Matthew Lillard has revealed that his career "took a nosedive for a long time" after starring as Shaggy in the live-action Scooby-Doo films, despite the role being one of the most significant of his acting journey.
The US-born actor, now 56, initially portrayed Norville "Shaggy" Rogers in Scooby-Doo (2002) and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004). His portrayal, which included mimicking Casey Kasem's distinctive vocal tone and mastering the physical comedy and characteristic slouch, earned widespread acclaim from critics and audiences as the highlight of both films.
Pressure and a 'love-hate relationship'
Discussing securing the Shaggy part in the original film, Lillard told Variety: "I felt a ton of pressure to not suck. It was the first big movie that I was in and it was a big opportunity for me. And then I felt that 'Scooby Doo' is this big movie, I'm now going to go off and be a big movie star."
He added: "And it was right about this time, after the second movie, that my career took a real nosedive for a long time. Like, I may be one of those guys from the '90s that never comes back. This movie is a love-hate relationship for me because I was like, 'It's "Scooby Doo's" fault. That's why I'm not working.'"
Despite harbouring resentment towards the film, Lillard acknowledged he never regretted making the sequel, as he required the financial security. "My wife and I would have had to sell everything," he said. "We eventually [did sell a lot]. We sold our cars, we sold our house. We basically downsized our lives so that we could live in a very affordable way. And my wife went back to work, and that was a real pivotal moment for me as well."
From leading man to character actor
Lillard explained that after the sequel he had expected to secure leading man roles "for the next decade", yet found himself unable to land any parts. He said: "Like I felt like before this movie, 'I'm doing all these movies and I'm a big guy.' The reality was I'm not. I was always a character actor, and I thought I was more than that. There was like a real humbling of Matthew Lillard that happens right after this movie that now I'm so grateful for."
Instead, Lillard formally took on the role of Shaggy's voice across animated films, television series including Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated and Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!, and video games, lending his voice to the character in dozens of animated projects over the past two decades. Alongside this shift, he adopted a fresh outlook, placing far less emphasis on becoming a leading man. This new mindset helped him secure supporting parts in the Oscar-winning The Descendants (2011) and Clint Eastwood's Trouble With the Curve (2012).
Lillard also stepped behind the camera for the first time in 2012, making his directorial debut with the coming-of-age comedy-drama Fat Kid Rules the World.
Recent roles and family life
Lillard made a significant return to mainstream cinema horror, starring as William Afton/Steve Raglan in the blockbuster Five Nights at Freddy's (2023) and its follow-up Five Nights at Freddy's 2. He also featured in Stephen King's film adaptation The Life of Chuck (2024), portrayed Mr. Charles in Daredevil: Born Again, and secured a part in the Prime Video series Carrie. The star resumed voice work and cameos connected to the Scream franchise, including a turn in Scream 7.
Prior to that, he portrayed Dean Boland on NBC's Good Girls throughout its entire four-season run, broadcast from February 26, 2018, to July 22, 2021. The actor also featured in Twin Peaks: The Return in 2017. During this period, he co-founded Beadle & Grimm's Pandemonium Warehouse, a firm that creates premium rulebooks and boxed sets for Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. The business launched Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill!, an unscripted tabletop RPG comedy programme, in 2023.
Lillard is married to Heather Helm, an estate agent. The pair met in the late 1990s and wed on August 26, 2000. They have remained together for over two decades and reside in Los Angeles, US. Together, they share three children: Addison Grace, 24, Macey Lyn, 21, and Liam, 18. Prior to tying the knot with Heather, Lillard was involved in several high-profile romances, including dating his Scream co-star during the late 1990s after the release of the horror film. The pair parted ways on good terms and have stayed friends. He also had a brief romance with actress Christine Taylor in 1995 and was linked to former child star Christa Denton in the early 1990s.
