- Eric hosts a daily internet show called Secret Fun Time.
- Eric and Jorja Fox (his co-star on CSI) are members of the Adult Kickball League. Their team is the "Royal Blue Balls".
- He is currently single.
- Eric hosted a dinner party for Jorja Fox, Marg Helgenberger, Robert David Hall, and William Petersen.
- Eric was named one of "The Hot Guys of CSI" (along with Carmine Giovinazzo (NY) and Adam Rodriguez (Miami)) in 2006.
- He worked for a music distributor before becoming an actor.
- Eric likes to hike and surf.
- Eric is of Polish descent.
- Szmanda provides the voice for his character, Greg Sanders, in the CSI video games.
- Eric recommended that music by the band Sigur Rós be featured in CSI. Their music was featured in CSI.
- Eric has a competition going with CSI co-star Marg Helgenberger over who will have the most hair styles before the show ends.
- Eric's dog (Dax) shares its name with a Star Trek character.
- In college he played the role of Lysander in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
- Rumors were circulating that Eric Szmanda was dating 20-year-old Vreni Yahnke, but this is a made-up person made by two teenage girls obsessed with Eric Szmanda that combined the letters of their names. In real life, he is single.
- He likes the music of the Icelandic band Sigur Rós.
- Eric was the one who suggested that his character Greg in CSI become active with field work.
- Eric was the music director for the film Life As A House, which featured music by Marilyn Manson, whom Eric is a fan of and friends with.
- Eric appears in the Marilyn Manson "(s)AINT" music video.
- He has a golden retriever named Dax.
- He currently lives in Studio City, CA.
- He attended and graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, California.
- His nickname is Ercy.
- After he took care of George Eads dog while he was out of town, Internet message boards rumoured he was bisexual. He has never commented on his sexuality.
- Lived at co-star George Eads house and took care of his dog, Maverick, for a couple of months while he was out of town.
- Eric went high school in Mukwonago, Wisconsin and graduated in 1993.
- Eric went to Carroll College in Wisconsin.
- He likes the music of Marilyn Manson.
- Eric has two brothers named Rob and Brett.
- Eric is 6' (1.83m).
- In his first movie the producer he was working with requested that he change his name.
- Great-nephew of former Menard's pitchman Ray Szmanda.
- Eric played drums for a band until he left high school.
- Most well-known role in TV: Greg Sanders, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
- Eric has acted in numerous plays.
- Eric Szmanda: I remember once seeing Madonna in an interview where she said you have to change your look at least once a year to stay fresh and alive, so I've always done that.
- Eric Szmanda: I've always been a firm believer that if you work, the rest will follow.
- Eric Szmanda: Actors go crazy because they spend too much time on their career and don't do anything else. Some guys paint. Some guys run. I prefer to bring good music to the ears of people. I enjoy putting concerts and events together.
- Eric Szmanda: (On his character Greg Sanders) I was pretty lucky with the last season, going through the whole process of becoming an investigator so I'm just excited to start off this season officially as an investigator and kinda just grow from here. I don't know what really lies in store yet, but I'm sure it'll be good.
- Eric Szmanda: (About the spin-off CSI series) I watched the first ten minutes of CSI: Miami and I couldn't help but notice the similarities between the two shows and it was kind of frustrating. It was almost like I felt like there was a parody of our lives being made, like they were making a TV show about something that was real. It was too surreal for me to watch it, so I haven't watched either one--either New York or Miami. But there's plenty of room for all of us and I really have no say in what goes on, so I try not to get too upset about it. I guess everyone was afraid in the beginning that it would dilute the success of our show, but I have no doubt in my mind that the fans know who the original one is and the original is always the most popular--even in potato chips!
- Eric Szmanda: It's been nice to kind of serve the purpose of bringing some kind of comic relief to the show and I plan on continuing that even as I go from the lab out to the field.
- Eric Szmanda: I think what happens in Vegas should stay in Vegas.
- Eric Szmanda: (Why he finds working on CSI interesting) To learn something new everyday. I never thought I would be learning about science after college or after high school for that matter. It's kind of a double life for me, that part of the job. I could be doing a sitcom and I'd just be there making dumb jokes, but now I'm making dumb jokes and learning something.
- Eric Szmanda: (On the success of CSI) I don't know...people ask that all the time and I would ask a fan. But I definitely think it has to do with the overall look of the show and the concept, and the angle on criminal justice--instead of being in the courtroom or having cops we actually have a little bit more of an interesting concept, something that hasn't really been explored before to this extent. I think [the show has] a great cast and great directing and great writing and we just kind of created our own formula that obviously has been replicated numerous time and is continuing to be copies and that's another cliché--imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I think all of those CSI shots and the fast-paced editing and the stuff like that is what keeps people watching.
- Eric Szmanda: I know that my career is hopefully not going to end with CSI. It's only going to be the beginning. I couldn't ask for a better springboard and it's also a great learning environment. I was excited to be working with William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger and a lot of these producers that I had known of just from auditioning. I knew I was in really good company. I knew there was something special about it, but I didn't think it was ever going to amount to this. If I had to do it over again of course I would. I'm finally making a living doing what I love and CSI will provide me with that living for a very long time.
- Eric Szmanda: I don't think I'll ever do a sitcom again, but I think on CSI because the caliber of the show is so high that it's almost like watching a movie. I feel like I'm doing a movie a lot of the time that I'm working.
- Eric Szmanda:(About CSI) By that point it had become so successfully, it was basically like holding onto a flying rocket.
- Eric Szmanda: Billy [Petersen, from CSI] is a great guy. We're both from the Midwest, from Chicago, and we've had that from the start. There was an immediate bond. He's always present and available to give advice. And he's also someone who you can go to if you're having an issue on the show ...
- Eric Szmanda: I never expected to be a series regular on the show let alone to have risen from lab tech to a full-fledged investigator. It's all very exciting and I kind of like not knowing [what's ahead]. I do trust that the producers will give me some good stuff because they always do.
- Eric Szmanda: The first time I worked in the field, was in the high desert until five in the morning. It was uncomfortable, cold, the trailers are miles away from the set. I thought, 'This sucks! I want to go back to the lab!'
- Eric Szmanda: I couldn't ask for a better springboard. There was no doubt in my mind, by the time they offered me the role, that the show [CSI] was going to be huge. It was already doing really well, and I was really lucky to get in when I did. It's also a great learning environment.
- Eric Szmanda: (In regards to Greg's feelings for Sara) I'm sure Greg is going to make a big fool out of himself.
- Eric Szmanda: (On co-star Jorja Fox) She's a hippie.
