Temple of bis, even downright Z, cinema, but always nice, the productions of the Troma stable have seen many stars who sometimes made their debut with it, before becoming famous. Here are 10 examples.
Founded by the always facetious Lloyd Kaufman supported by his friend Michael Herz, Troma Entertainment is to this day one of the oldest independent film companies in the Hollywood landscape.
A stable which always fiercely defends its independence, and has also been a famous nursery for many talents still in the making. This is how a certain Oliver Stone, a James Gunn still far from controlling the destiny of the Guardians of the Galaxy then that of DC or even a beginner Kevin Costner, cut their teeth at Troma!
A true temple of bis or even Z cinema, whose most famous gems are Toxic Avenger, Poultrygeist and its zombie chickens (!) or even Tromeo and Juliet, a slightly deviant version of Shakespeare’s mythical couple Romeo & Juliet, Troma Entertainment stops at nothing, and especially not eroticism, very often generously sprinkled in his productions. The consummate art of lovingly cultivating a very sure bad taste.
Here are ten talents who have passed through the Troma stable!
Kevin Costner in “Sizzle Beach” (1974)
Troma Entertainment
The cinema debut of Kevin Costner were very difficult… His very first film, Sizzle Beach, shot under the auspices of Troma and otherwise known under the title Malibu Hot Summerwas apparently filmed in 1974 (although some sources speak of 1978-1979), but was only released in theaters in 1986. Very opportunely -except for the person concerned who was ashamed of it- , since the actor had finally managed to break through thanks to his role in Silverado and especially The Untouchables.
Here’s the trailer for a film that Costner would love to wipe off the shelves…
Vincent D’Onofrio in “The First Turn-On!” (1983)
Troma Entertainment
At the start of his career, Vincent D’Onofrio also experienced the struggles of aspiring actors and actresses. Four years before playing the unforgettable and deranged big whale soldier for Kubrick in Full Metal Jacket, the actor made his cinema debut for Troma in the erotic-trash comedy The First Turn-on! in 1983, where he played a character called… Lobotomy!
Corey Feldman in “Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV” (2001)
Troma Entertainment
Once is not usual: Corey Feldman made a trip to the Troma stable long after revealing himself on the big screen in The Goonies and Stand by Me. The result also of career choices that were, to say the least, risky, between snooty or even Z-series dudes… In 2001, he appeared in Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV; fourth opus of the flagship franchise of the Troma stable since the first movie (cult this one) released in 1985.
Here is the trailer…
Samuel L. Jackson in “Def by Temptation” (1990)
Troma Entertainment
At the very beginning of the 1990s, the future King of Cool displayed a filmography in which he lined up small roles in A Prince in New York, Ragtime, Mystery Train, Melody for Murder, Do the Right Thing with Spike Lee…
But the revelation would only come in 1991 with the Best Actor Prize which he won at the Cannes Film Festival for his performance in Jungle Fever; then public recognition with his unforgettable role of the philosophical killer Jules in Pulp Fiction in 1994. In 1990, he was still making headlines left and right, like this appearance in this Troma production against a backdrop of vampirism and Soul, Def by Temptation, otherwise known under the title Succubus.
Here is the trailer…
James Gunn in “Tromeo & Juliet” (1996)
Troma Entertainment
Many years before releasing his overexcited spirits into the arena Guardians of the Galaxy (and getting fired in 2018 by Disney due to old tweets not very recommendable…), James Gunn began his career in cinema in the 90s within the stable Troma Entertainment. It was there that he became an actor and learned the tricks of the trade, and wrote the script for Tromeo and Julieta parody of Shakespeare’s famous play.
Below is the trailer for the film…
Jorge Garcia in “Tales from the Crapper” (2004)
Troma Entertainment
If Jorge Garcia began his career on screen in 1997 with a horror film, Raven’s Ridge, he played small roles in TV series for several years, often for one episode. Shortly before embarking on JJ Abrams’ Lost adventure, in 2004, Jorge Garcia still found the time to make a foray into Troma Entertainment In Tales From the Crapperan anthology Direct to Video intended as an erotic-trashy homage to the cute series Tales from the Crypt.
Oliver Stone in “The Battle of Love’s Return” (1971)
Troma Entertainment
In 1971, the same year he graduated from New York University with a degree in cinema, Oliver Stone is still only a distant filmmaker in the making. He did not sign his first feature – a horror film – until 1974 (The Evil Queen). Not very surprising therefore that he knocked on the door of the very young Troma stable, founded by Lloyd Kaufman. This is how he makes an appearance in The Battle of Love’s Return, the first film directed by Kaufman.
Here is the trailer…
Eli Roth in “Terror Firmer” (1999)
Troma Entertainment
Eli Roth developed a passion for horror films very early on. Graduating from the University of New York in the cinema sector in 1995, he co-wrote the screenplay for Cabin Fever with his friend Randy Pearlstein the same year. But they don’t get any funding. For four years, he made a living from odd jobs, including acting as an extra for films, such as in Terror Firmer from the Troma stable, in 1999. Roth will always retain a certain tenderness for the house founded by Lloyd Kaufmanto the point of sometimes returning to play the Guest / cameo, as in erotic-trash Tales from the Crapperin 2004.
Below is the trailer…
Billy Bob Thornton in “Chopper Chicks in Zombietown” (1989)
Troma Entertainment
Several years before obtaining real critical and public recognition with his first production, Sling Blade, in 1996, Billy Bob Thornton was scouring castings to play small roles. This is how he lands on the film Chopper Chicks in zombietown by Troma, in which a gang of bikers quickly find themselves grappling with a mad scientist and zombies emerging from a radioactive mine.
Here is the trailer…
Paul Sorvino in “Cry Uncle!” (1971)
Troma Entertainment
It doesn’t matter that the career of the late Paul Sorvino was particularly checkered, the result of sometimes questionable and/or easy artistic choices. Just for his unforgettable performance as Paul Cicero with Martin Scorsese in Goodfellas, he is entitled to our eternal recognition.
It was with Troma that the actor made his debut in 1971 with the erotic-trash comedy Cry Uncle! (signed by the future director of Rocky!), in which he plays a smoking police officer taken by a coughing fit. For the record, the film was banned until 2003 in Norway and Finland.
Here is the trailer…
Good foot and good eye, aged 80, Lloyd Kaufman is not ready to hang up his gloves. In 2020, he was the director of Shakespeare’s Sh*storm; a horrific adaptation of “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare. We’re not doing it again!