She’s a hip ol’ granny who can hip-hop, be-bop, dance till you drop and yo-yo — make a wicked cup of cocoa.
On Nov. 24, 1993, the late Robin Williams charmed audiences when he pulled double duty as down-on-his luck Daniel Hillard and the iconic titular character Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire. In this Chris Columbus-directed dramedy, a divorced father of three creates an elaborate plan to spend more time with his children by disguising himself as an older woman and posing as their nanny … with a Scottish accent.
Mrs. Doubtfire was a box office success and garnered critical acclaim, earning a Golden Globe for best motion picture — musical or comedy and an Academy Award for Best Makeup in 1994. Williams also took home a Golden Globe for best actor in a musical or comedy. In October 2018, the cast reunited for the film’s 25th anniversary, and actor Pierce Brosnan — who plays the new boyfriend of Daniel’s ex-wife (Sally Field) — discussed the movie’s impact during an appearance on the Today show in November of that year.
“I think it’s really ingrained in my heart as a piece of beautiful cinema — and cinema that touched the world and has gone on so for 25 years because of the healing power of laughter — but also because [of] the nature of the story, which is very empowering for young men and women or families that are divorced,” Brosnan said. “I think it’s a very healing film in many ways.”
Though Columbus rejected the idea of a sequel, particularly after Williams’ death in 2014, the ’90s classic found a new life on Broadway in December 2021 (and later hit the road on a North American tour in September 2023).
Help is on the way, dear. Here’s what the cast of Mrs. Doubtfire has been up to since its 1993 premiere.
Robin Williams as Daniel Hillard/Mrs. Doubtfire
Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock; Ben Gabbe/Getty Images
In the dual role of Daniel Hillard and Mrs. Doubtfire, Williams felt complete freedom when exploring the character.
“I started to play with the voice. It was so freeing to be able to be someone totally different,” he reportedly said in an interview about the film.
Williams continued to grace the silver screen with iconic roles in Jumanji (1995), The Birdcage (1996), Good Will Hunting (1997) — for which he won an Oscar for Best Actor — Patch Adams (1998), One Hour Photo (2002), Insomnia (2002) and the Night at the Museum franchise.
On Aug. 11, 2014, Williams died by an apparent suicide at the age of 63. He is survived by his third wife, Susan Schneider Williams, whom he wed in 2011. The late actor also had three children — Zak, Zelda and Cody — from his previous marriages to Valerie Velardi and Marsha Garces.
Sally Field as Miranda Hillard
Phil Bray/20th Century Fox/Blue Wolf/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Field portrayed Miranda Hillard, Daniel’s ex-wife, who pursues a romantic relationship with her co-worker, Stu (Brosnan).
Since appearing in the classic film, Field earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for 2012’s Lincoln (totaling three career nominations and two wins). Other notable film credits include Forrest Gump (1994), Where the Heart Is (2000), Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003), Hello, My Name Is Doris (2015) and 80 for Brady (2023), costarring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Rita Moreno.
The Emmy-winning actress is also known for her roles on ER, Brothers & Sisters, Maniac, Dispatches from Elsewhere and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. In 2018, she published the memoir In Pieces. She has been a spokesperson for bone health since revealing her diagnosis with osteoporosis in 2005 and has continued to advocate for the LGBTQ community.
Field shares two sons, Peter and Eli, with ex-husband Steven Craig. She welcomed son Sam, who is openly gay, during her second marriage with Alan Greisman.
Lisa Jakub as Lydia Hillard
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection; Lisa Jakub/Instagram
Lisa Jakub played the oldest of the Hillard children, Lydia, and steadily worked until 2000, when she made her last film, Double Frame.
In 2018, the actress shared a sweet photograph with Brosnan, Wilson and Matthew Lawrence for the film’s 25th reunion special.
Besides acting, Jakub is also a writer and yoga instructor. In 2021, she created the mental wellness website Blue Mala.
Pierce Brosnan as Stu Dunmeyer
20th Century Fox/Blue Wolf/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock; Daniel Reinhardt/picture alliance/Getty Images
Brosnan portrayed the charismatic Stu, who begins a romantic relationship with Field’s Miranda.
Following the release of Mrs. Doubtfire, the Irish actor would become a worldwide star playing James Bond in GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999) and Die Another Day (2002). In 2008, he showed off his singing skills in Mamma Mia! and its 2018 sequel, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again. His other credits include Cinderella (2021), Black Adam (2022) and The Out-Laws (2023). He also starred on the Western series adaptation The Son for its two-season run.
Outside of acting, Brosnan is an artist who spends his free time selling prints of his paintings to charity. He is equally passionate about the environment and philanthropy.
After losing his first wife, Cassandra Harris, to ovarian cancer in 1991, Brosnan married journalist Keely Shaye Smith in 2001. The Golden Globe-nominated actor has five children from both marriages; however, his daughter Charlotte died from ovarian cancer in 2013.
Harvey Fierstein as Frank Hillard
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection; Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Harvey Fierstein played Frank, Daniel’s brother and a makeup artist who helps him to transform into Mrs. Doubtfire. Since then, he has appeared in Independence Day (1996), Duplex (2003), Hairspray Live! (2016) and Bros (2022). In addition to voicing the character Yao in Disney’s 1998 film Mulan, Fierstein has lent his voice to several animated shows like Family Guy and Big Mouth.
A four-time Tony Award winner, the theater star has written the books for the stage musicals Newsies, Kinky Boots and A Catered Affair — and revised the book for Funny Girl, which was used for the 2022 Broadway revival starring Beanie Feldstein (and later Lea Michele). Additionally, the playwright has penned several op-eds and released his memoir, I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir, in 2022, instantly becoming a New York Times best seller.
In February 2022, Fierstein opened up to PEOPLE about his gender identity.
“I’m still confused as to whether I’m a man or a woman,” before adding, “I don’t know who I am. You wanna tell me who I am? But let’s put it this way … I don’t think I’ve missed anything by not making up my mind.”
Robert Prosky as Jonathan Lundy
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection; Berliner Studio/BEI/REX/Shutterstock
Robert Prosky played Jonathan Lundy, the CEO of a TV station at which Daniel applies for a job.
Prosky died in 2008 at the age of 77, but he left a lasting legacy with roles in Christine (1983), The Natural (1984), Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), Miracle on 34th Street (1994) and Dead Man Walking (1995).
