Ben Affleck Recalls ‘Field of Dreams’ Cameo with Matt Damon — But Doubts Kevin Costner Remembers
Ben Affleck Reflects on ‘Field of Dreams’ Cameo with Matt Damon — and Whether Kevin Costner Actually Remembers Them
Before they were Hollywood heavyweights, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were just a pair of aspiring actors trying to break into the business — even if that meant being anonymous extras in a major film.
In 1989, Affleck, now 52, and his longtime best friend Damon, 54, appeared in Field of Dreams as background actors during scenes shot at Boston’s Fenway Park. Both were thrilled to be on set, especially around stars like Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones.
On Jimmy Kimmel Live! in May 2024, Costner, 70, claimed he actually remembered meeting the young duo during filming. “They were sitting in the stands, like college guys,” he recalled. “They would both lean in at the same time, lean back at the same time, look at each other at the same time.” He also remembered chatting with them between takes. “We talked, and they had this big enthusiasm,” he said. “They were on fire.”
But when Affleck appeared on the same show in April, he wasn’t so sure Costner’s memory was entirely accurate. “Kevin is being kind saying he remembers us, because we were not memorable,” Affleck said with a laugh. “We were, like, just annoying — you know what I mean? And there were a lot of people there. It’s sweet of him to say that, but I’m pretty sure he remembers, like, the actors with lines.”
Affleck explained how he and Damon managed to land their background roles: “We were serious actors from a very young age, and we got to know the local casting person in Boston who handled extras when a movie came to town,” he said. “So when Field of Dreams needed people at Fenway, we showed up.”
Seeing Costner on set was unforgettable. “It was like seeing God,” Affleck recalled. “Him and James Earl Jones.” He also remembered being impressed when Costner stepped into the batting cage. “And I will say, he banged a bunch of balls off the Green Monster. Hit a ball out of the park.”
Affleck also shared a funny mix-up involving Damon. “Years later, I read an interview where Matt said he took batting practice at Fenway and hit balls off the Green Monster,” Affleck said. “I was like, ‘Matt, are you remembering yourself as Kevin Costner?’”
Field of Dreams marked the first time Affleck and Damon appeared in a movie together — and it certainly wasn’t the last. Since then, they’ve collaborated on more than a dozen projects, including their Oscar-winning Good Will Hunting (1997), The Last Duel, Air, and the upcoming film Animals.
Reflecting on that early encounter, Costner had nothing but praise for the pair. “Somehow they sidled up right next to me,” he said. “I was talking to them, and it was just clear that their eyes were wide open about what they wanted to do — and look what they’ve done with their careers. Amazing.”
