It’s been over a decade since John Wells’ bizarre comedy-drama, Shameless', debut episode aired on Showtime. The show, which chronicled the misadventures of the dysfunctional, poverty-stricken Gallagher family, went on to run for eleven seasons, and was Showtime’s longest running original scripted series before it closed its final chapter in 2021.

Despite being dealt pretty bad hands over the seasons, Gallagher family members inexplicably managed to stick together, forming some rather tight, albeit dysfunctional bonds in the process. As such, fans might wonder if these bonds were as potent off-screen as they were on-screen. Read on to find out if the actors behind Shameless were close friends in real life.

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8 The Shameless Cast Had Amazing On-Screen And Off-Screen Chemistry

Fans will attest that Shameless cast members had such potent chemistry that the show felt unscripted at times. As it turns out, the cast’s palpable chemistry transcended the small screen.

“The energy you see on-screen is very much how we are off-screen,” Cameron Monaghan, the actor behind Ian Gallagher, said in an interview. “We joke a lot, we have similar senses of humor. It’s really a lovely group of people with these big hearts, and they’re incredibly talented and caring.”

7 William H. Macy Often Acted As A Father Figure To The Younger Cast Members

William H. Macy
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Being significantly older did not stop William H. Macy from forming close bonds with his Shameless co-stars. The 72-year-old frequently acted as a father figure to the cast, and unlike his character, Frank Gallagher, often offered pretty sound advice.

“Bill has said many times before to not buy into the hype, the Hollywood appeal,” Cameron Monaghan told Interview Magazine in 2014. “To find yourself as a person, as a family man, to find your own happiness, and not to allow your ego to get in the way of your work.”

6 Ethan Cutkosky and Emma Kenney Formed A Close Off-Screen Friendship

Ethan Cutkosky
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Shameless cultivated a lifelong friendship between cast members Ethan Cutkosky and Emma Kenney. The two practically grew up on the show and, consequently, ended up forming a rather close friendship.

“We don’t really talk about what happens on the show as much as we talk about normal teenage things,” Emma told Chicago Tribune of Ethan in 2014. “We’ve grown up with the show and with each other.”

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5 The Shameless Cast Was Devastated By Emmy Rossum’s Departure

One rather clear indicator that the Shameless cast were as close off-screen as they were on-screen is perhaps how devastated they were when Emmy Rossum announced her departure from the show. In fact, William H. Macy was so intent on having Rossum make a cameo on the show that he was willing to “grab her by the ear” to make it happen.

“I think Emmy will come back and make a guest appearance before this thing sets sail,” Macy told Variety in 2019. “She better, otherwise I’m gonna grab her by the ear and bring her back.”

4 Saying Goodbye To The Shameless Cast Was Difficult For Emmy Rossum

Emmy Rossum
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Emmy Rossum was also deeply saddened by the idea of leaving the Shameless cast behind, proving that the actress had formed lifelong bonds with her castmates.

“I’m so close to my Gallagher family that to walk away is quite bittersweet,” she told Shade Magazine, “but I never want something to just feel like a job, and so I’m leaving while I still love it.”

3 Emma Kenney’s Relationship With Emmy Rossum Wasn’t Perfect

Emma Kenney
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Despite playing siblings on-screen, Emma Kenney’s off-screen relationship with Emmy Rossum was far from perfect. In a 2021 interview with Call Her Daddy, Kenney disclosed that working with Rossum was often incredibly nerve wracking.

"I remember, pre her leaving I'd go to set some days, and I'd be very anxious about having a scene with [Emmy Rossum]," she said, "because if she had a bad day, she made it a bad day for everyone."

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2 Steve Howey And Shanola Hampton Are Just As Close Off-Screen As They Are On-Screen

Steve Howey and Shanola Hampton, the actors behind Shameless’ star couple, Kevin ‘Kev’ Ball and Veronica ‘V’ Fisher, are as inseparable off-screen as they are on-screen.

“[Shanola and I] have a crazy connection,” Howey admitted in an interview with Chicago Tribune. “I know her husband, she knows Sarah. We both have kids. I make her laugh, she makes me laugh. She’s made me a better actor, actually, out of all the people I’ve worked with. I’m a better scene actor because of her.”

1 Are The Shameless Cast Members Still Friends Today?

Although it’s been over a year since Shameless closed its final chapter, the cast still finds time to catch up.

“The funny thing is we haven’t stopped seeing each other,” Cameron Monaghan disclosed to Variety in January 2022. “We haven’t stopped being a family in how we look out for each other. When you have relationships that are that close, there’s no way those bonds are going to go away.”