Actor Matthew Lawrence has opened up about the invaluable life lessons he learned from the late Robin Williams, his co-star in the beloved 1993 family classic Mrs. Doubtfire. Starring Williams as the titular character, the film also featured Pierce Brosnan and Oscar-winner Sally Field.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly following his elimination from The Masked Singer on Wednesday, the Boy Meets World actor reflected on the unique bond he formed with Williams on the set of the hit comedy and the guidance that continues to shape his life and career.
“I didn’t quite realise it at the time, but that moment there on the set of Mrs. Doubtfire, that those six to eight months were the biggest learning curve anyone can get when it comes to making movies and being an entertainer,” Lawrence shared.
“And then on top of that, you get a chance to be around Robin Williams, and he takes an investment in you, as he does with people. But in particular, he really took an investment with me.”
Lawrence was just 13 years old when he portrayed Chris Hillard, one of the three children caught in the middle of a custody battle between their on-screen parents. Williams, in one of his most iconic roles, played the father who disguised himself as a quirky Scottish nanny to remain close to his children.
More than three decades on, the experience left a lasting impression on Lawrence, particularly two pieces of advice Williams gave him: “Don’t judge until you walk in someone else’s shoes” and what “type of compassion you need to have for people.”
“He really explained his life to me and really brought me in and taught me not just about in front of the camera, but a lot about the behind the camera as well, and how he felt that substances really further pushed his brain to not function properly,” Lawrence continued.
“He really opened up with me, and I’ll never forget it. There were times he would just grab me, and he’d be like, ‘Don’t put that stuff in your body. If I could go back and tell myself, this is why I’m telling you, don’t put that stuff in your body.’”
Williams, who tragically died by suicide in 2014 at the age of 63, was later found to be suffering from Lewy body dementia, a debilitating condition that can cause severe cognitive decline. He had also struggled for years with substance abuse.
Lawrence credits the Oscar-winner’s candid warning with helping him steer clear of drug use throughout his life and career. “Man, it’s a real shame that he’s not with us. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t hear his voice,” he added.
In a poignant reflection, Lawrence revealed he has even considered using AI technology to recreate Williams’s voice, if given the blessing of his family. “I even wish, now with artificial intelligence, I kind of want to go to his family and be like, would you guys allow me to use his voice for some sort of creative expression? Because I hear it every day, in my head.”