NEED TO KNOW
Lou Diamond Phillips is remembering one of his most well-known roles.
Recently, Phillips was asked in a post on X about his experience working with Denzel Washington on the 1996 film Courage Under Fire.
Phillips responded, “You brought your A game 24/7. Or get blown off screen.”
“And if you survived Denzel, Meg Ryan was next in line to eat your lunch,” he continued.
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“Oh, and an unknown guy named Matt Damon was there just in case you thought you could coast. One of the most exhilarating shoots of my career.”
Another fan asked Phillips if he could sense what was coming for Damon, who had not yet had his big break prior to that film. He replied, “Yup. He let me read Good Will Hunting before it was filmed. I knew he was on his way.”
20th Century Fox/TCD/Prod.DB / Alamy
Phillips also talked about the film at the 2025 FanX Atlanta Comic Convention, explaining he nearly wasn’t involved until a kind gesture made an impression on director Edward Zwick.
“Speaking of letters, that’s how I got Courage Under Fire,” he shared, noting that he had such a positive experience auditioning that he wanted to follow up and thank Zwick, even when he didn’t get the role.
“The audition process was so wonderful and so supportive. Ed Zwick was amazing in how he really felt like he gave you an opportunity. So I wrote him a letter and told him so, and then he called me from location like, ‘Okay, this guy isn’t gonna work. You’re in.’ “
