Edward Walter Furlong born August 2, 1977 is an American actor. He won Saturn and MTV Movie Awards for his breakthrough performance as John Connor in James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) that was followed by a mini-sequel, a short attraction film T2-3D: Battle Across Time (1996) co-directed and co-written by Cameron with the same main cast. 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. 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. He had significant roles in the comedy Detroit Rock City (1999) and the crime drama Animal Factory (2000).
Early life
Edward Furlong was born August 2, 1977 in Glendale, California, the son of Eleanor Torres (née Tafoya), a youth-center worker. Furlong is of Spanish descent on his mother’s side, and has also described himself as “part Russian”. He has never known his father.
His mother’s sister, Nancy Tafoya, and their half-brother, Sean Furlong, obtained custody of him for several years, including 1990–91, 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, Furlong 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. Furlong 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.”
In 1998, he starred in the film Detroit Rock City. During filming, he met Natasha Lyonne whom he then dated. Furlong played a young convict in Steve Buscemi’s film Animal Factory (2000).
2000s
Furlong’s career and stardom declined considerably after 2000, with most of his subsequent films being released straight to DVD. 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. He later elaborated to have had a deal to reprise his role before being removed after the producers found out about his drug addiction.
In 2004, he appeared in a music video for Metallica’s “The Unnamed Feeling”, 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 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 theatres. Furlong 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, Furlong appeared in five episodes of the television program CSI: NY as Shane Casey.
2010s
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. The film was scored by Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash. It was released in Germany in 2010 and Mexico in January 2011. He featured in the crowd-funded pilot Star Trek: Renegades as the character “Fixer”.
In 2019, James Cameron confirmed that Furlong would be returning to reprise his role of John Connor. It was later reported that Furlong’s facial likeness would be used via CGI in Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) with Jude Collie as a CGI stand-in, and Furlong was involved in one day of filming for facial capture performance.
Other work
In October 1992, Furlong released an album in Japan called Hold on Tight, which included a cover of the Doors’ song “People Are Strange”.
Personal life
Starting in 1992, 15-year-old Furlong and his former stand-in and tutor, 28-year-old Jacqueline Domac, began a relationship that lasted for a few years. 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, but was unsuccessful in having Domac prosecuted. In May 1999, Domac sued Furlong for domestic violence.
Furlong married Rachael Bella on April 19, 2006. The couple’s son was born in September 2006. On July 8, 2009, Bella filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. Bella alleged in court documents that their baby son tested positive for cocaine, which led a judge to rule Furlong’s visits had to be supervised.
Substance abuse and legal problems
Furlong’s mugshot upon arrest in Los Angeles, 2014
Furlong has battled alcoholism and drug addiction throughout his career. He first went into rehab in October 2000. According to himself, he was “on and off” hard drugs from 22 to 26 and adding 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?'” In September 2009, Bella filed a restraining order against Furlong after he allegedly punched her in a drug-fueled altercation. In 2010, Furlong 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. In November 2012, Furlong was arrested for allegedly assaulting Keena. In January 2013, Furlong was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery against Keena. He was also arraigned on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant in connection with a misdemeanor domestic violence charge involving the same victim on December 12. In March 2013, Furlong 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. Furlong was arrested again in May 2013 for assaulting his girlfriend and avoided a further prison sentence after agreeing to five years’ probation, going to rehab for drug addiction for 90 days, and to undergo one year of domestic violence counselling. He had already served 61 days in jail.
Road to recovery and resurgence
After his arrest in 2013, Furlong committed to turning his life around and staying with rehab. Following the announcement of Furlong’s appearance in Terminator: Dark Fate, his past with drugs and domestic violence was discussed in the media.
In 2020 an article discussed Furlong’s past problems with his family and the industry. He has since seemingly repaired his relationship with his mother, wishing her well on Mother’s Day on his Instagram. As of 2020, Furlong continues to maintain a presence on Instagram and has travelled to conventions to meet fans with Keena, whom he is still with despite reports claiming they are in an “On and off again relationship”, while also continuing to visit his son.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Terminator 2: Judgment Day | John Connor | |
| 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 | Daniel 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 | |
| Arachnoquake | Charlie | TV Movie | |
| 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 reference | Facial motion capture only |
Television
| Year | Title | Episode | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Saturday Night Live | Linda Hamilton / Mariah Carey | John Connor (Uncredited) |
| 1992 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | N°73, Season 1 | Himself (Guest) |
| 1993 | Late Night with Conan O’Brien | N°33, Season 1 | Himself / Guest |
| 2001 | The Andy Dick Show | Kid Krist | Himself |
| 2003 | V Graham Norton | N°54, Season 4 | Himself / Guest |
| On ne peut pas plaire à tout le monde | Aired 3 October 2003, France | Himself | |
| 2005 | Poorman’s Bikini Beach | Ms. Melt the Ice, Perfect 10 Mansion, Freakfest 2005 | Himself |
| 2006 | CSI: NY | Hung Out to Dry | Shane Casey |
| CSI: NY | Raising Shane | Shane Casey | |
| 2010 | CSI: NY | Redemptio | Shane Casey |
| CSI: NY | The 34th Floor | Shane Casey (Uncredited) | |
| CSI: NY | Vacation Getaway | Shane Casey | |
| 2012 | Perception | Nemesis | Pete |
| The Glades | Public Enemy | Way N.E. Bey/Wayne Balldinger | |
| 2014 | FanGirl Academy: 101 | Movie Magic 101 | Himself |
| 2015 | From the Mouths of Babes | “Renegades” on Life | Himself |
| Star Trek: Renegades | Pilot | Fixer | |
| 2016 | From the Mouths of Babes | Actors on Life | Himself |
| From the Mouths of Babes | Actors on Love | Himself | |
| From the Mouths of Babes | Actors on Self | Himself |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Artist | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | “Livin’ on the Edge” | Aerosmith | |
| 2004 | “The Unnamed Feeling” | Metallica | |
| 2007 | “Still in Love with You” | Five A.M. |
Awards
| 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 |