Freddie Prinze Jr. Claims He Gave Matthew Lillard Plenty of Work—Says He Should Be Thanking Him

Freddie Prinze Jr. recently shared his thoughts on the career of Matthew Lillard, suggesting that he played a significant role in giving Lillard numerous acting opportunities. Speaking in a Men’s Health Stress Test video released on July 23, Prinze Jr., 49, addressed moments from his acting past, including collaborations with Lillard, 55. Both actors worked together on several well-known projects, such as She’s All That and the live-action Scooby Doo films.

When Prinze Jr. noticed Lillard in the footage he was reviewing, he joked,

“Matthew doesn’t cause me stress, but I did give him a lot of work, and he should thank me.”

—Freddie Prinze Jr.

Looking Back at His Early Roles and On-Set Atmosphere

Prinze Jr. also reflected on his breakout role as Zack Siler in the 1999 teen romantic comedy She’s All That. He described this experience as unlike any other film he had done before, saying,

“This was the first movie I was ever offered, so the stress levels were very, very low, but on every other movie I was in before this, I was convinced that I would be fired.”

He added,

“This was the first time that I was ever relaxed. This was actually the least stressful of all the movies that I did, and was the most enjoyable.”

He fondly remembered working alongside his co-stars, including Rachael Leigh Cook, who played Laney Boggs and remains a friend to this day. Prinze Jr. also mentioned his friendship with Paul Walker, sharing,

“And Rachael and I have remained friends to this day. Paul Walker and I were friendly. We used to talk about jiu jitsu and fast cars. That’s all, that’s all we would talk about. But everybody on this film got along and there was no stress.”

Contemplating His Return to the ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ Franchise

Beyond the romantic comedy genre, Prinze Jr. earned recognition for his role as Ray Bronson in 1997’s I Know What You Did Last Summer. More than two decades later, he reprised this role in the 2025 reboot despite initial hesitation about returning to the series. Speaking to Us Weekly earlier this month, he admitted feeling uncertain:

“I was very hesitant to jump back in for a multitude of reasons. Some were creative, because I wasn’t the same guy so I didn’t know what kind of character they were gonna want.”

His reluctance stemmed from concerns about character development, as he feared the new film might not build on Ray’s growth. However, his friend Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, who co-wrote and directed the reboot, persuaded him by sharing her thoughtful vision for the story and characters. Prinze Jr. recalled,

“I was worried they wouldn’t put much growth into it. So, I didn’t have any interest. And then my friend Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, who cowrote and directed the movie, said, ‘I know you’re gonna say no, but let me just pitch you my version of this movie.’ And she put so much thought and so much soul into Julie and Ray.”

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s Influence on the New Character Arc

Prinze Jr. was moved by Robinson’s dedication to crafting a meaningful and nuanced narrative for Ray and Julie, the central characters. He explained to Us Weekly,

“There was so much thought into what [Julie and Ray] had gone through, trauma wise, and how they both dealt with it differently, that it gave them great motivations in the movie.”

He added,

“It’s an interesting look at their relationship and where they’re at now and how they handle this new situation in their own unique ways. Once I kind of heard that, before the script was even written, I was like, ‘Wow, [Jen’s] idea is really, really good.’ She had some really cool s*** in there.”

Freddie Prinze Jr.’s Continued Career Legacy Alongside Matthew Lillard

The connection between Freddie Prinze Jr. and Matthew Lillard remains strong through their shared history in notable films. Prinze Jr.’s confident assertion that he contributed significantly to Lillard’s career highlights the intertwined paths of both actors. Their collaborations, from youthful comedies to cult horror hits and franchise reboots, showcase their lasting impact on popular culture.

Prinze Jr.’s reflections reveal not only the challenges actors face in their careers but also the camaraderie and creative teamwork behind the scenes. His willingness to revisit past roles, particularly in the I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot, demonstrates a desire to evolve with his characters and engage with fresh storytelling driven by dedicated collaborators like Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.