Matthew Lillard
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
Tall and gangly, with an infectious energy that added spark to all of his work, actor Matthew Lillard had his breakthrough role as the creepy Stuart in "Scream" (1996). While his film debut came with a job as an extra in the forgettable 1991 sequel "Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College", more significant was his first featured film acting role, as the teenaged son of the title maniac in John Waters' "Serial Mom" (1994). Frequently cast as weirdos, undoubtedly due to his frantic physical edginess, Lillard previously portrayed off-balanced computer genius Cereal Killer in "Hackers" (1995). That same year, he appeared in the interactive film "Ride For Your Life", the popular feature "Mad Love" and co-starred as Mira Sorvino's grad student boyfriend in the independent drama "Tarantella."
The stage trained actor, with several productions to his credit in both New York and Los Angeles, began to receive greater offers for featured acting roles following his impressive performance in the smart horror flick "Scream". Lillard starred opposite Sean Astin in "Dish Dogs" (1998), the pair playing road travelers who pay their way washing dishes. 1998 also saw the actor with a co-starring role in the sophomoric comedy "Senseless" and a featured part in the biopic "Without Limits" as Roscoe Devine, a friend of Olympic runner Steve Prefontaine. That same year, Lillard starred in the home video hit "The Curve" as an ambitious college man bent on killing a fellow student in a bid to receive the legendary automatic 4.0 given to roommates of suicide victims.
The actor's career continued on this upward trajectory through 1999, beginning with his lively and memorable performance in the featured role of Brock, a moronic and egomaniacal former "Real World" cast member who wins the heart of Freddie Prinze Jr.'s spiteful girlfriend in the hit teen comedy "She's All That". Later that year, Lillard reteamed with Prinze in the less successful action film "Wing Commander", based on the popular video game. While reviews praised the performances of the cast members, the film received lackluster notices and box office returns. He also starred in the charming "SLC Punk!", as the blue mohawk sporting Stevo, a likable Utah punk faced with a higher education moral dilemma: whether or not to accept an invitation to study at Harvard Law School, a sure sign of selling out given his commitment to the hardcore lifestyle. Following this strong performance, Lillard starred in Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of "Love's Labour's Lost" (2000). Set as a 1930's musical, the film, while providing Lillard with his greatest acting challenge thus far, also required him to sing.
Before pursuing a film career, Lillard hosted the Nickelodeon skater sports show "SK8 TV" (1989). Other small screen projects of note include his TV-movie debut in 1994's syndicated "Vanishing Son IV", and his work as an over-the-edge man who shoots up an abortion clinic in the "1996" segment of "If These Walls Could Talk" (HBO, 1996), directed by and starring Cher. Additionally, Lillard also appeared alongside Kim Delaney in the 1997 ABC thriller "The Devil's Child". In 1999, Lillard gave an impressive performance as a brilliant disillusioned teen imersing himself in the 1980's punk culture, in "SLC Punk." The movie opened to positive reviews at Sundance and remains a cult classic for its probing look at a little known subculture. Lillard next appeared with Alicia Silverstone in a musical remake of the Shakespeare classic "Love's Labour Lost." (2000). Lillard returned to do a series of more mainstream fare, appearing with Shannon Elizabeth in 2001's "Thirteen Ghosts" and then as Shaggy in the teen dream cast for "Scooby-Doo" (2002) and its 2004 sequel, as well as the teen S.A.T. key-stealing caper "The Perfect Score" (2004). The actor next attempted to break out of sidekick roles by carrying--along with Seth Green and Dax Shepherd--the sometimes hilarious great outdoors comedy "Without a Paddle" as a burnt-out business exec who conspires with his pals to discover bank robber D.B. Cooper's lost stash of cash. Next it was back tom familiar "best friend" territory, this time to Josh Hartnett in the steamy thriller "Wicker Park" (2004).
While maintaining a steady career in indie film and guest roles on television, including episodes of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC 1999- ), "House" (Fox 2004-12) and "Leverage" (TNT 2008-12), Lillard began working regularly in animation. Along with becoming part of the reperatory company of voices on longtime pal Seth Green's stop-motion series "Robot Chicken" (Adult Swim 2005- ), Lillard began performing the voice of Shaggy on television and direct-to-video continuations of the "Scooby-Doo" franchise, including the clever TV reboot "Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated" (Cartoon 2010-13). Lillard next appeared in a key supporting role on the critically-acclaimed American version of the police procedural drama "The Bridge" (FX 2013-14), gaining attention for his dramatic role as a self-obsessed reporter for an alternative weekly newspaper.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1989
Hosted the Nickelodeon series "SK8 TV"
1991
Formed Mean Streets Ensemble, a theatre company; failed after one year; acted in the play "Tracers"
1991
Was an extra in "Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College"; billed as Matt Lynn
1994
TV-movie debut in the syndicated "Vanishing Son IV"
1994
Played son of Kathleen Turner and Sam Waterson in John Waters' "Serial Mom"
1995
Was featured in the ensemble of "Hackers"
1995
Had supporting roles in "Ride for Your Life," "Mad Love" and "Tarantella"
1996
Had breakthrough screen role in "Scream"
1996
Portrayed right-to-lifer who snaps and goes on a shooting spree in Cher's directorial debut, the "1996" segment of "If These Walls Could Talk" (HBO)
1997
Appeared in ABC TV-movie "The Devil's Child", starring Kim Delaney
1998
Featured in the films "Senseless", "Without Limits", "The Curve" and "Dish Dogs"
1999
Had a memorable featured role as obnoxious "Real World" reject Brock in the teen comedy "She's All That" starring Freddie Prinze Jr
1999
Reteamed with Prinze in the actioner "Wing Commander"
1999
Starred as Stevo, a smart and likeable punk rock kid in the mid-1980s set "SLC Punk"
2000
Made London stage acting debut in "bash, latter day plays" by Neil LaBute
2000
Starred with Kenneth Branagh, Nathan Lane and Alicia Silverstone in Branagh's 1930s musical adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy "Love's Labour's Lost"
2001
Co-starred in the festival-screened "Finder's Fee"
2001
Played a neurotic psychic in the thriller "13 Ghosts"
2002
Played Shaggy in summer blockbuster "Scooby-Doo" alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Cardellini and Freddi Prinze Jr.
2004
Co-starred with Dax Shepard and Seth Green in the comedy "Without a Paddle"
2004
Cast opposite Josh Hartnett, Rose Byrne and Diane Kruger in "Wicker Park"
2004
Revised the role of Shaggy for "Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed" also starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar
2006
Cast opposite Burt Reynolds in Uwe Boll's "Dungeon Siege"
2007
Co-starred in the romantic comedy "What Love Is"
2009
Starred in the comedy feature "Spooner"
2011
Cast opposite George Clooney in Alexander Payne's "The Descendants"
2012
Acted opposite Clint Eastwood in baseball drama "Trouble with the Curve"
Family
Companions
