Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller share a special bond, from being regular co-stars to supporting each other's mental health. As Owen turns 55 today, we explore his close friendship with Ben.
The two have been buddies since the '90s, known for their roles in hit films like Zoolander, Starsky & Hutch, and the Night at the Museum series. They've starred in 12 movies together as of July 2023. But their bond goes beyond work.
Ben once spoke about Owen's mental health struggles and suicide attempt on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, saying: "He's doing really well. I sort of like to protect his privacy, 'cause I feel like it's his own thing. But he's a really good friend of mine. He's an incredible guy and I wish him as everybody does, all the best."
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Owen was hospitalized after a suicide attempt not long before. While filming Tropic Thunder with Ben in the summer of 2007, Owen asked for privacy to "receive care and heal in private during this difficult time".
Before they worked together, Owen had reached out to Ben to express his admiration for his work. Owen shared: "I think it was when he saw Bottle Rocket. He wrote me the nicest letter, saying how much he loved the movie, which meant a great deal, because no one saw Bottle Rocket."
In the letter, Ben expressed his hope that "he hoped [they] might work together on something, some day,' and that sure came to pass."
Owen also mentioned: "I don't know if the relationship has developed over time. It's a little like these characters [in Zoolander]. There isn't a big arc.
"From when we first became friends, walking around New York, I think that we are still sort of laughing at the same things and our dynamic is still pretty similar."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.