Ben Affleck Recalls Throwing Acorn That Injured Matt Damon's Eye on Film Set
Hollywood stars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon recently shared a funny yet alarming story from their early days in the film industry. The incident happened more than three decades ago on the set of the 1992 movie School Ties. It involved a simple acorn that nearly cost Damon his eyesight and almost got Affleck fired from the project.
The Acorn-Throwing Incident That Went Wrong
During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the longtime friends opened up about the mishap. They were promoting their new film The Rip, which releases on Netflix on January 16. The conversation turned to physical injuries when Fallon asked about an old wound Damon suffered over thirty years ago.
Matt Damon began recounting the tale. "We were doing a movie called School Ties like 35 years ago, and we were all 19-20 years old," he said. The cast included young actors like Brendan Fraser, Chris O'Donnell, and Cole Hauser. Between takes, boredom set in. The group found themselves walking across the school where they were filming.
"There were acorns on the ground, and we just started whipping them at each other," Damon explained. "Because that seemed like a good way to spend our time." What started as playful fun quickly turned serious. Ben Affleck threw an acorn at Cole Hauser, but Hauser dodged it. The acorn flew straight into Matt Damon's eye.
Hospital Visit and Eye Patch
The impact was severe enough to require immediate medical attention. "I had to go to the hospital, and they gave me an eye patch, which I had to wear for a few days," Damon revealed. The injury could have been much worse, potentially blinding him. Fortunately, he recovered after treatment.
Ben Affleck's reaction to the accident was a mix of concern and panic about his own career. "See, I had maybe 4 lines in the film," Affleck said. "And as much as I cared about Matt having vision, my first thought was, 'I am going to get fired for this.'" His fear was understandable. As a young actor with a minor role, causing such an injury to a co-star could have ended his involvement in the project.
Host Jimmy Fallon gasped upon hearing the details. "Oh my god! Fastball!" he exclaimed. Affleck responded with a laugh, "I mean, yeah... if you play with fire." The two actors clearly find the memory amusing now, but it was a stressful moment at the time.
Promoting Their New Film 'The Rip'
The interview primarily focused on promoting their latest collaboration, The Rip. Matt Damon discussed the film's background and director Joe Carnahan. "He wrote it too, and he spent time down in Miami with an actual tactical narcotics team," Damon said. These teams are tasked with seizing illegally obtained money.
Damon elaborated on the real-life inspiration. "In Miami, these teams have to count the money on the spot, and the film is based on a real-life scenario where a team hit a house, thinking they were going to get $70k, but instead there was over $20 million hidden." The plot promises high stakes and intense action.
The cast of The Rip features several notable names alongside Affleck and Damon. It includes Teyana Taylor, Scott Adkins, Catalina Moreno, Kyle Chandler, Sasha Calle, and Steven Yeun. The film is set to captivate audiences with its gripping story and strong performances.
A Lasting Friendship Despite the Mishap
This acorn incident is just one of many stories that highlight the deep bond between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Their friendship has endured for decades, surviving early career struggles and playful accidents. They have collaborated on numerous successful projects, becoming one of Hollywood's most beloved duos.
The story from School Ties serves as a reminder of their humble beginnings. Both actors were young and inexperienced, finding ways to entertain themselves between scenes. While the acorn-throwing game had unintended consequences, it now adds to the lore of their enduring partnership.
Fans can look forward to seeing them together again in The Rip. The film promises to deliver the same chemistry and talent that have made their previous collaborations so memorable. Despite the scary moment on the School Ties set, their friendship only grew stronger, proving that even a misplaced acorn cannot break a true bromance.
