Revive that handshake: 'The Parent Trap' is 25! See Lindsay Lohan and cast then and now (2024)

Erin JensenUSA TODAY

While it might sound as absurd as two divorced parents splitting up and raising their identical twins as only children, the Lindsay Lohan version of “The Parent Trap” turns 25 on Saturday.

As Hayley Mills did in the original 1961 movie − which inspired the 1998 remake − Lohan portrayed the pair of siblings scheming to get their parents back together upon realizing they have a twin. Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson play Annie and Hallie’s parents, Nick Parker and Elizabeth James. The twins’ mission of reuniting their parents was made all the harder by Nick’s fiancée Meredith Blake (Elaine Hendrix), who taught audiences that “Being young and beautiful is not a crime, you know.”

In celebration of the anniversary, put on a pot of Chessy’s chili as we dive into what the film’s stars have been up to lately.

Lindsay Lohan

Lohan has gone from parent trapper who discovers she has a long-lost sister to parent herself: The 37-year-old actress and her husband, financier Bader Shammas, have welcomed their first child, the couple confirmed to USA TODAY earlier this month. They wed in 2022 and named their son Luai, meaning “shield” or “protector” in Arabic.

Though Lohan had a string of popular teen movies in the mid-2000s − “Freaky Friday,” “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen” and “Mean Girls” − her career stalled amid struggles with substance abuse.

Lohan moved to Dubai in 2014 and worked sporadically, mostly on TV series. Last November, Netflix announced a two-picture deal with the star. The first film, “Falling for Christmas,” in which Lohan played a hotel heiress struck with amnesia, arrived that same month.

Lindsay Lohan is a mom! Actress welcomes first child with Bader Shammas

Dennis Quaid

After Quaid played Nick, the man who could melt you just by saying “Lizzie,” he continued to have a steady career, with roles in “Any Given Sunday,” “Traffic,” “The Rookie,” “The Day After Tomorrow” and the remake of “Footloose.” He received an Emmy nod for his work on HBO’s “The Special Relationship” (2010) for his portrayal of Bill Clinton.

In recent years, Quaid has starred in numerous inspirational films, including “I Can Only Imagine,” “Blue Miracle” and “On a Wing and a Prayer.” This week, the 69-year-old released his Christian music album "Fallen: A Gospel Record for Sinners." He told People that he had once again embraced his Christian upbringing.

Quaid, who previously battled cocaine addiction, told the magazine: “When you're done with the addiction, you need something to fill that hole, something that really works, right?”

Natasha Richardson

Following her role as an elegant fashion designer in “The Parent Trap,” Richardson appeared in 2002’s “Maid in Manhattan,” starring Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes. Sadly, about a decade after “The Parent Trap,” Richardson died in 2009 at 45. While skiing in Québec, Richardson hit her head and refused to see a doctor. But she fell ill and her husband Liam Neeson made the decision to remove life support.

Quaid remembered his co-star in a 2018 interview with Us Weekly. “She was such a beautiful person, such a beautiful, beautiful person. Just none of that, that actor stuff, prima donna stuff,” Quaid said. “Someone easy to work with and such a great sense of humor.”

'Really special': Lindsay Lohan reflects on 'Parent Trap' experience in co-star reunion

Elaine Hendrix

Hendrix played the villain who thought she’d scored, landing a fiancé who owned a Napa Valley vineyard. With dreams of sending his maniacal twins to boarding school, Meredith was ultimately taken down by Annie and Hallie.

Following “The Parent Trap,” Hendrix, 52, appeared in popular series like “Friends,” “ER” and “Two and a Half Men.” More recently, she portrayed Alexis Carrington on CW’s reboot of "Dynasty."

Hendrix hasn’t strayed from referencing the iconic Meredith Blake over the years on social media. "People loved to hate her," she told Insider in 2021, "and now people just love her."

Lisa Ann Walter

After playing the sharp housekeeper Chessy in “The Parent Trap,” Walter appeared on TV series like “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Nip/Tuck” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Since 2021, the 59-year-old actress has played rough-around-the-edges teacher Melissa Schemmenti on ABC darling “Abbott Elementary.”

Walter and Hendrix remain close after all these years. Hendrix dressed as Chessy for Halloween 2021. And Walter asked Hendrix to be her date for the Screen Actors Guild Awards in February.

Revive that handshake: 'The Parent Trap' is 25! See Lindsay Lohan and cast then and now (2024)

FAQs

How did Lindsay Lohan play both twins in The Parent Trap? ›

Lindsay Lohan does not have a twin sister, and she used a body double for some scenes in The Parent Trap. Erin Mackey was Lohan's body double for scenes where the characters interacted with each other. Mackey has had success in both film and Broadway, starring in productions like Wicked and Annie.

How old was Lindsay Lohan when she filmed The Parent Trap? ›

THE Parent Trap launched the career of child star Lindsay Lohan and is still loved by generations of fans. And just to make you feel really old, the film marks its 25th anniversary today. Lindsay, now 37, was just 12 when she played identical twins Annie James and Hallie Parker in the family movie.

What is Lindsay Lohan doing now? ›

Now, Lohan is enjoying a streak of hit Netflix films, and is a married woman — to husband Bader Shammas, whom she tied the knot with in 2022. The couple welcomed their first child together, son Luai, the following year. Read on to learn more about Lohan's life now, as Mean Girls celebrates 20 years of grool.

How old was Meredith in The Parent Trap? ›

Elaine Hendrix reflects on her 18-year age gap with 'Parent Trap' costar Dennis Quaid: 'We had tremendous chemistry' leaving the page. , an actor 18 years her senior. Hendrix played Meredith Blake, a 26-year-old publicist newly engaged to Quaid's Nick Parker.

Did they use real twins in The Parent Trap? ›

In the 1998 remake — no. They were both played by Lindsay Lohan, who is also incomparable but for maybe different reasons than Miss Mills. In a film called “It Takes Two” — a sort of version of The Parent Trap — yes. They were played by the then up and coming Olsen Twins.

Who was the body double in Parent Trap? ›

Erin Mackey got her showbiz start at age 11, playing Lindsay Lohan's double in the 1998 film The Parent Trap.

What ethnicity is Lindsay Lohan? ›

Lohan is of Irish and Italian heritage, and she was raised as a Roman Catholic. Her maternal antecedents were "well known Irish Catholic stalwarts" and her great-grandfather, John L. Sullivan, was a co-founder of the Pro-life Party on Long Island. She began home-schooling in grade 11.

Who was Lindsay Lohan's husband? ›

Was the lizard scene in Parent Trap real? ›

The lizard we see crawling down Meredith's face into her mouth is animated. They didn't even bother to match the color of the live lizard, but I'll bet that most of the audience didn't notice.

What does "for Hallie" mean in Parent Trap? ›

Edit. During the end credits, pictures from Nick and Liz's wedding are shown. During the opening credits, it says "A Nancy Meyers/Charles Shyer Film," even though only the former is the director. As the end credits begin rolling, the caption "For Hallie" is a dedication to Nancy Meyers's daughter.

Did Hayley Mills play both twins in The Parent Trap? ›

The Parent Trap is a 1961 American romantic comedy film written and directed by David Swift. It stars Hayley Mills (in a dual role) as a pair of teenage twins plotting to reunite their divorced parents by switching places with each other. Maureen O'Hara and Brian Keith play the parents.

How did the twins separate in Parent Trap? ›

A remake of the 1961 classic, doppelgangers Hallie and the British Annie, both played by Lohan, encounter one another at summer camp where they eventually realize they're actually twins, separated at birth by their bitterly divorced parents, vigneron Nick (Dennis Quaid) and fashion designer Elizabeth (Natasha ...

Who played the two twins in Parent Trap? ›

Cast and characters. Lindsay Lohan as Hallie "Hal" Parker and Annie "Ann" James, 11-year-old twin sisters who were separated after birth. After their parents' divorce, they were raised separately with no knowledge of each other's existence — until they meet at summer camp by chance.

Why is Parent Trap dedicated to Hallie? ›

As the end credits begin rolling, the caption "For Hallie" is a dedication to Nancy Meyers's daughter. During the end credits, pictures from Nick and Liz's wedding are shown. During the opening credits, it says "A Nancy Meyers/Charles Shyer Film," even though only the former is the director.

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