Lou Diamond Phillips Calls "Courage Under Fire" 'One of the Most Exhilarating Shoots of My Career,' 30 Years After Film's Release Angela AndaloroJanuary 30, 2026 at 2:44 AM 0 Lou Diamond Phillips and Denzel Washington in "Courage Under Fire" Moviestore/Shutterstock The 1996 film Courage Under Fire starred Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips and Matt Damon Lou Diamond Phillips played the staunch Staff Sergeant John Monfriez, though he recently revealed he almost didn't get the part Phillips answered fan questions about the film and reflected on the upcoming 30th anniversary of its...
- - Lou Diamond Phillips Calls "Courage Under Fire" 'One of the Most Exhilarating Shoots of My Career,' 30 Years After Film's Release
Angela AndaloroJanuary 30, 2026 at 2:44 AM
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Lou Diamond Phillips and Denzel Washington in "Courage Under Fire"
Moviestore/Shutterstock
The 1996 film Courage Under Fire starred Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips and Matt Damon
Lou Diamond Phillips played the staunch Staff Sergeant John Monfriez, though he recently revealed he almost didn't get the part
Phillips answered fan questions about the film and reflected on the upcoming 30th anniversary of its release
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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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. 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. https://t.co/FESOOedFsA
— Lou Diamond Phillips (@LouDPhillips) January 29, 2026
"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."
Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan and director Edward Zwick
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.' "
on People
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: January 29, 2026 at 02:00PM on Source: PRIME TIME
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