Lisa Ann Walter Says “Parent Trap” Costar and Best Friend Elaine Hendricks Helped Her Land Role on “Abbott Elementary”
Lisa Ann Walter Says “Parent Trap” Costar and Best Friend Elaine Hendricks Helped Her Land Role on “Abbott Elementary”
Virginia ChamleeFri, May 15, 2026 at 9:15 PM UTC
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Elaine Hendrix, Lisa Ann Walter
Credit: Oliver Rodriguez/Shutterstock
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Lisa Ann Walter is detailing how her Parent Trap co-star Elaine Hendrix helped her land her role on Abbott Elementary
The two both famously starred in the 1998 Disney classic
Walter has appeared on Abbott Elementary since 2021 as second-grade teacher Melissa Schemmenti
Lisa Ann Walter says she never would have landed her role on Abbott Elementary were it not for a former co-star from another popular project: Elaine Hendrix.
Walter, 62, and Hendrix, 55, starred together in the 1998 Disney classic The Parent Trap and have remained close friends ever since. In the film, Walter portrayed Chessy, the housekeeper and nanny to Nick Parker (played by Dennis Quaid). Hendrix played Parker's younger girlfriend, Meredith.
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The Parent Trap
Credit: Disney+
Speaking on the Friday, May 15 episode of The View, Walter was asked for her advice for those who are trying to make it in the acting industry.
In response, Walter offered up two words: "Don't quit."
"The only surefire way to fail is to quit," she added. "And there have been many times that I wanted to, and I called my best friend Elaine Hendricks, the mean girl from Parent Trap, and I say, 'I'm done. I'm out. I'm moving to Atlanta with you.' "
She continued: "And she says, 'Don't quit.' And she read with me for Abbott, and she was part of the reason why I got that job."
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"Who's going to see success at this point in my life? You never know," Walter added.
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When Hendrix competed in season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, Walter was a fixture in the audience. Speaking to PEOPLE at one of the tapings of the show, Hendrix called Walter her "life security blanket."
"She just knows," Hendrix added of the Abbott Elementary star. "We know what to say to each other because we know each other so well. So when I start to get on the edge, she knows how to bring me back and how to calm me down. And so, having her here means everything to me."
Walter spoke about the pair's friendship in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE in 2024, calling Hendrix her "best friend in the whole world."
"She's beautiful and she's charming and she's funny as all get out. I love her dearly. She's also a great caretaker," Walter said.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
