Stephen Baldwin claims he was fired from Jennifer Aniston movie for being 'too funny'
The actor says he was ultimately replaced after trying to adjust his performance
Stephen Baldwin is opening up about a surprising Hollywood experience, claiming he was fired from the 1998 romantic comedy The Object of My Affection because producers felt he was “funnier” than Jennifer Aniston.
The actor, known for films including The Usual Suspects, said he was originally cast as a supporting character alongside Aniston in the film, but his time on set came to an unexpected end shortly after production began.
During an episode of his podcast One Bad Movie, Baldwin recalled being approached by a producer on the second day of filming, who allegedly told him there was a problem with his performance.
“I was doing a movie with Jenny Aniston back in the day,” Baldwin said, explaining that he was excited about the role early in his career.
According to Baldwin, the producer told him, “You can’t be funnier than Jennifer.”
The comment left the actor confused, as he said he believed his comedic instincts were exactly what the film needed.
“I was like, ‘This is a comedy movie. Am I about to get punked?’” Baldwin recalled.
He claimed producers asked him to deliver his lines without adding his own improvisation or comedic choices, which he said made him feel like he had to suppress his natural style.
“They asked me to just say the words and use my instinct for my responses that you’ve come up with,” he said.
Baldwin said the feedback affected his confidence and left him questioning his performance.
“I was wondering was it really about my good looks and was I fat? I was freaking out,” he shared.
The actor said he attempted to adjust his approach but was eventually released from the project and replaced by John Pankow.
“I get back in there and I try not to be me. They let me go,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin clarified that he does not know whether the decision came from the producers, director Nicholas Hytner, or Aniston herself, adding that he was not sharing the story to criticize anyone involved.
“This isn’t to shred anybody. This is just to simply say Hollywood is Hollywood,” he said.
He also compared the experience to another early-career situation involving the film Casualties of War, where he said he was similarly dismissed after creating a character that did not fit the final direction of the project.
