Seann William Scott gives honest answer to why we don't see him in Hollywood anymore
Seann William Scott is best known for starring as the loud, obnoxious and hilarious Steve Stifler in the American Pie franchise.
But in real life, the 49-year-old actor doesn't have that much in common with the comical character that he has become synonymous with.
In fact, Scott's reason for stepping away from the spotlight is something which Stifler would surely never let him live down.
Despite what fans of American Pie might think of the person he played, the Minnesota-born star revealed that he believes there was a lot more to him than most folks think.
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In a new interview with The Independent, Scott explained that he 'never really thought of Stifler as being dumb', saying: "I saw him more as somebody who just wanted to be loved."
He joked that meeting him can be quite the anticlimax for some fans, as he isn't that similar to the character he's most famous for portraying.
"I could tell some people would get a little heartbroken when they met me, because they were expecting this, like, wild party animal, and I’m a pretty boring guy," Scott said.
"It felt like I was letting them find out Santa Claus isn’t real."
While speaking to the outlet, the actor admitted that he enjoyed the role so much that he would have 'done all of the American Pies for free'.
Stating that he 'really means this', Scott, who reportedly has a net worth of $25 million (£18.7m), said: "I never cared about money in that way. And I feel the same way now as I did then... like, I can’t believe I actually get to do this for a living."
Still, he does earn a pretty penny for offering his talents to the film world, as court documents which revealed his earnings showed when they were made public last year.
Scott only got paid a measly $8,000 (£6,000) for his first appearance as Stifler in 1999 - which is pretty shocking, considering the mammoth success that American Pie achieved.
After impressing Hollywood heavyweights with his acting prowess in the beloved comedy and its sequels, he went on to bag roles in other cult classics such as Final Destination and Dude, Where's My Car?
Scott looks back on these days fondly and is proud of how all of his hard work paid off, but these days, he's not as interested in chasing cinematic glory.
However, he does make time for certain projects he enjoys, such as the slasher film Dolly, which was released earlier this month.
Revealing why he largely swerves the entertainment scene, he said: "I’m happy that I was able to get things going early on in my career, and to now be at the point where I don’t feel like I have anything to prove."
"I just want to make a fun little project every once in a while, then go home to my daughter," he said, while suggesting that comedies in cinemas appear to be 'kind of done', although he reckons there's plenty of 'great' rib-tickling shows on television.
His reasoning for taking on less work is absolutely adorable - but you can imagine his notorious character Stifler probably wouldn't share the same opinion.
Scott shares his daughter, Frankie Rose, with his former wife Olivia Korenberg. The pair got divorced in 2024 after four years of marriage.
He made his Instagram debut in January last year by sharing a sweet video of his little girl, who was born in June 2020, giving him a makeover.
Scott captioned the cute clip: "A daddy/daughter beauty session feels like the right way to kick things off."
Although he had a great time being the life of the party and a commander of chaos in American Pie, he'd much prefer to be spending quality time with Frankie Rose nowadays.
Where are the cast of American Pie now?
Jason Biggs
Since his days playing the awkward Jim Levenstein, Jason Biggs has gone on to star in the likes of Loser (2000), Boys and Girls (2000), and Saving Silverman (2001).
He also made his mark in TV with his role as Larry Bloom in the Netflix hit Orange Is the New Black (2013).
The 47-year-old has since stepped behind the camera with his directorial debut, a 2025 film called Untitled Home Invasion Romance.
Biggs has been candid about his past struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, revealing the ‘wake-up call’ that led to his sobriety. He has been sober since 2017.
Alyson Hannigan
Aside from her role in the American Pie movies, the Michelle Flaherty actress is perhaps best known for playing Willow Rosenberg on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) and Lily Aldrin on How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014).
Over the years, she’s continued to act, as well as working as a voice artist and TV host.
Hannigan, now 51, shares two children with her husband of over 20 years, Alexis Denisof, and regularly posts DIY and upcycling videos on her social media.
Jennifer Coolidge
It wasn’t just Jennifer Coolidge’s sex life that changed after starring as Stifler’s mom, as her career really took off too.
She went on to establish herself in the world of Hollywood, with memorable performances in Legally Blonde (2001) and, more recently, The White Lotus (2021). The HBO series even earned the 64-year-old two Emmys, a Critics Choice Award, and a Golden Globe.
Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy, who played Noah Levenstein in the American Pie franchise, has had major success as an actor, writer, and producer. Perhaps most notably with Schitt's Creek - a critically-acclaimed sitcom he co-created with his son, Dan Levy.
Levy, 79, was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2024. His most recent project is the Apple TV+ travel documentary series, The Reluctant Traveler.
Natasha Lyonne
Despite nearly missing out on American Pie as she was 'morally against it', Natasha Lyonne has gone on to achieve huge fame as a producer, actor, writer, and director.
The 46-year-old has really made a name for herself in the world of streaming, including Orange Is the New Black (2013), Russian Doll (2019), and Poker Face (2023).
She has recently turned her attention to directing an AI-assisted film, titled Uncanny Valley, and has also been open about her sobriety journey, revealing her relapse in January 2026.
Topics: Celebrity, Entertainment, TV and Film, Parenting
Olivia Burke