Jennifer Aniston & Sandra Bullock's Tight Bond Is the Unexpected Result of This Love Connection

There’s nothing more fun to watch than celebrity friendships that blossom in the most unusual ways. Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullock have been spending quite a bit of time together in the wake of Bullock’s partner Bryan Randall’s’ death from ALS last August. While they have a lot in common, based on their Hollywood careers, it’s an old love connection, that they both share in common, who brought them together in the first place.

Actor Tate Donovan, whom the women both dated (at different times) in the 1990s is the person responsible for their BFF status. The story first surfaced in 2020 in Interview magazine where Bullock helmed a Q&A with Aniston. The OC star introduced his ex-girlfriends to each other at a CAA Golden Globes party.

More from SheKnows

• Meghan Markle's Friendship With Kate Middleton Reportedly Got 'Started on the Wrong Foot'

Bullock shared, “We were introduced by our former boyfriend. I say ‘our’ because you and I both partook of this one human being.”

“Yes, we did. That’s a beautiful way of saying it,” Aniston quipped back.

“Who was a very patient human being, given that he dated us both,” added The Blind Side star.

“He seems to have a type,” Aniston joked while also admitting that they bonded as “lovers of architecture, lovers of interior design.”

They only had nice things to say about Donovan, so he’s probably relieved that teaming up two of his powerhouse ex-girlfriends worked in his favor. Aniston and Bullock eventually cemented their friendship at a friend’s wedding which included “Jack Daniels” and a massive hangover. They largely kept their bestie status out of the press, which isn’t a surprise given Bullock’s notoriously private ways, but fans started catching a glimpse of the dynamic duo once the Friends star joined Instagram.

A birthday celebration in 2020, a pumpkin-carving party in 2022… the girl squad was strong. A source told Us Weekly that the women also relate beyond their personal interests. “Jen and Sandra have great business instincts,” the insider noted. “When it comes down to it, there simply aren’t a lot of other actresses out there who they can relate to so well with multi-decade career trajectories.”

Aniston and Bullock aren’t competitive in this space. They are supportive of each other in front of the cameras, and behind the scenes, which makes for one of the sweetest friendships in Hollywood — all thanks to Tate Donovan.

Before you go, click here to see celebrities who share a famous ex.

Best of SheKnows

• 29 Celebrity Couples Who Stayed Together After Cheating Scandals

• 36 Times Actresses Totally Transformed For a Role: See Side-by-Side Photos

• 40 Celebrities Who've Had the Most Dramatic Hair Transformations

Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.