The Cast of ‘The Parent Trap’ Remake, Then and Now

Twenty-five years ago, Lindsay Lohan made her film debut in the remake of The Parent Trap, playing identical twins Annie and Hallie.

The twins, separated at birth and each raised by one of their biological parents, later discover each other for the first time at summer camp. The pair elaborately and successfully scheme to reunite their parents and rekindle their romance after they secretly switch places.

A remake of the 1961 original Disney film starring Hayley Mills, which was an adaptation of Erich Kastner’s novel Lottie and Lisa, the film was a box-office success and earned positive reviews, especially for its young star Lohan.

More than two decades later, fans still reminisce over the film that made Oreos dipped in peanut butter a childhood staple.

To celebrate the film’s 22nd anniversary in 2020, Katie Couric reunited the stars, along with writer-director Nancy Meyers and writer-producer Charles Shyer, on her Instagram channel, where they talked about favorite scenes, lines and memories from making the movie.

And now, in honor of the film’s 25th anniversary, read on to see what the cast has been up to in the years since the movie hit theaters July 29, 1998.

Lindsay Lohan

Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Before Lindsay Lohan was Cady Heron in Mean Girls, her role in the 1998 classic playing the adorable redheaded twins, Annie and Hallie, brought her critical acclaim and commercial success. The film premiered when Lohan was just 12 years old.

“I was so young, and it was just so fresh for me. It was my first movie audition. It was my first screen test, my first time in front of people like Nancy and Charles and on a sound stage,” Lohan told Couric.

After The Parent Trap, Lohan went on to star in a number of films, including Herbie Fully Loaded, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen and Freaky Friday. She played herself in projects such as The Holiday, Glee, Scary Movie V and TV series Anger Management.

In March 2022, Lohan partnered with Netflix for two new films in addition to that year’s Falling for Christmas. The deal marked the actress’ full-fledged return to acting after several years on and off the screen.
Dennis Quaid

Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Quaid plays the divorced father of Annie James and Hallie Parker, the latter of whom resides with him in Napa, California, where he owns a vineyard. When Annie meets him masquerading as Hallie, she learns he is engaged to gold digger Meredith Blake.

“When it comes down to it, this movie just had some sort of stardust that was sprinkled on it,” Quaid told Couric of the movie’s enduring appeal.

Quaid went on to star in several films, including Frequency, Far From Heaven and A Dog’s Purpose. He also had recurring roles in TV series like Vegas, The Art of More and Fortitude. More recently, the actor starred in Max’s Full Circle and will portray former President Ronald Reagan in Reagan.
Natasha Richardson

Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection; Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Before The Parent Trap, Richardson won a Tony Award for best performance in a musical, a Drama Desk Award for outstanding actress in a musical and the Outer Critics Circle Award for the 1998 Broadway revival of Cabaret. In The Parent Trap, Richardson plays Annie and Hallie’s mother, who resided in London and worked as a famous wedding dress designer. She went on to star in films including Waking Up in Reno and Maid in Manhattan.

On March 16, 2009, at age 45, Richardson died from a head injury while skiing.

“Natasha had such an elegance and grace and she was so maternal to me,” Lohan told Couric of her onscreen mom.
Elaine Hendrix

Image Credit: Disney/Courtesy Everett Collection; Araya Doheny/Getty Images

Hendrix plays Meredith Blake, a publicist from San Francisco whom Nick hired for his vineyard, and they later get engaged. She earns the nickname “Cruella” from the twins, who desperately want to get their parents back together.

“Let’s talk about this because, at the time, yes, she was a nightmare,” Hendrix told Couric. “But Meredith has really come around now. There’s the whole generation who thinks Meredith is #goals. There was this online campaign and hashtag #JusticeforMeredithBlake. And I’m like, ‘Right on, yes! Meredith is getting her dues.’”

Hendrix started her career as a professional dancer before an injury led her to pursue acting. She was a hip-hop dancer in videos for M.C. Hammer, Whodini, Keith Sweat and Cameo. She also starred in Get Smart, Good Intentions and Inspector Gadget 2. Most recently, she played the role of Alexis Carrington in the CW’s reboot of Dynasty.
Lisa Ann Walter

Image Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images; Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Walter plays Nick’s (Quaid) loving housekeeper, who helped raise Hallie and is the first one to recognize that the twins switched places. The Parent Trap marked one of the actress’ first feature roles. Toward the end of the film, she joins forces with Hallie and Annie to help reunite Nick and Elizabeth (Richardson).

After the film, Walter went on to appear in films like Get Your Stuff, Bruce Almighty and Shall We Dance. She also guest-starred on several TV series, including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Emeril, Breaking News, GLOW and Grey’s Anatomy. She currently stars in Quinta Brunson’s award-winning series Abbott Elementary.