Friendship is one of the most precious and enduring aspects of human life, and for some celebrities, the bonds they form in their youth turn into lifelong relationships. Many stars have been friends since childhood, growing up together before they were thrust into the limelight. These friendships often carry unique, touching, and sometimes hilarious stories that show us the power of lasting connections. Here are 15 pairs of celebrities who’ve been friends since their younger years, proving that true friendship can withstand the test of time and fame.
1. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck: From Little League to Hollywood
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s friendship began in Boston when they were just kids. They met at a Little League game, and their bond grew stronger as they attended the same schools. Both shared a love for acting and filmmaking from an early age. This shared passion fueled their careers, eventually leading to them co-writing and starring in the Academy Award-winning film Good Will Hunting. Their deep friendship was built on years of mutual admiration, rivalry, and collaboration.
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In interviews, Damon and Affleck have often spoken about their friendship, citing how it shaped their lives both professionally and personally. Damon has said that growing up with Affleck, sharing the same dreams and challenges, helped him find his path in the film industry. Their close friendship has remained strong through the years, and despite their success, they continue to work together on various projects, including the film The Last Duel. Their bond is a testament to the enduring power of childhood friendships.
2. Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato: From Barney to Stardom
Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato’s friendship dates back to their childhood when they both starred on Barney & Friends. Their early friendship blossomed as they shared experiences in the entertainment industry, eventually leading to parallel careers in both music and acting. From Barney to Disney Channel hits like Wizards of Waverly Place and Sonny with a Chance, their professional careers have always intersected.
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Their personal relationship is just as significant. Despite the ups and downs, including public struggles and challenges, Selena and Demi have supported each other through thick and thin. Demi has publicly expressed her admiration for Selena’s resilience, while Selena has praised Demi’s strength. Their bond remains one of the most heartfelt friendships in the celebrity world, showcasing the power of shared childhood experiences and mutual support.
3. Ryan Gosling and Justin Timberlake: Roommates and Lifelong Friends
Ryan Gosling and Justin Timberlake have known each other since they were kids, thanks to their time on The All New Mickey Mouse Club. As teenagers, their bond grew even stronger, and they even became roommates when Gosling’s mother had to leave the country for work. Timberlake’s family took Gosling in, and they lived together for several months.
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Their friendship continued through their rise to fame in the music and film industries. Gosling and Timberlake have often spoken about the unique bond they share, built on shared experiences and a deep mutual respect for each other’s work. Both have achieved massive success in their respective careers, but their childhood friendship remains one of the cornerstones of their lives, illustrating how childhood connections can withstand the pressures of stardom.
4. Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio: From Auditions to Blockbusters
Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio’s friendship began at acting auditions when they were both 12 years old. The two actors grew up together in Los Angeles, bonding over their shared passion for acting. DiCaprio recalls the moment they first met, describing how he immediately connected with Maguire, even running after him to strike up a conversation.
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Their friendship has stood the test of time, surviving the highs and lows of Hollywood fame. They both starred in major films, including the Great Gatsby, where their collaboration brought their friendship full circle. Their bond is built on years of trust and mutual respect, and their enduring friendship continues to be a source of inspiration for fans and colleagues alike. It’s clear that their connection, formed in childhood, is one of the most genuine in Hollywood.
5. Maya Rudolph and Gwyneth Paltrow: Childhood Pals Turned Hollywood Stars
Maya Rudolph and Gwyneth Paltrow’s friendship dates back to their childhood when they became friends at the age of seven. They both attended the same school, and their bond continued through their teenage years. Rudolph, who later became a star on Saturday Night Live, often shares stories of their youthful antics, including their participation in school plays.
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Despite their different career paths, the two have remained close over the years. Rudolph and Paltrow have supported each other through various personal and professional milestones. Paltrow, in particular, has often praised Rudolph’s comedic talent, while Rudolph has spoken highly of Paltrow’s dedication to her various ventures. Their long-standing friendship is a beautiful example of how childhood connections can evolve and thrive in the competitive world of Hollywood.
6. Kate Hudson and Liv Tyler: High School Friends with Famous Families
Kate Hudson and Liv Tyler became friends in high school when they both attended the Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences in Santa Monica. Their friendship has been strengthened over the years by their famous families. Hudson is the daughter of Goldie Hawn, while Tyler’s father is Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. The two have shared many personal moments, including celebrating Hudson’s pregnancy with her third child, when she posted a picture of Liv’s father with her family.
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Their bond remains strong, with both women supporting each other’s careers. Hudson has publicly expressed how much she cherishes their friendship, noting that Liv is more like a sister to her. Their relationship has remained unaffected by the pressures of fame, and they continue to support each other through life’s ups and downs. The closeness of their friendship highlights how childhood connections, when nurtured, can last a lifetime.
7. Kim Kardashian West and Nicole Richie: Childhood Rebels
Kim Kardashian West and Nicole Richie were childhood friends who met when they were preteens. Their relationship, often portrayed in the media, began when they were both part of the same social circle in Beverly Hills. They were often seen hanging out together, and their shared experiences growing up in the limelight made them closer than ever.
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Despite their different career paths, Kim and Nicole have remained close friends. Kim Kardashian West shared a throwback photo of them together when they were young, noting how they once stole lipstick from a store as kids. Their bond has remained strong throughout the years, and they continue to support each other publicly. Their friendship is a prime example of how childhood bonds can endure, even as their lives evolve in very different directions.
8. Ben Platt and Beanie Feldstein: From a Bat Mitzvah to Broadway
Ben Platt and Beanie Feldstein first met at a Bat Mitzvah when they were both preteens. Feldstein later revealed that they hit it off immediately, but their friendship didn’t truly blossom until they both attended the same high school. Their shared love for acting brought them even closer, and they both went on to achieve success in Broadway and Hollywood.
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In 2017, Feldstein shared the story of how they became best friends. She recounted how Platt texted her about getting his braces off, and she immediately left class to go see his new smile. The pair continues to support each other both personally and professionally. Platt posted an Instagram tribute to Feldstein on her birthday, calling her his “twin-soulmate-wife-mother-spirit-guide,” showing just how strong their bond is.
9. Adam Levine and Jonah Hill: A Friendship Built Through Their Dads
Adam Levine and Jonah Hill have known each other since childhood. Their fathers were friends, and the two often hung out together, carpooling and staying at each other’s houses. Levine and Hill’s friendship has stood the test of time, with Hill even officiating Levine’s wedding to Behati Prinsloo in 2014.
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Their friendship is a great example of how family connections can lead to lifelong relationships. Both have achieved massive success in their respective careers—Levine as the lead singer of Maroon 5 and Hill as a comedy actor. Despite their high-profile careers, they remain close friends, supporting each other in both their personal and professional lives.
10. Victoria Justice and Taylor Lautner: Longtime Friends Since Childhood
Victoria Justice and Taylor Lautner have known each other since they were kids. Growing up in the same area, they attended school together and became friends. They have both had incredibly successful careers in the entertainment industry, but they continue to stay in touch and maintain their childhood friendship. In 2009, Victoria clarified to the press that, although rumors circulated about a possible romance, she and Taylor were just good friends.
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Their bond is a reminder that sometimes, the best friendships form early on, and even as they grow up and achieve fame, they remain grounded in their shared history. Justice and Lautner have continued to support each other through their respective career milestones, proving that childhood friendships can weather any storm, including fame.
11. Jennifer Aniston and Chaz Bono: High School Friends
Jennifer Aniston and Chaz Bono became friends while attending high school together at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. They hung out after school with a group of friends, and despite the challenges of growing up in the public eye, their friendship remains solid.
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Aniston, who went on to become a household name thanks to Friends, has spoken fondly of their time together. Their shared high school experiences and lasting friendship provide a sense of normalcy in an industry that often makes lasting personal relationships hard to maintain. Their story shows that even the most famous of friendships have humble, down-to-earth beginnings.
12. Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens: Childhood Friends Before Disney Fame
Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens met long before they starred together in High School Musical. Their friendship dates back to when they both worked on a Sears commercial before their Disney careers took off. Despite their rivalry on-screen, they have been close friends for years.
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Tisdale and Hudgens supported each other throughout their early careers, and Tisdale even had Hudgens as one of her bridesmaids in 2014. Their genuine friendship, forged long before Disney made them famous, has stood the test of time, proving that true friends are always there for each other, no matter how much fame gets in the way.
13. Kimora Lee Simmons and Tyra Banks: Early Modeling Days to Lifelong Friendship
Kimora Lee Simmons and Tyra Banks met during their early days in modeling. Their friendship quickly blossomed, with both supporting each other through their careers. Today, Tyra Banks is the godmother of Simmons’ daughter, Ming.
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Their bond is built on mutual respect for each other’s work, and their personal connection has remained strong even as their careers evolved. The two continue to support each other, whether through personal milestones or professional accomplishments, proving that childhood friendships can evolve into lifelong partnerships.
14. Elijah Wood and Macaulay Culkin: From The Good Son to Forever Friends
Elijah Wood and Macaulay Culkin’s friendship began on the set of The Good Son in 1993. Despite the intense nature of the film, the two bonded over their shared experiences as young actors. They have maintained a strong friendship throughout the years, even as their careers diverged.
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Culkin and Wood frequently share humorous anecdotes about their friendship. Wood responded to a fan’s tweet about their relationship by stating that he and Culkin are “brothers” and joking about Culkin potentially dropping him off a cliff (a nod to their movie together). Their playful relationship is a testament to how childhood friendships can stay fun and full of inside jokes.
15. Troian Bellisario and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen: Childhood Neighbors
Troian Bellisario, best known for Pretty Little Liars, grew up next door to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. The three actresses became best friends, sharing many childhood memories together. Bellisario has often recalled how she would spend time with the Olsen twins, playing and hanging out as neighbors.
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Their unique bond, shaped by proximity and shared experiences, continued into adulthood. Despite their differing career paths, they’ve remained friends, showing how proximity in childhood can lead to enduring relationships. Their friendship exemplifies how even childhood neighbors can become lifelong companions.
The Enduring Power of Childhood Friendships
These celebrity friendships demonstrate that true connections can last a lifetime, regardless of fame. From playing sports together to sharing school experiences, these stars formed bonds early in life that have withstood the test of time. Their stories prove that no matter how high you rise in your career, the value of genuine friendships rooted in childhood remains irreplaceable. These friendships are a testament to how powerful and lasting early relationships can be.
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