by When Brad Pitt and George Clooney first met in the early 1990s, they could never have predicted that one day, they would become the best of friends, confidantes and partners in philanthropic crime for decades to come. Yet, three busy decades later, their bromance is still going strong as one of Hollywood’s most iconic and enviable friendships.
Defying the fickle nature of show business bonds, their off-screen camaraderie has stood steadfast against the tests of time, distance, relationships and careers. Come rain or shine, you can always count on them to have each other’s backs.
In this article, we take a nostalgic walk down memory lane and relive the major milestones of Brangelina and George & Amal’s beautiful friendship over the past twenty-odd years:
The Budding Bromance Begins
Brad and George’s paths first crossed in the early 90s – long before they would become megastars and heartthrobs to millions.
In 1994, 30-year-old Pitt landed a guest appearance in the medical sitcom E.R., which 33-year-old Clooney was co-starring in at the time. The fledgling actors hit it off instantly, bonding over practical jokes and their Midwestern roots.
As their stars rose exponentially in the late 90s, so did the frequency of their chance encounters and collaborations. By 1998, they had co-starred in the cult classic caper film Ocean’s Eleven, sparking an on-screen camaraderie that would have audiences tickled for decades.
Off-screen, their blossoming friendship soon became the stuff of legends. Tabloids and talk shows could never get enough of their pranking adventures and uproarious hi-jinks.
Who could forget the time Clooney doctored Pitt’s car bumper sticker to read “Small Penis On Board”? Or when Pitt secretly added an obscene custom message to Clooney’s home theater marquee? Their cheeky prank war captured hearts and kept spirits high across early-2000s Hollywood.
Love and Marriage
As the 2000s rolled on, both men began settling down, albeit struggling to leave their bachelor lifestyles behind. Clooney first married Talia Balsam in 1989, divorcing four years later just before he became a household name.
After a string of high-profile relationships with actresses like Gwyneth Paltrow, Pitt shocked the world when he married Jennifer Aniston in 2000 – Friends’ beloved girl-next-door.
For five years, the couples double dated and vacationed frequently, showing no signs of strain. But in January 2005, Aniston and Pitt announced their separation amidst tabloid rumors of an on-set affair between Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
The following year, Pitt began raising a family with Jolie. As Brangelina expanded rapidly, Clooney showed no signs of remarrying – until he took the plunge with Lebanese-British lawyer Amal Alamuddin in 2014.
Through it all, Brad and George’s friendship never wavered. In interviews, Clooney was always quick to defend Pitt against cheating allegations and clarify that he was not taking sides. Meanwhile, Pitt accompanied Clooney to visit earthquake victims in Haiti, proving their bond was firmly intact.
Bumps in the Road
In September 2016, the unthinkable happened – Brangelina called it quits after a 12-year relationship defined by tabloid drama. A nasty divorce and custody battle over six children ensued, with the FBI even roped into child abuse investigations against Pitt.
Once again, Clooney stepped up to defend his friend against vicious media attacks during his darkest days. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he chastised irresponsible press coverage and asserted his faith in Brad’s parenting skills.
Meanwhile, Clooney settled comfortably into married life, welcoming twins Ella and Alexander with Amal in 2017. Pitt, on the other hand, was struggling through divorce, sobriety issues and a widely-publicized custody battle.
But their friendship powered through, with Clooney checking in regularly as Pitt rebuilt his life. By 2019, they were back to joking around in interviews as Brangelina’s divorce was finalized relatively amicably. Against all odds, their friendship emerged unscathed.
The Bromance Today: Still Going Strong
Fast forward to today, and everything has come full circle for the Ocean’s Eleven duo. Though miles apart physically, their friendship is arguably stronger than ever.
In 2021, Clooney was one of the first to find out about Pitt’s lowkey romance with Nicole Poturalski. Similarly, Pitt is reportedly on close terms with Amal and the Clooney twins. Distance and new relationships are clearly no match for their bulletproof bond.
Both bachelors-turned-family-men are happily nestled into life after turbulent relationships. Pitt called his Oscar victory in 2020 a “gorgeous rhyme to the beginning” of his career when Clooney was still a confidant. Meanwhile, Clooney continues to gush about fatherhood with Amal.
Professionally, they are still cheering each other on as producers and stars of critically-acclaimed hits. Pitt even recently credited Clooney as his inspiration to step behind the camera, revealing plans to direct soon.
Most heartwarming are the times their paths cross publicly, sending fans into meltdown. In late 2019, Clooney and Pitt reunited with Aniston for a table read, dispelling remaining rumors of fallouts or rivalry. Clooney also honored Julia Roberts – Pitt’s Ocean’s co-star – at the Kennedy Center last December.
Though less vocal about current pranks, their trademark humor also remains alive and well. As recently as June 2022, Pitt joked in an interview about Clooney forcing him to perform Gravity stunts in his upcoming film.
The key to this decades-long bromance’s success? A perfect balance of love, understanding and space – with an endless supply of laughs thrown in, of course.
Through times of turmoil and joy alike, Clooney and Pitt continue showing up for each other when no one else does. In an unreliable industry overflowing with flings and flattery, their steadfast friendship stands out as a masterclass in keeping it real.
With two glowing families and flourishing careers between them now, expect Brangelina’s adventures to only grow more legendary in their golden years.
Brad and George’s bond has well and truly passed the test of time – setting the gold standard for bromances everywhere. May their pranks never end!
