Matt Damon & Ben Affleck are distant relations

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Hollywood stars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are actually related and are cousins it has been revealed.

Their friendship goes back to the 1980s when they were introduced as children and bonded over their mutual love of baseball and acting.

Ben, 52, and Matt, 54, first started acting together as uncredited extras in the 1989 movie Field Of Dreams.

Close bond: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are actually related

Pals: They were introduced as children and bonded over their mutual love of baseball and acting

And their 'bromance' has stood the test of time after collaborating on the likes of Good Will Hunting, The Last Duel and Air and have supported each other in their careers and personal lives.

According to the New England Genealogical Society, Ben and Matt are actually said to be tenth cousins once removed.

Researchers at the society have dug up evidence that the actors are both descendants of William Knowlton Jr, an English bricklayer who moved to the U.S. in the 1630s.

Ben is also related to former U.S. president Barack Obama and Princess Diana.

Instagram page @moviemagick shared the news that the actors are related and left people shocked.

Taking to the comments, fans wrote: 'No way Affleck and Damon are related; DAMON AND AFFLECK ARE WHAT???'

The account also pointed out a number of other celebrities are related including Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci (sister and brother-in-law) and Elle Fanning and Catherine, Princess of Wales (21st cousins).

They also shared that Julia Roberts and Emma Roberts are aunt and niece and Ashley Tisdale and Austin Butler are 10th cousins.

Ben last month opened up about his longtime friendship with Matt.

But while the actor said he values the 'beautiful' friendship he has with his pal and business partner, he also admitted the sad truth that Matt is one of his only pals in Hollywood.

'I'm really lucky to have had a friend in Matt,' he told Business Insider at the SXSW premiere of The Accountant 2, where Matt showed up in support of his friend.

Family: Matt and Ben are actually said to be tenth cousins once removed

Long way back: Ben and Matt are seen during 1998

Through the years: Their friendship has endured the demands of Hollywood

Ben thinks it's 'beautiful' that he doesn't have many friends in the industry and that it's not needed.

'It's a beautiful thing,' Ben said, but added: 'You know, I don't have very many [friends].

'None of us really have very many friends. You don't need a million friends.

Reasoning why a large friendship circle isn't exactly a good thing, he added: 'You need a few. You need good ones.'

The best friends have also won an Oscar together for writing Good Will Hunting in 1998.

The duo's upcoming projects include the theatrical release of Affleck's The Accountant 2 on April 25.

Damon will be leading the star-studded cast in Christopher Nolan's upcoming epic The Odyssey, which is set to premiere next year in July 2026.