Matthew Lillard Wishes Scream 'Brother' Skeet Ulrich Happy Birthday in Sweet Tribute: 'This Man Is a Love'

"Just following the great example that you set 🙏," Ulrich told Lillard in a comment on the touching birthday post from his friend and costar

Cast members (L-R) Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard,
Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard in Pasadena, California, on June 5, 2022. Photo:

 Albert L. Ortega/Getty

Skeet Ulrich's birthday is a scream, baby!

The actor turned 54 on Saturday, to the fanfare of loved ones including his Scream costar and longtime friend Matthew Lillard.

In a photo Lillard shared on Instagram, Ulrich is turned to the side and looking at his pal. Meanwhile, Lillard, 53, smiles at the camera while pointing up at the title of the 2022 film The Bad Guys — no doubt a cheeky nod to his and Ulrich's dual Ghostface duties in the 1996 slasher.

"This man is a love. Happy birthday brother. Love you pal. #skeetulrich #ScreamOGs #brother #roaddog #firstHUSBANDSofHORROR," Lillard wrote in his caption.

Ulrich left a similarly sweet comment on the post: "Awwww thanks brotha!! Just following the great example that you set 🙏 Love you back ❤️."

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Lillard played Stu Macher in Scream, who teamed up with Ulrich's Billy Loomis to wreak bloody havoc on the small town of Woodsboro, California.

While Lillard has not returned to the franchise following the Wes Craven-directed original film, Ulrich reprised his role in 2022's Scream and its 2023 follow-up Scream VI.

Looking back at Scream's legacy together over two and a half decades later, Lillard and Ulrich told PEOPLE in an October 2021 conversation that no one who worked on the project expected it to become the smash hit and cult favorite that it has.

The actors also praised Craven, who died of a brain tumor at age 76 in 2015, as well as Kevin Williamson's elaborate script, which saw Scream pay tribute to a slew of other horror films that came before while setting the rules for movies that would eventually come after.

Scream, Skeet Ulrich, Jamie Kennedy, Matthew Lillard
Skeet Ulrich, Jamie Kennedy and Matthew Lillard in Scream (1996). Moviestore/Shutterstock

Calling the screenplay "so clever," Ulrich said at the time, "It really shocked me like it does many audiences that see it."

"It seemed to make complete sense and yet come out of nowhere at the same time, and it was quite exciting," he continued. "I remember being really viscerally jazzed by that."

Lillard similarly said he saw the magic within the script as well, even though he initially read for the part that would go to Ulrich.

"I remember reading the first 20 pages and being terrified, so scared and freaked out, that I closed the script," he told PEOPLE. "And I have a very clear memory of closing the script because I was freaked out about reading it."

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