Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki’s bond has stood the test of time—and decades of television.
The 47-year-old Supernatural alum recently opened up about his evolving friendship with Padalecki as they gear up to reunite onscreen once again, this time in the upcoming fifth and final season of The Boys. Alongside their former co-star Misha Collins, the trio is set to bring some serious nostalgia to longtime fans.
Ackles and Padalecki first connected while filming Supernatural, which originally aired in 2005 and will celebrate its 20th anniversary this September. The series spanned 15 seasons and over 300 episodes, but more importantly, it sparked a lifelong friendship between its two leads—one that continues to deepen.
“You’re talking about two young guys who all of a sudden got thrown together, moved away from their lives, [were] put up in Vancouver, Canada, and just told: ‘You’re both going to be working your asses off for the next 15 years,’” Jensen recalled in an interview with Men’s Health. “That created a bond early on, and it’s evolved as we’ve grown up and matured in our real lives.”
The pair spent the better part of their twenties on set together, navigating long shooting schedules, fame, and growing pains side by side. “What started out as a couple of buddies in their 20s getting into a little too much trouble, having a little too much fun on set, has now evolved into two fathers with six kids between them,” Jensen said. “We’ve grown into men. We’ve got wives, children, and mortgages. We’ve got a lot of responsibility outside of just showing up to work on time. And we did all that together.”
Now both dads with busy lives, the connection between them has only grown stronger with time.
“There is a brotherly bond that still exists today. We still talk all the time; we still see each other all the time,” Ackles continued. “He’s on my short list of the people I can call if I ever need anything, and I’m on his as well. I don’t know many people who could have facilitated that kind of relationship for that many years. I’m very thankful it was him.”
With both actors taking on new projects while staying connected to the Supernatural family, it’s clear that some on-screen chemistry translates into real-life loyalty. And as they reunite again for The Boys, fans can look forward to a full-circle moment nearly two decades in the making.
