From Stu and Stevo to Scooby-Doo’s sidekick, Shaggy, no ‘90s or early ‘00s film felt full until Matthew Lillard was in it.
On the subject of 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 will launch him into “horror icon” standing, Scream, Lillard’s comedic reduction and magnetic on display attraction was seemingly in every single place, and Scream director Wes Craven knew it from the very begin.
“Wes Craven pulled me apart sooner or later and stated, ‘Sometime, you’re going to win an Academy Award,’” Lillard as soon as recalled at a conference about capturing the 1996 hit. “I stated, ‘Shut up. It is best to name my mother and pop and inform them that.’ So he had the telephone introduced over and he known as my mother.”
Whereas the actor has had a devoted fan following for many years, he beforehand rejected the thought of being beloved for his previous work — till not too long ago.
“Now, I really like with the ability to rejoice issues [like Scream],” he advised Rolling Stone in an October 2024 interview. “Not that I’m involved in, like, holding on to them so tightly. However in my total life, I’ve all the time thought, ‘Who cares about what I’ve carried out 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 not too long ago 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 already know, if you’re younger and arising and Scream occurs, you’re all the time in search of what’s subsequent, what’s extra, proper? Particularly as a younger actor, you’re like, ‘Scream occurred, however yeah, it’s no matter — I need extra.’ And it’s if you’re on the prime of your journey, if you’re coming round in the 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 definitely respect it a lot on such a deeper stage,” he stated. “It’s so humorous, you realize. The minute you’re like, ‘Oh, I’m the s–,’ you instantly wipe out. That’s if you fall the furthest.”
Whereas Lillard could also be on the prime of his profession now, followers will always remember the way it all started. Maintain 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 together with her automobile. 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 can be a powerful profession within the horror-comedy style.
‘Mad Love’ (1995)
One yr after Serial Mother hit theaters, Lillard was solid 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 one in all O’Donnell’s pals Eric, however the venture proved his vary as an actor — and his means 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 gaggle of teenagers as they uncover a felony 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 countless 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 incredible villain, however his means masks his murderous streak because the likable finest good friend allowed him to craft a prime tier cowl up earlier than the reality is revealed.
Scream is undoubtedly the place Lillard broke out in mainstream stardom. A few of the finest moments within the last act are literally improvised by Lillard — “You f—-ing hit me with the telephone, dick!” — and his brutal death-by-electrocution stays the most effective of the franchise. So good, actually, followers are nonetheless clamoring to see Stu return to hunt vengeance on Remaining Lady Sidney (Neve Campbell) all these years later. I imply, somebody might 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 solid — Devon Sawa, Jason Segel and Christopher McDonald, to call a number of — and a narrative about discovering your individual approach in a world that pushes you to adapt.
Lillard, like all the time, his hilarious, effusive and lights of the display, stealing the present at each flip — and never simply due to that stellar, vivid blue hair.
‘She’s All That’ (1999)
Some would possibly argue that Lillard’s Brock Hudson — a useless, self-centered actuality star coming off his stint on MTV’s The Actual World who began relationship 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 relationship a teen is a particular ick issue, Lillard nonetheless made Brock undeniably memorable along with his iconic line supply, epic wardrobe and intensely spectacular dance expertise.
A long time later, individuals are nonetheless speaking about how nice of a love story Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachel Lee Prepare dinner’s Zack and Lainey had — however you’ll be exhausting pressed to seek out somebody who doesn’t comply with that up with, “However Matthew Lillard’s Brock was the actual star of the present.”
‘Summer time Catch ‘(2001)
Lillard as soon as once more swooped in as the right comedian reduction 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 foremost leagues, hoping a flip in a summer time league will get them seen.
The film is a typical early ‘00s staple — a number of acquainted faces, sexcapades and jokes that didn’t all age that nicely — 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 soar scares and gore. Whereas Lillard was technically supporting solid 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 countless nightmares.)
‘Scooby-Doo’ (2002)
Whereas some know Lillard as Stu or Stevo, others know him finest as Norville “Shaggy” Rogers from 2002’s dwell motion Scooby-Doo. The actor stars reverse Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Cardellini and former costar Prinze Jr. to make up the enduring core 4 — plus one extremely entertaining canine — detectives.
Some actors would possibly wrestle with bringing such a widely known and beloved comedian ebook character to life, however Lillard flawlessly captures Shaggy’s nervous, goofy persona along with his vocal efficiency, physique language, mannerisms and talent to work with a CGI doggo. He was so good, actually, he reprised the function for the 2004 sequel and have become the official voice of Shaggy in all the following animated motion pictures and TV reveals from 2010 to 2020. Zoinks!
