The Ultimate 'Something About Mary' Cast Update: The Comeback, The Director, And The Shocking Retirement In 2025

Few comedies have defined a generation quite like There's Something About Mary. Released in 1998, the Farrelly Brothers' masterpiece of gross-out humor mixed with genuine heart launched a new era of raunchy romantic comedy and cemented the star status of its core cast. But a lot has changed since Ted Stroehmann had his infamous "hair gel" moment. As of late 2025, the careers and lives of the actors who brought these unforgettable characters to life have taken wildly different, and often surprising, paths, from major Hollywood comebacks to complete retirement from the spotlight.

The film's enduring legacy is a testament to its brilliant blend of sweetness and shock, but the real curiosity for fans today is what Mary, Ted, and Pat are up to now. The latest updates reveal a major shift for the film's leading lady, a deep dive into directing for its star comedian, and a quiet life away from the stage for one of its funniest supporting players.

The Core Cast: Where Are They Now in 2025?

The stars of the 1998 classic have followed highly divergent career paths, with recent projects in 2025 and 2026 confirming that all three leads—and one beloved supporting actor—are in completely new phases of their professional lives.

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Cameron Diaz (Mary Jensen) - The Un-Retirement Queen

• Full Name: Cameron Michelle Diaz
• Born: August 30, 1972 (Age: 53 in 2025)
• Role in Film: Mary Jensen (The object of everyone's affection)
• Current Status: Un-retired and highly active in action-comedy.
• Recent/Upcoming Projects (2025-2026): After a decade-long hiatus from acting, Diaz has officially made her comeback. Her major return is in the Netflix action-comedy Back in Action, which is slated for release in 2025. Furthermore, she is set to star in another action-comedy titled Bad Day, with filming scheduled to begin in late 2025, solidifying her return to the genre. Fans will also hear her iconic voice once again as Princess Fiona in the highly anticipated animated film Shrek 5.

Ben Stiller (Ted Stroehmann) - The Director/Producer Shift

• Full Name: Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller
• Born: November 30, 1965 (Age: 59 in 2025)
• Role in Film: Ted Stroehmann (The hopelessly romantic protagonist)
• Current Status: Primarily focused on directing, producing, and dramatic acting.
• Recent/Upcoming Projects (2025-2026): While Stiller remains a beloved actor, his focus has notably shifted behind the camera. He is the executive producer and director of the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ thriller series Severance, which has been a major success. For 2025, Stiller directed the documentary feature Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost, about his legendary comedian parents. Looking ahead, he is attached to the 2026 projects Focker in-Law and The Dink.

Matt Dillon (Pat Healy) - The Indie Film Veteran

• Full Name: Matthew Raymond Dillon
• Born: February 18, 1964 (Age: 61 in 2025)
• Role in Film: Pat Healy (The sleazy private investigator)
• Current Status: Consistently working in a diverse range of film and television projects.
• Recent/Upcoming Projects (2025-2026): Dillon has maintained a steady and prolific career, often leaning toward independent and dramatic roles. His upcoming film slate includes the 2025 projects Being Maria and the comedy American Dreamer, which also stars Peter Dinklage. He also appeared in the 2024 film The Island.

Lee Evans (Norm Phipps) - The Quiet Retirement

• Full Name: Lee John Martin Evans
• Born: February 25, 1964 (Age: 61 in 2025)
• Role in Film: Norm Phipps (Ted's friend and rival for Mary, posing as a disabled architect)
• Current Status: Retired from stand-up comedy and acting.
• Recent/Upcoming Projects (2025): Lee Evans, one of Britain's most popular comedians, announced his retirement from stand-up and acting in 2014 to spend more time with his family. While he has completely stepped away from professional work, he was recently seen in a rare public outing in London in 2023, confirming his quiet life away from the spotlight remains his focus.

The Farrelly Legacy: Directors' New Ventures and Reunions

The success of There's Something About Mary is inextricably linked to its writers and directors, the Farrelly Brothers, Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly. The film’s outrageous humor and surprising tenderness became their signature style, but their recent careers have seen them diverge and then, recently, reunite.

The brothers, who also helmed classics like Dumb and Dumber, began pursuing separate projects after 2014’s Dumb and Dumber To. This separation led to Peter Farrelly achieving significant critical acclaim, winning two Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for the 2018 film Green Book. He followed this up by directing The Greatest Beer Run Ever in 2022. Meanwhile, Bobby Farrelly directed the 2023 film Champions.

In a treat for long-time fans of their joint work, the Farrelly Brothers recently reunited to work on the Christmas-themed film Dear Santa, with Bobby directing and Peter co-writing the screenplay. This reunion signals that the dynamic duo who pioneered the blend of crude and charming comedy is still a creative force in Hollywood, even as they continue to explore individual projects like Bobby's upcoming 2025 teen road trip comedy, Driver's Ed.

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The Unforgettable Moments That Defined 90s Comedy

Beyond the careers of its stars, the true topical authority of There's Something About Mary lies in its lasting cultural impact. The film is widely credited with helping to popularize the "gross-out" romantic comedy genre, paving the way for hits that followed.

The movie’s ability to generate shock and laughter simultaneously is what makes it a classic that still resonates today. It successfully blended edgy, boundary-pushing gags with a genuinely sweet central romance, a combination that few films have managed to replicate.

The film’s most famous scenes are now iconic entities in cinematic comedy history, and their titles alone are instantly recognizable to fans:

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• The Hair Gel Scene: The unforgettable moment where Ted mistakes a certain bodily fluid for hair gel before his date with Mary. It is arguably the most famous visual gag of the 1990s.
• "How'd You Get The Beans Above The Frank?": The line delivered by Warren (played by W. Earl Brown) in the infamous zipper scene, a moment of pure physical comedy that leaves audiences wincing and laughing. W. Earl Brown's portrayal of Mary's brother Warren is a perfect example of the film's commitment to secondary character development.
• The Splif in the Hair: The scene where Healy (Matt Dillon) accidentally gets a joint caught in his hair, leading to a hilarious exchange with a police officer.
• Jonathan Richman's Narration: The use of singer/songwriter Jonathan Richman and drummer Tommy Larkins as a musical Greek chorus, providing quirky, live-action musical narration throughout the movie, was a unique and charming directorial touch.

These entities—the scenes, the characters, and the style—are why the movie remains a foundational piece of modern comedy, proving that a film can be both wildly inappropriate and genuinely endearing at the same time. Its legacy is not just in the careers it launched, but in the comedic boundaries it shattered.

The Enduring Legacy of Mary and Ted

The cast of There's Something About Mary has truly followed a "where are they now" narrative of extremes. Cameron Diaz has emerged from a decade of retirement to reclaim her action-comedy throne in 2025. Ben Stiller has transitioned from being a comedy actor to an award-winning director and producer of prestige television. Matt Dillon continues his respected, active career, and Lee Evans has found peace in a quiet life away from the stage.

The film itself remains a cultural touchstone, a perfect snapshot of 90s comedy that still holds up—mostly—today. As new generations discover the Farrelly Brothers' masterpiece, the outrageous, yet heartfelt, story of Ted, Mary, and the men obsessed with her continues to be a hilarious reminder of how far people will go for love.