Celebrities Who Love Working Together

Actors work on films for months, so it goes without saying that some of these celebs have considered their co-stars to be like family. However, there does come a time when two or more actors clash with one another on set, even when there seems to be undeniable chemistry on screen. In 2021, "Shameless" star Emma Kenney admitted on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast that the set was "a more positive place" when Emmy Rossum, who played the lead role of Fiona Gallagher, left after Season 9. She revealed, "I'd go on set some days and I'd be very anxious about having a scene with her because if she had a bad day, she made it a bad day for everybody." It's safe to say that Kenney probably won't be working alongside Rossum any time soon.

Not every celebrity has had the same unfortunate experience as Kenney when it comes to their co-stars. There are several stars whose chemistry on screen was so profound that many have speculated that something more was going on behind the scenes. The celebs below have enjoyed working with their co-stars so much, not only did they create long-lasting friendships, but they've gone on to work on many more projects together.

Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson

There are no two actors who enjoy working with one another quite like Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. This dynamic duo has been working together since the '90s, when Wilson appeared in Stiller's "The Cable Guy." It appeared that teaming up to work in comedies was their true calling, as the men starred in popular films including the "Meet the Parents" film series, "The Royal Tenenbaums," "Night at the Museum," "Zoolander," and its sequel "Zoolander 2."

Speaking to Hollywood.com in 2001 about Wilson portraying Stiller's character's rival in "Zoolander," Stiller shared, "Owen was the most important casting to me because I think he is one of the funniest people around — and the part was written for him ... He's a friend of mine and we've worked together a number of times. We love working together." In 2016, the men reprised their roles in "Zoolander 2," with Wilson telling the Independent about his long friendship with Stiller, "From when we first became friends, walking around New York, I think that we are still sort of laughing at the same things and our dynamic is pretty similar." 

As of this writing, the actors have appeared in 13 films together, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Stiller and Wilson team up once again. 

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have a history together — and not in a romantic way. The two actors first worked together in the 2011 romantic comedy "Crazy, Stupid, Love," and their on-screen chemistry was such a hit, they would find themselves working together again in two more films.

Gosling and Stone teamed up for the second time to work in the 2013 movie "Gangster Squad," which also featured actor Sean Penn, and in 2016, the duo starred in the Academy Award-winning film "La La Land." Stone took home top prize at the Oscars for Best Actress and thanked Gosling in her speech, stating, "Thank you for making me laugh and for always raising the bar and for being the greatest partner on this crazy adventure."

While they have not worked together since then, the stars have regularly gushed about each other during interviews. In 2018, during a Q&A at the 45th Annual Telluride Film Festival, Stone said of her favorite co-star, "I can't even imagine what my life would be like without Ryan. He's so special. It makes me emotional. He's so talented but he's such a great person to work with because he's so collaborative and excited about the process" (via Us Weekly). Gosling also shared how "fun" it is working with Stone, stating, "We've been really lucky that we were asked to improvise on our first film together, and that's where we created a connection. We've been really lucky to work that way" (via People).

Seth Rogen and James Franco

James Franco and Seth Rogen's friendship goes back to the year 1999, when they both starred in the short-lived series, "Freaks and Geeks." From there, an instant bond was formed between the two men who would end up working together on several movies. 

The duo's most memorable films together include "Pineapple Express," "This Is the End," "The Interview," and "Sausage Party," with Rogen telling USA Today in 2014 that he enjoys working alongside his close friends, which also include Jonah Hill and Danny McBride. "It's funny to have friends yelling at each other. It's just a very relatable dynamic. It's something that most people experience in their day-to-day life ... and it's very sweet so it offsets some of the more subversive material," the actor shared, adding, "We keep working with the same actors over and over because we're friends with them ... it's easier to be funny ... When you're with your friends you laugh more."

Unfortunately, this bromance came to an end when Franco was accused of sexual misconduct by several women who attended his acting school in 2018, per the Los Angeles Times. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a settlement was eventually reached between Franco and the women in 2021, but his relationship with Rogen was on the rocks. In an interview with The Times, when asked about his friendship with Franco, Rogen said, "I don't know if I can define that right now during this interview. I can say it, um, you know, has changed many things in our relationship and our dynamic."

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler share an enduring friendship that started way before the comedians worked side-by-side on the popular "Saturday Night Live" segment, "Weekend Update." According to Parade, the actors met while in Chicago taking improv classes and doing comedy shows which would eventually take both women to New York City, where their careers took off. 

In Fey's memoir "Bossypants," she recalled the time she had begged Poehler to join her on "Saturday Night Live," sharing (via Vulture), "I was so happy. I remember thinking, 'My friend is here!' Even though things had been going great for me at the show, with Amy there, I felt less alone.'" The comedians were a force to be reckoned with on "SNL," but they eventually made their way to the big screen with roles in 2004's "Mean Girls," 2008's "Baby Mama, and 2015's "Sisters." Poehler also cast her BFF in her 2019 Netflix directorial debut, "Wine Country." 

Showing just how much they support one another, when both women were nominated for a SAG Award in 2013, Fey took home the coveted award but didn't forget to mention Poehler in her acceptance speech. "I share this with my sweet friend, Amy Poehler, who I've known for so long ... I love you." Besides working in television and movies together, Fey and Poehler have also co-hosted the Golden Globe Awards a total of four times! 

Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman

Jennifer Aniston may be close to her "Friends" cast mates, but throughout her career, she's made very close relationships with other A-list actors, including "Arrested Development" star Jason Bateman. The two have worked on five films together, including "The Break-Up" and "The Switch."

Aniston told Relevant Magazine, "Jason Bateman is just one of the sweetest ... He's just delightful. There's nothing about him that isn't squeezable." In 2020, the stars reunited to talk about their Emmy award-nominated roles on "The Morning Show" and "Ozarks," with both stars praising one another's careers to Variety. Bateman stated, "It's a very complicated full life that she manages, and she does it was grace and kindness and warmth to her closest friends and to a person she might meet that day on set." Aniston then shared about Bateman, "He is prepared, he is solid, he is kind, he is funny. I love my days when I get to be with Jason on a set or my house on a Sunday."

Proving their friendship is the real deal, Aniston joined Bateman for his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2017. She shared, "He's a fantastic partner in crime, the most generous straight man that makes the world laugh and cry on a dime ... The part that I'm the luckiest that I get to witness as his friend is Jason Bateman the husband, the fantastic father, the dear friend, and as we lovingly call him, grandpa."

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet

The chemistry between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the epic romance adventure film "Titanic" was undeniable. While the movie was filmed in 1997, their friendship has withstood the test of time, so it's surprising that this duo has only reunited once in 2008 for the film "Revolutionary Road." 

When Winslet won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for her performance in "Revolutionary Road," she didn't forget to mention her best pal. "Leo, I'm so happy I can stand here and tell you how much I love you and how much I've loved you for 13 years," she gushed. That very same year, DiCaprio discussed his strong relationship with Winslet to Oprah Winfrey, stating, "In a lot of ways Kate and I have really grown up in this industry together; we've been a support mechanism for each other for such a long period of time. We've been there for each other and helped guide each other."

Fans may one day get to see these two stars on the big screen yet again, after DiCaprio shared to ET at the Golden Globes in 2016 that he'd "love to" work with Winslet again, adding, "She's my favorite actress in the industry." 

Julia Roberts and Richard Gere

"Pretty Woman" and "Runaway Bride" are two of Juila Roberts' most iconic films, but these classic romances wouldn't be the same without her co-star, Richard Gere. While Roberts and Gere have only teamed up for these two '90s films, their relationship is stronger than ever. 

Roberts was an up-and-coming star when she was cast in 1990's "Pretty Woman," but director Garry Marshall shared years later that her "chemistry" with Gere was unmatched. "You see, you can fake anything in this business except chemistry and when two people kiss, the audience knows if there's chemistry or not and Richard and Julia had great chemistry," Marshall told HuffPost. When the stars reunited 25 years later, along with their fellow cast mates from the timeless movie, Gere shared with "Today" that he was "mesmerized" when he first met Roberts and saw that instant chemistry come alive.

In 1999, the two stars would come together again for "Runaway Bride," which also proved to be a hit. Despite their on-screen romances, the two stars were never romantically involved in real life, but became extremely close friends. During an interview with The Guardian, Gere touchingly said about his former co-star, "Julia and I will always be connected," and that's proven true. 

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are two comedians fans love to watch, but it's even better to see them working on a project as co-stars. Their most significant appearances together have been in 2006's "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" and the 2008 cult classic comedy "Step Brothers." However, they have also teamed up to star in "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" and "Holmes & Watson," a humorous take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic mysteries featuring Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson.

In 2008, Ferrell and Reilly were asked by Entertainment Weekly about working with each other on "Step Brothers." Ferrell shared, "The three of us — Adam [McKay, director], John and I — have a certain chemistry that is hard to find. We just continued the same jubilation of the first time over to this set." Reilly added, "It is a rare and special thing just to find one person that thinks the same things are funny."

The men love working together so much, Reilly stated to the Press Association (via Independent.ie) that he believed working alongside Ferrell was meant to be. "The first time Will and I met, we knew we had something in common, and it wasn't until we actually got together to work we thought, oh, this is why we were put on this Earth, to make hijinks together." It seems like it's just a matter of time before fans get to see these two comedians reunite again for their next project.

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett

Some of Lady Gaga's best collaborations included working with Beyonce for the song "Telephone," Ariana Grande on "Rain On Me," and actor Bradley Cooper on "Shallow" for the duo's film "A Star Is Born." However, working alongside show-tune great Tony Bennett has been one of her biggest achievements. The two stars have enjoyed working together so much, they collaborated on not one, but two albums together. 

Lady Gaga and Bennett first came together to sing a rendition of the song "The Lady is a Tramp" in 2011, and it became clear that the stars had amazing chemistry. In 2014, they released their duet album, "Cheek to Cheek," with Gaga revealing to Parade that Bennett "saved her life" after she admitted to not wanting to "sing anymore." After spending time with Bennett, Gaga said, "He wanted nothing but my friendship and my voice."

In 2021, it was revealed that Bennett had been battling Alzheimer's disease since 2016. However, after being diagnosed, Bennett and Gaga reunited on a second album, titled "Love For Sale," which was tough as AARP described Bennett as being a "more muted presence during the recording" because of the disease. During an interview with Stephen Colbert, Gaga got emotional when discussing her good friend, calling him her "musical companion." Speaking about Bennett's condition, she also touchingly shared, "When jazz begins, this man lights up in a way that is such magic. Music is magic. Music is a miracle."

John Krasinski and Emily Blunt

John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are two stars that have proven love can last in a place like Hollywood. The couple wed in 2010 and welcomed two children together, named Violet and Hazel. Blunt opened up about her marriage to "The Office" actor to InStyle back in 2013, sharing, "Meeting John changed my life. When I feel the support I have from him, I feel invincible." Since then, the two have been especially supportive of one another's careers, and in 2018, finally gave fans what they've been waiting for — a film starring both Blunt and Krasinski.

"A Quiet Place," which was directed by Krasinski, is a horror film where the couple portrays a husband and wife. The actor shared with Deadline that choosing his wife for the film was the best decision he made. "You always try to write with your dream actor in mind, because it helps you see the performance in your head, and not to mince words, but I think Emily is the best actress we have." Blunt went on to win a Screen Actors Guild award for her performance, and thanked her husband. "I am going to share this completely with my husband, John Krasinski, because the entire experience of doing this with you has completely pierced my heart directly. You are a stunning filmmaker," she said. 

In May 2021, the couple reunited again for "A Quiet Place 2." Krasinski gushed about his wife again, sharing, "I mean, the truth is she's the greatest collaborator I've ever worked with."

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon

Hollywood has its fair share of bromances, but nothing compares to the relationship between fellow actors and best friends Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. They have starred in several movies together and rose to prominence with the Oscar-winning film "Good Will Hunting," which they had written together. 

Damon shared with ET that his relationship with Affleck goes way back to when he was just 10 years old. "We were both in love with the same thing — acting and filmmaking. I think we fed on each other's obsession during really formative, important years and that bonded us for life," he said. They joined forces yet again as writers for the 2021 film, "The Last Duel," with Affleck sharing with ET, "It's cool to be doing another movie with him. We loved it, and we definitely want to do more."

Damon told E! News that he never believed a second movie between the two would happen. However, he and Affleck finally found the right time to collaborate once more. "I grew up with this guy, I've known him forever," Damon shared, adding, "We're from the same word and place and stayed close, and I often think about the people who come into this business and there's some challenges that get thrown at you. And having somebody to go through it with me and bounce stuff off of has been really helpful. You're lucky if you get to do the job you love and luckier if it's with people that you love."

Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans

Fans might believe that "Black Widow" actor Scarlett Johansson and "Captain America" star Chris Evans first met on the set of their Marvel movies, but these two stars' friendship goes way back. Johansson was just 17 years old when she first worked with Evans in a teen comedy called "The Perfect Score."

Talking about her long-term friendship with Evans, Johansson shared on The Jess Cagle Podcast, "We could talk for hours, and about all kinds of stuff, I think in a way the sort of like big sister relationship that Nat has sometimes with Steve [Johansson and Evan's characters on "The Avengers"] — even though Chris is a couple of years older than me — but I think we sort of have that dynamic."

Johansson reflected on a particular moment in 2014's "Captain America: Winter Soldier" where she has a short exchange with Evans' character. It was clear that their chemistry in the scene was thanks to the stars knowing one another for such a long time. Johansson shared with Entertainment Weekly, "It's really a result of 10 years of knowing somebody and being able to have a kind of intimacy with them that I think you get from just spending a lot of time with somebody and knowing their soft underbelly. We had a lot of fun doing it." 

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper have constantly denied any rumors of a romantic relationship. Cooper once told Howard Stern, "It's just not the way we are together." However, it's no surprise that these two stars are constantly asked about their relationship status, since they love sharing the screen.

As of this writing, Lawrence and Cooper have done four movies together and three of them, including "Silver Linings Playbook," "American Hustle," and "Joy," have been nominated for an Oscar. Lawrence would snag her very first Academy Award for Best Actress for "Silver Linings Playbook," along with a Critic's Choice Award for Best Actress in a Comedy. She shared in her acceptance speech, "Bradley, the first time we ever did a scene together, you took my breath away. And the first time that I saw the movie, you broke my heart and put it back together." Cooper praised his co-star to Rolling Stone, sharing that Lawrence was "the person you want on set with you at 4:00 in the morning when you're losing your mind."

For anyone who's seen "Silver Linings Playbook," Cooper admitted that it was their famous ballroom dance scene that may have made the two stars become so close over the years. "I wonder if these guys who do 'Dancing With the Stars,' like, have a connection forever. I really do think that really provided the basis by which we can just work together ... It's just easy to look at her and feel like I'm telling the truth," he shared to Deadline

John and Joan Cusack

Fans may not have realized that John Cusack and Joan Cusack are actually siblings, and that they have been working together for years. Although the two stars have their separate careers, they have joined forces several times for films since the '80s. Fans can see the stars together in "Sixteen Candles," "High Fidelity," and "Say Anything..." and that's only naming a few. Speaking to SheKnows about working with her brother, Joan shared, "My brother does not make me look bad. I believe in John and his passion" (via Us Weekly).

In 2020, when asked on "Today" how it is to work with his sister on projects, John jokingly shared, "When I'm producing a movie, I can get her cheap," adding that filming together often leads to "the funniest scenes of the movie." According to Insider, John and Joan have appeared in ten movies together with their last being 2008's "War, Inc." However, with the amount of work they have done over the years, it wouldn't be a surprise to see John and Joan Cusack reunite for a future project.