Under normal circumstances, friends have things they share that make their relationships thrive. These can be sports, work, or shared hobbies. However, throughout history, some iconic figures have made friends with people from different backgrounds and career choices. Friendship that, to the general public, would be doubtable. These duos enjoyed each other’s company despite having unlikely traits and interests. Here are 8 notable figures you would have never guessed were friends.
1. Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle was a British writer and physician passionate about fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal. It’s probably what inspired him to create the detective Sherlock Holmes. On the other hand, Harry Houdini was a renowned magician specializing in escapology. Due to his career, Houdini was skeptical of fantasy, especially mediums or psychics, which was Doyle’s main preference.
At one point in his life, Arthur Doyle hired a fake medium to talk to his son, who had passed on in World War I. Surprisingly, despite their conflicting beliefs, Harry and Arthur were good friends. Their friendship, however, ended when Doyle’s wife performed a séance to communicate with Houdini’s mother at a hotel room in Atlantic City. This incident caused a major rift between the former friends.
2. Mark Twain and Helen Keller
Helen Keller is known for many things, chief among them being one of the best authors of the 20th Century despite being blind and deaf. She wrote many books, such as The Story of My Life and How I Became a Socialist.
Her friendship with Mark Twain, also a renowned author, started with the latter being a fan of Keller’s works. The other thing that made their friendship unique was the 45-year age gap between them. Mark Twain was more than just a friend to Keller; he was like a father to her.
Helen Keller recalls that Mark Twain never made her feel helpless and that he was there for her when the Perkins School accused Keller of plagiarism. Mark Twain also helped Keller enroll at Radcliffe College by asking Henry Rogers to pay for her tuition.
3. Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell
A closer look at the careers of these two gentlemen is enough to conclude that they would have never been friends, even on Mars. Jerry was an American Baptist Pastor and televangelist known for his morals and principles.
On the other hand, Larry Flynt was a businessman who had made millions from the adult film industry. The two started their relationship with a very serious feud. Jerry Falwell referred to Larry as a sleaze merchant, whereas Larry Flynt mocked the preacher by claiming he engaged in adult activities with his mom. In 1997, the two buried the hatchet and became very close friends. They would visit each other frequently and share family photos.
4. Andre the Giant and Samuel Beckett
When the Noble Prize Winner Samuel Beckett moved to France, he met Boris Roussimoff, who became his neighbor and friend. Boris Roussimoff had a son called Andre, who was diagnosed with gigantism. Having a height of 6’3” at only 12 years old, Andre could not fit in the school bus and Beckett volunteered to drive him to school every day. This was the beginning of one of the most unlikely friendships in the universe. Andre and Beckett recall fond memories of their car rides to school when they talked about sports and other topics.
5. Mary Todd Lincoln and Elizabeth Keckley
Elizabeth Keckley, a former slave, bought her freedom in 1855 and launched a clothing store in Washington. Thanks to her unique taste in fashion, she earned the position of Mary Lincoln’s personal dresser in 1861.
Alongside making Mary Todd Lincoln look beautiful, Elizabeth established a close relationship with the first lady. She became a close confidante and started accompanying Mary on trips. Sources from the White House claimed that Elizabeth was amongst the few people who would calm Mary’s nerves when she was angry.
Elizabeth Keckley was there for Mary when President Lincoln was assassinated. Unfortunately, the relationship ended when Elizabeth wrote a book titled Behind the Scenes (Annotated): Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House. This book revealed the inner workings of the White House, something Mary did not condone.
6. Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla
Author Mark Twain is famous for forming strong bonds and relationships. One of them was with the American electrical engineer Nikola Tesla. Despite being in different careers, these two great men met in New York in the 1890s and became great friends.
They started by exchanging letters. Every once in a while, Mark visited Nikola in his lab, where he was wowed by the engineer’s inventions. In one publication, Tesla mentions that he was a big fan of Mark Twain, especially when he was young. He would read his books when he was bedridden.
7. Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald was a musician, and Marilyn was an actress. The two came from very different backgrounds. However, Marilyn was a huge fan of Ella’s music. The most iconic moment of this unlikely friendship was when Marilyn helped Ella get a gig at the Mocambo nightclub, where she had been denied the opportunity.
From there, Marilyn Monroe would rally celebrities to attend Ella’s concerts, which propelled her music career. Their friendship ended when Marilyn Monroe died in 1962 due to an overdose.
8. JFK and Frank Sinatra
Who would have ever thought an American President and singer would have so much in common? Well, that is the story of Frank Sinatra and John F. Kennedy. While it remains a mystery how these two men met, they spent a lot of time together, especially in the 1950s.
JFK used Sinatra’s charm to win the elections and thanked him publicly for his efforts. As for Sinatra, being friends with the president made him a very powerful person in America. Unfortunately, their friendship was cut short when JFK got into office. The president couldn’t associate with Sinatra because it was alleged that he had ties with the mob. Also, the first lady didn’t like Frank Sinatra.