'Shrek' At 25: Where Is The Cast Now?
Shrek (2001) is a cultural touchstone in the 21st century, with the prickly ogre quickly becoming one of DreamWorks Animation’s biggest breakout stars. The success of Shrek helped lay the groundwork for the greater heights the animation studio would swing for in later years. The immediate success of Shrek also set up a long-running series that includes Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), Shrek Forever After (2010), and the upcoming Shrek 5 (2027).
Part of the film’s appeal was the prevalence of major film stars in the production, especially for adults who took their kids to see the film. At the time of release, the cast of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, and John Lithgow was a certified collection of Hollywood all-stars, with their prior and subsequent projects highlighting the star power in the first Shrek. Twenty-five years after it debuted, here are all the major voice actors in Shrek and what they’ve been up to in the years since.
Mike Myers (Shrek)
As the face of the franchise, Mike Myers was already a massive comedy star when Shrek came onto the scene and gave him one of his biggest ever roles. After breaking out on Saturday Night Live (1975), Myers exploded in the pop culture space thanks to the success of movies like Wayne's World (1992) and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997).
Shrek was a different beast for the actor, giving him one of his longest-running characters. Following the lackluster reception to The Cat in the Hat (2003) and The Love Guru (2008), Myers largely retreated from live-action roles, although he appears in minor roles in Inglourious Basterds (2009), Bohemian Rhapsody (2019), and Michael (2026). Myers also created the Netflix miniseries The Pentaverate (2022), which sees him play multiple characters, including Shrek.
Cameron Diaz (Fiona)
After breaking out in The Mask (1994), Cameron Diaz became one of the biggest stars of the 1990s and 2000s, making her a natural fit for Shrek, alongside movies like My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) and Charlie’s Angels (2000). This continued alongside the Shrek series, which further cemented Diaz as one of Hollywood’s most bankable actresses.
Diaz continued her string of hits in the 2000s, with a mix of romantic dramedies like The Holiday (2006), action vehicles like Knight and Day (2010), and broad comedies like Bad Teacher (2011). Diaz retired from acting after starring in Annie (2014), though she recently returned to the screen for the film Back in Action (2025) with Jamie Foxx, Outcome (2026 with Keanu Reeves, and the upcoming Shrek 5.
Eddie Murphy (Donkey)
After breaking out on Saturday Night Live and cementing his stardom with movies like Beverly Hills Cop (1984) and his stand-up specials, Eddie Murphy was a true comedy star when he took on the role of Donkey for Shrek. While Murphy had experience in family entertainment prior to Shrek, thanks to films like Mulan (1998), the actor spent several years following Shrek starring in family-friendly movies like Daddy Day Care (2003).
Although he earned an Academy Award nomination for Dreamgirls (2006), Murphy also starred in several films that received less than stellar reviews, like Norbit (2007). In recent years, Murphy has experienced a major resurgence thanks to movies like Dolemite Is My Name (2019) and Coming 2 America (2021), as well as an Emmy-winning return to host Saturday Night Live.
John Lithgow (Lord Farquaad)
One of Hollywood’s most versatile actors, John Lithgow’s turn as Lord Farquad is just one of his many comedy roles. After breaking out on stage, Lithgow rose to prominence both on TV and in film, earning Oscar nominations while also headlining goofy sitcoms like 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996).
Since Shrek, Lithgow’s reputation has only grown in recent years, whether that be in tense dramas like Dexter (2006), historical adaptations such as The Crown (2016), romantic dramas like Love is Strange (2014), and character-driven dramas like Conclave (2024). All of these projects highlight the actor’s continuing presence as a dramatic fixture in modern Hollywood. Lithgow’s next biggest role is Dumbledore in the new adaptation of the Harry Potter series (2026).
Vincent Cassel (Robin Hood)
One of the goofiest turns in Shrek comes courtesy of Vincent Cassel, who plays the showboat version of Robin Hood. The French actor has since blended a mix of Hollywood fare like Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and Black Swan (2010) with European films like Read My Lips (2001) and It’s Only the End of the World (2016), the latter of which earned him several award nominations.
He’s also maintained a consistent space in French voice acting, serving as part of the French dub for movies like Ice Age (2002) and The Little Prince (2015). In recent years, Cassel reasserted himself as a French movie star with one of the lead roles in the critically acclaimed and financially successful The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan (2023) and the subsequent sequel The Three Musketeers: Milady (2023).
Kathleen Freeman (Old Woman)
One of the best cameos in Shrek belongs to Kathleen Freeman, who appears briefly as the Old Woman at the wrestling competition who ends up supporting Shrek. The legendary actress spent 50 years appearing in film and television productions, ranging from iconic properties like I Dream of Jeannie (1965) to animated fare like As Told By Ginger (2000). She also had an enduring place in Hollywood as a comedy ringer, appearing opposite Jerry Lewis in several of his films and delivering an iconic turn in The Blues Brothers (1980).
Shrek was Freeman’s final performance, as she passed away later that year from lung cancer at the age of 82. Given the depth of her career and ability to stand out comically even against legends of the industry, it’s fitting that her final performance, albeit a brief one, is so memorable.
Animation Staff (The Fairy Tale Creatures)
Some of the most entertaining gags in Shrek come courtesy of the fairy tale creatures that have ended up stuck in Shrek’s swamp. The film cast a number of animators from DreamWorks in those roles, reflecting their brief but goofy nature. All of them have remained active in the animation scene in the years since.
Conrad Vernon, who voices Gingerbread Man, went on to direct Shrek 2 as well as Monsters vs. Aliens (2009), Sausage Party (2016), and The Addams Family (2019), with Shrek 5 and a remake of The Jetsons also on the way. Chris Miller, who played the Magic Mirror, went on to direct Shrek the Third and the spin-off Puss in Boots (2011) while also playing minor characters across several DreamWorks films. Cody Cameron, who played Pinocchio and the Three Little Pigs, went on to direct Open Season 3 (2010) and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013).
Simon J. Smith, who appears as one of the Three Blind Mice, went on to co-direct Bee Movie (2007) and Penguins of Madagascar (2014), while one of the other mice was played by Christopher Knights, who remained an animator at DreamWorks. Aron Winter, who played the Big Bad Wolf, has been an executive producer on many DreamWorks films like Shrek, which won him an Oscar. Andrew Adamson has perhaps the smallest cameo as the Duloc Mascot, despite being the director of Shrek and later The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005).
