Mel Brooks has a weird, chaotic magic. In 1993, he decided to take a swing at the legendary outlaw of Sherwood Forest, and honestly, the timing couldn't have been better. Kevin Costner had just dropped a super serious, accent-free version of the story, and the world was basically begging for someone to make fun of it. That’s how we got the cast of Robin Hood: Men in Tights, a group of actors who didn’t just understand the assignment—they rewrote the whole syllabus.
Think about Cary Elwes for a second. The man was coming off The Princess Bride, so he already had the "dashing hero" thing down to a science. But in this movie? He plays it with this self-aware wink that makes you realize he's in on the joke. He famously quipped in the film that, unlike other Robins, he speaks with an English accent. It was a total burn on the big-budget productions of the era, and it worked because Elwes had the charm to pull it off.
The Brilliant Weirdness of Cary Elwes as Robin of Loxley
Most people forget that Elwes wasn't just hired because he looked good in green spandex. He had this specific, dry delivery that Mel Brooks loved. He had to carry the movie while surrounded by absolute comedic titans, which isn't easy when you have Richard Lewis complaining about a mole or Dave Chappelle making his big-screen debut.
Elwes’ Robin is a mix of Errol Flynn’s classic swashbuckler and a modern-day sarcastic prick. It's a tough balance. If he goes too far one way, the movie becomes a boring action flick. Too far the other, and it's a sketch show. He grounded the whole thing. You actually root for him even when he's breaking the fourth wall to check the script.
Dave Chappelle and the Birth of Ahchoo
This was it. Dave Chappelle’s first movie. Long before The Chappelle Show or the Netflix specials that everyone argues about on Twitter, he was Ahchoo. It’s kinda wild to look back at him here. He was only 19 or 20 when they filmed this.
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He played the "Son of Asneeze," and his chemistry with Elwes was immediate. Most of his best bits were physical or focused on the absurdity of a Black man in 12th-century England wearing Reeboks. Pump shoes, specifically. He brought a frantic, youthful energy that balanced out the more seasoned actors on set. Without Chappelle, the cast of Robin Hood: Men in Tights would have felt much older, much slower. He was the "new school" element in a Mel Brooks production, which usually leaned heavily on Vaudeville-style humor.
The Villains: Richard Lewis and Roger Rees
Richard Lewis was a neurotic masterpiece as Prince John. Normally, you’d expect the villain to be, you know, intimidating. Instead, Lewis played him like a guy who was one bad day away from a total panic attack. He was constantly adjusting his mole—which moved around his face in every scene—and screaming at his guards. It was a quintessential Richard Lewis performance. He brought that "Curb Your Enthusiasm" energy before that show even existed.
Then you have Roger Rees as the Sheriff of Rottingham. Rees was a Tony Award-winning actor. He did Shakespeare. He was a serious dramatic force. Watching him play a bumbling, tongue-tied idiot who can’t put a sentence together is one of the film’s greatest joys. His comedic timing was surgical. When he reacts to the "mole" on Prince John’s face, his disgusted expressions do more work than three pages of dialogue ever could.
Supporting Players Who Stole the Show
You can't talk about this movie without mentioning Amy Yasbeck as Maid Marian. She had to play the "damsel" while also dealing with an Everlast chastity belt. It’s a ridiculous role, but she leaned into the physical comedy of it perfectly.
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And then there's Blinkin.
Mark Blankfield played the blind servant, and honestly, some of those jokes might not fly today, but his commitment to the bit was incredible. Whether he was "watching" the castle or mistaking a bust for a real person, Blankfield’s physical comedy was a callback to the silent film era. It was pure Mel Brooks.
The Loxley Crew:
- Little John: Eric Allan Kramer played the massive, gentle giant who was actually afraid of water. He brought the brawn, but with a weirdly sweet vulnerability.
- Will Scarlet O'Hara: Matthew Porretta gave us a version of Will Scarlet that was basically just a guy who was really good with knives and had a very confusing name.
- Friar Tuck: Well, in this version, it was Rabbi Tuckman, played by Mel Brooks himself. Because of course it was. He was there to provide sacramental wine and... circumcisions. It’s Mel Brooks. You knew what you were getting into.
Why This Specific Cast Worked
A lot of parodies fail because the actors try too hard to be funny. They "mug" for the camera. But the cast of Robin Hood: Men in Tights mostly played it straight. That’s the secret. When Isaac Hayes shows up as Asneeze, he’s not doing a "funny voice." He’s just being Isaac Hayes, which makes the fact that he’s in a medieval forest even funnier.
Patrick Stewart also makes a late-game cameo as King Richard. He shows up for maybe three minutes at the end. But because he was the Patrick Stewart—fresh off of Star Trek: The Next Generation—his presence gave the ending a weird sort of gravitas that made the preceding 90 minutes of nonsense feel even more absurd. He even parodied Sean Connery’s cameo from the Costner version, nailing that specific Scottish burr.
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The Legacy of the Sherwood Forest Ensemble
Looking back, this movie was a bridge between the old-school parody style of Airplane! and the more modern, reference-heavy humor we saw in the early 2000s. It wasn't just about the jokes; it was about the vibes. The cast felt like they were having a genuine blast, and that translates through the screen.
Even the minor roles were stacked. You had Dom DeLuise doing a Don Corleone impression as Don Giovanni. You had Tracey Ullman as Latrine the cook/witch. Latrine! The name alone is a classic Brooks gag, but Ullman’s performance—hissing and lurking through the castle—made it memorable. She was unrecognizable.
Where Are They Now?
Sadly, we've lost some of these legends. Roger Rees passed away in 2015, and the comedy world is still feeling the loss of Richard Lewis, who died in 2024. Their performances in this movie remain some of their most quoted work.
Cary Elwes is still a mainstay in Hollywood, appearing in everything from Stranger Things to Mission: Impossible. Dave Chappelle, obviously, became one of the most famous (and controversial) comedians on the planet.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Buffs
If you're planning a rewatch or introducing this to someone who hasn't seen it, keep an eye on these specific details that make the casting so brilliant:
- Watch the Background: Mel Brooks loves "background acting." In scenes with the Merry Men, look at the guys who aren't talking. They’re usually doing something ridiculous.
- The Accent Gags: Pay attention to how Cary Elwes emphasizes his "Englishness" compared to the other actors. It’s a subtle, running jab at 90s Hollywood casting.
- Physical Commitment: Notice how Roger Rees uses his entire body to show his frustration. It’s a masterclass in physical theater disguised as a silly comedy.
- The Cameos: Try to spot the cameos from Brooks' regular troupe of actors. It’s like a "Where’s Waldo" for fans of Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein.
To really appreciate the cast of Robin Hood: Men in Tights, you have to watch the movie it’s parodying: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Watch them back-to-back. You’ll see exactly how the cast mirrored—and then shattered—every trope from the big-budget version. It turns a "dumb" comedy into a very smart piece of satire.