Eric Thal

Eric Thal (born August 10, 1965) is an American film and stage actor, perhaps best known as Ariel in Sidney Lumet's A Stranger Among Us; Sam Nivens in The Puppet Masters; Samson in Samson and Delilah; Meade Howell in The Wedding; and Rick in Six Degrees of Separation.

Born in Niskayuna, New York, to Joan, a home-maker, and Herbert L. Thal, Jr., an electrical engineer, Thal, the youngest of five children, was raised on The Main Line of Philadelphia. He began performing as a magician and started studying acting at age 14, with Richard Brewer, formerly of the Hedgerow Theatre. He graduated from The Haverford School and attended Lafayette College for one year, studying engineering and education, before moving to New York to pursue acting. He worked a variety of jobs including telemarketer, waiter, construction worker, janitor, and massage therapist, before being cast in his first film role in 1991.

Thal's film career started when Sidney Lumet cast him in the lead role of Ariel opposite Melanie Griffith, after he auditioned for a smaller role. The film, written by Robert J. Avarech, portrays a murder that takes place in a Hasidic community, with Thal playing the role of the son of The Rebbe. He went on to play Alex Perkins, opposite Penelope Ann Miller, in The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag and the character Rick in the film Six Degrees of Separation, alongside Heather Graham and Will Smith. Thal had no scenes with Donald Sutherland in Six Degrees of Separation, but went on to play the role of his son in The Puppet Masters, directed by Stuart Orme. He also worked alongside Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Beals, James LeGros and Jon Stewart in Wishful Thinking. He starred opposite Sarah Polley in Joe's So Mean to Josephine, directed by Peter Wellington. He co-starred alongside Karyn Parsons and Isaiah Washington in Mixing Nia. Other lead roles include Carl Heine, Jr. in Snow Falling on Cedars, directed by Scott Hicks, and the role of Harry opposite Ellen Page in Mouth to Mouth. He also appeared in the romantic comedy film The Good Guy, which premièred at the Tribeca Film Festival.

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