Posted on Oct 23, 2026 UTC

Since meeting when they were aged 8 and 10, respectively, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have forged one of the most enduring friendships in Hollywood.

The pair grew up a block and a half away from each other in Boston and quickly bonded over their shared love of acting. After leaving school, the pair effectively merged their lives — moving in together and opening a shared bank account — to help make their Hollywood dreams come true.

The journey to stardom wasn't straightforward, but Matt and Ben were committed to both making it to the top together. During an "unemployed, broke" era in their 20s, the two friends lost out on roles in Dead Poets Society and decided to take matters into their own hands by writing a screenplay for their very own movie.

The script for Good Will Hunting was eventually picked up , and Matt and Ben both starred in the film alongside Robin Williams . In 1998, Good Will Hunting won two Academy Awards — including Best Original Screenplay for Matt and Ben.…