Mrs. Doubtfire is one iconic film, cherished as a beloved gem that transcends generations to this date. It can now undoubtedly be said that Robin Williams didn’t just deliver a remarkable performance in the film, he also forged genuine connections with the kids, blurring the lines between reel and real life. Williams’ genuine connection with his young co-stars was evident when he came to the aid of one of them, who was expelled from school during filming.
In a heartwarming reunion, the cast of former child actors gathered on a podcast nearly three decades after the movie’s premiere. Amidst the reunion, Lisa Jakub, who played Lydia, bravely shared the personal hurdles she overcame to pursue a career in Hollywood. Although Robin Williams ultimately emerged as a hero in her story, it was the principal’s actions that stirred confusion across the internet.
Robin Williams Wrote a Letter to the Principal Who Expelled His Young Mrs. Doubtfire Co-Star from School
Lisa Jakub was in the 9th grade when her Hollywood film with Robin Williams was released. One would think her school would be proud of her achievements, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The Mrs. Doubtfire actor was expelled from her school due to her prolonged absence, which she revealed to be four months spent shooting the film. Despite diligently keeping up with her schoolwork from the set, the principal decided to expel her.
What followed next truly showcased the kind-hearted person Robin Williams was. Upon learning of Lisa Jakub’s expulsion, he took action. In a heartwarming revelation during a conversation with her fellow co-stars Mara Wilson and Matthew Lawrence on the Brotherly Love podcast, Jakub revealed (via EW),
“I got thrown out of high school on Doubtfire, I’m Canadian. I was attending high school in Canada, then I left for four months to film the movie. We were going to set up this system, pre-internet, where I’d mail my school work back and forth to the school. We did that for a while. As Matt well remembers, we had tutoring, three hours of schoolwork on set every day. We were a couple of months into filming, and my school in Canada sent a note saying ‘this isn’t working for us anymore, don’t come back.'”
She then further added,
“It was a really difficult thing, The amazing thing was Robin saw that I was upset — he asked me what was going on. He wrote a letter to my principal saying that he wanted them to rethink this decision and that I was just trying to pursue my education and career at the same time, and could they please support me in this. The principal got the letter, framed the letter, put it up in the office, and didn’t ask me to come back. Amazing.”
The principal’s unexpected response to the situation garnered them some hot press years later, as the internet’s reaction reflected upon what had happened. Here is how they reacted,
That’s the dumbest principal of all time. pic.twitter.com/Ylwimp10kG
— Eric Pellinen (@EricPellinen) May 4, 2024
There’s a certain kind of guy who becomes a school principal.
— meme bastard (@mask_bastard) May 4, 2024
Why the hell would the principal expell her for that, if I was a principal and I found out one of my students starred in a movie with Robin Williams I would ask for her autograph and to get a autograph from the legend Robin Williams 😂😂
— Roderick (@Roderic57493571) May 4, 2024
Why one earth she got expelled for being in that movie?? What kind of school is this?
— Nick J. (@NickJ_Awesome) May 4, 2024
Although the principal is now receiving some deserved criticism, it truly goes to show what kind of person Robin Williams was.
What Robin Williams’ Young Co-Stars Learned From Him While Filming Mrs. Doubtfire
Although Lisa Jakub never received a high school degree, Robin Williams made sure that the children received a masterclass of a lifetime while acting on set.
The lessons they learned by simply being present on set with him were priceless. During the same podcast conversation, Jakub revealed,
“We had always used a script, so I knew when it was my turn to speak I could say my line. Then you go on set with Robin and it’s like, who the f— knows what’s going to happen now?”
She further continued,
“You had to be really present, so it was a meditation where I couldn’t just wait for someone else to say their line so I could say my line. I had to be present with the other person in the room and actually had to listen and then just respond. It really was so much more meditative than what I’d done before, which always felt really rote.”
It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the actors, one they continue to cherish and carry with them to this day. Fans are delighted to see that even after 30 years, the Mrs. Doubtfire family remains as close-knit as ever.
Mrs. Doubtfire is available on Disney Plus to stream.
