“Oppenheimer” star David Krumholtz clarified he wasn’t retiring from acting after saying that he was “fed up” and needed to take an “indefinite break.”
“Firstly, I am very well,” the actor, 48, wrote via Instagram Wednesday, referring to the “outpouring of support” he received from fans.
“And I feel very loved,” he continued. “Secondly, I never used the word ‘retiring’ or ‘quitting.’ Instead, I said that I decided to put my career on hold.”
Krumholtz explained that he didn’t “expect anyone to understand,” adding, “I am wildly grateful, as more than one of my biggest dreams have come true as a result of being an actor.”
“However, a time has come where the weight of those dreams and ambitions has become surprisingly oppressive,” he continued. “That’s a me problem, not a Hollywood as a whole problem.”
“There are no rules that guarantee success, but I know this: an amazing career in this business consists of a small handful of triumphs, but not without a mountain of disappointments.”
The “Santa Clause” star insisted that he loved his “mountain of disappointments” but was “human,” and the “mountain [was] starting to sting more than it used to.”
Krumholtz stated that he needed time to work through the difficulties and “let it heal,” writing, “My mental health is vital to my family.”
“My career has run the gamut,” he wrote. “I’m in disbelief. But I find myself at a crossroads between the inherent self involvement being a professional actor requires, and a burning desire to give more of myself to others in need, in whatever way I can.”
“And so, for the time being, I’m pursuing that goal,” Krumholtz said. “There’s still more work to come. Stuff to be seen. And as always, I really hope you enjoy what I’ve put out there. Just, … gimme a sec. ❤️.”
Several fans praised Krumholtz’s decision, with one writing, “Take your time. Find joy. You’re a good man. Those of us who are ‘mid-career professionals’ completely get it. ❤️.”
Another praised the decision “as super brave, and so very admirable.”
The “10 Things I Hate About You” star took to the platform to clarify his original statement from Monday, in which he discussed his need for a break and his disdain for how actors are treated.
“I kinda sorta put my acting career on hold the other day. It’s been something I’ve been petrified to do for years,” he wrote via Instagram threads.
“Specifically, the fear was that I’d go broke and not be able to handle being out of the game.”
“A huge wave of relief washed over me,” he continued. “Not sure what I’m going to do for money instead, or how I’m going to do it, but I just removed a humongous burden, one that I truly didn’t fathom the weight of until it was gone.”
Krumholtz stated that he was “frustrated, fed up, [and] fried,” explaining how he spent the past year fighting for roles that offer fewer opportunities and less money.
“Exploitative art isn’t art. And artists deserve a fair pay percentage for work that assists their employers in making profits,” he added.
Earlier this year, Krumholtz talked to Page Six about earning an estimated $150 a year in residuals from portraying the head elf Bernard in the 1994 holiday movie “The Santa Clause” starring Tim Allen.
“They’re minimal because the movie plays so much,” he explained. “This is how residuals work: Every time it plays, you make less. It’s a grade scale.”
Additionally, Krumholtz starred in the 2026 movie “Supergirl,” the “Harold & Kumar” franchise, and has an upcoming project, “Mr. Irrelevant: The John Tuggle Story,” set for release in December.
He also portrayed Isidor Rabi in the 2023 Christopher Nolan-directed film, “Oppenheimer.”
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