Twenty-eight years after the Boston-set drama Good Will Hunting captivated audiences and earned nine Academy Award nominations, the film’s core cast remains a powerhouse in Hollywood. The unexpected triumph of the 1997 film launched the careers of its young screenwriters, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, solidified Robin Williams's legacy, and propelled its ensemble cast into the stratosphere of A-list actors and filmmakers.
As of December 15, 2025, the cast is busier than ever, headlining major streaming projects, blockbuster films, and highly anticipated TV series. From a Netflix crime thriller reuniting two Oscar winners to a Star Wars spin-off and a role in Emily in Paris, here is a fresh, in-depth look at what the actors behind Will Hunting, Chuckie Sullivan, Skylar, and Dr. Sean Maguire are doing now, complete with their complete biographical profiles and latest projects.
The Good Will Hunting Ensemble: Complete Biographical Profiles
The success of Good Will Hunting is a testament to the talent of its main cast, each of whom brought a compelling depth to their roles. Here is a quick look at the key players and their background.
- Matt Damon (Will Hunting)
- Full Name: Matthew Paige Damon
- Born: October 8, 1970 (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA)
- Key Roles Post-GWH: Jason Bourne (The Bourne Identity series), Mark Watney (The Martian), Carroll Shelby (Ford v Ferrari).
- Accolades: Academy Award (Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting), Golden Globe Award.
- Ben Affleck (Chuckie Sullivan)
- Full Name: Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt
- Born: August 15, 1972 (Berkeley, California, USA)
- Key Roles Post-GWH: Tony Mendez (Argo), Batman (DCEU), Phil Knight (Air).
- Accolades: Two Academy Awards (Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting, Best Picture for Argo), Three Golden Globe Awards.
- Robin Williams (Dr. Sean Maguire)
- Full Name: Robin McLaurin Williams
- Born: July 21, 1951 (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
- Passed Away: August 11, 2014.
- Accolades: Academy Award (Best Supporting Actor for Good Will Hunting), Six Golden Globe Awards, Two Primetime Emmy Awards.
- Minnie Driver (Skylar)
- Full Name: Amelia Fiona Jessica Driver
- Born: January 31, 1970 (London, England)
- Key Roles Post-GWH: Lorraine Finster (Will & Grace), Maya DiMeo (Speechless).
- Accolades: Academy Award Nomination (Best Supporting Actress for Good Will Hunting), Primetime Emmy Nomination.
- Stellan Skarsgård (Professor Gerald Lambeau)
- Full Name: John Stellan Skarsgård
- Born: June 13, 1951 (Gothenburg, Sweden)
- Key Roles Post-GWH: Bill Anderson (Mamma Mia!), Bootstrap Bill Turner (Pirates of the Caribbean), Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Dune).
- Accolades: Golden Globe Award (Best Supporting Actor for Chernobyl), Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.
- Casey Affleck (Morgan O'Mally)
- Full Name: Caleb Casey McGuire Affleck-Boldt
- Born: August 12, 1975 (Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA)
- Key Roles Post-GWH: Robert Ford (The Assassination of Jesse James...), Lee Chandler (Manchester by the Sea).
- Accolades: Academy Award (Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea), Golden Globe Award.
The Dynamic Duo: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's New Empire
The story of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck writing Good Will Hunting and winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay is Hollywood legend. Now, nearly three decades later, their professional partnership has evolved from writing partners to co-CEOs of a major production company, a move that is shaping the future of streaming content.
The Launch of Artists Equity and Major New Projects
In 2022, Damon and Affleck launched their own production company, Artists Equity, with the goal of giving creative collaborators a greater share of the profits. This venture has already yielded significant projects, proving their enduring creative synergy.
- Air (2023): The first major film from their company, directed by Affleck and starring Damon, which chronicled the true story of Nike signing Michael Jordan. It was a critical and commercial success.
- The Instigators (2024): Damon and Affleck reunited on screen for this Apple Studios heist comedy, directed by Doug Liman.
- The Rip (2026): Their next major collaboration is this gritty Netflix crime thriller, which they are both set to star in and produce. This project, which sees them sporting matching beards in recent promotional images, is highly anticipated by fans and promises to be a return to their Boston roots.
Interestingly, despite their continued success, both actors confirmed in 2023 that they had been pitched a legitimate sequel to Good Will Hunting but swiftly turned it down, preferring to let the original film's ending stand.
Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgård, and Casey Affleck: Career Renaissance and Blockbuster Roles
While Damon and Affleck have dominated the headlines, the supporting cast of Good Will Hunting has also been incredibly active, securing roles in some of the biggest franchises and television hits of the current era. Their strategic career choices demonstrate the topical authority gained from their Oscar-nominated work on the 1997 film.
Minnie Driver (Skylar)
The actress who played Skylar, Will Hunting's Harvard girlfriend, has successfully navigated film, television, and voice acting.
- Major Film: Driver appeared in the action-thriller The Beekeeper (2024) alongside Jason Statham.
- Television Success: She is set to join the cast of the Netflix sensation Emily in Paris for Season 5, playing the character 'Princess Polly,' a friend of the PR powerhouse Sylvie.
- Voice Acting: Driver is also the voice of Oswalda Cobblepot/Penguin in the animated series Batman: Caped Crusader, showcasing her versatility.
- Advocacy: Beyond acting, Driver has been a prominent voice in the industry, recently speaking out in December 2024 to criticize unrealistic beauty standards in Hollywood.
Stellan Skarsgård (Professor Gerald Lambeau)
The Swedish actor, who played the brilliant but arrogant Fields Medal winner, continues his run in major sci-fi and drama franchises.
- Star Wars Franchise: Skarsgård's role as the morally complex Luthen Rael in the critically acclaimed Disney+ series Andor is one of his most high-profile roles. He confirmed that Season 2 is expected to be released in late 2024 or early 2025.
- New Film: He starred in the 2024 film What Remains.
- Personal Resilience: In a recent interview, Skarsgård discussed finding a renewed depth and joy in his work following a stroke he suffered three years prior, a testament to his enduring commitment to acting.
Casey Affleck (Morgan O'Mally)
Ben Affleck's younger brother, who played one of Will Hunting's loyal South Boston friends, went on to achieve his own major accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea.
- Recent Films: Casey Affleck's recent projects include a role in the 2024 film Slingshot and, notably, a reunion with his brother Matt Damon in the 2024 film The Instigators.
- Other Notables: He had a cameo role in the 2023 blockbuster Oppenheimer.
The Enduring Legacy of Robin Williams and the Film's Impact
No discussion of the Good Will Hunting cast is complete without acknowledging the late, great Robin Williams. His portrayal of the compassionate therapist Dr. Sean Maguire, which won him his sole Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, remains the emotional anchor of the film.
The film itself, directed by Gus Van Sant, is a masterclass in screenwriting and performance, earning praise not just for its major stars but also for supporting actors like Cole Hauser (Billy McBride) and its exploration of themes like genius, trauma, and finding one’s place in the world. The film’s success allowed its young writers to retain creative control, a rarity in Hollywood, solidifying its place as a classic. The continued relevance of the cast's work, decades later, proves that they all, in their own unique ways, truly understood the assignment.
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