From Stu and Stevo to Scooby-Doo’s sidekick, Shaggy, no ‘90s or early ‘00s film felt full until Matthew Lillard was in it.
With regards to millennial cult classics, Lillard was an simple staple. Showing in romantic comedies like Summer time Catch and She’s All That to the film that may launch him into “horror icon” standing, Scream, Lillard’s comedic aid and magnetic on display enchantment was seemingly all over the place, and Scream director Wes Craven knew it from the very begin.
“Wes Craven pulled me apart at some point and mentioned, ‘Sometime, you’re going to win an Academy Award,’” Lillard as soon as recalled at a conference about taking pictures the 1996 hit. “I mentioned, ‘Shut up. You must name my mother and pa and inform them that.’ So he had the telephone introduced over and he referred to as my mother.”
Whereas the actor has had a devoted fan following for many years, he beforehand rejected the concept of being beloved for his previous work — till just lately.
“Now, I like having the ability to have a good time issues [like Scream],” he informed Rolling Stone in an October 2024 interview. “Not that I’m all for, like, holding on to them so tightly. However in my total life, I’ve at all times thought, ‘Who cares about what I’ve accomplished earlier than? Let’s simply get to the following.’ Now, as I’m older, I’m not so within the subsequent.”
Lillard admitted that there’s a bit “2.0 period” of his profession taking place — he’s just lately starred in hits like Good Women, 5 Nights at Freddy’s and extra — and he couldn’t be extra grateful for the love.
“I’m tremendous grateful for it. You recognize, while you’re younger and arising and Scream occurs, you’re at all times on the lookout for what’s subsequent, what’s extra, proper? Particularly as a younger actor, you’re like, ‘Scream occurred, however yeah, it’s no matter — I would like extra.’ And it’s while you’re on the high of your journey, while you’re coming round in direction of the tip of your profession — not that I’m there proper now, however I’m not a brand new child on the block, proper? You actually recognize it a lot on such a deeper stage,” he mentioned. “It’s so humorous, you already know. The minute you’re like, ‘Oh, I’m the s–,’ you instantly wipe out. That’s while you fall the furthest.”
Whereas Lillard could also be on the high of his profession now, followers will always remember the way it all started. Preserve scrolling for a glance again at Lillard in his finest roles of the ‘90s and early ‘00s:
‘Serial Mother’ (1994)
Lillard’s first foray into the horror style got here in 1994 with Serial Mother, a darkish comedy about housewife Beverly Sutphin (Kathleen Turner), who finds out she has a style for homicide after working somebody over along with her automotive. A younger Lillard portrays her son, Chip, who watches as his mother grows more and more uncontrolled — and harmful. The movie is simply as foolish as it’s scary, and set Lillard up for what could be a powerful profession within the horror-comedy style.
‘Mad Love’ (1995)
One yr after Serial Mother hit theaters, Lillard was forged in Mad Love, a darkish romance starring Drew Barrymore and Chris O’Donnell as Casey and Matt, a pair of teenagers in love who go on the journey of their lives once they determine to take a cross nation street journey. Lillard solely had a small function within the movie as considered one of O’Donnell’s pals Eric, however the mission proved his vary as an actor — and his skill to hold with the greats.
‘Hackers’ (1995)
Persevering with to behave alongside the greats — Lillard teamed up with Angelina Jolie for 1995’s Hackers, which follows a bunch of teenagers as they uncover a legal conspiracy with plans to make use of a pc virus that can capsize 5 oil tankers. The movie launched a brand new elevated tone for Lillard, who — whereas nonetheless sporting his then-signature lengthy locks — portrayed Emmanuel “Cereal Killer” Goldstein on this cyberpunk flick approach forward of its time.
‘Scream’ (1996)
There could also be six (virtually seven) motion pictures within the Scream franchise — and an limitless quantity of unmasked Ghostfaces — however nobody can beat the unique duo of Billy (Skeet Ulrich) and Lillard’s Stu. Lillard’s unhinged craze made him a implausible villain, however his skill masks his murderous streak because the likable finest buddy allowed him to craft a high tier cowl up earlier than the reality is revealed.
Scream is undoubtedly the place Lillard broke out in mainstream stardom. A number of the finest moments within the ultimate act are literally improvised by Lillard — “You f—-ing hit me with the telephone, dick!” — and his brutal death-by-electrocution stays top-of-the-line of the franchise. So good, in actual fact, followers are nonetheless clamoring to see Stu return to hunt vengeance on Last Woman Sidney (Neve Campbell) all these years later. I imply, somebody may survive a TV falling on their head, proper? … Proper?
‘SLC Punk! (1998)
Each teen outsider within the ‘90s discovered solace in 1998’s SLC Punk!, an offbeat comedy about duo Heroin Bob (Michael A. Goorjian) and Stevo (Lillard) who stroll the streets’ of America’s “most conservative metropolis,” Salt Lake Metropolis, as the one two devoted punks round. The film itself is an underrated timeless traditional, with a staggeringly spectacular supporting forged — Devon Sawa, Jason Segel and Christopher McDonald, to call a couple of — and a narrative about discovering your personal approach in a world that pushes you to evolve.
Lillard, like at all times, his hilarious, effusive and lights of the display, stealing the present at each flip — and never simply due to that stellar, shiny blue hair.
‘She’s All That’ (1999)
Some may argue that Lillard’s Brock Hudson — a useless, self-centered actuality star coming off his stint on MTV’s The Actual World who began courting the highschool’s Queen Bee Taylor Vaughn (Jodi Lynn O’Keefe) — was meant to be a villain of this beloved 1999 romantic comedy. And, OK, whereas the character being in his 20s and courting an adolescent is a particular ick issue, Lillard nonetheless made Brock undeniably memorable together with his iconic line supply, epic wardrobe and intensely spectacular dance expertise.
Many years later, persons are nonetheless speaking about how nice of a love story Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachel Lee Cook dinner’s Zack and Lainey had — however you’ll be onerous pressed to search out somebody who doesn’t comply with that up with, “However Matthew Lillard’s Brock was the true star of the present.”
‘Summer time Catch ‘(2001)
Lillard as soon as once more swooped in as the proper comedian aid for this underrated romantic comedy starring Prinze Jr. and Jessica Biel. Lillard performs baseball catcher Billy Brubaker within the movie, a teammate of Prinze Jr.’s Ryan Dunne. Each are on the trail to the most important leagues, hoping a flip in a summer season league will get them observed.
The film is a typical early ‘00s staple — numerous acquainted faces, sexcapades and jokes that didn’t all age that effectively — however Lillard nonetheless managed to make his character noteworthy.
‘Thir13en Ghosts’ (2001)
Lillard returned to his horror roots for this early ‘00s gem, buying and selling in humor for leap scares and gore. Whereas Lillard was technically supporting forged on this really terrifying flick, his function as ghost hunter Dennis led the way in which for the story to unfold, and Lillard proved he can play the sufferer simply in addition to the villain, any day. (Warning: Don’t watch this movie until you are ready for limitless nightmares.)
‘Scooby-Doo’ (2002)
Whereas some know Lillard as Stu or Stevo, others know him finest as Norville “Shaggy” Rogers from 2002’s reside motion Scooby-Doo. The actor stars reverse Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Cardellini and former costar Prinze Jr. to make up the long-lasting core 4 — plus one extremely entertaining canine — detectives.
Some actors may wrestle with bringing such a widely known and beloved comedian ebook character to life, however Lillard flawlessly captures Shaggy’s nervous, goofy persona together with his vocal efficiency, physique language, mannerisms and talent to work with a CGI doggo. He was so good, in actual fact, he reprised the function for the 2004 sequel and have become the official voice of Shaggy in all the next animated motion pictures and TV reveals from 2010 to 2020. Zoinks!
