Photo Credit: Netflix
Judge Reinhold, the well-known star of ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ , recently shared insights into the pivotal moment he believes derailed his acting career. In a candid interview with ‘Vanity Fair’, the 67-year-old actor discussed the behind-the-scenes issues surrounding his 1988 film ‘Vice Versa’, a body-swap comedy co-starring Fred Savage.
Reinhold expressed that the real trouble for his career began not during the making of ‘Vice Versa’, but after its production wrapped. He cited a so-called “executive murder plot” orchestrated by David Puttnam, then head of Columbia Pictures. Puttnam, known for producing ‘Chariots of Fire’, had attempted to reshape Hollywood’s financial landscape by lowering lead actors’ salaries in favor of backend profits. However, his tenure was short-lived due to strong opposition within the industry.
Additionally, ‘Vice Versa’ faced stiff competition from other body-swap films released around the same time, such as ‘Like Father, Like Son’ and ‘Big’, which further hindered its success. Reinhold recalled that Coca-Cola, which owned both Columbia and Tri-Star Pictures, released ‘Like Father, Like Son’ just as ‘Vice Versa’ was in production, diluting the market for similar films.
Despite the initial setback, Reinhold continued to work in television, securing roles in series like ‘Arrested Development’ and ‘Monk’. His career, however, never regained the momentum it had during the 1980s and early 1990s. Reinhold admitted that his own behavior also contributed to his stalled career. He developed a reputation for being difficult on set, a reflection of his inflated self-image at the time.
In retrospect, Reinhold takes pride in ‘Vice Versa’, noting that it has found a new audience over the years who appreciate its unique take on the body-swap genre, free from comparisons to its contemporaries. Reinhold’s perseverance is evident as he reprises his role as Billy Rosewood in the upcoming ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’, set for release on Netflix.
While Reinhold’s career may not have unfolded as he once hoped, his reflections offer a poignant reminder of the unpredictable nature of Hollywood and the enduring impact of studio politics on an actor’s journey.
