Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are American actors, screenwriters, and producers from Cambridge, Massachusetts who have frequently collaborated throughout their careers. The duo first gained recognition in 1997 after they won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting , which they wrote and starred in together. Since then, they have kept a close public relationship, often working on projects and establishing businesses with one another. [1]
I was 8, he was 10, he was a big kid, he played baseball, he was really cool, he had a bowl cut—those little feathered ones that we all wanted, of course—and he— And he was, you know, nice to me. And we were both interested in the same things. Just kids who grew up two blocks apart and both wanted to be actors.
Damon's mother, Lesley University professor Nancy Carlsson Paige, [2] and Affleck's mother, schoolteacher Chris Affleck-Boldt, [3] had known each other professionally for some time when, in 1980, they introduced their sons to one another during a playdate at Affleck's home. [4] At the time, Damon was 10 years old, and Affleck was 8. [5] Their homes were two blocks from each other in the same Cambridge neighborhood; the two later named their production company, Pearl Street Films, after the Cambridge street they walked on to visit one another. [6]
The two became close during their high school years at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, a public high school with a prominent drama department. [7] Damon says that their friendship solidified during a pick-up football game in 1986, when Affleck, "at the risk of his own life", intervened in a fight between Damon and a much larger and older student. [8] That same year, in a school production of The Visit , [9] Damon, then a junior, played freshman Affleck's father. [10] In 1987, Damon starred in a school production of Pippin , [9] while Affleck, who could not sing, worked in the crew. [11]
The two aspired to become professional actors, holding "business lunches" in their school's cafeteria [12] and opening a joint checking account to fund the cost of traveling from Boston to New York City for auditions. [13] The password for this account was RiverP, an homage to actor River Phoenix, whom Damon and Affleck both admired. [14] Among the films for which they unsuccessfully auditioned was Dead Poets Society ; in 1990, they worked together at Cambridge's now-closed Janus Theater, which screened the film exclusively all summer. [15] In 1989, the duo played extras in Field of Dreams. Recalls actor Kevin Costner, "[Damon and Affleck] would both lean in at the same time, lean back at the same time, look at each other at the same time. We talked, and they had this big enthusiasm. They were on fire." [16]
In a 2007 episode of Inside the Actors Studio , Damon revealed that he'd been accepted to Columbia University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Harvard University, ultimately choosing Harvard. He enrolled in 1988 and studied English. [17] During a course in which he was tasked with writing a one-act play, he wrote the beginnings of what would become Good Will Hunting . [18]
Affleck enrolled at the University of Vermont in 1990, owing to what he describes as "unrequited love for a high school girlfriend." Soon after classes begun, he fractured his hip during a game of intramural basketball, an injury which required him to move about on crutches. Describing the period as "the worst two and a half months of [his] life," Affleck eventually called Damon at Thanksgiving, saying, "'You’ve got to pick me up! I can’t walk that well. Come and get me now!'" Damon drove to Vermont later that day, retrieving Affleck and bringing him back to Boston. [19] Affleck did not re-enroll, instead beginning a period of Middle Eastern Studies at Occidental College. [20]
While studying at Harvard University, Damon was tasked with writing a script, in which he asked Affleck to assist in presenting to his class. After dropping out, Damon moved into Affleck's apartment in Los Angeles and the two expanded on the assignment, writing what would become Good Will Hunting. [21] The film was met with widespread critical acclaim, with critics praising both Affleck and Damon's performances and writing. It went on to win the pair their first Oscars, for Best Original Screenplay and, in 2014, was featured on The Hollywood Reporter 's "100 Favorite Films" list. [22]
As of 2023, the pair has collaborated on a total of 9 films, many of which received overwhelmingly positive reviews. In alignment with their work with Miramax and Kevin Smith, they have occasionally parodied their past roles.
| Title | Release Date | Production Studio(s) | Rotten Tomatoes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field of Dreams | May 5, 1989 | Gordon Company | 88% | First professional collaboration, both uncredited |
| School Ties | September 18, 1992 | Jaffe/Lansing Production | 60% | |
| Good Will Hunting | December 5, 1997 | Be Gentleman | 97% | Written by Affleck and Damon |
| Chasing Amy | April 4, 1997 | View Askew Productions | 87% | |
| Dogma | November 12, 1999 | View Askew Productions and STKstudio | 67% | |
| Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back | August 24, 2001 | Dimension Films, Miramax, and View Askew Productions | 52% | Both play a satirical version of themselves, parodying a scene from Good Will Hunting. |
| Jay and Silent Bob Reboot | October 15, 2019 | View Askew Productions, Miramax, Destro Films, Mewesings, SMODCO, Hideout Pictures, Intercut Capital, and Skit Bags Entertainment | 64% | Affleck satirically reprises his role as Holden McNeil, while Damon makes references to his role as Jason Bourne |
| The Last Duel | October 15, 2021 | 20th Century Studios, Scott Free Productions, Pearl Street Films, and TSG Entertainment | 85% | Screenplay by Affleck, Damon, and Nicole Holofcener. Only Pearl Street Films production featuring both company founders. |
| Air | April 5, 2023 | Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports, Artists Equity, and Mandalay Pictures | 93% | Directed by Affleck. Co-produced by the duo's new independent venture Artists Equity |
In 2012, Affleck and Damon established Pearl Street Films, a film and production company based at Warner Bros. Studios. [23] After 10 years, the company was dissolved in 2022 with the final production being The Last Duel , a film starring the two founders. The duo instead shifted their focus onto their own independent film company, Artists Equity, which was founded in 2022. In 2023, the new studio released its first film, Air , which was directed by Affleck and starring them both, with Damon playing the lead role.
As a result of their shared upbringing and frequent collaboration, Affleck and Damon's friendship has garnered a lot of public attention, with Us Weekly dubbing it "a bromance worth celebrating." [24] The two frequently mention one another in interviews and other public forums, including hosting political fundraisers together. [25] On his relationship with Damon, Affleck said: "This friendship has been essential and defining and so important to me in my life. There were a few critical times, which are private and I don’t want to share, but where [Damon's] support was so profoundly meaningful to me that I don’t think I would’ve been able to be successful without it.” [26] Referencing his experience working with Affleck again on The Last Duel, Damon said "Why aren't we doing this more often? And getting into your 50s you just go: if we don't make it a priority, it just isn't going to happen.", [27] seemingly alluding to more collaborations between the two coming in the future.
The Damon–Affleck relationship is referenced in one of the 2023 Dunkin' Donuts commercials featuring Affleck. [28]
Good Will Hunting is a 1997 American drama film directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. It stars Robin Williams, Damon, Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård and Minnie Driver. The film tells the story of janitor Will Hunting, whose mathematical genius is discovered by a professor at MIT.
Benjamin Géza Affleck is an American actor and filmmaker. His accolades include two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globes. Affleck began his career as a child when he starred in the PBS educational series The Voyage of the Mimi (1984–1988). He later appeared in the independent comedy Dazed and Confused (1993) and several Kevin Smith comedies, including Chasing Amy (1997).
Matthew Paige Damon is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter. He was ranked among Forbes' most bankable stars in 2007, and in 2010 was one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. He has received various awards and nominations, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for three British Academy Film Awards and seven Primetime Emmy Awards.
Gus Green Van Sant Jr. is an American filmmaker, photographer, painter, and musician who has earned acclaim as an independent filmmaker. His films typically deal with themes of marginalized subcultures.
Casey Affleck is an American actor. He is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award. The younger brother of actor Ben Affleck, he began his career as a child actor, appearing in the PBS television film Lemon Sky (1988). He later appeared in three Gus Van Sant films: To Die For (1995), Good Will Hunting (1997), Gerry (2002), and in Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's film series (2001–2007). His first leading role was in Steve Buscemi's independent comedy-drama Lonesome Jim (2006).
Chris Moore is an American film producer and director who has worked in the industry since the 1990s. Moore's first film was Glory Daze (1995), followed by successes Good Will Hunting (1997) and American Pie (1999). In addition to producing films throughout the 2000s and 2010s, he has also produced television such as the first three seasons of Project Greenlight. He has directed two films, Kill Theory and The People Speak, both released in 2009.
Central Square is an area in Cambridge, Massachusetts centered on the junction of Massachusetts Avenue, Prospect Street and Western Avenue. Lafayette Square, formed by the junction of Massachusetts Avenue, Columbia Street, Sidney Street and Main Street, is also considered a part of the Central Square area. Harvard Square is to the northwest along Massachusetts Avenue, Inman Square is to the north along Prospect Street and Kendall Square is to the east along Main Street. The section of Central Square along Massachusetts Avenue between Clinton Street and Main Street is designated the Central Square Historic District, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
Cole Kenneth Hauser is an American actor. He is known for film roles in Higher Learning, School Ties, Dazed and Confused, Good Will Hunting, Pitch Black, Tigerland, Hart's War, Tears of the Sun, The Family that Preys, 2 Fast 2 Furious, The Cave, The Break-Up, A Good Day to Die Hard, Olympus Has Fallen, and Transcendence. He was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in Tigerland.
Joseph Aaron Carnahan is an American film director, screenwriter, producer and actor whose films include Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane; Narc; Smokin' Aces; The A-Team; The Grey; and Boss Level. He also wrote and directed several episodes for the NBC television series The Blacklist. He is the brother of screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan and producer Leah Carnahan.
The 3rd Critics' Choice Movie Awards were presented on January 20, 1998, honoring the finest achievements of 1997 filmmaking.
Cambridge Common is a public park and National Historic Landmark in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. It is located near Harvard Square and borders on several parts of Harvard University. The north end of the park has a large playground. The park is maintained by the Cambridge Department of Public Works.
Dave Shalansky is an American actor.
David Findley Wheeler was an American theatrical director. He was the founder and artistic director of the Theater Company of Boston (TCB) from 1963 to 1975. He served as its artistic director until its closure in 1975. Actors including Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Duvall, Jon Voight, Stockard Channing, James Woods, Blythe Danner, Larry Bryggman, John Cazale, Hector Elizondo, Spalding Gray, Paul Guilfoyle, Ralph Waite and Paul Benedict were part of the company.
American actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck began his career as a child, appearing in several television shows, including the PBS educational program The Voyage of the Mimi (1984). He played an antisemite in the sports film School Ties (1992) and featured as a regular on the television drama Against the Grain (1993). He gained attention for playing the supporting part of a high-school senior in Richard Linklater's cult film Dazed and Confused (1993), after which he had his first leading role in Rich Wilkes's comedy Glory Daze (1995). In 1997, Affleck played a comics artist in Smith's art-house success Chasing Amy. He co-wrote the script and starred with Matt Damon in Gus Van Sant's drama film Good Will Hunting, for which they won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
American actor Matt Damon made his film debut with a small role in Mystic Pizza (1988), after which he played several supporting roles. His first leading role was in the legal drama film The Rainmaker (1997). His breakthrough came later that year when he played the title role of an unrecognized genius in Good Will Hunting, which he also co-wrote with Ben Affleck. They won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and Damon was nominated for Best Actor. He followed it by playing the title roles of a soldier in Steven Spielberg's war drama Saving Private Ryan (1998) and of the criminal Tom Ripley in the thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), both of which gained critical and commercial success. Damon and Sean Bailey worked on the television series Project Greenlight since 2000, helping newcomers make their first film.
Alan Michael Garber is an American physician and health economist, currently serving as the 31st president of Harvard University since 2 January 2024.
The Last Duel is a 2021 historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by Nicole Holofcener, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon, based on the 2004 book The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France by Eric Jager. Set in medieval France, the film stars Damon as Jean de Carrouges, a knight who challenges his former friend, squire Jacques le Gris, to a judicial duel after Jean's wife, Marguerite, accuses Jacques of raping her. The events leading up to the duel are divided into three distinct chapters, reflecting the contradictory perspectives of the three main characters. Affleck also stars in a supporting role as Count Pierre d'Alençon.
Artists Equity is an American production company founded by actors and filmmakers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in November 2022.
The Damon–Kimmel feud is a satirical public feud between actor Matt Damon and television host Jimmy Kimmel. The feud has garnered nationwide coverage since 2005, when Kimmel ended a season 3 episode of his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, by jokingly saying "Apologies to Matt Damon, but we ran out of time" when Damon was not scheduled to be on the show at all. In the years since, Damon and Kimmel have treated the feud as a running gag, often enlisting the help of other celebrities to prank each other publicly, many of which take place on Kimmel's show.
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