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As it turns out, Drew Barrymore had a secret admirer and only Billy Bob Thornton knew about it.
The Oscar-winning actor surprised Barrymore on Monday’s episode of her talk show by revealing that his late costar Rodney Harvey had been interested in her when they were shooting their television adaptation of The Outsiders together back in the ’90s.
“When Fox was brand new, I was on a show called The Outsiders based on the Francis Coppola movie and the book by S.E. Hinton, and you had a friend who was on the show with me,” Thornton explained. “And you used to come and visit him on the set. You were just a kid! But that’s how long we’ve known each other.”
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy Everett
The series, which ran for a single season, saw Thornton star as Buck Merrill while Harvey, who died at 30 in 1998, played Sodapop Curtis.
“Was it a boyfriend?” Barrymore tentatively asked, to which Thornton responded, “It was. We used to talk to each other all the time!”
The confirmation caught the attention of Thornton’s Landman costar Demi Moore, who quickly pressed for more details. “Okay, but who was the person?” she asked.
Thornton acknowledged that the reveal was “a little bit sensitive,” before ultimately getting Barrymore’s blessing and leaning over to whisper the name in her ear.
“Oh, yes! Oh no, it was Rodney Harvey, who was, by the way, not a boyfriend, just a very good friend,” Barrymore quickly clarified to Thornton. “And I loved him and he has since passed.”
She continued, “Rodney Harvey is a beautiful human being. He would be in Gus Van Sant films and he was a real artist and he left us too soon.”
Barrymore then pointed out that Harvey was actually dating one of her friends at the time. However, Thornton revealed that Harvey may have been harboring feelings for her, too. “We were at that party one night after we’d wrapped and I’m just saying…” he began, before admitting, “I think Rodney lied to me.”
The revelation took Barrymore by surprise. “Did Rodney?!” she started. “No, okay. No! We never did. Hoes before bros!”
“Well, I know,” Thornton said through his laughter, “but just so you know, he wanted to.”
The Drew Barrymore Show
Barrymore was visibly taken aback by Thornton’s comment, reeling in her seat and uttering a quick “Oh!”
The actress proceeded to cast her gaze to the studio floor for a beat as she properly processed the news. “Wow, boys are weird!” she exclaimed. “They don’t really act like they like you, if they like you. And then we’re supposed to think that that’s a good thing and then take that sign, ‘Oh! You’re acting like you don’t like me! But I guess I’m thinking you do really like me?’ Boys.”
“I know,” Thornton agreed. “We’re incorrigible.”
Moore threw her hands up in confusion, adding, “Too much work!”
An actor, model, singer, and dancer, Harvey died of a heroin and cocaine overdose in Los Angeles in 1998. He was best known for his work in films like My Own Private Idaho and Five Corners as well as series like The Outsiders.
The Drew Barrymore Show airs weekdays on CBS.
