Matthew Lawrence recalls Robin Williams’ hilarious 'Mrs. Doubtfire' public pranks
The late comedian reportedly turned everyday outings into comedy moments, according to Lawrence
Matthew Lawrence is looking back fondly on his time working with the late Robin Williams, sharing a behind-the-scenes memory that highlights the comedian’s legendary improvisational humor during the making of Mrs. Doubtfire.
Speaking at a reunion panel in Los Angeles on May 29, 2026, Lawrence reflected on filming the 1993 classic and recalled how Williams often extended his character beyond the set, even into real-life public spaces.
“It’s hard to pick one, but if I had to, it’s probably when [Williams] would want to try out the Mrs. Doubtfire thing in public,” the 46-year-old actor told the audience.
In the beloved family comedy directed by Chris Columbus, Williams played Daniel Hillard, a father who disguises himself as a British nanny to stay close to his children after a divorce.
The film also starred Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Lisa Jakub, and Mara Wilson, and went on to become a lasting pop culture favorite.
Lawrence said Williams would sometimes bring the character into everyday life, turning ordinary outings into spontaneous performances often involving unsuspecting members of the public.
“He’d grab someone… and go for a walk on the street, get into a conversation with some people and just see if he could pull it off being my nanny,” Lawrence recalled.
According to Lawrence, Williams’ ability to fully commit to the character made the interactions feel authentic to strangers, who had no idea they were part of an improvised comedy moment.
“It worked every time,” he said. “He had them laughing and enjoying life. These people would walk away thinking, ‘Oh, what a lovely lady.’”
The actor added that what stood out most was Williams’ ability to transform everyday situations into joyful, unscripted comedy that left a lasting impression on everyone involved.
