Matthew Lillard Praises Fan Celebrating 18 Months of Sobriety

Actor Matthew Lillard is getting attention after a fan shared a personal story about how the actor helped him during a difficult time.

On April 27, a Threads user named Alex Mersman posted that he met Lillard at Seattle Comic Con a few years ago, shortly after his apartment burned down in New York City. Mersman said he became deeply depressed and struggled with drug use before deciding to enter rehab.

At the convention, Mersman told Lillard about his situation. He said the actor stopped what he was doing, stood up, and gave him a long hug. Lillard also encouraged him, telling him to take things “one day at a time.”

Mersman said that moment stayed with him and helped motivate him to get better. He recently marked 18 months of sobriety and thanked Lillard publicly for his kindness.

Lillard responded to the post, saying Mersman was “the hero” and encouraging him to stay strong.

Mersman later shared that he felt overwhelmed with gratitude after receiving the reply. He said being sober allowed him to enjoy life and appreciate support from others.

Lillard is best known for playing Shaggy in the live-action “Scooby-Doo” films and appearing in movies like “Scream.” He has continued acting in recent projects, including the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” films and other TV and film roles.