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(Pete Souza/White House Archives)

Even The Most Interesting Man In The World needs someone to look up to. And you cant do much better than Barack Obama.

In a delightful story that would fit right in during one of his legendary Dos Equis beer commercials, the actor who played the iconic TV pitchman writes in Politico about he struck up an unlikely friendship with President Obama.

The two men first met back in August 2011 when Jonathan Goldsmith, aka The Worlds Most Interesting Man was attending a fundraiser in Vermont for Obamas 2012 re-election campaign.

The two immediately hit it off, as it turned out Obama was a huge fan of the commercials, quoting some of Goldsmiths most famous lines like, Stay thirsty, my friends.

Months later, Goldsmith got a secret invite from the White House: he was being invited to attend President Obamas elaborate 50th birthday party weekend.

Theres no way he could have been as happy and amazed as I was to be there, Goldsmith wrote.

I thought, this must be a setup. Someone has to be playing a joke on me, and they had prompted him with information. But when Obama mentioned that he loved aNew Yorkerarticle about me and quoted from the commercials, I knew he was being sincere. I drove home feeling as if it was a dream.The president of the United States is interested in me, the imaginary most interesting man in the world.

Friends of Obama had invited Goldsmith as a surprise birthday present for the president.

But what was probably meant to be nothing more than an endearing gag, turned into a weekend where the two men struck up a friendship that continues to this day. For the surprise, Obamas team had Goldsmith show up during a trip to an archery course. Much like his fictional character, Goldsmith landed several arrows, prompting a comment from Obama, Damn, this guys good.

When Goldsmith finally revealed himself, Obama reportedly burst into laughter. By the end of the weekend, the two men were sharing a table and insider stories about the presidency.

Later in the piece, Goldsmith tells the equally cool history of how he first landed the Dos Equis gig. After a long career in Hollywood, he had retired. Along the way, Goldsmith had successfully launched a $150 million marketing company. But that went belly up, leaving the Gunsmoke veteran practically homeless, living in a camper tied to the back of his 1960s pickup truck. Needless to say, it was an incredible turnaround to becoming a nearly universally recognized face on TV and one that would become admired by the most powerful person in the world.

For the rest of us, the incredibly humble sounding Goldsmith offers a bit of parting advice:

As I approach my eighth decade, with more fans and adulation than I could ever deserve, I can say with certainty that to beinterestingyou have to beinterested.You can watch the parade that is lifeand live vicariously through others, as many door you can get in and participate in your own journey. And the best time to go for broke is when youre already there.

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How Obama And "The World's Most Interesting Man" Have Quietly Become The Best Of Friends - GOOD Magazine