It often only takes one talented individual to create something special, but it’s more fun with a friend.
John Lennon was in a band called The Quarrymen, in Liverpool in the 50s, when a friend introduced him to another Liverpudlian called Paul McCartney, who happened to play a guitar pretty well. The rest, as they say, is history. While both were musically gifted, the pooling of their extraordinary talents gave birth to The Beatles and a change in the face of pop music forever.
And what would the Star Wars franchise be without those lovable droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO? While many of the characters come and ago from the series, the two handy robots are a constant fixture from Episode I through to the upcoming IX.
Here are ten more of the world’s most-loved duos, both real and make-believe.
10. Jagger & Richards
Mick Jagger, 76, and Keith Richards, 75, began collaborating in the 60s and as of today don’t show any sign of putting their gear away. Their musical union has produced the majority of The Rolling Stones’ catalogue and some of the world’s most-loved music, including “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, “Brown Sugar” and “Sympathy for the Devil”. But first, they had to be encouraged to write together, with their manager Andrew Oldham demanding they produce a composition as The Beatles stormed the charts with Lennon-McCartney tracks in the 60s (the Stone’s even took a Lennon-McCartny song, I Wanna Be Your Man, for one of their singles). Mick and Keith continue touring with the Stones, and have performed concerts in the US in 2019.
9. Woody & Buzz
The kindhearted Sheriff Woody and the eager-to-please Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear began life as enemies in their owner Andy’s bedroom before uniting to fight a common cause in the original Toy Story. Voiced by Tom Hanks (Woody) and Tim Allen (Buzz) they faced fresh challenges in each of the three sequels, spread out over two decades. Through their combination of talents and smarts they always won the day. Not everybody was happy with how the Pixar scribes ended Toy Story 4, so they may be forced to right things in a 5th installment where you’ll see Buzz and Woody again. But don’t hold your breath.
8. Frank & Nancy
They released just one song together, but they made a timeless duo. In 1967, Frank Sinatra and his daughter, Nancy, released “Somethin’ Stupid” and it became a huge hit. It was the first and only time a father-daughter duo scored a number one in the US. Frank only agreed to do the song if his daughter, who is best known for “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” would do it with her.
7. Mulder & Scully
The X-Files navigated us through some super weird territory in the 90s, and it was Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) who compelled us to believe it was all true, while Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) kept us grounded. Through that balance, the FBI duo made The X-Files one of history’s most memorable TV shows. But for all the magic they weaved on the small screen, in real life, it was purely professional. “Gillian and are not lovers, or boyfriend or girlfriend,” said Duchovny. “But there seems to be a certain kind of Twitter contingent that wants us to be together.”
6. Sonny & Cher
One of the most popular and famous singing duos of all time began in the swinging 60s. In 1962, songwriter Salvatore “Sonny” Bono, 27, was working for “wall of sound” producer Phil Spector when he met 16-year-old Cherilyn Sarkisian in a café. He got her work in the studio as a backing vocalist before they became the duo Sonny & Cher and had enormous success with songs like 1965’s “I Got You Babe”. The couple married in 1969, and had a daughter Chastity Bono, who later transitioned to male and became known as Chaz Bono. In the 70s, the couple became TV stars in the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, and kept making the show even after they split up. Sonny died in 1998 from a skiing accident. “I never expected him not to be there,” said Cher, now 73, who forged an Oscar-winning movie career as well as becoming a hugely successful solo artist.
5. Joey & Chandler
They couldn’t have been more different, but they shared one of the biggest TV bromances of the 90s. Friends’ flatmates Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) and Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) were always there for each other as Joey struggled to find acting gigs, and Chandler struggled to find a date. As Ross swooned over Rachel, Joey and Chandler swooned over there pet poultry and lazy boy chairs, bringing on the laughs.
4. Redford & Newman
It was a match made in movie heaven. Two of the biggest stars of their time teaming up to create two of the biggest films of the 60s and 70s. In both cases the stars played less than noble characters but we loved them and cheered for them every step (and cliff jump) of the way. First, there was 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a loosely factual tale of two outlaws who gave us one of the most famous freeze-frame endings in film history. That was followed by 1973’s The Sting, a smart con story about a couple of grifters who take on a big fish and con us all in the process. They were pals in real life and it translated to the screen. And later in life Redford revealed he wanted to do a third film with Newman – A Walk In the Woods – but Newman’s declining health ruled him out. He died in 2008. Redford eventually made the film in 2015 with Nick Nolte.
3. Thelma & Louise
Speaking of freeze-frame endings, theirs (spoiler alert!) was a heart breaker. Released in 1991, Ridley Scott’s movie about a couple of fed-up women who decide to live life on their own terms struck a chord with the world. Housewife Thelma (Geena Davis), and waitress Louise (Susan Sarandon) set off on a weekend road trip before they ran into trouble: Louise shoots dead a man who was trying to rape Thelma. Together, they made the ultimate friendship movie and became icons of courage in the face of male oppression.
2. Fred & Ginger
As Hollywood’s most famous dancing duo, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers expressed so much without moving their lips. They starred in ten films together, the first of which was as supporting cast members in Flying Down to Rio (1933). It was a forgettable film save two unforgettable minutes: Fred and Ginger’s “Carioca” dance (see below). From that one performance, one of the most iconic duos was born. Yet while they were romantic on screen, they were not close off the set. Still, “She was the ideal kind of girl to work with,” said Astaire of his partner. “To say that we hated each other was nonsense.”
1. Kermit & Miss Piggy
Can you think of a more iconic duo than these muppets? Long before the Ross and Rachel saga of Friends, The Muppets was cashing in on unrequited romantic tension between a charming frog and a brash sow. We were first introduced to the pair in the first season of The Muppet Show (1976) and Miss Piggy (Frank Oz) was already in pursuit of Kermit The Frog (Jim Henson). But it was a one-way love affair – the amphibian was far too busy running the show. But then things heat up in the movie, The Muppets Take Manhattan, where the couple got married. But that was arguably just part of the story. In any case, by 2015 it was over (see below). Yes, it’s not easy being green. Or pink.
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