Ben Affleck and Matt Damon recently revisited one of the most intense moments in their longstanding friendship, recalling a fight that led to Damon requiring hospital care. The actors, who star together in the forthcoming crime thriller The Rip, shared details of the altercation during a recent interview, shedding light on how a playful moment unexpectedly turned serious.
This incident, often referred to as the “Ben Affleck Matt Damon fight,” happened years ago but remains one of their most memorable off-screen experiences.
A Childhood Dispute on the Set of School Ties
The fight took place on the set of their 1992 film School Ties, a story about a talented football player named David, played by Brendan Fraser, facing the challenges of concealing his Jewish identity at a prestigious prep school. Alongside Affleck and Damon were other young actors including Cole Hauser, Chris O’Donnell, and Brendan Fraser himself.
Damon explained the circumstances to host Jimmy Fallon, describing how boredom between takes led the group to toss acorns at one another as a way to pass time.
“We were 19, 20 years old, and there were a bunch of us,”
Damon recalled.
“Brendan Fraser was in the movie, Cole Hauser was in the movie, Chris O’Donnell. And in between takes we were just bored, and we were walking across this school where we were shooting, and there were acorns, and so we just started whipping them at each other.”
Affleck added,
“Because when you’re 19, that seems like a good idea.”
The Moment the Fun Turned Serious
What started as a simple prank escalated when Affleck threw an acorn toward Hauser, but Hauser moved out of the way, causing the acorn to strike Damon in the eye. Damon described the injury vividly, saying,
“He [Affleck] threw one at Cole, and Cole moved, and I turned, and it literally hit me in the eye. It’s the only time in my life I’ve ever had, like, [I] didn’t have time to blink. And I had to go to the hospital.”
Though Damon needed medical attention, Affleck’s immediate concern was how the injury might affect his acting opportunities:
“Mind you, I had like three lines in the movie,”
Affleck said.
“And while I cared about Matt having vision, my first thought was, ‘I gotta be fired for this.’”
Damon spent several days wearing an eyepatch while recovering, making it a notable moment on set.
“It was like, he really —”
Damon began, only to be teased by Affleck, who said,
“Well, I mean, if you’re gonna play with fire…”
A Shared Experience with the Film’s Crew
Interestingly, Damon wasn’t the only person sporting an eyepatch during the production. Newt Arnold, the film’s first assistant director, also wore one at the time. Damon fondly recalled how the two bonded over their matching eyepatches with photos together on set.
“He was a great first A.D., old first A.D.,”
Damon stated.
The incident has since become part of their shared history, illustrating the youthful energy and close camaraderie during the early stages of their acting careers.
Reflecting on a Defining Moment and Its Impact
This episode between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon not only highlights a rare fierce moment in their friendship but also illustrates their enduring bond despite youthful misadventures. Having faced a hospital visit due to what began as harmless fun, the incident emphasizes the unpredictability of on-set dynamics among young actors.
As they continue to collaborate in projects like The Rip, their story reminds audiences of the genuine, sometimes turbulent beginnings that shaped their relationship and cemented their lifelong friendship.
