George Clooney and Brad Pitt may now be one of Hollywood’s most famous friendships, but their relationship reportedly began with a touch of real resentment.
According to Geena Davis, Clooney once openly admitted he “hated” Pitt after losing out on a role in Thelma & Louise, the 1991 film in which Pitt had his breakout performance as J.D. Davis shared the story during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, recalling a memorable flight where she found herself seated next to Clooney.
She described him as lively and talkative during the journey, before the conversation turned to Pitt. At that point, Clooney allegedly confessed his frustration over the casting decision, saying he disliked Pitt because the role had gone to him. When Davis asked whether he had truly wanted the part, Clooney reportedly insisted it was obvious during his audition that he was invested in it.
While the anecdote highlights early professional rivalry, Davis noted that everything worked out for the best, with Pitt landing the role that helped launch his career and Clooney rising to fame a few years later on ER.
Despite that rocky beginning, the two actors eventually formed a close friendship and went on to collaborate multiple times, most notably in the Ocean’s franchise, which began with Ocean’s Eleven in 2001. Over the years, their bond has become famous in Hollywood for its playful competitiveness and elaborate pranks.
Clooney has joked in interviews that Pitt’s pranks often “cut deep,” joking that some were so intense he could not even return to his hometown afterward. The pair frequently tease each other in public, with Clooney once joking about Pitt’s looks and Pitt returning the compliment by calling Clooney one of the most handsome men in the world.
Today, their early rivalry is long behind them, replaced by a decades-long friendship and multiple film collaborations that have turned them into one of Hollywood’s most enduring on-screen and off-screen duos.
