What The Bromance Between Jensen Ackles And Jared Padalecki Is Like

For 15 years, Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki starred as Dean and Sam Winchester, respectively, and enthralled "Supernatural" fans with their on-screen antics. They waged wars against demons, monsters, and even God himself. In November 2020, the actors said goodbye to their characters when the world's longest-running sci-fi series concluded. Emotional fans bid adieu to the Winchester brothers, and as The Sun noted, social media was ablaze with tributes to Moose and Squirrel after a dramatic ending to the show. And while both actors have moved onto other projects, Ackles and Padalecki remain close. 

In 2019, Ackles spoke to E! Online about their bromance and how their friendship initially stemmed from their working relationship. However, they soon learned that the key to longevity on-screen and in their personal lives was key. "We really dealt with it from a friendship level and not business partners, and I think that that's been one of the great things that I've gotten from this show is such a great friend that knows me so well, but also somebody that I can work with on a level that I've never worked with anybody else in my life," Ackles said. "So we understand that it's pretty rare and may or may not ever happen again." Jensen credited their rock-solid friendship for anchoring "Supernatural" through so many seasons. So, let's take a closer look at their exceptional relationship and how they got to a place where seemingly nothing could ever shake them.

Wedding bells rang in 2010 for both Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. While the Winchester brothers may have not been the luckiest in finding love, Padalecki and Ackles have been happily married for over a decade. The actors not only invited each other to their weddings, but they played an important part in the ceremonies: Ackles and Padalecki were groomsmen at each other's nuptials, and witnessed each other pledging love forever.

Padalecki was the first to kiss his bachelor days goodbye, and it doesn't seem as if he hasn't looked back since. He and Genevieve Cortese Padalecki tied the knot in February 2010. "Supernatural" fans know that Cortese Padalecki played the role of the demon Ruby in the third and fourth seasons of the show. Sam Winchester couldn't keep his hands off the brunette, and it wasn't long before that translated to their connection off-screen as well, per Us Weekly. Padalecki had a ton of groomsmen, and Ackles dutifully posed in a dark suit as he stood by his friend in pics from the winter wonderland of an event.

Just three months later Ackles and Danneel Harris Ackles would pledge their undying love to each other. Harris Ackles also had a stint on "Supernatural" but she didn't meet her husband on the show. When they wed in May 2010, Ackles asked Padalecki to be part of the wedding party.

Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles are pals for life. Since they had already tied the knot with their better halves, they decided that they also needed to take their friendship to the next level. So, they got matching tattoos. Padalecki and Ackles shared how they were inked at their on-screen dad's wedding at a "Supernatural" fan event.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who plays John Winchester, and his bride thought it would be fun to have a tattoo artist at their wedding reception. Ackles revealed that he was looking at the designs when inspiration hit. "I was standing there and Jeff comes up, he's like, 'Dude, are going to get one?'" Ackles revealed "I was like, 'I don't know, maybe.'"  When Morgan told him that he was getting the crown, Ackles said, "Oh, no way, that was actually the one I was looking at."

Ackles continued, "Around that time, Jared walks up. He's like, 'You guys getting one?' I was like, 'Yeah we might do the crown.' He's like, 'Well me too, I'm in!'" So, Ken Doll, Jolly Green, and Morgan got a Basquiat crown, hence they called themselves the "three kings." Ackles added, "It's actually a 'W' for Winchester." As for Padalecki, it was his first tattoo.

Not even the threat of handcuffs could keep Jared Padalecki away from Jensen Ackles. In October 2019, the actor, who plays Sam Winchester on "Supernatural," found himself on the wrong side of the law. He was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning outside a lounge, per TMZ. Padalecki was charged with assault and public intoxication, and worse, he had to miss the "Supernatural" DC 2019 Convention.

Of course, Jensen Ackles had his back but couldn't resist yanking his chain either. Squirrel took to the stage at the convention and addressed their fans about Moose's brush with the law. "When he showed up on set on Wednesday, I brought him in in handcuffs," Ackles relayed. "So we're having fun with it. The crew really wanted to wear orange jumpsuits, but we couldn't get them in time. So it wasn't like we thought it was a bad idea — we were certainly going to roll with it." He then added, "He's doing fine and he sends his love." Ackles threw his weight behind his bosom buddy and said, "And I'll just say it now: He had a bad weekend last weekend, he's dealing with what he's got to deal with. So just send him some support and love."

On a 2020 episode of Michael Rosenbaum's "Inside Of You" podcast, Padalecki opened up about the impact of the incident. "I haven't had a drink since... that is not who I am," he said.

Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles's journey on "Supernatural" began in 2005 and they have been firm friends ever since. Chatting with Entertainment Tonight about their immediate connection, Ackles said, "It was like immediately, 'Oh I've got best friends that are exactly like you!' and vice versa so good job, network, on pairing us up together." 

However, "Supernatural" was shot in Canada which meant that both Ackles and Padalecki had to make sacrifices, and sometimes their families paid the price. In 2020, Padalecki told People, "During 'Supernatural,' there were some months where I would only see my family for three or four days. That's the reason Jensen and I wanted to bid a fond farewell to it." He continued, "We both have wives and three kids and wanted to meet them." 

Padalecki spoke to Collider in February 2021 about his new gig "Walker," and shared how he was coping without sharing every waking moment with Ackles, who had been his co-star for more than 15 years. "I love Jensen. I feel like I could see him in 10 years, and we'd go right back into our on screen and off screen vibe," he gushed before adding how much time they were together. "He and I have just spent so much time with each other, more time than with our wives, our kids, and other friends and family, so it's so easy with Jensen." Aww bromance for life.

"Supernatural" stars Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki often share snippets of their off-screen friendship in social media shares. But that doesn't mean it's been all smooth-sailing. In fact, when they were just starting to get to know each other, Padalecki and Ackles had a fight. Even though it was their only fight on the personal front in 300 episodes, it was a doozy and would set the tone for their future disagreements. 

Ackles spilled the tea to Bustle. "We got into a really heated argument and we stomped away from each other," he recounted. It was during the first season of "Supernatural" that they "blew up at each other." But even though they were spitting fire and brimstone, they realized that they needed to come together for the sake of the show. "Shortly after we came back together and sat down and said, 'Well, if this is going to work, that can't ever happen again,'" Ackles shared. They wisely "formulated a new trust and realized that we're better as a unit than as enemies. We've made it 14 years and counting like that." It seems as if the stars set aside their egos and came to an understanding that lasted for more than a decade. Even after the fifteenth and final season of "Supernatural," things were going smoothly until all hell broke loose.

But it seems as if 14 years of peace was a little too tempting, and this year everything blew up in a major way. Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles would have a public dispute that had their "Supernatural" fans taking sides and hurling insults from the sidelines. As viewers know, the CW show ended its epic run at the end of 2020, and Padalecki moved onto a new role in "Walker." However, Ackles and his wife Danneel Harris Ackles also were making plans of their own. In June 2021, Deadline broke the news of a prequel to "Supernatural" called "The Winchesters." The script commitment also had Ackles reprising the character of Dean Winchester, albeit as the show's narrator, while Harris Ackles would play a recurring role. However, nobody had seemingly let Padalecki know about the new plans.

"Dude. Happy for you. Wish I heard about this some way other than Twitter. I'm excited to watch, but bummed that Sam Winchester had no involvement whatsoever," Padalecki tweeted. Many fans responded to the news, with one questioning Padalecki's statement. He replied, "No. It's not. This is the first I've heard about it. I'm gutted." After Padalecki fired off, it seemed as if their friendship was over. How would Ackles respond to his friend's accusations?

Jared Padalecki tweeted that he was "gutted" after learning Jensen Ackles and his wife were planning a prequel, and didn't even tell him about it. The "Supernatural" star was seemingly blindsided by the news that there may be a new show called "The Winchesters," a series "centered on Dean and Sam Winchester's parents," per Deadline. After congratulating Ackles on the spinoff and saying that he was "bummed," Padalecki later returned to confirm that his on-screen big brother had reached out to him.

"@JensenAckles and I had a great talk, as we do often, and things are good. The show is early in the process with miles to go. We've travelled a lot of roads together, and sometimes those damn roads have bumps. Bumps don't stop us. Once brothers, always brothers, " Padalecki let his Twitter fans know. After all the shade Padalecki had thrown his way, Ackles spoke out and replied to the tweet. "Miss these talks. I forgot how much face time we always used to get. And I miss that too. I know you're busy...as am I, but you're still my brother. I miss you, pal," he wrote. Even after such a public spat, Ackles and Padalecki made up on the very same day. Now that's #supernaturalbrotherhood

Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki are both family men and often post snaps of their kids on social media. Padalecki and Genevieve Cortese have three children: Thomas, Shepherd, and Odette. Ackles is also the father to his and Danneel Harris Ackles' three kids: Justice and twins Arrow and Zeppelin, per Us Weekly. However, he also shares a special bond with Padalecki's oldest son.

Ackles had the audience eating out the palm of his hand when he told the sweetest tale about young Tom. In a fan video taken at the "Supernatural" Vancon in 2014, he revealed that the tot had come to visit his dad. "I had just gone to the restroom and I was not in there," Ackles recalled. "He walked into the greenroom and he saw that it was just Jared. And he goes, 'Where's Uncle Jensen?" Ackles then imitated the distressed, tearful tones of an upset Tom. Sitting right next to Ackles, Padalecki could only confirm his co-star's story. But it got even sweeter.

"Love you, buddy," Ackles called over his shoulder at Tom who was backstage. "And then proceeded to cry until I got back into the room." Then, from behind-the-scenes, a little boy's voice shouted, "I love you, Uncle Jensen." Hearts melted as it was obvious that Ackles and Tom had a special relationship. Padalecki couldn't help but point out, "Two and a half years, and he's already upstaging me." 

Jared Padalecki's "Always Keep Fighting" campaign has some very personal roots, and told Variety about his mental health challenges during the third season of the CW show. "[W]e were shooting an episode, and I went back to my trailer to get changed and just kind of broke down," Padalecki said. "A doctor came to set and talked to me for about 30 minutes or 45 minutes and said: 'Jared, I think you're clinically depressed." The "Gilmore Girls" alum shared that Jensen and another friend "came to my trailer to check in on me and talked to me for probably an hour or so."

Ackles spoke to People about that day. "He went down this kind of dark road, mentally, and he was very fortunate to have people around him. It wasn't just me," Ackles explained. "He actually asked for help, and I think that's a big thing that people are scared to do."

Ackles also shared that Padalecki has also been there for him. "There have been seasons or months where I've really been down," he said to People. "I was able to have that friendship Jared and I had established for so long and I was able to talk about it with him and that really helped." From very early on, their friendship has always been a two-way street of support it seems.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

"Supernatural" may be over, but the bromance lives on. Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki remain firm friends and are determined to pass on the baton. When his sons were only five and two years old, Padalecki told E! News that he learned a lot about Sam and Dean Winchester's on-screen relationship as brothers. "[Y]ou got a teammate," he told us. "Be happy, you're teammates...you have a best friend for life!" he said. As he pointed out after a recent public spat between him and Ackles, "Once brothers, always brothers." Squirrel replied, "[Y]ou're still my brother. I miss you, pal."

Friendship is not only a testosterone-fueled institution, as the women in their lives proved. After the birth of Jared Padalecki's daughter Odette, his wife Genevieve Cortese Padalecki posted the cutest photo of Ackles' daughter, Arrow, holding the newborn. She captioned it, "The future is female." It wasn't long before Ackles' wife, Danneel Harris Ackles, joined in the fun and reposted the pic, writing, "I love these two. Girls supporting girls." 

It seems as if there's plenty of love to go around. And the Padalecki and Ackles clan will continue to be close for a very long time.