20 TV Couples Who Hated Each Other in Real Life

#20: Anthony Anderson & Tracee Ellis Ross

“Black-ish” (2014-22)

Dre and Rainbow Johnson have been one of television’s most believable married couples. Their chemistry is especially impressive considering the actors had a rocky history before the show. When the two co-hosted the 2005 Vibe Awards, Anthony Anderson made a vulgar joke that led to Tracee Ellis Ross disliking him for years. When they were cast together on “Black-ish,” Ross admitted she was initially wary of working with him. She even considered passing on the series when she heard he would be her co-star. Over time, however, they developed a strong professional relationship and mutual respect, helping anchor the sitcom for eight seasons.

#19: Dean Cain & Teri Hatcher

“Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” (1993-97)

Fans have been speculating about this feud for decades. For four seasons of “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher made Superman and Lois Lane one of television’s most popular couples. Behind the scenes, however, their relationship was far less romantic. Cain has said he often struggled to understand Hatcher’s working style, claiming her perfectionism sometimes led to delays and frustration on set. Hatcher, meanwhile, has offered a less flattering assessment of her co-star, suggesting a personality at odds with his recent social and political opinions. Despite the tension, both actors maintained a professional working relationship, and their on-screen chemistry rarely hinted at the difficulties that reportedly existed off camera.

#18: Jean Hagen & Danny Thomas“The Danny Thomas Show” (1953-64)

Originally called “Make Room for Daddy,” this trailblazing sitcom helped establish family sitcom conventions. It became beloved thanks to the warm chemistry between Danny Thomas and Jean Hagen. Off-screen, however, the two stars had a rocky connection. Contemporary accounts and later reports suggest they frequently clashed over creative and professional matters. Hagen grew tired of the constant fighting and ultimately left the series after its third season. Tellingly, Thomas decided to kill the character off, an unusually dramatic move for a sitcom at the time. As it was the 1950s, this was more respectable than a divorce.

#17: Ted Danson & Shelley Long

“Cheers” (1982-93)

Ted Danson and Shelley Long created television magic as Sam and Diane on “Cheers,” but their working relationship was often complicated. Danson has said that early on he wasn't sure they would work well together because their acting styles and approaches were so different. Both admitted to tension in their real life relationship. Those differences occasionally led to friction and frustration behind the scenes, even as they fueled the chemistry that made their characters so compelling. Despite the on-set strife, both actors have credited each other for helping make “Cheers” a success, proving that creative conflict can sometimes produce unforgettable television.

#16: Patti LuPone & Bill Smitrovich

“Life Goes On” (1989-93)

According to LuPone, a Broadway legend who never minces words, her off-screen relationship with on-screen husband Bill Smitrovich was quite the challenge. In her memoir, she wrote candidly about clashes with Smitrovich, describing him as difficult to work with and recalling frequent tension during the series' run. LuPone suggested their personalities simply did not mesh, creating an uncomfortable working environment despite their need to portray a loving married couple. Smitrovich confirmed, saying that their great chemistry did not translate off-screen. While the actors remained professional on camera, in front of the camera was the only time they spoke.

#15: Jessica Walter & Jeffrey Tambor

“Arrested Development” (2003-06; 2013-19)

Though they delivered comedy gold as Lucille and George Bluth Sr. on the cult sitcom, Jessica Walter and Jeffrey Tambor’s chemistry was strained when the cameras stopped rolling. In a New York Times interview featuring the cast, Walter revealed that Tambor had verbally lashed out at her on set, leaving her shaken. Tambor later apologized, while their castmates downplayed the incident in print. The anecdote brought renewed attention to Tambor’s reputation for having a volatile temper. It didn’t help that Walter’s revelation came amid broader allegations of misconduct during Tambor’s time on “Transparent,” which led to his departure from that series.

#14: James Franco & Busy Phillipps

“Freaks and Geeks” (1999-2000)

In her memoir “This Will Only Hurt a Little,” Busy Philipps alleged that James Franco was hostile toward her during filming and described an incident in which he angrily shoved her to the ground while shooting a scene. She wrote that Franco was not punished for his behavior. Although the series only lasted one season, the experience left a lasting impression on Philipps and has become one of the show's most discussed behind-the-scenes stories. Their professional performances ultimately masked a working relationship that was reportedly marked by tension and resentment. What once seemed like an isolated clash on a canceled teen drama has since become a frequently cited example of the power imbalances that often went unchallenged on television sets of the era.

#13: Patrick Dempsey & Ellen Pompeo

“Grey’s Anatomy” (2005-)

Patrick Dempsey’s Dr. McDreamy and Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey became one of television’s most iconic couples, but their off-screen relationship was occasionally complicated. Rumors of on-set tension are documented, but Pompeo has also spoken openly about professional challenges on “Grey’s Anatomy,” including her fight for pay parity as the show's title character. On the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, she reflected on fighting to be paid a commensurate amount to Dempsey, despite playing the title character. Dempsey later revealed he was hurt by some of Pompeo’s public comments. While their recollections differ, the tension surrounding their working relationship stands in sharp contrast to the enduring romance they portrayed on screen.

#12: Nina Dobrev & Paul Wesley

“The Vampire Diaries” (2009-17)

The beloved actors behind Elena and Stefan, whose romance was central to “The Vampire Diaries,” initially struggled to get along off screen. Dobrev even admitted there was a period when they genuinely disliked each other. Despite occasional friction and clashing personalities, they maintained a professional working relationship and delivered one of the show's most popular pairings. Over time, their relationship evolved dramatically. The former co-stars eventually became close friends, often joking about their early disagreements in interviews and on podcasts. Their turnaround became so complete that fans were often surprised to learn there had been tension between them at all.

#11: Martin Lawrence & Tisha Campbell

“Martin” (1992-97)

Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell played the iconic TV couple Martin and Gina, radiating comedic chemistry that kept audiences hooked for years. However, the bubbles of laughter on screen hid intense off-screen conflict. Over time, Campbell and Lawrence had numerous disputes, with Campbell eventually taking legal action against Lawrence, citing issues of harassment and a hostile work environment. After returning to the series, Campbell insisted on filming scenes separately from Lawrence whenever possible. Their infamous off-camera tension, coupled with their clashing personalities, made working together highly stressful. With the stars no longer willing to work closely together, the conflict contributed to the end of “Martin.”

#10: Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher

“That ‘70s Show” (1998-2006)

This DEFINITELY wasn’t a case of love at first sight. Despite the two now being married, a long-time friend of Kutcher told Radar Online that “everyone shakes their head over the romance.” According to the source, the two were “absolutely not friends” during filming and that “they couldn’t stand working together.” We don’t know how credible this source is, but their words are backed up by Mila Kunis herself. She told Glamour that she once thought Ashton was crazy and that she started to hate him once he became famous. Apparently he thought he was all that! She also said that they had “full friendship breakups” on numerous occasions, signifying that their time together may not have been all sunshine and rainbows.

#9: Julie McCullough & Kirk Cameron

“Growing Pains” (1985-92)

While young Kirk Cameron was raised an atheist, he converted to Christianity when he was 17. This caused frustration on the set of “Growing Pains,” as he caused trouble with his co-stars and insisted that the writers remove any semblance of inappropriate content. However, it was Julie McCullough who faced the brunt of his criticism. Julie had previously posed nude for Playboy, and Kirk objected to this lewd behavior. The story goes that Kirk accused the producers of promoting pornography and ordered Julie to be fired. And although Kirk claims that he never called for her termination, he and Julie remain distant and are not on speaking terms. Whatever happened, it’s clear that they did not, and continue to not, get along.

#8: Joan Collins & John Forsythe

“Dynasty” (1981-89)

Joan and John played divorced couple Alexis and Blake Carrington on the popular soap opera “Dynasty.” While the two were split, their personal drama helped “Dynasty” become one of the biggest soap operas of the 80s. And it looks like Alexis and Blake’s toxic relationship was just as hostile as Joan and John’s. Joan has admitted that John didn’t like her very much and has called him “misogynistic and a bit sexist.” She also states that John lambasted her for demanding equal pay, and she was allegedly called “a diva and a bitch.” However, there seems to be no hard feelings, as Joan honored John upon his death, calling him “one of the last true gentlemen of the acting profession.”

#7: Heidi Swedberg & Jason Alexander

“Seinfeld” (1989-98)

Susan’s untimely death from licking toxic glue is one of the most iconic moments of “Seinfeld.” It showcases the gang’s heartless and selfish mentality in the most upfront and brutal way possible, rivaling that of “Game of Thrones!” But her death was swift because her exit from the show was swift. While no one hated Heidi, Jason had issues with her comedic style and called her difficult to work with. No one really believed him until Jerry Seinfeld and Julia Louis-Dreyfus worked with her on season 7, and they quickly agreed with Jason. While Heidi was written off as a result, Jason still vouches for her, calling her “a kind [and] lovely person.”

#6: Cybill Shepherd & Bruce Willis

“Moonlighting” (1985-89)

Cybill Shepherd is not shy about expressing her frustration with Bruce Willis. In 2005, she admitted to Entertainment Weekly that the two “hated each other.” Their co-star, Curtis Armstrong, says as much in his book “Revenge of the Nerd.” He tells a few interesting stories, like the time Cybill grew so frustrated that she threw a suitcase at the wall. There are a few theories as to why they didn’t get along. Curtis says that Cybill was called “a bitch” by the male-dominated crew. Another co-star called Bruce “an asshole.” Curtis also says that Bruce told him about an “ill-conceived ‘thing’ between him and Cybill” which led to their hostility. Whatever the case, it’s safe to say that they did not love each other.

#5: Selma Blair & Charlie Sheen

“Anger Management” (2012-14)

Whatever you do, do not tell Charlie Sheen that he has a poor work ethic. While filming “Anger Management,” Selma Blair allegedly complained about Charlie’s lack of work ethic, as she thought he took too long to learn his lines. Word got back to Charlie, and according to an insider, he “flew off the handle,” creating “an awkward and toxic” situation. Sheen retaliated by firing Blair via a nasty text message in which he allegedly called her the c-word. However, Sheen says that they were planning on writing Blair’s character off anyway to make the show and Charlie’s character more interesting. Regardless, Selma lawyered up and demanded $1.2 million in lost wages.

#4: Gillian Anderson & David Duchovny

“The X-Files” (1993-2002; 2016-18)

David and Gillian’s hostile working relationship has been well-documented. Their disagreements have been known since at least 1996, when Chris Nicksen’s book told of the “fine line” between the actors’ happiness and irritability towards each other. Other reports subsequently came out over the years, many of which recounted a strained working and personal relationship. David also told Metro that they often “couldn’t stand the sight of each other,” and Gillian told The Guardian that she and David went through periods of not speaking to each other. Reports of a full-on vitriolic hatred may be exaggerated, but there’s no denying that the actors had a tense and troublesome relationship.

#3: Sophia Bush & Chad Michael Murray

“One Tree Hill” (2003-12)

Things were quite sweet for a while, there. Sophia and Chad grew close throughout their time on “One Tree Hill” and even married in April 2005, right before the conclusion of the second season. However, they were separated the following September and later divorced. According to a friend of Sophia, Chad didn’t share Sophia’s enthusiasm for the sanctity of marriage. Sophia later told Andy Cohen that she never wanted to marry Chad, whose rep clapped back by saying that wasn’t true and that Chad “doesn’t feel the need to engage in this type of behavior.” Ouch. It sounds like there is still some bad blood between the two.

#2: Stana Katic & Nathan Fillion

“Castle” (2009-16)

When it comes to toxic working relationships, few are as hostile as Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion’s. An anonymous source told Us (not us, Us Weekly) that Stana and Nathan “completely despise each other” and refuse to speak when the cameras aren’t rolling. In fact, things got so bad between them that they were forced into couples counseling by the producers. A second insider told Us that Nathan wasn’t well-liked by the cast and crew and that his nastiness caused Stana to cry in her dressing room. The show was cancelled in 2016, and while it’s terrible that all those people lost their jobs, it was probably for the best in this case.

#1: Vivian Vance & William Frawley

“I Love Lucy” (1951-57)

These two should have received all the acting awards, because they definitely deserved them. It all started when William overheard Vivian complaining about his age, as he was 22 years older than she was. William in turn wished that Vivian would return to her home state of Kansas, and Vivian proceeded to call him names like “that stubborn-headed little Irishman.” It’s also important to note that William had a well-known alcohol use disorder and a reputation for being crabby and ill-tempered. The two later declined a lucrative spin-off opportunity as they didn’t want to work with each other again. And, according to Hollywood legend, Vivian jokingly ordered champagne when she heard about William’s death. Now that’s true hatred, right there.

Which pair surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments below.