McConaughey Confesses He Bummed Cigarettes From Whoopi Goldberg While Filming Boys on the Side

On Monday, The View brought a little nostalgia to its Hot Topics table as Matthew McConaughey and Whoopi Goldberg looked back on the 1995 dramedy Boys on the Side, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Co-hosts Ana Navarro, Sunny Hostin, and Alyssa Farah Griffin joined in as Navarro noted the milestone, prompting Goldberg and McConaughey to exchange surprised glances and ask, in unison, “Three years ago or 30?” The question set the tone for a light, memory-filled discussion about the film and the early points in their careers.

Boys on the Side, which also starred Drew Barrymore and Mary-Louise Parker, marked a notable moment for McConaughey, who played a cop named Abe Lincoln in the film. Goldberg, who played Jane DeLuca, anchored a conversation that touched on the film’s 1995 release, its impact, and the nostalgia that comes with revisiting a project from decades past. The segment opened with a clip from the movie, and the hosts and guests reflected on how quickly time passes as they compared their memories of the production to the present.

During the chat, McConaughey recalled that Boys on the Side represented a turning point in his early career because it was the first role that came with a real paycheck. He also opened up about his Tucson shoot location, noting that he had a place in the nearby Saguaro National Forest and, notably, a housekeeper who kept his living space in order. He recalled that she would make his bed, clean the space, and even press the crease in his jeans. He joked with a sense of disbelief about the moment, telling a friend, “Oh my gosh! I can’t believe it.” Goldberg chimed in with a practical take on the perks of success, suggesting that it was a sign he had “made it” when those domestic comforts became available. McConaughey recounted the jeans-pressing moment as a reminder of the small comforts that come with financial security, even if it felt unusual at the time.

A lighter note emerged when McConaughey confessed a personal habit from those days: he recalled that he bummed “way too many cigarettes” off of Goldberg during the shoot. “I should’ve just bought my own pack,” he admitted. Goldberg responded in her characteristic, good-natured fashion, saying, “What I got, you got. What you got, I got. We just did what we do as actors.” The exchange underscored the camaraderie among actors on set and the informal rituals that often accompany film production. The hosts and guests framed the anecdote as a testament to the collaborative, sometimes improvised nature of acting, rather than a misstep in the process.

The View’s panel also touched on scheduling and distribution details that align with current availability: Boys on the Side is streaming on Netflix, though fans should note the last day to stream it there is Oct. 6. The program itself remains a fixture of ABC’s weekday lineup, with The View airing at 11 a.m. PT/ET (11/10c on the East Coast) and featuring a rotating cast of co-hosts who discuss news, culture, and entertainment. The conversation about the film came in the context of a broader reflection on career milestones, longevity, and the ways in which early roles shape an actor’s trajectory.

The exchange also highlighted the enduring partnership between Goldberg and McConaughey, two performers who have navigated long careers with varied projects. The moment served as a window into how actors recall formative experiences, including practical details of life on location, what constitutes success, and how shared experiences on a set can become part of a broader narrative about achievement and friendship. The segment closed with a sense of warmth and mutual respect, as both actors looked back at a film that helped define a moment in their careers and the entertainment landscape of the mid-1990s.

The View continues to shape conversations around pop culture with its mix of interviews, clips, and personal anecdotes, and Monday’s episode offered viewers a rare glimpse into the off-screen dynamics that accompany a film’s production. As McConaughey and Goldberg demonstrated, memory can be as much a part of the story as the scenes themselves, weaving together career milestones, shared jokes, and the everyday realities of actors who grew up in a studio-era framework that still resonates in today’s entertainment culture.

For fans following the Boys on the Side anniversary, the Netflix streaming window provides a finite but valuable chance to revisit the film’s themes of friendship, resilience, and redemption, anchored by an ensemble cast that helped cement its status in 1990s cinema. The film’s legacy persists not only in its box office or critical reception but in the enduring camaraderie that continues to surface in interviews, retrospectives, and now The View’s reunion-style conversations.

The episode also served as a reminder of the evolving nature of media availability and the way streaming platforms curate content that resonates with audiences across generations. As performers look back on the film and forward to future projects, conversations like this highlight the persistent connection between film history and contemporary media discourse, reinforcing the idea that even decades-old work can still spark fresh dialogue among fans and industry observers alike.