History History 3 min read

We can all get along

You will not believe these 12 unexpected friendships between celebrities

Image: Roberto Nickson

For some reason, odd friendships always seem so satisfying, and that is especially true when it comes to celebrities and famous people. Think Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg sharing laughs in the kitchen, or Britney Spears turning to Mel Gibson for support. These unlikely duos prove that friendship doesn’t always follow the rules of fame or personality. Sometimes, the most different people make the best connections. Did you know about these 12?

1
Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart

Image: Sigmund

When Snoop Dogg joined Martha Stewart on her show to make mashed potatoes, no one expected a lasting friendship. But their bond grew through TV appearances, comedy roasts, and countless collaborations .

Stewart once said working with Snoop is like having a sidekick: he helps her loosen up and feel free.

2
Helen Mirren and Vin Diesel

Image: Cook aynne

Dame Helen Mirren met Vin Diesel while filming Fate of the Furious in 2018, later joining him in F9 , Hobbs & Shaw , and Fast X .

"The most random people just have chemistry," she said. "And I adored Vin from the moment I met him."

3
Ellen DeGeneres and George W. Bush

Image: René DeAnda

In 2019, Ellen DeGeneres and former President George Bush were photographed together at a Dallas Cowboys game with their wives, Portia de Rossi and Laura Bush.

On her talk show, DeGeneres addressed their friendship, saying, "I’m friends with George Bush… and a lot of people who don’t share my beliefs. We’re all different, and I think we’ve forgotten that it’s okay."

4
Timothée Chalamet and Larry David

Image: ayumi kubo

Timothée Chalamet and comedy legend Larry David were spotted having lunch together at Sant Ambroeus in New York City.

Fans were delighted by the unlikely pairing, watching two very different Hollywood stars share a casual meal and a surprising connection.

5
50 Cent and Bette Midler

Image: Joel Muniz

In 2008, Bette Midler reached out to 50 Cent for fundraising advice , praising his G-Unity Foundation for donating millions to nonprofits.

She later shared how much his support meant, saying, "He’s really made my life worth living" and had stood by her "through thick and thin."

6
Britney Spears and Mel Gibson

Image: Mathew Browne

Mel Gibson reached out to Britney Spears in 2007, concerned about how the media was treating her .

"I just thought, ‘Is anyone reaching out to her?’" he told Jimmy Kimmel. He later took her on a trip to Costa Rica in 2008 to help her escape the spotlight.

7
Elton John and Eminem

Image: TopSphere Media

Eminem and Elton John struck up an unexpected friendship after performing together at the 2001 Grammys.

Eminem later turned to Elton for support during his struggles with addiction and even sent him a gift after his civil union.

8
Diane Keaton and Justin Bieber

Image: Barbora Dostálová

Diane Keaton starred in Justin Bieber's "Ghost" music video and soon became one of his closest confidantes .

Reflecting on the experience, Keaton said, "I couldn’t believe it. This was one of those moments when you think, ‘I’m what?’"

9
Russell Crowe and RZA

Image: Chase Fade

Russell Crowe and Wu-Tang Clan's RZA have worked together on several films, including The Man with the Iron Fists , American Gangster , and The Next Three Days .

Their bond goes beyond work, with Crowe sharing that they have deep conversations . "It’s no effort for me to give a friend advice," he said.

10
Harry Styles and Stevie Nicks

Image: Illia Horokhovsky

Harry Styles and Stevie Nicks’ friendship began in 2015 when Styles gave Nicks a birthday cake after a Fleetwood Mac show.

Styles admires Nicks deeply , calling her a "beacon" and saying, "She is everything you’ve ever wanted in a lady, in a lover, in a friend." Nicks, in turn, considers Styles like a son , praising his rock & roll album for its 1970s vibe, saying, "He could have made a pop record, but he chose the harder path."

11
Ed Sheeran and Courteney Cox

Image: Mahrous Houses

Ed Sheeran and Courteney Cox formed an unexpected friendship when he moved into her LA beach house .

In a show of support, Sheeran wrote on Instagram, urging fans to vote for Cox for a People’s Choice Award, saying, "She’s never won one, and she lets me live in her beach house, so let’s win her the damn thing."

12
Stella McCartney and Johnny Depp

Image: Christopher Zenzel

Fashion designer Stella McCartney has known Johnny Depp since her student days at Central Saint Martins.

During her graduate show, Depp and Kate Moss stayed at her London home. Last year, McCartney shared a photo with Depp from the set of her father Paul McCartney's Queenie Eye music video, celebrating their long friendship.

Culture Culture 7 min read

Til divorce do us part

Which Hollywood icon said "I Do" 8 times? 10 multi-married celebrities!

Image: Amine İspir

Love stories have fascinated humanity since ancient times. Both cinema and TV have brought the most beautiful—and the most turbulent—romances to the screen. But real life is also full of love, and apparently, celebrities know a lot about it. While some stars have never made the decision to get married, like Diane Keaton or Al Pacino, others have walked down the aisle multiple times—with a few even saying "I do" as many as 8 times! If you want to know who these 10 wedding-friendly celebs are, read on!

1
Judy Garland

Image: Sandy Millar

Hollywood's Golden Age wouldn't have been the same without the iconic Judy Garland. Born in Minnesota as Frances Ethel Gumm in 1922, Garland began her acting career at the age of seven. Most of us, however, know her best for her role as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (1939).

Acting and art weren't the only things in Judy Garland's life; love also played a significant role. Throughout her life, the actress married 5 times. Her first wedding took place in Las Vegas, where she married composer David Rose in 1941. They divorced 3 years later. In 1945, Judy Garland had her second wedding, this time to director Vincente Minnelli. They had a daughter who would later become a world-renowned star: Liza Minnelli (who, in turn, has been married 4 times). Her third marriage was the longest—her union with Sidney Luft lasted from 1952 to 1965. After divorcing Luft, Garland married two more times: first to Mark Herron (1965–1969) and then to Mickey Deans (1969).

2
Clark Gable

Image: Thomas AE

Known to many as "the King of Hollywood," we all remember the actor Clark Gable for his role as Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind (1939). His irresistible charisma and looks made him a heartthrob in his time. Among many love stories—some more tranquil than others—Gable married five times over his life.

In 1924, he married actress Josephine Dillon, who was 17 years older than him. The marriage lasted 6 years. In 1931, Gable became a husband for the second time, marrying actress Maria "Ria" Franklin, whom he divorced 8 years later. Shortly after his second divorce, the actor married Carole Lombard in 1939. Sadly, Lombard passed away 3 years after the wedding.

Several years passed before Gable found love again. In 1949, he married British actress Sylvia Ashley, but they broke up 3 years later. Finally, in 1955, he entered his fifth and final marriage to actress and model Kay Williams, whom he declared to be the love of his life.

3
Tony Curtis

Image: Laura Gariglio

He was born Bernard Schwartz on June 3, 1925, in The Bronx, but the world knew him as Tony Curtis.

After serving in the US Navy, Curtis changed his career to become one of the most memorable actors of Hollywood's Golden Age. You might remember him alongside Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot (1959).

Curtis didn't shy away from saying, "I do"—he married 6 times! His wives included actresses Janet Leigh (1951-1962), Christine Kaufmann (1963-1968), Leslie Allen (1968-1982), Andrea Savio (1984-1992), Lisa Deutsch (1993-1994), and Jill Vandenberg (1998-2010). The actor had a total of 6 children from his different marriages, including the well-known actress Jamie Lee Curtis.

4
Rita Hayworth

Image: Cate Bligh

In 1918, New York City saw the birth of the iconic Rita Hayworth. Although she began her career as a teenager, most of the public remembers her for her performance in the noir classic film Gilda (1946).

Noted for her extraordinary beauty and captivating performances, Hayworth tied the knot 5 times during her lifetime. Her first husband was Edward C. Judson, whom she wed in 1937, though the marriage ended 5 years later. Rita Hayworth's second husband may ring a bell: it was Orson Welles, to whom she was married from 1943 to 1947. From 1949 to 1953, she was married to socialite and ambassador Aly Khan. Then, she walked down the aisle with singer Dick Haymes, whom she divorced in 1955. Her fifth and final marriage was to producer James Hill, lasting from 1958 to 1961.

5
Larry King

Image: Marcus Lewis

It's the turn of a TV and radio star. We're talking about the iconic Larry King, one of the most famous hosts in entertainment history.

King was born Lawrence Harvey Zeiger on November 19, 1933, in New York City. His career began in the 1950s, and it didn't take him long to gain national fame.

King said, "I Do" 8 times! His first marriage was to Freda Miller when he was only 19 years old. They were married from 1952 to 1953, though the marriage was allegedly annulled by their parents. Later, he was the husband of Annette Kaye (1961), Alene Akins (1961-1963), Mickey Sutphin (1963-1967), Alene Akins again (1967-1972), Sharon Lepore (1976–1983), Julie Alexander (1989–1992), and finally, Shawn Southwick (1997–2021).

6
Rue McClanahan

Image: Thomas AE

The Golden Girls (1985-1992) was one of the most beloved TV shows of the 20th century. In addition to the legendary Betty White, The Golden Girls featured other great actresses, including Rue McClanahan, who famously played Blanche Devereaux on the show.

Throughout her life, Rue McClanahan married 6 times. Her first marriage was in 1958 to Tom Bish, although the couple only lasted a year. In 1959, she married actor Norman Hartweg, to whom she remained married for 2 years. Then, the actress walked down the aisle 4 more times: with Peter DeMaio (1964–1971), Gus Fisher (1976–1979), Tom Keel (1984–1985), and Morrow Wilson (1997-2010).

7
Lana Turner

Image: Jeremy Wong Weddings

The 1938 film Love Finds Andy Hardy brought actress Lana Turner to stardom, who became one of the most famous figures of Hollywood's Golden Age. Her most recognized role, however, was in the film The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946); have you seen it?

Despite a busy professional life, Lana Turner found time to marry on 8 occasions. In chronological order, her husbands were: Artie Shaw (1940-1941), Stephen Crane ( twice, from 1942 to 1944), Henry J. Topping, Jr. (1948-1952), Lex Barker (1953-1957), Fred May (1960-1962), Robert Eaton (1965-1969), and Ronald Pellar (1969-1972). It seems that getting married was all the rage in the early 20th century!

8
Mickey Rooney

Image: Tom Pumford

Perhaps the famous actor Mickey Rooney may have unknowingly set a record when, at just 17 months old, he stepped on stage for the first time as part of his parents' vaudeville act.

But his fame took off when he played the iconic teenager Andy Hardy in A Family Affair (1937), the first in a series of films that would make him an absolute star. His career expanded over 90 years, with major roles in TV, film, and theater.

Hi s love life was almost as famous as his professional life: Rooney married 8 times! Impressive! His first wife was the renowned Ava Gardner , whom he married in 1942 and divorced a year later. Between 1944 and 1969, the actor would marry Betty Jane Baker, Martha Vickers, Elaine Devry, Carolyn Mitchell, Marge Lane, and Carolyn Hockett. Finally, in 1978, he married his last wife, Jan Chamberlin.

9
Henry Fonda

Image: Nathan Dumlao

We can't talk about Hollywood without mentioning Henry Fonda, one of the best-remembered actors of the 20th century. Fonda initially started out studying journalism, but once he joined a theater company and discovered acting, he never strayed from this great passion. His iconic film roles include Abraham Lincoln in Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940), and Wyatt Earp in My Darling Clementine (1946).

In addition to a busy professional life, Fonda also had room for love: he married 5 times during his lifetime. His first marriage was to actress Margaret Sullavan from 1931 to 1933. In 1936, hhe married Frances Ford Seymour, with whom he had two children: Jane Fonda and Peter Fonda, who both became stars. Susan Blanchard (1950-1956), Afdera Franchetti (1957-1961), and Shirlee Mae Adams (1965-1982) were his last 3 wives.

10
Nicolas Cage

Image: Gianni Scognamiglio

Let's finish this list with a more contemporary star. We're talking about Nicolas Cage, the famous actor and producer from California.

Between premieres and film sets, Cage had quite a busy love life. The actor proposed to 5 women throughout his life. The first of them was actress Patricia Arquette, to whom he was married from 1995 to 2001. A year later, in 2002, he married singer Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of the King of Rock and Roll, and this marriage lasted 2 years.

In 2004, he tied the knot with Alice Kim, to whom he was married for 12 years until their divorce in 2016. 3 years after his third divorce, he fell in love with makeup artist Erika Koike, to whom he was married for a couple of months. Finally, in 2021, he married for the fifth time, this time to Japanese actress Riko Shibata. They're together to this day.

Culture Culture 4 min read

Quirky education

Which famous university was once the U.S. capital?

Image: Kelly Sikkema

American universities and colleges are among the most renowned in the world, but this doesn’t mean they haven’t developed their own quirks and oddities throughout their history . From legalizing pirates to displaying deceptive statues, these institutions remind us that they are populated by ordinary humans, no matter how smart and talented they may be. Here are some fun facts about prestigious American colleges you might not know about.

1
An official pirate license

Image: Arun Antony

If being a pirate was your childhood dream, it's more attainable than you think. The main obstacle? Getting into MIT. Once you’re in, you can get your official pirate license —parchment certificate included— provided that you complete four physical education courses in pistol, archery, sailing, and fencing. However, the school has stated that this certificate does not give a license to engage in piracy or any pirate activities.

2
The lethal library

Image: Bee

If you’re a bibliophile attending Yale University, be aware that your love for books might get you killed while on campus. To protect its manuscripts and rare specimens, the Yale Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library is equipped with a fire safety device that, instead of sprinkling water, sucks all the oxygen out of the building . The official stance is that this device is not lethal for humans, but that remains unproven.

3
The Olympian factory

Image: Y S

American colleges and universities are known for their rigorous athletic programs, but no one does it like Stanford. Did you know that since 1908, there has been a medalist who attended Stanford in every Summer Olympic Games? With a grand total of 335 medals (162 gold, 93 silver, and 80 bronze), if Stanford were a country of its own, it would rank in the top 20.

4
The deceiving statue

Image: Jonathan Vargas

Visitors of Harvard University have most likely come across the famous John Harvard statue on campus. However, this statue is so deceptive that it is dubbed ‘the statue of three lies’. What are these lies? The inscription reads "John Harvard. Founder. 1638‍". Harvard University, founded in 1636, not 1638. It owes its name to its first benefactor, John Harvard. It was not founded by him, but by the authorities of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Additionally, the man represented in the sculpture is not John Harvard, but a student chosen as a model because there were no surviving portraits of Harvard.

5
The inventors of the open curriculum

Image: Keming Tan

The open curriculum has been adopted by many institutions nationwide, but Brown University was the blueprint. During the 1950s, they developed the first interdisciplinary courses to avoid stifling intellectual curiosity. By the 1960s, Brown students pushed for the elimination of the standard general education requirements altogether, an initiative that was resisted but eventually implemented by the administration.

6
The college that was the capital of the U.S.

Image: SooWan Jang

Before Washington, D.C., was established as the capital of the U.S., several places were temporary capitals, including Philadelphia, New York, and Princeton University in Princeton, NJ. From June to November 1783, the Continental Congress gathered in the college library in Nassau Hall, which made the place the de facto capital of the nation . Among other historical events, the library was where Congress received in 1783 the news of the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which effectively ended the American Revolutionary War.

7
The inclusion pioneers

Image: Daderot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The desegregation of education was a key element in the fight for civil rights, and Oberlin College, in Ohio, was a pioneer. In 1835, the college made history by enrolling Black students, decades before other major institutions . Besides this, Oberlin was the first to enroll women in 1833 and to admit them to bachelor's degree programs in 1837.

8
Unable to swim? Unable to graduate

Image: Colin Rowley

Up until recently, students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill had to fulfill a strange requirement in order to graduate. They had to pass a mandatory swimming test , consisting of diving in the deep end, swimming 50 yards, and treading water or floating for 5 minutes. During WWII, the university was used as a training center, and the swimming test was mandatory for recruits. Eventually, this requirement became extensive for all students and was not abolished until 2006.

9
Computer science pioneers

Image: Cole Parsons

A modern university offering a computer science program is nothing strange, unless they’re doing it a mere two decades after the invention of the first modern electronic computer. In 1962, Purdue University in Indiana was the first to establish a department of computer sciences , pioneering academic research in the field. More than 50 years later, Purdue University remains one of the leaders in computer science research.

10
The largest student body

Image: Avi Waxman

Other institutions might boast about being the oldest or the most sought-after university, but Arizona State University leads the rankings when it comes to enrollment . With nearly 80,000 in-person students across the Phoenix metropolitan area campuses and nearly the same number of online attendees, it surpasses all American institutions in terms of student body size. In comparison, Deep Springs College, in California, sits at the opposite end of the spectrum, with a student body restricted to 26 undergraduates.

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