Judge Reinhold, known for his roles in "Beverly Hills Cop" and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," reveals the shocking behind-the-scenes story of "Vice Versa" and how an "executive murder plot" nearly derailed his career.
Once poised to become a massive movie star in the 1980s, Judge Reinhold's career took a dramatic turn after the release of "Vice Versa." In a recent Vanity Fair profile, Reinhold opened up about an "executive murder plot" that allegedly killed the movie and almost destroyed his career.
"Vice Versa," a body-swap comedy starring Reinhold and Fred Savage, was released in 1988. Despite Reinhold's previous successes in "Beverly Hills Cop" and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," the movie flopped at the box office. According to Reinhold, a series of events behind the scenes sabotaged the film.
Judge Reinhold: From Hollywood Stardom to Executive Murder Plot
Reinhold recalls that David Puttnam, the CEO of Columbia Pictures, had plans to reduce lead actors' salaries while increasing their backend profits. However, Puttnam's ideas angered industry executives. Reinhold believes that an "executive murder plot" was orchestrated to remove Puttnam from his position.
"He went public with his disdain for how high the salaries were," Reinhold explained. "He pissed a lot of people off. By the time we were ready to be released, the guillotine had been set."
Judge Reinhold: From Hollywood Stardom to Executive Murder Plot
Making matters worse, a similar movie, "Like Father, Like Son," starring Dudley Moore and Kirk Cameron, was released months before "Vice Versa." The release of "Like Father, Like Son" took away any chance of "Vice Versa" gaining traction at the box office.
"That's why I talk about the film in a disappointing way," Reinhold said. "I'm proud of the film. It was my first time with my name above the title, and the studio just pulled it [from theaters] right before Easter break."
Judge Reinhold: From Hollywood Stardom to Executive Murder Plot
Reinhold's career suffered a significant setback following the failure of "Vice Versa." The phone stopped ringing, as he recalled in a 1992 interview with the Los Angeles Times.
Before "Vice Versa," Reinhold had a small role in "Stripes," where he learned a trick to keep himself from laughing during scenes: squeezing his legs until they were bruised. He employed the same technique while acting alongside Eddie Murphy in "Beverly Hills Cop."
Judge Reinhold: From Hollywood Stardom to Executive Murder Plot
In "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," Reinhold became famous for a memorable scene in which his character is caught masturbating by his crush. Reinhold admitted that the scene was "very funny" when he read the script, but extremely personal and humiliating to perform.
"I just went with it," Reinhold said. "One thing that made [performing] it easy was that I was incredibly uncomfortable."
Judge Reinhold: From Hollywood Stardom to Executive Murder Plot
In its early stages, "Beverly Hills Cop" was a much different movie. Sylvester Stallone was originally cast in the lead role, and the script was more action-oriented. When Eddie Murphy joined the project, the script was rewritten to include more comedy. Reinhold credits Murphy's improvisational skills and off-the-cuff style for shaping the film's comedic tone.
Despite his setbacks, Reinhold has continued to act in a variety of roles. He reflects on his career with a mix of pride and regret. "I'm proud of the work I've done," Reinhold said. "But I also regret the things I didn't do, the choices I didn't make."
Judge Reinhold: From Hollywood Stardom to Executive Murder Plot
