Muhammad Ali once said, “Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”
We often hear that opposites attract, a notion that applies not just to romance but to friendships as well. History is full of surprising and intriguing friendships between individuals from vastly different walks of life.
Imagine an award-winning playwright and a professional wrestler sharing laughs or a genius author befriending a deaf-blind girl. These unlikely friendships are not just figments of imagination—they actually happened.
Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of some of history’s most unexpected and captivating friendships.
1. Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla
On the surface, a friendship between the renowned writer Mark Twain and the inventive genius Nikola Tesla might seem improbable. However, their shared interests laid the groundwork for a meaningful connection long before they ever met.
During a debilitating nine-month battle with cholera, Tesla found solace in Twain’s early writings, describing them as “unlike anything I had ever read before and so captivating as to make me utterly forget my hopeless state.” Meanwhile, Twain harbored a deep fascination with technological advancements, particularly in the realm of electricity.
When the two finally met in the 1890s, a remarkable friendship blossomed. They frequently spent time together, both in Tesla’s lab and socially.
One especially memorable incident happened when Twain tried out Tesla’s electro-mechanical oscillator, which Tesla thought might have health benefits. Twain sat on the vibrating plate, but it turned out to work like a strong laxative, making the famous author run quickly to the bathroom.
2. Helen Keller and Mark Twain
Helen Keller and Mark Twain met in 1895 when Keller was 14, and Twain was 60. Despite the huge age difference, they formed a surprising friendship.
Twain marveled at Keller’s perceptiveness, saying, “Without touching anything, and without seeing anything, obviously, and without hearing anything, she seemed to quite well recognize the character of her surroundings.” Keller felt an immediate connection: “The instant I clasped his hand in mine, I knew that he was my friend.”
Twain assisted Keller in getting into Radcliffe College, where she became the first deaf and blind person in the U.S. to earn a degree. They continued their friendship through letters, providing both comfort and humor to each other.
Keller cherished Twain’s genuine treatment of her, and she spent time with him at his home in Redding, Connecticut, shortly before his death.
3. Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe
Fitzgerald, a successful jazz singer since the 1930s, was mostly performing in smaller venues. Monroe, a fervent fan of Fitzgerald’s music, met her in 1954 and soon formed a close bond.
Their friendship was surprising given the era’s racial segregation, but it demonstrated Monroe’s admiration for Fitzgerald’s talent and character.
Monroe’s influence helped Fitzgerald secure a pivotal performance at Mocambo nightclub. She promised to attend every performance and bring along other celebrities. This opportunity was a turning point in Fitzgerald’s career, leading to larger performances and greater recognition.
Monroe once said, “Well, my very favorite person, and I love her as a person as well as a singer, I think she’s the greatest, and that’s Ella Fitzgerald.” The two remained friends until Monroe’s death at 36.
4. Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini
The tale of Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini is a blend of camaraderie and contention. The famed mystery writer, best known for creating Sherlock Holmes, first crossed paths with the illustrious illusionist in 1920 while Houdini was touring England.
Their mutual fascination with spiritualism and séances, aimed at contacting the deceased, initially united them. However, their paths soon diverged dramatically.
Conan Doyle, paradoxically unlike his logical detective Holmes, became deeply immersed in and convinced of spiritual phenomena. In stark contrast, Houdini embarked on a mission to debunk fraudulent mediums, dismissing spiritualism as “nothing more or less than mental intoxication.”
The turning point in their relationship came in 1922, when Conan Doyle’s wife, Jean, purportedly communicated with Houdini’s mother during a séance.
However, Houdini publicly stated that he didn’t believe the message was from beyond the grave. He doubted its authenticity because it was 15 pages of handwritten notes in English, a language his mother didn’t speak. Their friendship steadily unraveled thereafter.
5. Hunter S. Thompson and Pat Buchanan
The “gonzo” journalist Hunter S. Thompson had a strong dislike for Richard Nixon, calling him “that dark, venal, and incurably violent side of the American character.” Surprisingly, Thompson formed a close friendship with conservative politician Pat Buchanan, once a key advisor to Nixon.
Thompson, famous for his counterculture classic Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1972), first met Buchanan during Nixon’s 1972 presidential campaign.
Reflecting on their relationship, Thompson remarked, “We’re still friends. Patrick is a libertarian, or at least in that direction. I think of politics as a circle, not a spectrum of one line, not just right and left. Patrick and I are often pretty close. Patrick’s an honest person.”
Despite their ideological differences, the two maintained their friendship until Thompson’s death in 2005.
6. President Ulysses S. Grant and James Longstreet
Unlike many other pairs, Ulysses S. Grant, who later became the 18th U.S. President, and James Longstreet had a long-standing friendship since their days at West Point.
Longstreet graduated in 1842, with Grant following a year later. There are stories, though not confirmed that Longstreet was Grant’s best man at his wedding to Julia Dent in 1848.
What makes their friendship remarkable is how it endured through the Civil War, where they found themselves on opposing sides. Grant led the Union Army to victory in 1865, while Longstreet served as a general under Robert E. Lee in the Confederate Army.
Despite fighting against each other, Longstreet played a crucial role in convincing Lee to surrender and end the war. Afterward, Grant and Longstreet renewed their friendship and even served together at Jefferson Barracks shortly after their time at West Point. They had also fought alongside each other in the Mexican-American War, which further strengthened their bond.
7. Pope John Paul II and Ali Agca
Being friends with the Pope might seem strange, but the remarkable encounter between Pope John Paul II and his would-be assassin, Mehmet Ali Agca, proved it can happen.
On May 13, 1981, Mehmet Ali Agca shocked the world by shooting Pope John Paul II multiple times as he entered St. Peter’s Square. Despite the severity of his wounds, the Pope famously uttered, “Pray for my brother… whom I have sincerely forgiven.”
Agca was swiftly arrested, tried, and sentenced to life in prison. Conflicting reports speculate on Agca’s motives for the assassination attempt, ranging from opposition to the Pope’s perceived role in global conflicts to revenge for past events.
In a surprising turn, on December 27, 1983, Pope John Paul II visited Agca in prison, where Agca kissed the Pope’s hand. They conversed privately for over 20 minutes, out of earshot. The Pope presented Agca with a gift—a silver rosary.
Their bond continued to evolve over the years. Agca sent well wishes when the Pope fell ill, and upon Pope John Paul II’s passing in 2005, Agca and his family mourned deeply.
8. Samuel Beckett and André the Giant
The unlikely friendship between playwright Samuel Beckett and professional wrestler André the Giant shows how bonds can form between people from vastly different backgrounds. André, a wrestling icon, found a companion in Beckett, famed for his play “Waiting for Godot.”
In 1953, Beckett moved to France and hired Boris Rousimoff to help build his home. They became friends, sharing card games and conversations. Boris shared his struggle of getting his son, André, to school. At just 12, André was already 6 feet tall and 250 pounds.
Beckett offered to drive André to school in his large truck. Their conversations often drifted to cricket during their rides. They made a unique friendship between the literary genius and the wrestling legend.