There’s Something About Mary… and its all-star cast! 25 years after hit film premiered – and stunned the world with THAT ‘hair gel’ scene – what has happened to the big-name actors who made the movie a cult favorite
- Ben Stiller, Cameron Diaz and Lee Evans have all since stepped away from acting
- Matt Dillon ended romance with Diaz, finding love with Roberta Mastromichele
- Chris Elliott watched daughter follow in his footsteps and she stars in The Bear
There’s Something About Mary may have come out exactly 25 years ago, but fans still remember it to this day for its all-star cast and quirky moments.
In fact, the scene where Mary’s hair is slicked up with ‘hair gel’ is still used as a meme to this day.
Not to mention, the film’s box office stats speak for themselves. The rom-com had a $23 million budget and ended up pulling in $369.9 million in theaters.
The 1998 flick follows Ted (Ben Stiller) who, as an adult, can’t get past ruining his opportunity to go to prom with his dream date, Mary (Cameron Diaz).
There’s Something About Mary may have come out exactly 25 years ago, but fans still remember it to this day for its all-star cast and quirky moments
The 1998 flick follows Ted (Ben Stiller) who, as an adult, can’t get past ruining his opportunity to go to prom with his dream date, Mary (Cameron Diaz). He hires sleazy private investigator Pat Healy (Matt Dillon) to track her down
He hires sleazy private investigator Pat Healy (Matt Dillon) to track down Mary and learn everything he can about her so he can win her back.
However, things go awry when Healy realizes he’d rather win Mary over for himself. Additionally, Mary’s friend Tucker (Lee Evans) also has a thing for her.
They try to sabotage Ted by telling him lies about Mary so they can date her instead.
Since the film wrapped, many of its stars have gone on to have successful careers.
But most of the film’s leads eventually retired from acting, with Stiller stepping away from acting in 2016 to focus on directing and producing.
Diaz quit acting and Hollywood altogether right around the same time for the sake of her mental health and to prioritize her family.
Evans also retired from performing in 2014 to focus on his family.
So what are the stars of There’s Something About Mary up to now?
Ben Stiller left acting behind before announcing separation from wife Christine Taylor – but the couple rekindled their romance years later
In the 1998 film, he played Ted (left), a man still lamenting his prom date gone wrong years later. Stiller (pictured in January) has gone on to produce and direct
Ben Stiller’s career was just starting to take off when he landed his role in There’s Something About Mary.
In the 1998 film, he played Ted, a man still lamenting his prom date gone wrong years later and hires a private investigator to track her down.
Shortly after filming the rom-com, he met the love of his life, Christine Taylor.
Stiller and Taylor first crossed paths while working on a TV pilot in 1999, which eventually never aired.
The couple entered a whirlwind romance and became engaged shortly after. In 2000, the two lovebirds said ‘I do’ on a scenic beach in Hawaii.
The two stars welcomed their daughter, Ella, in 2002, and their son, Quinlin, three years later in 2005.
However, Stiller didn’t let becoming a family man get in the way of his career. In fact, he and his wife began to act together.
The couple also had the opportunity to appear in multiple projects together, such as Zoolander (2001) and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004).
He then went on to film the first instalment of his hit franchise: Night at the Museum.
The couple who acts together: They also had the opportunity to appear in multiple projects together, such as Zoolander (2001) and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
He went on to film the first instalment of his hit franchise: Night at the Museum
He also starred in and produced Tropic Thunder (2008) – for which years later, he received backlash for using blackface.
However, Stiller defended the film and insisted that he would never apologize for it.
In response to the backlash, one user tweeted: ‘@BenStiller Please stop apologizing for doing this movie. It was and still is funny AF… Even funnier now with cancel culture the way it is. It’s a MOVIE.
‘Ya’ll (sic) can just get over it. I was DYING laughing when I first saw it back in the day and so was everyone else,’ the post read.
Stiller replied, tweeting: ‘I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder. Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened. Proud of it and the work everyone did on it.’
He also produced and starred in The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (2013).
Aside from returning for his franchises in Night at the Museum: Secret Of The Tomb (2014) and Zoolander 2 (2016), Stiller seemed to largely take a step away from acting.
His decision to take break wasn’t necessarily ‘intentional,’ but rather because he was gravitating towards his directing and producing work.
‘It’s been a few years [since I acted]. It hasn’t been totally intentional except I really do enjoy directing and producing,’ he told Yahoo.
‘I am getting to the point now where I am kind of missing acting a little bit and would like to figure out how to do something again.
‘And I really decided recently, or probably about five years ago, that I didn’t wanna do that anymore and just do one thing at a time.
‘And lately I’ve been exploring projects [and] making things as a director and producer, and I’ve been very happy with that. But I really do look forward to acting again one of these days.’
It was also around this time that he separated from his wife, Taylor.
After 17 years of marriage, the two made the decision to separate in May 2017.
In a joint statement to People at the time, the couple expressed: ‘With tremendous love and respect for each other, and the 18 years we spent together as a couple, we have made the decision to separate.
‘Our priority will continue to be raising our children as devoted parents and the closest of friends. We kindly ask that the media respect our privacy at this time,’ the statement concluded.
Stiller and Taylor (pictured in 2016) separated in 2017 after 17 years of marriage, but rekindled their romance in 2022
Zoolander 2 (2016) was Stiller’s last major film before he took a break from acting
But it seems like he rekindled his love for both acting and Taylor a few years later.
In 2022, Stiller revealed that he and his wife were back together five years after their separation.
‘We were separated and got back together and we’re happy about that,’ Stiller told Esquire.
‘It’s been really wonderful for all of us. Unexpected, and one of the things that came out of the pandemic.’
He added: ‘So, yeah, I think we have a respect for the ways that we’re similar and the ways we’re different.
‘And I think accepting that, you can really appreciate someone more because you’re not trying to get them to change for you. Once you accept that, you save a lot of energy.’
Taylor also touched on their happy rekindling and it explained that it was thanks to the pandemic.
‘We always stayed a family unit. So when the pandemic hit and we all had to figure out where to hunker down, we all ended up in our house together with two teenagers and we found this way back,’ she said on the Drew Barrymore Show recently.
‘We had so much time to talk, there were no other distractions… It just happened organically.’
Additionally, it seems that Stiller is gearing up for his first lead role in a movie since Zoolander 2.
In February, it was announced that Stiller would play triplets in an adaption of the 2018 documentary Three Identical Strangers.
Cameron Diaz quit acting for her mental health only to return for Jamie Foxx’s chaotic film Back In Action
Diaz played the desirable Mary in There’s Something About Mary (pictured left). Mary was one of her first main roles and helped launch her career as a Hollywood A-list (right in 2022)
Diaz played the desirable titular character in There’s Something About Mary.
Mary was one of the Hollywood star’s first main roles and helped launch her career as one of the top actresses of the 2000s.
Immediately after There’s Something About Mary, she landed a role in Charlie’s Angels (2000), which went on to become a massive franchise.
Shortly after, she booked Vanilla Sky (2001) opposite Tom Cruise. At the same time, she did voice work as Princess Fiona in Shrek (2001).
As she continued to work on the Charlies Angels and Shrek franchise, she started dating pop star Justin Timberlake.
They met at the 2003 Nickelodeon Kids Choice when she presented Timberlake with the ‘Best Burp’ Award.
Their relationship had ups and downs. In 2004, Diaz was spotted wearing a gold band on her ring finger leading to engagement rumors, but this was when Diaz infamously made it clear she had no interest in getting married.
Then tension surfaced when Timberlake filmed his 2006 music video What Comes Around Goes Around with Scarlett Johansson.
Rumors surfaced that Diaz was jealous of Johansson.
‘Cameron was very jealous of Scarlett… she could not believe he went behind her back to put her in the video,’ a source told Us Weekly in 2006.
While those rumors were never addressed by any of the three of them, they did split a year later in 2007.
In a statement to People, the couple said: ‘It has always been our preference not to comment on the status of our relationship, but, out of respect for the time we’ve spent together, we feel compelled to do so now, in light of recent speculation and the number of inaccurate stories that are being reported by the media.’
After There’s Something About Mary, Diaz starred in Charlie’s Angels (pictured left in 2000) and Vanilla Sky (pictured right in 2001)
In 2003, she started dating pop star Justin Timberlake. They met at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice when she presented Timberlake with the ‘Best Burp’ Award
‘We have, in fact, ended our romantic relationship, and have done so mutually and as friends, with continued love and respect for one another.’
After her split from Timberlake, she went on to make major films like What Happens In Vegas (2008) and My Sister’s Keeper (2009).
She then dated baseball legend Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez in 2011. Even thought their relationship was short and lasted for less than a year, it did make headlines.
While they were dating, the couple went to a Super Bowl game in 2011.
The moment of Diaz feeding popcorn to A-Rod during the game made headlines at that time for how cringey their PDA was. Their split came in 2012.
After her quick fling with A-Rod, she turned her focus back to her career, starring in What to Expect When You’re Expecting (2012) and Sex Tape (2014).
During the year Sex Tape released, she started dating her current husband, Benji Madden, of Good Charlotte fame.
After her split from Timberlake, she went on to make major films like What Happens in Vegas (2008) and My Sister’s Keeper (2009)
After her quick fling with A-Rod, she turned her focus back to her career, starring in What to Expect When You’re Expecting (2012)
Even though she had vowed she would never get married 10 years prior, she found herself engaged to Madden six months into their relationship. They tied the knot in 2015.
‘[Marriage] was the biggest thing I’ve done in my 40s, and it opened me up in different ways,’ Diaz told Harper’s Bazaar in May 2016.
‘It’s pretty awesome. I didn’t think it was something I’d do, and I don’t know if I’d have done it if I hadn’t met my husband. It was a surprise.’
Three years into their relationship, the couple decided they wanted to expand their family, and in January 2020, they revealed they had a baby girl via surrogate.
‘We are so happy, blessed and grateful to begin this new decade by announcing the birth of our daughter, Raddix Madden,’ the couple said in a joint Instagram statement.
‘She has instantly captured our hearts and completed our family.’
It was around the time that she tied the knot with Madden that she pulled the plug on her acting career.
She stepped away from the industry, explaining to Kevin Hart that she felt she no longer fit the Hollywood mold.
‘When you do something at a really high level for a long period of time, when you’re the person that’s sort of delivering on this one thing, everything around, all parts of you that isn’t that, has to sort of be handed off to other people,’ Diaz said on Hart To Heart.
She also added that the industry had been taking a toll on her mental health.
While speaking with Yahoo, she ultimately shared that she was grateful for the decision she had made.
Never say never: Even though she had vowed she would never get married 10 years prior, she found herself engaged to Benji Madden six months into their relationship. Pictured in 2016
‘Now I’m here and this is the most fulfilling thing that I’ve ever done in my life. [To] have a family and be married and have our little nucleus of a family,’ she shared.
‘It’s just completely the best thing. I don’t have what it takes to give making a movie what it needs to be made. All of my energy is here.’
However, she recently had a change of heart. In 2022, she agreed to sign on to Jamie Foxx’s film Back In Action.
Foxx told E! News’ Daily Pop in an interview that he essentially pulled all stops to get Diaz on board, saying: ‘We just begged and pleaded on my knees, like, just give the people one more again.’
However, since filming starting, the project has been plagued with drama.
Early on in the filming process, Foxx reportedly ‘had an absolute meltdown’ on set. Not long after that in April, it was reported that Foxx suddenly stopped showing up to set.
A source close to Diaz stated she had no idea where he went at the time. Soon after, it was revealed that Foxx had been hospitalized.
‘One day they were working together, and the next he was just gone,’ the source told People.
His family then announced that he was hospitalized for a mystery medical emergency. At that point, he went silent.
Two months later in June, Foxx’s co-star John Boyega told ET: ‘No one has heard from Jamie.’
Two weeks later, Porscha Coleman gave an update on his health.
‘I’ve talked to people very close to Foxx, [he] is doing well. I hate that the media outlets kept running with the narrative of what was going on without having the proper information,’ she told ET.
‘He’s resting. He’s well. And he’s going to be back. Trust and believe,’ she continued.
Foxx still has yet to return to set and film his portions of the film.
After the chaos, a friend close to Diaz told DailyMail.com that the Hollywood actress would likely quit acting again.
‘These back-to-back, 10-hour workdays have been a lot on her and she hates being away from Raddix,’ the pal told DailyMail.com exclusively, adding: ‘Cameron loves being a mom more than anything in the world.’
‘She hates drama and confrontation. This is why she retired from the business in the first place,’ the source said.
‘She has already proven herself in the industry and has nothing left to prove to anyone.’
Matt Dillon split with Diaz to find love with his current partner, Roberta Mastromichele
In There’s Something About Mary, Dillon played the role of the sneaky PI, Healy (left), hired by Ted to track down his prom date and has gone on to have a lengthy career (right in 2023)
In There’s Something About Mary, Dillon played the role of the sneaky PI, Healy, hired by Ted to track down his prom date.
Ironically, as he was pursuing Mary in the film, he was also dating Diaz in real life.
The two had begun dating in 1995 while they were filming separate projects in Minnesota.
They continued to date while filming There’s Something About Mary.
Their co-star, Lin Shaye, described their sweet behavior on set, telling People: ‘Matt would come over and rub her shoulders… if it had been a long day.
‘I would notice them sitting on a bench together, or stretching out with her head on his chest. They were affectionate in a really gentle way.’
However, they split shortly after the film released in 1998 due to the distance between them.
Ironically, as he was pursuing Mary in the film, he was also dating Diaz in real life. The two had begun dating in 1995 while they were filming separate projects in Minnesota
After There’s Something About Mary, he went on to star in the Oscar-winning film Crash (2004)
He worked on The Art of The Steal in 2013
He told Rolling Stone: ‘Look, I loved her and we were very close, but it just ran its course. We’re both actors, she was living in L.A., and I was living in New York, and I didn’t want to commit to moving out there.
‘But I don’t want to say it was about any of those things. It just ran its course.’
However, Dillon still spoke highly of their relationship after their split, claiming she was his ‘muse.’
‘I fell in love. It’s a very powerful thing when you feel that way about somebody. Cameron was a muse for me. I hadn’t been in any deep emotional relationships,’ he told Parade in 2006.
While the 1998 film is still his biggest credit to date, he also went on to have a lengthy and successful career.
He went on to star in the Oscar-winning film Crash (2004) as well as other hit films like You, Me And Dupree (2006), Old Dogs (2009) and The Art Of The Steal (2013).
A year later, he would meet his long-term girlfriend, Italian actress and choreographer Roberta Mastromichele. While the two have not tied the knot yet, they are still going strong.
She has supported him through all of his ups and downs including his controversial 2018 film, The House That Jack Built.
It caused mass walkouts at its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, with critics bashing the movie for being ‘vomitive’ and ‘pathetic.’
According to Variety, the scene that prompted the initial walk-outs involved Dillon’s serial-killer character Jack ‘shooting a hunting rifle at two small children, as he blows their heads off.’
Variety’s Ramin Setoode called it ‘one of the most unpleasant movie-going experiences of my life’ at the time and witnessed more than 100 people walking out of the film.
In 2014, he met his long-term girlfriend, Italian actress and choreographer Roberta Mastromichele. While the two have not tied the knot yet, they are still going strong
His controversial 2018 film The House That Jack Built caused mass walkouts at its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, with critics bashing the movie for being ‘vomitive’ and ‘pathetic’
His most recent credit is the Wes Anderson film Asteroid City
Speaking in an interview in MR PORTER’s weekly digital magazine the actor admitted: ‘I’m OK that people are upset.
‘It’s meant to be upsetting to you, and you should know, if you’re going to see this that it is going to some very dark, disturbing places.’
He added: ‘But I think it’s a good film. Really good. And I’m glad that I did it.’
While continuing to act, he also directed a passion project of his, the documentary The Great Fellove. He gushed about it at the time in 2020, even calling it ‘one of the best things he’s ever done.’
‘The beautiful thing about music documentaries is that the music’s great. And Afro-Cuban music has always been my greatest passion musically. So that’s what sustained me on this process,’ he told Deadline.
‘I’m really proud of it. I think it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.’
All the while, he has continued to act in Land Of Dreams (2021), Asteroid City (2023) and Stiller’s own series High Desert (2023).
Lee Evans went on to become a stand-up comedian, but eventually retired in 2014
In There’s Something Like Mary, he plays Tucker, Mary’s friend, who like all of the other men in the movie, is trying to pursue her (pictured left). However, he has since retired from acting (pictured right in 2022)
Lee Evans was in the early stages of his career when he gave Hollywood a shot.
During his time there, he worked on many projects including There’s Something About Mary. He plays Mary’s friend Tucker, who like all of the other men in the movie, is trying to pursue her.
After the 1998 film, he got his own TV series Lee Evans: So What Now? However, the experience turned out to be far from what he dreamed of.
‘I was writing the scripts and then I’d get on set and I’d be given a script with someone else’s name on it,’ he told DailyMail.com.
‘It was like being punched in the stomach and you’d have to start performing feeling like that. The show turned into something completely different from what I intended it to be.
‘It was as if they didn’t trust me, as if they didn’t think I was good enough a writer, but it didn’t work. I had to walk away from doing any more series. I just went home.’
He fell into a slump following the end of his show that happened after just episodes.
But Heather Nudds, his wife whom he married in 1984, was the one who inspired him to get back out there.
‘It was Heather who pulled me out of it,’ he said. ‘It was more like: “Well, you’ve got to do something to pay the bills. Just get up and do something.”‘
‘It was that simple. She was right and I also realized I would never compromise again, that if people didn’t believe in me then I’d walk away.’
Speaking of Nudds, she and Evans are still together to this day.
‘I’ve been with one woman all my life and that is it for me,’ he shared.
‘Her mom had died when we met and her dad wasn’t around. She had no one.
‘We just got on a train to Scarborough and set up home together. It seemed like the right thing to do. It was the right thing to do. I’ve never looked back.’
Evans was in the early stages of his career when he gave Hollywood a shot with films like There’s Something About Mary
Heather Nudds, his wife whom he married in 1984, was the one who inspired him to get back out there when his career hit a slump
Shortly after that, he transitioned from acting to stand-up comedy. He quickly found success, selling out arenas with his shows.
He also filmed an array of specials including Wired & Wonderful (2002), XL Tour Live (2005), Big Live At the O2 (2008) and Roadrunner (2011).
His success came as a shock to even himself, but he thinks he understands the reason behind it.
‘I think my success comes from the fact I’m an outsider. I always have been. I don’t join clubs, I don’t drink, I don’t do drugs. I don’t hang out with other comedians,’ he explained.
During that time, he discovered his confidence.
‘I never expected to feel confident, but a year or so ago it just happened. I changed,’ he said during his 2012 interview with DailyMail.com.
‘I think its age; it’s a lot to do with my family and also the realization that nothing anyone else says can actually touch me. And I like my life. It’s that simple.’
He added: ‘People always underestimate me. They look at my face, hear my accent and make a judgement. I let them because I know what I’m doing. But I’ve only recently got the confidence to realize that.’
Evans revealed that he would be retiring from the comedy scene in 2014 on The Jonathan Ross Show.
‘This is it. Finished… it’s the end,’ he told the host of his career.
He added: ‘I don’t know, I’ve come to a junction in my life where – please forgive me it sounds very narcissistic – I’ve done musicals and plays and films and stand up and you sort of get to a point where you go “I don’t know what else to do next.”‘
‘I want to go and see my wife, she deserves my time, I’ve been working solidly,’ he explained.
And with his 2014 comedy tour Monster, he closed down his career for good.
Since then, he has been enjoying a nice quiet life with his wife in Essex.
Chris Elliot went on to have a successful career in comedy – and his daughter, Abby, has followed in his footsteps, starring in The Bear
Elliott appeared in the rom com There’s Something About Mary as Ted’s best friend Dom ‘Woogie’ Woganowski (left). He went on to have a successful career in comedy (right in 2018)
Soon after his big role in Groundhog Day (1993), Elliott appeared in the rom-com There’s Something About Mary as Ted’s best friend Dom ‘Woogie’ Woganowski.
He made his mark as a comedic actor in these films and continued to book cameos on sitcoms like The Weber Show (2000-2001), Everybody Loves Raymond (2003-2005) and The King Of Queens (2001-2006).
He also appeared in both Scary Movie 2 (2001) and Scary Movie (2006).
Eventually, he landed the lead role in the TV series Eaglehart, a cop show parody, which ran for three seasons.
A year after Eaglehart wrapped in 2014, he nabbed a big role in the hit sitcom Schitt’s Creek.
Since then, he has also starred on the TV series Maggie (2022) and appeared on Agent Elvis (2023).
He is still happily married to Paula Niedert Elliott (pictured left in 2006). The two met during their days working on Late Night With David Lettermen (pictured right in 2017)
Eventually, he landed the lead role in the TV series Eaglehart (2011), a cop show parody, which ran for three seasons
His daughter, Abby, followed in his footsteps and is now starring in the hit FX series The Bear
In 2015, he nabbed a big role in the hit sitcom Schitt’s Creek
He is also still happily married to Paula Niedert Elliott. The two met during their days working on Late Night With David Lettermen.
He was a production assistant that was promoted to a writer while she was a producer.
They tied the knot in 1986 and welcomed their daughters, Abby in 1987 and Briedy in 1990.
His daughters seemingly looked up to their dad as they followed in his footsteps to become Hollywood actresses.
In fact, all four of them starred in the film Clara’s Ghost (2018) together.
Most notably, Abby has been starring in the hit FX series The Bear as Natalie ‘Sugar’ Berzatto.
Abby has hopes that her father could someday make an appearance on the show.
‘I would love for my dad to be in it in some capacity,’ she told People.
‘That would be really, really fun.
‘I don’t know who he would play. Maybe a disgruntled customer. Or someone in the family.’
Perhaps it’ll be his next role!
Lin Shaye became a horror movie icon after dabbling in comedy
Shaye has had a lengthy and extensive career (pictured right in 2023). However, her portrayal of over-the-top neighbor Magda in There’s Something About Mary still remains one of her most notable credits
Shaye has had a lengthy and extensive career. However, her portrayal of over-the-top neighbor Magda in There’s Something About Mary still remains one of her most notable credits.
Ironically, after playing such a comedic role, she became a horror film icon.
She first made a name for herself in the genre in the 2003 film Dead End.
Unfortunately, 2003 was the same year that her marriage with actor Clayton Landey came to an end.
The pair had been married for 15 years and share a son, Lee J. Landey. Prior to that, she was married to Fifth Estate rock ‘n’ roll columnist Marshall Rubinoff until he tragically died in a motorcycle accident in 1968.
She first made a name for herself in the horror industry in the 2003 film Dead End
Unfortunately, 2003 was the same year that her marriage with actor Clayton Landey came to an end
Continuing to forge her path in the genre, the actress then joined the famous Insidious franchise in 2010
She also booked plenty of horror films outside of the Insidious franchise including The Grudge (2020)
Continuing to forge her path in the horror genre, the actress then joined the famous Insidious franchise in 2010.
After the original film, she appeared in the franchise five more times in Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013), Insidious: Spectral Sightings (2013), Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015), Insidious: The Last Key (2018) and Insidious: The Red Door (2023).
She also booked plenty horror of films outside of this franchise including Grace (2014), The Black Room (2016), Room For Rent (2019) and The Grudge (2020).
All throughout this time, she still dabbled in other genres for films like Snakes On A Plane (2006) and My Sister’s Keeper (2009) – alongside Diaz.
The latest instalment of the Insidious franchise is her most recent credit.
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