--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My first film as an actor was 'Fast Times…" description: "\"My first film as an actor was 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High,' a glorious experience that spoiled me for future films.\" — Eric Stoltz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e0/eric-stoltz-14837_actors_my-first-film-as-an-actor-was-fast-times_1452805.jpg" --- # My first film as an actor was 'Fast Times at Ridgemont… ![“My first film as an actor was 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High,' a glorious experience that spoiled me for future films.” quote by Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e0/eric-stoltz-14837_actors_my-first-film-as-an-actor-was-fast-times_1452805.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e0/eric-stoltz-14837_actors_my-first-film-as-an-actor-was-fast-times_1452805.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e0/eric-stoltz-14837_actors_my-first-film-as-an-actor-was-fast-times_1452805.jpg) > “My first film as an actor was 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High,' a glorious experience that spoiled me for future films.” [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The actor felt that this early role set an unrealistically high standard for later movies, leading to chronic disappointment. **In simple terms:** Early success created unrealistic expectations. Key Takeaway Adjust expectations and appreciate each role uniquely. Themes expectations career artistic growth Mood reflective nostalgic Type personal career When to use this quote - audition process - film selection - career planning - artistic fulfillment Key Concepts cinema personal standards disappointment Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate a role beyond its prestige? - What criteria help you enjoy new projects? A Different Perspective Even great experiences can skew future satisfaction if not contextualized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-fast-5228565/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Experience Spoiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-spoiled-5228566/) [Fast times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast-times/) [Fast Times At Ridgemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast-times-at-ridgemont-228485/) [Fast Times At Ridgemont High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast-times-at-ridgemont-high-229959/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-actor-479540/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Future Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-films-1657065/) [Glorious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorious/) [Ridgemont High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridgemont-high-217445/) [Spoiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoiled/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > ['Fast Times At Ridgemont High' is one of my favorite movies; it's a film that's a human comedy, it's a drama, and the characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-trank/fast-times-at-ridgemont-high-is-one-of-my-favorite-movies-it-s-a-film/) [Josh Trank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-trank/) > [People still remember Sean Penn as Spicoli from 'Fast Times At Ridgemont High,' and if I can have, like, one-10th of his career, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mintz-plasse/people-still-remember-sean-penn-as-spicoli-from-fast-times-at/) [Christopher Mintz-Plasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mintz-plasse/) > [I've always wanted to do a movie that takes place in the 70's and was about rock and roll and getting high, like Dazed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-furlong/i-ve-always-wanted-to-do-a-movie-that-takes-place-in-the-70-s-and-was/) [Edward Furlong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-furlong/) > [As an actor, I don't want to talk too much about my future films because this industry is such that even after half a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suniel-shetty/as-an-actor-i-don-t-want-to-talk-too-much-about-my-future-films/) [Suniel Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suniel-shetty/) > [We are continuing to collaborate with Disney on future films and other opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-grossman/we-are-continuing-to-collaborate-with-disney-on-future-films-and/) [Mindy Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-grossman/) > [ The ones \[comedies\] that I always liked, whether it's Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, or Fast Times of Ridgemont High, they were all about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/the-ones-comedies-that-i-always-liked-whether-it-s-terms-of/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [Though narrative cohesion isn't the strength of 'Mean Girls,' which works better from scene to scene than as a whole, the intelligence shines in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/though-narrative-cohesion-isn-t-the-strength-of-mean-girls-which/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) ## More by Eric Stoltz > [It's hard not to get a big head in the film industry, there are people on a set paid to cater to your every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/it-s-hard-not-to-get-a-big-head-in-the-film-industry-there-are-people/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [To this day I over prepare. I draw storyboards for every scene - chicken scratches so crude that they amuse and horrify the crew.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/to-this-day-i-over-prepare-i-draw-storyboards-for-every-scene-chicken/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [It seems I have a hard time being attracted to someone unless I respect what they do on some level. Otherwise, I would feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/it-seems-i-have-a-hard-time-being-attracted-to-someone-unless-i/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [You know, you grow up with the image of John Travolta being super cool - 'Saturday Night Fever,' Brian De Palma, handsome young god...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/you-know-you-grow-up-with-the-image-of-john-travolta-being-super-cool/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [Things happen to everybody in the course of a lifetime. Relationships end, people die, tragedy befalls everyone. So everyone has this wealth of experience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/things-happen-to-everybody-in-the-course-of-a-lifetime-relationships/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [I realize I'm a very lucky man. I love what I do, I love films, TV and theatre, and the fact that I'm able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/i-realize-i-m-a-very-lucky-man-i-love-what-i-do-i-love-films-tv-and/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [I have a love/hate relationship with just about all technology in my life. My first typewriter in particular. I had a helluva time putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/i-have-a-love-hate-relationship-with-just-about-all-technology-in-my/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [TV, in particular cable channels, has assumed the role of independent film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/tv-in-particular-cable-channels-has-assumed-the-role-of-independent/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [I know a lot of writers who would much rather be writing the Great American Novel, but they've got bills to pay and alimony,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/i-know-a-lot-of-writers-who-would-much-rather-be-writing-the-great/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [My parents moved to American Samoa when I was three or four years old. My dad was principal of a high school there. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/my-parents-moved-to-american-samoa-when-i-was-three-or-four-years-old/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [I'll be directing some more 'Private Practice' episodes when we wrap 'Caprica.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/i-ll-be-directing-some-more-private-practice-episodes-when-we-wrap/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [It seems that whatever we do is somehow beyond reproach - murder, rape, drunk driving - as long as we go on a TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/it-seems-that-whatever-we-do-is-somehow-beyond-reproach-murder-rape/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [I don't want to see the zipper in the back of the monster suit. Like everybody else who goes to the movies, I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/i-don-t-want-to-see-the-zipper-in-the-back-of-the-monster-suit-like/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [I'm not sure who's right, who's wrong, but it doesn't matter. Sometimes you just have to do what you're told. That's who we are!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/i-m-not-sure-who-s-right-who-s-wrong-but-it-doesn-t-matter-sometimes/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [Directing has only increased my admiration and respect for what it is that actors do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/directing-has-only-increased-my-admiration-and-respect-for-what-it-is/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) [Explore all 45 Eric Stoltz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My first film as an actor was 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High,' a glorious experience that spoiled me for future films.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Stoltz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/my-first-film-as-an-actor-was-fast-times-at-ridgemont-high-a-glorious/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/my-first-film-as-an-actor-was-fast-times-at-ridgemont-high-a-glorious/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e0/eric-stoltz-14837_actors_my-first-film-as-an-actor-was-fast-times_1452805.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e0/eric-stoltz-14837_actors_my-first-film-as-an-actor-was-fast-times_1452805.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e0/eric-stoltz-14837_actors_my-first-film-as-an-actor-was-fast-times_1452805.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My first film as an actor was 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High,' a glorious experience that spoiled me for…” — Eric Stoltz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eric Stoltz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My first film as an actor...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/my-first-film-as-an-actor-was-fast-times-at-ridgemont-high-a-glorious/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/my-first-film-as-an-actor-was-fast-times-at-ridgemont-high-a-glorious/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```