After revealing that he was “frustrated, fried, fed up” with acting and had sent the “definitive email” to put his career on hold, David Krumholtz has taken to Instagram to clarify his now-viral comments.
“Firstly, I am very well. And I feel very loved. Secondly, I never used the word ‘retiring’ or ‘quitting.’ Instead, I said that I decided to put my career on hold,” he explained in a post shared Wednesday morning, close to 48 hours after the initial post. “I don’t expect anyone to understand, but the outpouring of support for my decision has been deeply heartwarming. I am wildly grateful, as more than one of my biggest dreams have come true as a result of being an actor. Grateful to all who support and believe in me. However, a time has come where the weight of those dreams and ambitions has become surprisingly oppressive.”
He followed that up by stating that the oppressiveness is “a me problem, not a Hollywood as a whole problem.” With an “amazing career” comes “a small handful of triumphs, but not without a mountain of disappointments,” and while Krumholtz said he loves that mountain, he’s human and the disappointments are “starting to sting more than it used to.”
As a result, he’s made a decision to step back. “Need time to figure that out, let it heal. My mental health is vital to my family. My career has run the gamut. I’m in disbelief. But I find myself at a crossroads between the inherent self involvement being a professional actor requires, and a burning desire to give more of myself to others in need, in whatever way I can. And so, for the time being, I’m pursuing that goal. There’s still more work to come. Stuff to be seen. And as always, I really hope you enjoy what I’ve put out there. Just … gimme a sec.”
Krumholtz’s new post also generated tons of traction with his fellow actors, notably Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis who weighed in by writing, “THIS IS A DANGEROUS BUSINESS. It’s also a business in flux and shapeshifting in front of our eyes. Technology combined with the continued fallout from the pandemic and the artistic corporatization industrial complex of the art form we all love, has resulted in many many many many many many many artists losing opportunities and hope. Protect your mental health and find your bliss and know that you are respected as an artist and as a human.”
Jillian Bell called Krumholtz one of her favorite actors, and she’s waiting on the day he says, “Put me back in coach.” Neil Brown Jr. also chimed in: “Take the time champ, you’ve earned it and many of us understand completely.”
The clarification came in response to a flood of comments and news stories after Krumholtz posted and deleted the career news on Threads. “I kinda sorta put my acting career on hold the other day. It’s been something I’ve been petrified to do for years. Specifically, the fear was that I’d go broke and not be able to handle being out of the game. But I sent the definitive email,” he posted on Threads. “And gotta say, a huge wave of relief washed over me. Not sure what I’m going to do for money instead, or how I’m going to do it, but I just removed a humongous burden, one that I truly didn’t fathom the weight of until it was gone. Frustrated, fed up, fried.”
While he said that he had enjoyed “every single minute” of exercising his acting muscle, he had grown disillusioned with what comes with it. “I’ve enjoyed the fanfare. There was a time when being competitive and self-involved really served my pursuit. That time has passed. Much to MY overwhelming surprise. There will always be great joy in the exercise. But for me, the profession has lost its gleam.”
Fellow actor Garret Dillahunt was among those who responded to Krumholtz: “This is sad news for me. But I am happy for you. I understand completely.” Krumholtz wrote back and further elaborated on his next moves: “Ain’t over, rather, redefining my terms. Hoping to find a new, more rewarding passion. Me, my product, and [my] mentality is not working anymore. I want to try to be of service. No crystal ball.”
The 48-year-old veteran actor hails from New York and has worked consistently since breaking into the business on both the big and small screens with parts in Law & Order, Life With Mikey, Addams Family Values, The Santa Clause franchise (playing the beloved Head Elf Bernard) and The Ice Storm, to name a few early roles. He had regular roles on such shows as Monty, Chicago Sons, The Closer, The Trouble With Normal and Numb3rs, the latter of which lasted the longest with 119 episodes.
He also starred in high-profile movies like Slums of Beverly Hills opposite Natasha Lyonne, 10 Things I Hate About You, The Mexican, Sidewalks of New York, Ray, the Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle franchise, Crazy for Love, Bobby, Superbad, This Is the End, Hail, Caesar! and more. He played Isidor Rabi in Christopher Nolan’s best picture winner Oppenheimer, which earned him rave reviews, and had a busy past couple of years starring in Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere and opposite Seth Rogen in The Studio and Sausage Party: Foodtopia. Most recently, he played Zor-El in Supergirl.
