History of Edward Furlong in Timeline
Edward Furlong is an American actor known for his breakout role as John Connor in the 1991 film "Terminator 2: Judgment Day", for which he received accolades including a Saturn Award and an MTV Movie Award. He reprised his role in the short attraction film "T2-3D: Battle Across Time."
August 2, 1977: Birth of Edward Furlong
Edward Walter Furlong was born on August 2, 1977.
1988: Release of the Original "Night of the Demons"
The original "Night of the Demons" horror film was released in 1988.
September 1990: Discovery and Casting for "Terminator 2"
Edward Furlong was discovered by casting director Mali Finn in September 1990 during a visit to the Pasadena Boys and Girls Club, which led to him being cast as John Connor in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day."
1990: Early Life and Custody
Following the death of his father when Edward Furlong was around three years old, he was raised by his mother's sister, Nancy Tafoya, and half-brother, Sean Furlong. They obtained custody of him for several years, including during 1990-1991 when his acting career began. Initially, they also served as his managers.
1991: Breakthrough in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day"
At the age of 13, Edward Furlong achieved a breakthrough role as John Connor in James Cameron's science fiction action film "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" in 1991. This performance earned him both a Saturn and an MTV Movie Award.
1991: Debut as John Connor in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day"
Edward Furlong made his film debut in 1991 as John Connor in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." His performance earned him an MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Role and a Saturn Award for Best Young Actor.
1991: Start of Acting Career
Edward Furlong's acting career commenced in 1991.
October 1992: Release of Debut Album "Hold on Tight"
Edward Furlong released his debut album, "Hold on Tight," in Japan in October 1992. The album features a cover of The Doors' song "People Are Strange."
1992: Performance in "Pet Sematary Two"
Edward Furlong appeared in the film "Pet Sematary Two" in 1992, alongside Anthony Edwards and Clancy Brown.
1992: Acclaim for "American Heart" and "Pet Sematary Two"
In 1992, Edward Furlong received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his role opposite Jeff Bridges in "American Heart." He also earned a second Saturn Award nomination for his performance in "Pet Sematary Two."
1993: Appearance in Aerosmith's "Livin' on the Edge" Music Video
Edward Furlong was featured in Aerosmith's music video for their song "Livin' on the Edge" in 1993.
1993: Winning a Young Artist Award for "A Home of Our Own"
Edward Furlong won a Young Artist Award in 1993 for his performance alongside Kathy Bates in the film "A Home of Our Own."
1993: Collaboration with Jeff Bridges in "American Heart"
Edward Furlong worked with Jeff Bridges in the 1993 film "American Heart."
1994: Lead Role in "Brainscan"
In 1994, Edward Furlong played the lead role of Michael Brower, a horror and video game enthusiast, in the science fiction horror film "Brainscan."
1994: Statutory Rape Law Change and Unsuccessful Complaint
When Edward Furlong was 16, he was in a relationship with his 26-year-old stand-in and tutor, Jacqueline Domac, whom he had met when he was 13. They eventually lived together. In 1994, when California changed its statutory rape law to allow the prosecution of adult women engaging in sexual activity with minors, Furlong's uncle, Sean Furlong, filed a rape complaint against Domac. However, the attempt to prosecute her was unsuccessful.
1995: Role in "Little Odessa"
Edward Furlong acted in the film "Little Odessa" in 1995, alongside Tim Roth, Maximilian Schell, and Vanessa Redgrave.
1995: Starring in the Film Adaptation of "The Grass Harp"
Edward Furlong starred in the film adaptation of Truman Capote's novel "The Grass Harp" in 1995.
1996: Starring in "Before and After"
Edward Furlong appeared in the film "Before and After" in 1996, sharing the screen with acclaimed actors Meryl Streep and Liam Neeson.
1996: Reprising John Connor in "T2-3D: Battle Across Time"
In 1996, Edward Furlong reprised his role as John Connor in the theme park ride film "T2-3D: Battle Across Time," alongside Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Robert Patrick.
1998: Starring in "American History X" and "Pecker"
Edward Furlong starred in both "American History X" alongside Edward Norton and "Pecker," directed by John Waters, in 1998, marking his first comedic role. He expressed a desire to explore different roles, stating that he wanted to try something new after playing mostly dark and suicidal characters.
1998: Starring in "Detroit Rock City" and Relationship with Natasha Lyonne
Edward Furlong starred in the film "Detroit Rock City" in 1998. During filming, he met Natasha Lyonne, and they began dating.
1998: Critical Recognition for "Pecker" and "American History X"
In 1998, Edward Furlong garnered praise for his leading roles in the films "Pecker," where he starred alongside Christina Ricci, and "American History X," co-starring Edward Norton.
May 1999: Lawsuit and Domestic Violence Allegations
In May 1999, Jacqueline Domac, Edward Furlong's former girlfriend, filed a lawsuit against him for domestic violence. She also sought 15% of his earnings from the previous three years, including "Pecker" and "American History X," claiming she was owed for her work as his manager.
1999: Notable Role in "Detroit Rock City"
Edward Furlong had a significant role in the comedy film "Detroit Rock City" in 1999.
October 2000: First Rehab Stint
Edward Furlong entered rehab for the first time in October 2000 for drug addiction.
2000: Career Decline
After 2000, Edward Furlong's career and stardom declined, with many of his subsequent films being released directly to DVD.
2000: Role in "Animal Factory"
Edward Furlong portrayed a young convict in Steve Buscemi's film "Animal Factory" in 2000.
2001: Role in "I Cavalieri che fecero l'impresa"
Edward Furlong appeared in "I Cavalieri che fecero l'impresa" ("The Knights of the Quest"), a film by Italian filmmaker Pupi Avati, in 2001. The film received limited attention.
2003: Loss of "Terminator 3" Role
Edward Furlong was initially set to reprise his role as John Connor in "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" (2003) but was replaced by Nick Stahl shortly before filming began. This was reportedly due to his struggle with drug addiction.
2004: Appearance in Metallica's "The Unnamed Feeling" Music Video and Role in "Jimmy & Judy"
In 2004, Edward Furlong appeared in Metallica's music video for their song "The Unnamed Feeling." He also starred as Jimmy in the low-budget independent film "Jimmy & Judy," where he met Rachael Bella, with whom he later became romantically involved and married.
2005: Lead Role in "The Crow: Wicked Prayer"
In 2005, Edward Furlong took on the lead role in "The Crow: Wicked Prayer," the fourth installment in "The Crow" film series. Despite being intended for theatrical release, the film received largely negative reviews and went straight to DVD after a week in limited theaters.
April 19, 2006: Marriage to Rachael Bella
Edward Furlong and Rachael Bella were married on April 19, 2006.
September 2006: Birth of Son
Edward Furlong and Rachael Bella's son was born in September 2006.
2006: Openness about Addiction Struggles
Edward Furlong openly discussed his battle with drug addiction, sharing that he was on and off hard drugs from ages 22 to 26 and describing his experiences with heroin and cocaine addiction as scary. He expressed that he no longer thought about partying and had nightmares about relapsing.
2006: Recurring Role in "CSI: NY"
In 2006, Edward Furlong appeared in five episodes of the television series "CSI: NY" as Shane Casey. He reprised this role for another five episodes in 2010.
July 8, 2009: Divorce Filing
Rachael Bella filed for divorce from Edward Furlong on July 8, 2009, citing irreconcilable differences.
September 2009: Altercation with Rachel Bella
In September 2009, Edward Furlong was involved in an altercation with his then-girlfriend Rachel Bella, resulting in Bella filing a restraining order against him. The altercation allegedly involved Furlong punching Bella while under the influence of drugs.
2009: Appearance in "Night of the Demons" Remake
Edward Furlong acted in the 2009 remake of the 1988 horror film "Night of the Demons." The remake was filmed in New Orleans and released straight to DVD.
2010: Reprising Role in "CSI: NY"
Edward Furlong reprised his role as Shane Casey in the television series "CSI: NY" for another five episodes in 2010.
2010: Probation for Violating Protective Order
In 2010, Edward Furlong received three years of probation for violating the civil protective order that Rachel Bella obtained against him.
2011: Appearances in "The Green Hornet" and Other Projects
Edward Furlong made brief appearances in Seth Rogen's film "The Green Hornet" and starred in the English-language Mexican film "This Is Not a Movie," directed by Olallo Rubio and co-starring Peter Coyote and Edi Gathegi. He was also featured as Fixer in the crowdfunded pilot episode of "Star Trek: Renegades" in 2011.
October 2012: Arrest for Domestic Violence
In October 2012, Edward Furlong was arrested and charged with felony domestic violence against his girlfriend, Monica Keena.
November 2012: Second Arrest for Assault
In November 2012, Edward Furlong was arrested again for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, Monica Keena.
2012: Custody Battle and Drug-Related Allegations
In 2012, a judge ruled that Edward Furlong's visits with his son had to be supervised after Rachael Bella alleged in court documents that their six-year-old son tested positive for cocaine.
January 2013: Arrest for Battery and Outstanding Warrant
Edward Furlong faced further legal trouble in January 2013 when he was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery against Monica Keena. He was also arraigned on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant related to a domestic violence charge from December 12, 2012, also involving Keena.
March 2013: Sentencing and Jail Time
In March 2013, Edward Furlong was sentenced to 180 days in jail. This sentencing resulted from violating his probation by using force against his ex-girlfriend and violating a protective order that prohibited contact with Monica Keena.
May 2013: Arrest, Probation, and Rehab
Edward Furlong was arrested yet again in May 2013 for assaulting his girlfriend. To avoid further imprisonment, he agreed to five years of probation, 90 days of rehabilitation for drug addiction, and one year of domestic violence counseling. He had already served 61 days in jail at this point.
2013: Commitment to Rehabilitation
Following his arrest in 2013, Edward Furlong made a commitment to his rehabilitation.
2019: CGI Cameo in "Terminator: Dark Fate"
In 2019, Edward Furlong's likeness was used for a CGI cameo as John Connor in "Terminator: Dark Fate," though the character was killed off in the opening scene. While Jude Collie served as a CGI stand-in, Furlong participated in a day of filming for facial capture performance.
February 2021: Reunion with Ethan Suplee and Discussion on Recovery
In February 2021, Edward Furlong reunited with Ethan Suplee, his co-star from the film "American History X," on Suplee's podcast "American Glutton." During the podcast, Furlong spoke candidly about his journey to recovery from drug addiction and compulsive eating, revealing that he had been sober from alcohol and illegal substances for three years at that time. He shared his initial fear of maintaining sobriety, stating, "I genuinely was afraid of facing what I would be without all that, because I carried all that as who I was."
2023: Upcoming Roles in "Forest Hills" and "Charlie's House"
Edward Furlong was set to star in the films "Forest Hills" and "Charlie's House" in 2023. "Forest Hills" also features Shelley Duvall and Dee Wallace.
