Casey Affleck, Minnie Driver, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Cole Hauser in ‘Good Will Hunting’.Photo:Photo 12 / Alamy
Photo 12 / Alamy
It’s been 26 years sinceGood Will Huntinghit theaters and catapulted writers and actorsMatt DamonandBen Affleckinto stardom.
Damon originally wrote the script in a playwriting class while he was a student at Harvard University; he later turned to longtime friend Affleck to help him develop the screenplay.
Damon stars as Will Hunting, a math whiz who was recently paroled from jail and works as a janitor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He impresses professor Gerald Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgård) when he solves a complicated math problem, but he is arrested again for attacking a police officer. Lambeau arranges for Will to avoid jail time if he studies mathematics under his supervision and attends psychotherapy sessions with Lambeau’s college roommate, Dr. Sean Maguire (Williams).
Damon and Affleck havemaintained a close friendshipand working relationship over the years, appearing on-screen together in movies likeChasing Amy(1997),Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back(2001),The Last Duel(2021) andAir(2023), the first film from their production companyArtists Equity.
To mark the movie’s latest anniversary on December 5, here’s a look at the cast ofGood Will Hunting, then and now.
01of 10
Matt Damon as Will Hunting
Matt Damon in ‘Good Will Hunting’. ; Matt Damon attends the “Oppenheimer” premiere in July 2023 in Paris, France.George Kraychyk/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock ; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
George Kraychyk/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock ; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
Matt Damon stars as Will Hunting, a self-taught genius freshly paroled from jail.
Born and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Damongot his startinMystic Pizzain 1988. He enrolled at Harvard that same year but left before completing his degree to pursue an acting career. He had several film roles, including inCourage Under Fire(1996), through the early to mid-1990s.
ForGood Will Hunting, Damon and Affleck won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for their screenplay. Affleck was 25 at the time and holds the record for the youngest-ever winner of the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay; Damon was the second-youngest winner at 27. Damon also received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for his performance.
“Sometimes those moments sneak up on you,” he toldGQin 2021, recalling how he cried during their first day on set. “And that was another one of those moments we never thought was going to arrive. To see not only actors, but those actors, saying the stuff that we wrote, was like … f—.”
In April 2003, Damon met bartenderLuciana Barrosoin Miamiwhile filmingStuck on You. The couple tied the knot in 2005 and welcomedthree daughterstogether: Isabella, Gia and Stella. (Barroso has one daughter, Alexia, from a previous marriage.)
Damon told PEOPLE in 2019 that he had been unsuccessful in getting his girls to watch his films, includingGood Will Hunting. “I am kind of trying to force them, it’s not working,” he said. “I’m like, ‘Are you sure you don’t want to seeGood Will Hunting? You know your dad and Uncle Ben wrote it, right?’ ‘Yeah, Dad, I know.’ It’s like, ‘Nope.’ ”
02of 10
Robin Williams as Dr. Sean Maguire
Robin Williamsstars as Dr. Sean Maguire, a psychology teacher at Bunker Hill Community College.
Born in Chicago, Williams got his startperforming stand-up comedybefore finding fame as the alien Mork inMork & Mindyfrom 1978 until 1982. His first starring film role was inPopeyein 1980.
Eight years later, Williams won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor forGood Will Huntingafter previous nominations for his roles inGood Morning, Vietnam(1987),Dead Poets Society(1989) andThe Fisher King(1991).
“This might be the one time I’m speechless. Thank you so much for this incredible honor. Thank you for putting me in a category with these four extraordinary men,” Williams said in hisacceptance speech.
His impressive careeralso earned him multiple nominations and wins at the Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, Grammy Awards and more.
In addition to his acclaimed dramatic performances, he starred in comedy and family films, includingHook(1991),Mrs. Doubtfire(1993) andJumanji(1995). Williams also had a prolific career in animations, having voicedthe Genie inAladdin(1992) and several characters inHappy Feet(2006), among others.
He married Valerie Velardi in 1978 and became a father in 1983 when their son,Zachary Pym “Zak” Williams, was born. The couple divorced in 1988, and he married Marsha Garces the following year. Williams and Garces welcomed a daughter,Zelda Rae, that same year and a son,Cody Alan, in 1991. They divorced in 2010, and he marriedSusan Schneiderin 2011.
03of 10
Ben Affleck as Chuckie Sullivan
Ben Affleck in ‘Good Will Hunting’. ; Ben Affleck arrives for the world premiere of “The Flash” in June 2023 in Hollywood, California.George Kraychyk/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock ; MICHAEL TRAN/AFP/Getty
George Kraychyk/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock ; MICHAEL TRAN/AFP/Getty
Ben Affleck plays Chuckie Sullivan, Will Hunting’s best friend.
He was born in California but moved to Massachusetts with his family when he was 3 years old. Affleck’s acting career began when he was just 9 inThe Dark End of the Street(1981).
In addition to hislongtime friendship with Damon, hefrequently collaborateswithKevin Smithand has appeared in several of his films, likeMallrats(1995),Chasing Amy(1997) andDogma(1999).
Affleck starred in a number of other movies through the 1990s and early 2000s, including comedies likeShakespeare in Love(1998) — alongside then-girlfriendGwyneth Paltrow— and dramas likePearl Harbor(2001).
Affleck was married to actressJennifer Garnerfrom 2005 until 2018. During their marriage,they welcomed three kids: Violet, Seraphina and Samuel. The couple announced their separation in 2015 andfinalized their divorcethree years later.
In 2022, Affleck marriedJennifer Lopezafter reconnecting the year before. The couple previously dated, got engaged andcalled off their weddingbetween 2002 and 2004.
04of 10
Stellan Skarsgård as Gerald Lambeau
Stellan Skarsgard in ‘Good Will Hunting’. ; Stellan Skarsgard at the 78th Venice International Film Festival in September 2021.Photo 12 / Alamy ; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
Photo 12 / Alamy ; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
Stellan Skarsgård plays Gerald Lambeau, a mathematics professor at MIT.
Skarsgård’s first major role was in the Swedish television showBombi Bitt, which made him a teen idol. Throughout the 1970s, he appeared in several Swedish films before his American film debut inNoon Wine(1985).
He is well known for his longtime friendship and collaboration with Danish directorLars von Trier, including in his moviesBreaking the Waves(1996) andNymphomaniac(2013).
Skarsgård was married to Swedish physician My Skarsgård from 1975 until 2007; they sharefive sons and one daughter:Alexander,Gustaf, Sam,Bill, Eija and Valter. He married Irish producer Megan Everett in 2009 and welcomed sons Ossian and Kolbjörn.
05of 10
Minnie Driver as Skylar Satenstein
Minnie Driver in ‘Good Will Hunting’. ; Minnie Driver attends a screening of “Chevalier” in April 2023 in Los Angeles, California.George Kraychyk/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock ; Robin L Marshall/FilmMagic
George Kraychyk/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock ; Robin L Marshall/FilmMagic
Minnie Driverplays Skylar Satenstein, a British student at Harvard and Will’s love interest.
Driver was born in London and raised in Barbados until she was 6. Prior toGood Will Hunting, for which she received nominations for an Academy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, her breakout role was inCircle of Friends(1995).
After filming,Damon and Driver dateduntil 1998. The exes didn’t see each other again until 2020, Driver recounted during an appearance on theKeep It!podcast the following year.
“I did see Matt Damon on the beach and I had not had a conversation with him, seriously, since we made the film,” Driver said, referencingGood Will Hunting. “That was last summer andit was actually very nice to see him, and his kids, and his wifeand it all felt quite middle-aged actually, which was reassuring.”
The actress continued, “I feel like so much of the folly of youth went on with our initial relationship, like it was amazing and tabloidy. So that was nice to just have sort of a middle-aged conversation about the weather and stuff.”
She went on to voice Jane Porter in Disney’sTarzan(1999) and later appeared in films such asElla Enchanted(2004) andThe Phantom of the Opera(2004).
Driver is mother to one son,Henry, whom she shares with television producer Timothy J. Lea. Since 2019, she has been in a relationship with filmmakerAddison O’Dea.
06of 10
Casey Affleck as Morgan O’Mally
Casey Affleck in ‘Good Will Hunting’. ; Casey Affleck attends the silver medallion ceremony for Yorgos Lanthimos at the 50th Telluride Film Festival in September 2023 in Telluride, Colorado.Photo 12 / Alamy ; Vivien Killilea/Getty
Photo 12 / Alamy ; Vivien Killilea/Getty
Casey Affleck, Ben Affleck’s younger brother, played Morgan O’Mally, a friend of Will’s.
In August 2017,Casey and Phoenix divorcedafter 11 years of marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences.” In 2021, he began dating actressCaylee Cowan.
07of 10Cole Hauser as Billy McBrideCole Hauser in ‘Good Will Hunting’. ; Cole Hauser arrives at the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards in January 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.Photo 12 / Alamy ; Todd Williamson/NBC/NBC/GettyCole Hauserplays Billy McBride, a friend of Will’s.His film debut was inSchool Ties(1992), which also starred Damon and Affleck. He went on to appear inDazed and Confused(1993),2 Fast 2 Furious(2003),The Break-Up(2006) and more. Since 2018, Hauser has starred as Rip Wheeler in the acclaimed dramaYellowstone.As for his personal life, the California native has been married to actress and photographerCynthia Danielsince 2006. They sharethree kidstogether: sons Ryland and Colt Daniel, and daughter Steely Rose.
07of 10
Cole Hauser as Billy McBride
Cole Hauser in ‘Good Will Hunting’. ; Cole Hauser arrives at the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards in January 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.Photo 12 / Alamy ; Todd Williamson/NBC/NBC/Getty
Photo 12 / Alamy ; Todd Williamson/NBC/NBC/Getty
Cole Hauserplays Billy McBride, a friend of Will’s.
His film debut was inSchool Ties(1992), which also starred Damon and Affleck. He went on to appear inDazed and Confused(1993),2 Fast 2 Furious(2003),The Break-Up(2006) and more. Since 2018, Hauser has starred as Rip Wheeler in the acclaimed dramaYellowstone.
As for his personal life, the California native has been married to actress and photographerCynthia Danielsince 2006. They sharethree kidstogether: sons Ryland and Colt Daniel, and daughter Steely Rose.
08of 10Scott William Winters as ClarkScott William Winters in ‘Good Will Hunting’. ; Scott William Winters attends the “Beautifully Broken” World Premiere at The Factory in August 2018 in Franklin, Tennessee.Miramax ; Rick Diamond/GettyScott William Winters plays Clark, a Harvard student who Will intellectually bests.Winters grew up on Long Island, New York, and in Arizona.Good Will Huntingwas his first major project; he reprised his role alongside Damon and Affleck inJay and Silent Bob Strike Back(2001).He first appeared in HBO’sOzas a guest star in 1998 and became a supporting cast member in season 3 through the end of the series in 2003. He starred in the short-lived series10-8: Officers on Dutyand has appeared in multiple police and procedural dramas, includingLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit,Dexter,NCISand more.Winters and his wife, Jennifer Logan, share two daughters: Faith and Grace. His brothers are actorDean Wintersand writer-producer Bradford Winters.
08of 10
Scott William Winters as Clark
Scott William Winters in ‘Good Will Hunting’. ; Scott William Winters attends the “Beautifully Broken” World Premiere at The Factory in August 2018 in Franklin, Tennessee.Miramax ; Rick Diamond/Getty
Miramax ; Rick Diamond/Getty
Scott William Winters plays Clark, a Harvard student who Will intellectually bests.
Winters grew up on Long Island, New York, and in Arizona.Good Will Huntingwas his first major project; he reprised his role alongside Damon and Affleck inJay and Silent Bob Strike Back(2001).
He first appeared in HBO’sOzas a guest star in 1998 and became a supporting cast member in season 3 through the end of the series in 2003. He starred in the short-lived series10-8: Officers on Dutyand has appeared in multiple police and procedural dramas, includingLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit,Dexter,NCISand more.
Winters and his wife, Jennifer Logan, share two daughters: Faith and Grace. His brothers are actorDean Wintersand writer-producer Bradford Winters.
09of 10John Mighton as TomJohn Mighton in ‘Good Will Hunting’. ; John Mighton during his ‘The Math of Learning’ TEDxCern Talk.Miramax ; TEDx Talks/YouTubeReal-life mathematician John Mighton plays Tom, Professor Lambeau’s assistant.Mighton began tutoring children in math to support himself financially as a playwright. Tutoring helped him discover a new interest in math, a subject he struggled with as an undergraduate; he went on to earn a master’s degree and doctorate in math, he toldthe University of Toronto.Though Mighton’s only film role isGood Will Hunting, his plays have been performed around the world and won several awards, including the Canadian Governor General’s Award for Drama, the Dora Award, the Chalmers Award and the Siminovitch Prize.He is the founder of JUMP — Junior Undiscovered Math Prodigies — Math, a program that aims to help students succeed in math in Canada and the U.S., according toits website.
09of 10
John Mighton as Tom
John Mighton in ‘Good Will Hunting’. ; John Mighton during his ‘The Math of Learning’ TEDxCern Talk.Miramax ; TEDx Talks/YouTube
Miramax ; TEDx Talks/YouTube
Real-life mathematician John Mighton plays Tom, Professor Lambeau’s assistant.
Mighton began tutoring children in math to support himself financially as a playwright. Tutoring helped him discover a new interest in math, a subject he struggled with as an undergraduate; he went on to earn a master’s degree and doctorate in math, he toldthe University of Toronto.
Though Mighton’s only film role isGood Will Hunting, his plays have been performed around the world and won several awards, including the Canadian Governor General’s Award for Drama, the Dora Award, the Chalmers Award and the Siminovitch Prize.
He is the founder of JUMP — Junior Undiscovered Math Prodigies — Math, a program that aims to help students succeed in math in Canada and the U.S., according toits website.
10of 10
George Plimpton as Henry Lipkin
George Plimpton in ‘Good Will Hunting’. ; George Plimpton in January 1997.Miramax ; Francesco Da Vinci/Getty
Miramax ; Francesco Da Vinci/Getty
George Plimpton plays Henry Lipkin, Will’s court-ordered psychologist.
Plimpton was born in 1927 and grew up in New York City. He was best known for his work as a writer and for establishingThe Paris Reviewin 1953. He served as its editor-in-chief from its founding until his death.
source: people.com
