David Krumholtz takes indefinite break from acting

Actor David Krumholtz, best known for playing Bernard the elf in “The Santa Clause” franchise, announced this week that he is stepping away from acting indefinitely, citing burnout with the entertainment industry’s current pay structure.

In a series of posts on Threads published Monday and later deleted, Mr. Krumholtz explained that he had quietly put his acting career on hold, a step he had been afraid to take for years out of financial concerns, according to a report from TheWrap. He summed up his feelings toward the industry as “frustrated, fed up, fried.”

Mr. Krumholtz, whose credits include “10 Things I Hate About You,” “Oppenheimer” and “Supergirl,” said he had grown disillusioned with how actors are compensated, arguing that artists deserve fair compensation for work that generates profits for their employers, and that he felt increasingly pressured to build a social media following just to remain employable, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter also reported.

After the posts drew a wave of supportive responses from fans and fellow actors, Mr. Krumholtz clarified he was not retiring outright but rather stepping back to reassess his priorities, adding that he hopes to find more meaningful work going forward, including possibly motivational speaking. He said he remains open to acting opportunities from people who believe in his work but is done pursuing roles out of desperation.