Mel Brooks was on a roll, and then he wasn't, and then suddenly, he gave us men in spandex. Robin Hood: Men in Tights hit theaters in 1993, and honestly, the Robin Hood in Tights cast is the only reason the movie didn't just evaporate into the bargain bin of history. It was a weird time for Sherwood Forest. Kevin Costner had just dropped a super serious version of the legend, and Mel Brooks, being Mel Brooks, saw an opening to make fun of that British accent—or lack thereof.
The magic of this ensemble isn't just that they’re funny. It’s that they actually seem to be having a better time than the audience. Cary Elwes was coming off The Princess Bride, and he basically just leaned into that "dashing rogue" energy but turned the sarcasm up to eleven. You've got Dave Chappelle in his first-ever film role, which is wild to think about now. Then there’s Richard Lewis, may he rest in peace, playing Prince John as a neurotic, mole-shifting mess. It shouldn't work. It’s goofy. It’s low-brow. But it sticks.
The Man Who Could Actually Speak With an English Accent
Cary Elwes was the perfect choice for Robin of Loxley. Why? Because he was a direct shot across the bow at Kevin Costner's Prince of Thieves. Remember that line? "Unlike some other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent." That wasn't just a joke; it was the mission statement for the entire Robin Hood in Tights cast. Elwes brought a level of genuine swashbuckling skill to the role that made the comedy land harder. If he couldn't actually fence, the jokes about his "manliness" wouldn't have been nearly as effective.
He played it straight when it mattered. That’s the secret to Brooks’ movies. You need one guy who acts like he’s in a real movie so everyone else can be a complete lunatic around him. Elwes had that "twinkle in the eye" thing down to a science. He wasn't just playing Robin Hood; he was playing a guy playing Robin Hood who knew exactly how ridiculous his green tunic looked.
Dave Chappelle’s Big Break as Ahchoo
People forget this was Dave Chappelle’s cinematic debut. He played Ahchoo, the son of Asneeze (played by Isaac Hayes, because why not?). Chappelle was barely twenty years old here. You can see the raw version of the timing that would eventually make him a legend. His character was a total subversion of the "Token Moor" trope seen in the 1991 Costner film.
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Instead of being a stoic, mysterious warrior, Ahchoo was a kid from the Bronx who wore Reebok pumps in the 12th century. The scene where he gets into a fight and stops to "pump up" his shoes is peak 90s. It’s a moment that shouldn't age well, yet somehow, because Chappelle is so charismatic, it still gets a laugh. He brought a specific urban energy to the Robin Hood in Tights cast that balanced out the theater-kid vibes of the British actors.
The Neurotic Royalty of Richard Lewis and Roger Rees
Richard Lewis as Prince John is probably the most "Mel Brooks" casting choice in the whole film. Prince John is usually portrayed as this looming, sinister threat. Lewis played him like a guy who just got off a bad therapy session in Manhattan. His mole kept moving around his face between scenes. It wasn’t a mistake; it was a running gag that required the makeup team to literally glue a prosthetic to a different spot every day.
Then you have the Sheriff of Rottingham, played by the late Roger Rees. If you know Rees from his serious stage work or The West Wing, seeing him do word-scramble comedy is a trip. He had this incredible ability to flip his sentences—"I was angry at him, I mean, I was 'hangry' at him"—and make it feel like a genuine neurological glitch. The chemistry between Lewis and Rees was pure chaos. They played off each other like a dysfunctional married couple who happened to run a medieval police state.
The Supporting Players Who Stole the Show
You can't talk about this movie without mentioning Amy Yasbeck as Maid Marian. She had the impossible task of being the "love interest" while also being the literal punchline of a joke about a chastity belt made by Everlast. Yasbeck had worked with Brooks before, and she knew the drill. She played Marian with a mix of high-society grace and total slapstick desperation.
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- Blinkin: Mark Blankfield played the blind servant, and honestly, some of those jokes are... well, they’re very 1993. But Blankfield’s physical comedy—the way he would "watch" a fight or mistake a wooden pillar for a person—was masterclass level.
- Little John: Eric Allan Kramer was a mountain of a man. His "fight" with Robin on the bridge (which is actually just a tiny stream) is one of the best parodies of action cinema ever filmed.
- Will Scarlet O'Hara: Matthew Porretta played the guy who was "from Georgia." It’s a tiny, stupid pun that they leaned into for the entire runtime.
Why the Casting Matters for SEO and Fans Alike
When people search for the Robin Hood in Tights cast, they aren't just looking for a list of names. They’re looking for that hit of nostalgia. They want to know where these people went. Many of them became staples of the industry. Patrick Stewart shows up at the end for a thirty-second cameo as King Richard, spoofing Sean Connery’s cameo from the Costner version. It’s a layers-deep joke.
This film represents the end of an era. It was one of the last times Mel Brooks really hit the mark with a parody that felt culturally relevant. By assembling a cast that included a Shakespearean actor, a stand-up comedian from New Jersey, a soul singer, and a future comedy GOAT, Brooks created a time capsule.
The Mystery of the Changing Mole
One of the most frequent questions about the Robin Hood in Tights cast involves Richard Lewis's face. Specifically, the mole. It moves from his chin to his cheek to his forehead. Fans used to think it was a continuity error. Nope. It was a deliberate jab at the vanity of Hollywood villains. Lewis was a master of self-deprecation, and he leaned into the "sickly prince" persona with everything he had. It’s reported that Brooks told him to play it as if he were constantly suffering from an internal stomach ache.
Looking Back From 2026
Viewing this film today is a different experience. We've seen Cary Elwes go on to do Saw and Stranger Things. We've seen Chappelle become the most controversial and successful comic on the planet. Seeing them together in green tights feels like a fever dream. The movie works because it doesn't take itself seriously, but the actors take the craft of the joke seriously.
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The budget wasn't massive. The special effects were purposefully cheesy. But the comedic timing of the Robin Hood in Tights cast was expensive. You can't teach that kind of rhythm. Whether it’s Dom DeLuise doing a Don Corleone impression as "Don Giovanni" or Tracey Ullman playing a literal witch named Latrine (who changed her name to Latrine because it used to be "Shithouse"), the commitment is 100%.
What to Do if You’re Rewatching
If you're planning a rewatch or introducing someone to the film, don't just watch the main plot. Look at the background. The Robin Hood in Tights cast is full of "blink and you'll miss it" moments.
- Watch the Sheriff's reactions: Roger Rees is almost always doing something weird with his hands when he isn't speaking.
- Listen to the lyrics: The "Men in Tights" song was written by Mel Brooks himself. The cast actually performed it, and their harmonizing is surprisingly decent.
- Spot the cameos: Beyond Patrick Stewart, keep an eye out for Brooks himself as Rabbi Tuckman. His "sacramental wine" bit is classic vaudeville.
Actionable Insight for Movie Buffs:
If you want to truly appreciate the performances, watch Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (the 1991 Kevin Costner version) immediately before Men in Tights. You will realize that almost every single weird character choice in the Brooks version is a direct parody of a specific scene or acting tic from the "serious" movie. This turns a simple comedy into a brilliant piece of meta-commentary on 90s blockbuster filmmaking. Check out the 4K restoration if you can; the colors of those ridiculous costumes have never looked more neon.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
Search for the "behind-the-scenes" interviews from the 2006 DVD release. The cast shares stories about how Richard Lewis couldn't stop laughing during his scenes with Roger Rees, often requiring dozens of takes just to get through a single line of dialogue about "brave hearts."