The 2002 role Matthew Lillard needed to learn to love: “I had a lot of shame about being that guy”
Matthew Lillard didn’t initially appreciate the film that he would become most famous for, but after years of feeling ashamed, he eventually learned to love it.
He’s one of the rare character actors from the 1990s who has still maintained a reputation as someone who adds a lot to whatever movie or TV show he is involved in, usually as a quirky side character. He might have first made a name for himself with his role as the psychopathic Stu in the original Scream, but he also helped define punk culture with his performance in SLC Punk!, one of the decade’s greatest cult classics.
More recently, Lillard proved his dramatic chops with his haunting role as a wrongfully accused educator in Twin Peaks: The Return and his award-worthy, moving performance as a friendly neighbour in Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of the Stephen King novel The Life of Chuck.
Although Lillard never seems to be short of work, he has become most closely associated with the role of Shaggy in the Scooby-Doo franchise. While it began when he was cast in the two live-action adaptations that were released in 2002 and 2004, respectively, he subsequently played the role in several animated films and shows. After the character’s original voice actor, Casey Kasem, retired in 2009, Lillard took over playing the character full-time.
Although critics weren’t exactly on the films’ side, they were very popular with younger viewers. Fast-forward two decades, though, and both of the James Gunn-penned capers have become firm favourites among new viewers and those who caught them the first time around.
“When they first came out, I thought that they were incredible,” he said, “I was super-proud of my performance, and I was happy to be at the forefront of a huge franchise for Warner Bros.” However, he then became concerned that after being known as Shaggy, it would be hard for him to find other work.
“I lost my street credibility,” Lillard said, “It’s like, ‘Oh, you’re in kids’ movies about a talking dog?’ It’s kind of a joke. So there was a moment where I had a lot of shame about being that guy.” He found it an awkward spot to be in, especially when he thought it would prevent him from being taken seriously as an actor for the rest of his career, but he found a way to get rid of that chip on his shoulder.
These days, you’d have to drag him away from Shaggy, with Lillard going on to reprise the role in dozens of animated features, TV shows, and video games. Quentin Tarantino might not be the biggest fan of his work, but the fact that he remains booked and busy 30 years into his Hollywood tenure suggests that a lot of people are.
It’s easy to see how he convinced himself that a couple of live-action Scooby-Doo jaunts would leave him permanently typecast, and as much as he’s turned the gig into a secondary career of its own, Lillard hasn’t let it define him, having consigned his shame to the back of his mind a long time ago.
