Matthew Lillard is someone that you’ve probably seen before in film and television, even if you didn’t know it. He’s a star who’s acted in countless films since the 1990s, and he’s made a name for himself with some of his standout roles. Some of you may know him from 1996’s ‘Scream’ or from one of his most famous roles playing Shaggy Rogers in the live-action ‘Scooby-Doo’ movie and its sequel. Or, more recently, maybe you’ve seen him as part of the main cast of the crime comedy-drama show ‘Good Girls’ that ran for the last four years.
Or maybe you just happen to know him because of his friendly personality. Lillard is an active user of social media and has always been kind to his fans and others who happen to stumble upon his work. Lillard’s hard work and warm personality have gotten him to where he is today, a staple of many people’s childhoods. Let’s take a look at his career and how he became the beloved actor that many know him as today.
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From Skating to Screams
Matthew Lillard landed his first role after high school in 1990, where he was the co-host and presenter of the short-lived skateboard variety series ‘SK8-TV’ on Nickelodeon. Credited as Matthew Lynn, the 20-year-old Lillard helped present the show and wrapped the whole program together. ‘SK8-TV’ was made up of filmed skateboard segments and interviews with skateboarders, one of them being Tony Hawk. The show didn’t last very long, only running from July to September 1990. But it gave Lillard the kickstart for more projects in the industry.
A few years later, in 1994, Lillard earned a supporting role in the crime film ‘Hackers,’ a movie about a boy who joins a group of teenage hackers. He played the character Emmanuel “Cereal Killer” Goldstein, a member of the hacker group. With a focus on the counterculture movement of the hacker subculture and released during a time when the internet was less widely known, it was an interesting idea to focus on for a movie, and it also gave Lillard an opportunity to act alongside the one and only Angelina Jolie. ‘Hackers’ ended up underperforming at the box office and receiving mixed reviews from critics, who felt it was uninspired and clichéd. Now, the movie is seen as somewhat of a cult classic, and it was a stepping stone on a path that would lead to Lillard’s next big role, as the sadistic Stu Macher in the iconic slasher film ‘Scream’.
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‘Scream’: A Horror Film of Its Own
Whenever you think of Halloween films or iconic horror movies, ‘Scream’ is one that’s up there with the classics. A straight slasher film directed by horror icon Wes Craven, the film is unique for its casting of known actors in some of the main roles, something that helped the film reach a wider audience and gain mainstream recognition. Many actors who starred in ‘Scream’ also gained more exposure due to the film, one of them being Matthew Lillard himself. The actor was cast in the film by chance as he happened to be in the right place at the right time. As casting was underway for ‘Scream,’ Lillard happened to be in the same building, accompanying his girlfriend at the time to another audition at the same place. The film’s casting director saw him and asked him to audition, and the rest is history.
Lillard won the part of Stu, a sadistic high schooler who is the accomplice of the film’s real antagonist, Billy (Skeet Ulrich). ‘Scream’ proved to be a complete success, with its smart writing and willingness to commit to cliched horror tropes proving to be effective for audiences. It boosted the careers of many of its stars, including Lillard, and was his most well-known film to date. This is one of his most famous roles, and it’s one he is always remembered for. He clearly loves the franchise and has even acknowledged the impact ‘Scream’ has had all these years later. It’s a popular film, and one that he owes a lot to, as fans love his performance in this horror classic.
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A ‘Scooby-Doo’ Legend
After this, he went on to have supporting roles in other notable films, such as 1999’s ‘She’s All That’ (he also starred in the gender-swapped remake this year as a different character) and 2001’s ‘Thirteen Ghosts.’ All of this led to what became his most iconic role ever in the live-action ‘Scooby-Doo’ movie in 2002. Beating out actors like Mike Myers and Jim Carrey for the role, Lillard was cast as Shaggy Rogers, the cowardly, loveable goof who’s a part of the Mystery, Inc. gang and best friends with Scooby-Doo. Lillard studied for the role by watching any ‘Scooby-Doo’ cartoon he could find, studying it and Shaggy’s personality to craft the perfect recreation of the character. It paid off well, as despite the negative reviews, Lillard’s portrayal of everyone’s favorite green-shirted glutton was incredible. His role is spot-on, as he plays every aspect of Shaggy, from his slovenly appearance to his easygoing attitude, completely accurately.
Lillard enjoyed the success he gained from the film and even went on to star in the film’s sequel, ‘Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed’ in 2004. By then, the general consensus was that his portrayal of Shaggy was absolutely golden. It was so good, in fact, that it actually impacted his future work. Back in 2009, Casey Kasem, the well-known voice actor who voiced Shaggy in almost every animated incarnation, retired due to health problems, and Lillard took over the role, voicing every version of his iconic character since then (except for 2020’s ‘Scoob!’, but we don’t talk about that movie).
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Since then, Lillard has made himself busy. In 2011, he had a supporting role in ‘The Descendants,’ a film that was nominated for five Oscars that year. A year later, he directed his own feature-length film, titled ‘Fat Kid Rules the World.’ Flash forward a few years, and he has a main role in ‘Good Girls,’ a show that has been praised online and has people wanting another season (Lillard himself agrees). The man has kept himself busy, and for that, it’s worth noting how much of an impact Lillard has had on our childhoods. I remember as a kid laughing at Shaggy and the gang in ‘Scooby-Doo’ and its sequel, and being genuinely freaked out by Stu Macher in ‘Scream’ as he attacks Sydney at the end of the film. As someone who loves cartoons, the ‘Scooby-Doo’ cartoons were always a favorite of mine, and I’m proud that he’s a part of the legacy of this long-standing cartoon. Matthew Lillard is a great actor, and I hope the world knows it, too.
By Ben Ross
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Ben Ross is a writer at Hollywood Insider. He loves watching films and finding the message behind the art. With a love for movies and television, his goal is to understand as much as he can about anything he watches, and engage with readers about different topics related to the industry. He aims to find work that sheds a light on issues not really talked about and showcase it, feeling that it is important to understand the truth. Together with his readers, he hopes to celebrate beautiful stories in film and explore topics that are worth discussing – a value that defines Hollywood Insider.
Ben Ross is a writer at Hollywood Insider. He loves watching films and finding the message behind the art. With a love for movies and television, his goal is to understand as much as he can about anything he watches, and engage with readers about different topics related to the industry. He aims to find work that sheds a light on issues not really talked about and showcase it, feeling that it is important to understand the truth. Together with his readers, he hopes to celebrate beautiful stories in film and explore topics that are worth discussing – a value that defines Hollywood Insider.
