Get the picture? More than three decades after Hayley Mills wooed fans in 1961’s The Parent Trap, Disney reboot the classic and produced an equally as big box office hit.
The 1998 film, which starred Lindsay Lohan as identical twins, Annie James and Hallie Parker, followed the sisters after they are reunited while attending the same Camp Walden summer camp ahead of their 12th birthday.
While the twins had no idea that the other existed — Annie lived in London with their mom, Elizabeth James (Natasha Richardson), and Hallie grew up in California with their dad, Nick Parker (Dennis Quaid) — they quickly bonded.
Sure, the girls had a battle of wits at the all-girls camp, but ultimately, they hatched a plan to switch places and with any luck reunite their parents. Hallie enlisted the help of the twins’ grandfather (Ronnie Stevens) and butler Martin (Simon Kunz) while getting to know her mum in England.
Annie, for her part, was tasked with breaking up their dad’s new relationship. Nick had fallen for a young 26-year-old named Meredith Blake (Elaine Hendrix) while her sister was away at camp, but luckily, Annie (who was pretending to be Hallie) had housekeeper Cheesy (Lisa Ann Walter) in her corner.
Two decades after The Parent Trap hooked a new generation on the twin-switch story line, the cast virtually reunited. During their chat, the group remembered their late costar Richardson, who died in March 2009.
“Natasha had such an elegance and grace, and she was so maternal to me,” Lohan recalled in July 2020 while speaking with her former castmates and director Nancy Meyers.
Quaid added: “[She was] somebody so giving and glad to be there and transmitted that joy of being able to do what we do. It just made everything that much better.”
The following year, Hendrix exclusively told Us Weekly about how her villainous character has evolved over the years, revealing that many viewers now see Meredith as a badass female who knew her worth.
“One of the keys to playing villains is that the characters, you never think of yourself as a villain, like, ever. So Meredith Blake, no. Like to me, everyone else is catching up to everything I had already thought about her and that narrative Meredith thought about herself,” she said in June 2021. “So of course, she wasn’t the villain. Of course, she was the victim to these two little monster twins and their parents.”
Walter — who became real-life BFFs with Hendrix despite their characters hating each other — exclusively told Us in April 2022 that she would happily team up with the whole cast again for a sequel. (Yes, that means Meredith Blake would have to make a comeback of some sort.)
“I think it would be really fun if we were pursuing the story [of Chessy and Martin]. Because people all the time are like, ‘Why is there not a 2? Not a remake, but a Parent Trap where the Lindsay character grows up and they’re twins and they have to get Martin and Chessy back together,” Walter revealed. “People will come up with story ideas like that. … And of course [I’d love if] somehow Meredith is involved just because I would die to do another version of working with Elaine in those roles.”
She added: “My best friend is Elaine and we kind of got hit at the 20-year reunion mark [with new fans] because of the fact that they air it so frequently and new generations find it.”
Scroll down to see what the 1998 Parent Trap cast is doing now:
Lohan portrayed both Annie and Hallie Parker in the Disney film. She went on to star in Get a Clue, Freaky Friday, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Mean Girls, Just My Luck and Georgia Rule. After years of personal struggles — she appeared in court several times amid substance abuse issues — the New York native revived her career with a recurring role on 2018’s Sick Note. She also released new music in 2020, her first single in 12 years, called “Back to Me.” Lohan followed up her own reality series, Lindsay Lohan’s Beach Club, by making a deal with Netflix to star in multiple movies, including 2022’s Falling for Christmas. The former child star ended her engagement to Egor Tarabasov in 2016. She moved on with Bader Shammas, who proposed in November 2021. Us confirmed in July 2022 that Lohan and Shammas secretly tied the knot nearly one year after getting engaged. Shutterstock (2)
Quaid played the twins’ father, Nick Parker, who owned a winery in Napa, California. The Texas native then starred in The Rookie, The Day After Tomorrow, Yours, Mine & Ours, A Dog’s Purpose, I Can Only Imagine, A Dog’s Journey, American Underdog and The Tiger Rising. His TV credits include Vegas, The Art of More and Merry Happy Whatever. Quaid served as an executive producer on all three of the TV projects in addition to his two podcasts, “The Pet Show With Dennis Quaid and Jimmy Jellinek” and “The Dennissance.” The Emmy nominated actor has been a musician for decades, announcing in April 2022 that he would be touring solo. The In Good Company actor has been married four times. Quaid tied the knot with P.J. Soles in 1978, but the duo split in 1983. He moved on with Meg Ryan in 1991. The pair, who welcomed son Jack in 1992, called it quits in 2001. Quaid was married to Kimberly Quaid from 2004 to 2018. The exes share twins Thomas and Zoe, whom they welcomed in 2007. The actor wed Laura Savoie in June 2020. Shutterstock (2)
The English actress portrayed Annie and Hallie’s mom, Elizabeth James, who designed wedding gowns. Richardson went on to star in Blow Dry, Waking Up in Reno, Maid in Manhattan, Asylum, The White Countess, Evening and Wild Child. She served as an executive producer on 2005’s Asylum. Richardson died in March 2009 after suffering a head injury during a skiing accident. She was 45. The Every Picture Tells a Story actress is survived by her husband, Liam Neeson, whom she wed in 1994, and their two sons, Micheál and Daniel, who were born in 1995 and 1996, respectively. Shutterstock (2)
The Tennessee native played villain Meredith Blake, who threatens to send Hallie and Annie to boarding school after she marries their father. Hendrix then appeared in Superstar, LA Blues, Good Intentions, Low Low, Adopt a Highway and Short Straw. She starred on The Chronicle, Joan of Arcadia, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, Proven Innocent and Paradise Lost. Hendrix landed the role of Alexis Carrington on the Dynasty reboot in 2021. The star has multiple producing, writing and one directing credit on her resume. The Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion actress has been an animal rights activist for decades. In 2012, she founded The Pet Matchmaker, which is an organization dedicated to helping pet parents with anything they may need to adopt, foster and care for their animals. Hendrix is also on the board of Stray Rescue of St. Louis. YouTube; Gregory Pace/Shutterstock
Walter portrayed Nick’s housekeeper, Chessy, who served as a helper with Hallie growing up. Her later film credits include Bruce Almighty, Shall We Dance, Graduation, Wedding Day, You Can’t Have It and The Right Mom. The Maryland native has starred on Emeril, Breaking News and had a recurring role on The Exes and The Odd Couple. Walter has been playing Melissa Schemmenti on Abbott Elementary since 2021. Behind the camera, the actress has worked as a producer on Gonzo Girlz, Dance Your Ass Off and the short film Jersey. She is also a writer and director. Walter, who penned The Best Thing About My Ass Is That It's Behind Me in 2011, is the mother of four children. She shares son Jordan and daughter Delia with ex-husband Sam Baum, whom she split from in 1999. The My Wildest Dreams alum is also the parent of twin sons Simon and Spencer, who were born in 2001. YouTube; Frank Micelotta/Shutterstock
Kunz played Elizabeth and Annie’s butler, Martin, who resided with them in England. The English actor then focused on TV roles, starring on Waking the Dead, Coronation Street, The Last Kingdom, Requiem, Traitors and This Sceptred Isle. His film credits include The Bunker, Match Point, Captain America: The First Avenger, Orthodox, Blithe Spirit and The Cursed. The University of Warwick alum was married to Ashley Philips from 1985 to 1997. The former spouses share son John, born in 1990, and daughter Adrianna, born in 1998. Kunz wed Brianna Australian Sodi in 2013. The couple share daughter Kelly. YouTube; Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix/Shutterstock
The Alabama native portrayed Camp Walden co-owner Marva Kulp Sr. Holliday then had a recurring role on Home Improvement as Liliian Patterson before starring in It Must Be Love, Stick It, The Heartbreak Kid and Fair Game. The Emmy nominated actress retired from acting in 2010. Holliday, who is also known for starring on the comedy series Alice and its spinoff Flo, was inducted into the Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame in 2000. Disney+; Carolyn Contino/BEI/Shutterstock
Wheeler played Marva’s daughter, Marva Kulp Jr., who was the co-owner of Camp Walden. The New York native starred in The Parent Trap amid filming Friends, where she portrayed Janice, and Everybody Loves Raymond, where she had a recurring role as Linda Gruenfelder until 2004. Wheeler has since appeared in Waking Dreams, It’s Not You, It’s Me, Genie in a Bikini and voiced Trudy Pickering in The Addams Family. Her additional TV credits include Californication and Archer. Wheeler released a series of meditation stories in 2021 called The River and the Wren. The Ellen alum has been married to Daniel Borden Wheeler since 1990. The couple share two children: daughter Juno, born in 1994, and Gemma, born in 2000. YouTube; Can Nguyen/Shutterstock
The English actor’s role as the twins' grandfather, and Elizabeth’s father, was his last acting gig before retiring. Stevens broke into the entertainment industry in 1952 and acted until 1998. He’s best known for starring in both Dentist in the Chair and Dentist on the Job as Brian Dexter and for his voice work on Noggin the Nog, Planet Patrol and Captain Zed and the Zee Zone. Stevens died in November 2006. He was 81. The actor’s wife of 47 years, Ann Bristow, died eight months prior. The couple are survived by their son Guy Stevens. They also shared son Paul Stevens, who passed away in 1990. YouTube
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