Matthew Lillard Tells Fan He's the 'Hero' After He Credits Actor with Inspiring His Sobriety Journey
Matthew Lillard Tells Fan He's the 'Hero' After He Credits Actor with Inspiring His Sobriety Journey
Staff AuthorTue, April 28, 2026 at 12:16 AM UTC
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Matthew Lillard in February 2026Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty -
Matthew Lillard inspired a fan to seek help and achieve 18 months of sobriety after a life-changing encounter
The fan shared how Lillard's kind words and support at a convention event deeply impacted his recovery journey
Lillard, known for Scooby-Doo and Scream, praised the fan as the true "hero" while celebrating his progress
Matthew Lillard knows a hero when he sees one.
On Monday, April 27, Threads user Alex Mersman shared a public message to the Scooby-Doo actor, telling Lillard he inspired Mersman to get sober and seek help after a dark moment in his life.
“A few years ago, my apartment burned down in NYC,” Mersman wrote on Threads. “I went crazy depressed, and sank deeper into hard drugs. I sent myself to rehab. Before leaving, I got to meet you at Seattle's ComicCon. I was really unwell, emotionally, physically, mentally.”
When Mersman met Lillard, 56, at the convention, he told the actor what was going on in his life.
Lillard “put everything down, stood up” and hugged him, Mersman wrote.
Matthew Lillard in February 2026Credit: Jeff Schear/Getty
“You told me to give you a real bear hug. For minutes, it seemed,” Mersman continued. “You said, ‘You got this. One Day at a time. I believed in you.' I cried cried.”
On Monday, Mersman celebrated 18 months of sobriety and thanked Lillard for being his inspiration.
“Your words & actions moved me & stayed with me,” Mersman wrote. “Just want to thank you for your heart. Who you are. You are a real one. We all see it. That's why you had the longest line at ComicCon by a mile.”
Lillard spotted the comment and quickly replied to Mersman.
“Thank you for shouting me out but you're the hero here. Stay strong. One day at a time. Proud,” Lillard wrote.
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"Thank you so much," Mersman replied to Lillard. "I'm standing on 5th Ave beeeeaming right now, like crazy. I'm bout to SKIP!! Thank you. Much love to you always."
In another follow-up message, Mersman said he was “humbled & beyond grateful” after seeing the response to his posts to Lillard.
“I'm a lucky one. I'm so grateful. It's a day by day thing, I have no idea what tomorrow brings,” Mersman wrote. “But holy s---, because I'm sober, I get to take in all of this love right now. I get to enjoy this stunning NYC Spring day. Instead of hiding in my bedroom alone. Thank you all for today & your words. Just wow.”
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Lillard is a popular fixture at conventions, after having starred in the 2000s live-action Scooby-Doo movies as Shaggy and appearing in the first Scream film. He's been busy on the big screen again lately, appearing in the two Five Nights at Freddy's movies, playing a supporting role in The Life of Chuck and returning to the Scream franchise. He's also had roles in Disney+'s Daredevil: Born Again and Prime Video's Cross.
“Scooby-Doo one and two are more popular now than they ever were when they came out. So I do think there's a weird nostalgia thing happening in our industry and in the zeitgeist because I think that people are longing for ye olde times,” Lillard recently said on the Phase Hero podcast.
He went on to suggest that nostalgia is behind his recent comeback.
“I think that's why I'm working,” he said on Phase Hero. “I don't think anyone really likes me. They just miss the old times.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
