Matthew Lillard says Hollywood doesn’t ‘understand’ him: ‘I still fight for jobs now’

Matthew Lillard has opened up about feeling misunderstood and undervalued by Hollywood, saying he still has to fight for acting jobs despite more than three decades in the industry.

The Scream and Scooby-Doo star discussed his career on Tommy DiDario’s I’ve Never Said This Before podcast, where he was asked whether he felt valued by Hollywood as an artist. Lillard, 56, responded, “No. Not really.”

Lillard said he believes Hollywood often looks for conventional movie stars who fit a particular image, while he has struggled to fit neatly into that mould. He described himself as “a little quirky, a little gangly” and said his ability to move between comedy and drama has made it difficult for the industry to know where to place him.

“They sort of want to be able to put you in a bubble, right? Or pigeonhole you. I’ve never fit in that little, perfect bubble,” Lillard said.

The actor has appeared in films including Scream, Scooby-Doo, The Descendants, She’s All That and The Perfect Score, as well as television shows including Twin Peaks, Bosch and Good Girls. Despite his extensive credits, Lillard said he still finds himself competing for roles.

“But they felt they could replace me,” he said. “I still fight for jobs now.”

Lillard also questioned why he had never been given the opportunity to lead a major $20 million film, arguing that it was not because he lacked popularity or acting ability. Instead, he suggested that Hollywood simply “didn’t get me” or did not see him as that kind of leading man.

“I’m in these great movies, but nobody ever equates me with greatness,” Lillard said.

The actor recalled how he once struggled with comparisons to his former roommate Paul Rudd, saying he spent two years living with the actor and felt he was always in Rudd’s shadow as their careers developed.

“I was always in the shadow of Paul Rudd, no matter how famous I got,” Lillard said, acknowledging that his competitive nature made those comparisons difficult when he was younger.

However, Lillard stressed that he is not complaining about his career and said he is grateful for how much work he has been able to do. He also pointed to the strong support he receives from fans, particularly at conventions, where he said he regularly sees long queues of people wanting to meet him.

Lillard currently stars in the new Carrie series, which premieres on Prime Video on October 7. He will also appear alongside Pedro Pascal and Olivia Wilde in the upcoming film Behemoth!.