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Melora Hardin Recalls Being Dropped From Back to the Future Over Height at 17

Michael J. Fox’s recent memoir says height bias drove producers to replace the 17-year-old after he took over as Marty.

Overview

  • Hardin told Entertainment Weekly she was fired at 17 for being taller than Michael J. Fox and said she burst into tears over the decision.
  • Fox replaced Eric Stoltz during the 1985 shoot, prompting a rethink of the Jennifer Parker casting because of the new height pairing, according to his memoir.
  • Fox wrote that Robert Zemeckis initially considered keeping Hardin but, after surveying female crew, concluded audiences might not accept the taller-girlfriend dynamic.
  • Fox expressed regret in his memoir that this prejudice affected Hardin and said he would have defended her had he been asked.
  • Claudia Wells ultimately played Jennifer in the first film, with Elisabeth Shue taking over the role in Parts II and III.