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  • Tom Cruise & Will Smith, Lance Armstrong & Matthew McConaughey, Tobey Maguire & Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck & Matt Damon
  • Ben Affleck and Matt Damon hit the red carpet at the ‘Ante Up for Africa’ celebrity poker tournament in Las Vegas on July 2, 2009
  • Paul Newman and Robert Redford attend the the Westport Country Playhouse gala benefit dinner in Greenwich, Connecticut on October 14, 2004
  • Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller arrive at the premiere of ‘Starsky and Hutch’ at the Village Theater in Los Angeles on February 26, 2004
  • Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire attend the Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah game at Staples Center on April 27, 2009 in Los Angeles
  • Matthew McConaughey and Lance Armstrong celebrate after the Texas Longhorns defeated the USC Trojans to win the Rose Bowl  on January 4, 2006 in Pasadena, California
  • Joaquin Phoenix and Casey Affleck on the Painted Turtle red carpet

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  • Composed by AccessHollywood.com

    Tom Cruise & Will Smith, Lance Armstrong & Matthew McConaughey, Tobey Maguire & Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck & Matt Damon

  • Getty Images

    Ben Affleck and Matt Damon hit the red carpet at the ‘Ante Up for Africa’ celebrity poker tournament in Las Vegas on July 2, 2009

  • Getty Images

    Paul Newman and Robert Redford attend the the Westport Country Playhouse gala benefit dinner in Greenwich, Connecticut on October 14, 2004

  • Getty Images

    Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller arrive at the premiere of ‘Starsky and Hutch’ at the Village Theater in Los Angeles on February 26, 2004

  • Getty Images

    Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire attend the Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah game at Staples Center on April 27, 2009 in Los Angeles

  • Getty Images

    Matthew McConaughey and Lance Armstrong celebrate after the Texas Longhorns defeated the USC Trojans to win the Rose Bowl on January 4, 2006 in Pasadena, California

  • Getty Images

    Joaquin Phoenix and Casey Affleck on the Painted Turtle red carpet

 
 

FIRST PUBLISHED: July 16, 2009 6:06 PM EDT
LAST UPDATED: July 16, 2009 6:48 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Over the years, Hollywood has endured some of the most talked-about and celebrated romances — from Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

While these Hollywood couples have experienced all the glitz and glamour of show business, there is a different kind a romance brewing on the celebrity scene, a phenomenon referred to as the “Bromance.” Since being coined in the early 1990s, the term has even spread to the members of the Hollywood elite!

From running buddies to bunkmates these bros don’t travel far from their pals! AccessHollywood.com counts down 10 of the hottest and most celebrated Hollywood bromances!

10. Paul Newman and Robert Redford -- Perhaps the original bromance. This legendary duo took root on the set of the 1969 Oscar-winning film “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid” in which the seasoned Newman starred opposite Hollywood newcomer, Redford. The duo at one point lived in Connecticut, only one mile apart and their social circles began to overlap. While they played alongside one another in both “Butch” and the 1973 classic, “The Sting,” their real-life friendship remained strong for over 40 years until Newman passed away in 2008.

9. Joaquin Phoenix and Casey Affleck – Just call it a little brother bromance. Joaquin, the younger brother of the late River Phoenix, and Casey, the younger brother of Hollywood A-lister Ben Affleck, first met on the set of the 1995 thriller “To Die For.” Joaquin later introduced Casey to his younger sister, Summer, whom he married in 2006. In early 2009, it was reported that Casey was filming his brother-in-law’s transition from actor to hip-hop rapper for a new documentary. That hypothesis was further cemented when Joaquin visited “Late Night with David Letterman” and appeared to be playing a bizarre part for the cameras, though he maintains the rap career is entirely genuine. Nevertheless, this dynamic duo remains inseparable!

8. Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau This bromance is so “money,” they don’t even know it. This comedy dream team first met on the set of the 1993 sports classic “Rudy.” The duo hit it big in 1996 with “Swingers,” which was written by Favreau and based on his own Hollywood adventures. Vaughn became the breakout star of the film and it soon became a cult favorite. In 2001, the duo struck again with the not-as-warmly received “Made.” Since then, the duo have shared the screen in “The Break-Up” and “Four Christmases.” It is undeniable that the duo has on- and off-screen chemistry.

7. Chace Crawford and Ed WestwickSpottted: The hottest bromance on the Upper East Side. These “Gossip” guys co-star as deviously handsome frenemies, Nate Archibald and Chuck Bass, on the hit show “Gossip Girl.” That on-screen chemistry translates off-screen, because these two are real-life best buds! Not only do they work and play together, they also shared a cozy New York City apartment together — until Chace reportedly recently moved out.

6. Will Smith and Tom Cruise Talk about a couple of superstar bros! These two megastars became fast friends in the A-list community and frequently hit the red carpet together. Tom and Will are often spotted wining and dining with wives Katie Holmes and Jada Pinkett Smith, and having play dates with their children. Will famously defended Tom’s beliefs in Scientology in a 2008 interview with Access saying that Tom, “is one of the greatest spirits I’ve ever met.” The two are so close that Tom’s oldest son, Conner, played a young Will Smith in his film “Seven Pounds.” These two bros are bound to go the distance!

5. Owen Wilson and Ben StillerA bromance sure to tickle the funny bone, this comedy duo are good friends and frequently collaborate on the big screen, having appeared in seven movies together. The duo has been compared to legends Abbott and Costello thanks to their work in films such as “Zoolander,” “Starsky & Hutch” and “The Royal Tennebaums.” Ben even gave Owen his first major movie role in “The Cable Guy,” which Ben directed.

4. Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprioYou can call this bromance Tob-ardo!This A-list pair have been super-friends since working together on the 1993 classic “This Boy’s Life.” Although they have only shared the big screen once, the duo remains frequent fixtures at Lakers games. Leo also often vacations with Tobey and his growing brood.

3. George Clooney and Brad Pitt – Hollywood’s globe-trotting, “Ocean’s”-spanning bros! The two megastars reign supreme over Hollywood! George — a notorious bachelor — and Brad — the ultimate Hollywood family man — join forces to become the world’s sexiest bromance! The duo famously collaborated on the big screen in the “Ocean’s” series. Both are notorious Hollywood pranksters — Brad even had Ellen Degeneres send a group of Chippendales dancers to George’s office to lure him onto her show. Looks like it’s your move George!

2. Matthew Mcconaughey and Lance Armstrong Forget Sporty Spice, these are the Sporty Bros. Matthew and Lance are often seen involved in some sort of sweaty athletic activity and more times than not…shirtless! The scantily clad pair became close after splitting with their counterparts, Lance with then fiance, Sheryl Crow, and Matthew with Penelope Cruz. The pair is often seen out and about in Hollywood and Matthew was even rumored to be playing the biker in an upcoming movie based on his life. For the sake of women everywhere, we hope this bromance is more than a fling! (And of course, Jake Gyllenhaal gets an honorable mention as the third member of this cycling bromance).

1. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck – The bromance by which all others shall be judged. These sexy stars have been close friends since they were kids and they received Best Original Screenplay Oscars for best for 1998 film ”Good Will Hunting.” Now all grown up, the duo has reached A-list status and both have claimed People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” title. They’ve teamed up on the big screen for several other movies over the years, including cameos in Kevin Smith’s “Dogma” and “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.” Matt and Ben frequently vacation with their expanding families and are planning to collaborate on the big-screen again in the near future!

Copyright 2009 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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