallone was set to star, and the film was more of a straightforward action flick. Judge Reinhold recalled meeting Stallone to get his approval after being cast in the movie.
After Stallone dropped out, Murphy, a comedy icon, stepped in, and the script gradually shifted to include more humor. Reinhold explained that while filming, they often paused to fine-tune scenes that didn’t click, sometimes improvising to perfect the vibe.
I learned on ‘Stripes’ what it took,” he said. “If you’re not willing to take risks, then choose a different path. Eddie is spontaneous. I had to get comfortable again.
Conclusion
Judge Reinhold, known for his role in ‘Beverly Hills Cop,’ stages a comeback following a scandal that temporarily sidelined his career. His resurgence highlights resilience and determination in overcoming setbacks, marking a return to prominence in the entertainment industry.
FAQ
Judge Reinhold is well-known for his role in ‘Beverly Hills Cop’.
Judge Reinhold made a comeback after dealing with a scandal that temporarily affected his career.
The scandal briefly sidelined Judge Reinhold’s career, but he successfully returned to prominence afterward.
Judge Reinhold’s career resurgence occurred after the scandal that affected him.
Judge Reinhold’s career resurgence followed a scandal that had sidelined him, allowing him to bounce back.
