Just to flip the coin and see if there is any agreement on a celebrity who is universally beloved, and still has a career, I thought it might be interesting to see if we can agree on some names. I don’t doubt there will be haters, no matter who is suggested, but perhaps there are some famous people out there who might fit the bill and not have any haters?
Who do you think is the most universally* beloved celebrity who still has a career?
I would suggest:
Ellen DeGeneres?
Dolly Parton?
Helen Mirren?
The word “universally” applies to those who know that celebrity - not necessarily that they are known in every village on earth.
Wow - my own thread and I am already the first naysayer: I think Tom Hanks is a rather pompous asshole who has covered himself in the cloak of solemn spokesman and seems to believe he is singlehandedly memorializing every US soldier and we should all genuflect at his presence. Plus, during his talk show stints for his bomb movie, Cloud Atlas, he proved to be a rather unfunny, obnoxious guest who thought he was hilarious. Sorry - not a huge fan of Tom Hanks. Boo on me.
He’s someone that I’ve always thought somewhat negatively about after hearing stories about the lengths he would go to to avoid engaging with fans at events, including hiding in the trunk of a car to be driven out.
I heard Tom Hanks on the Nerdist podcast and thought he was delightful, hilarious and very normal seeming. I already had a positive opinion of him, though, so maybe I’m biased.
Started to say Doris Day too but her career is pretty much just the Malibu Animal Shelter now isn’t it? I think she just does one radio bit a year, that when they call to wish her a happy birthday.
If I get the thrust of thios thread correctly, I don’t think Ellen DeGeneres belongs. AFAIK, people who were dismayed about her celebrity mixed with her sexuality still feel the same way. IOW, while apparently quite popular, she neverthel;ess is still very unpopular with segments of the population.
Does Ringo still have a career? I know, I’m a dick. I love Ringo. But he gets to put albums out when he wants, because he’s Ringo Starr. Does that count as a career?
Or does George (love him too) Takei still have a career?
Betty White and Tom Hanks popped into my mind first.
Sandra Bullock. All the stories of her on movie sets is that she is the nicest person like ever and then she got cheated on by a scumbag and handled it with grace and humor.
I used to like him, but after he said a few years ago that he doesn’t have time to look at anymore mail from his fans, I washed my hands of him. Anyone who doesn’t make time for their fans is in some serious need of an attitude adjustment because the fans are who keep the celebrities’ billfolds good and full.
You do realize Ringo responded to far more fan mail than almost every other celebrity? And that’s oveer a period of 45 years. This was so well known that the TV series “The Simpsons” noted his devotion to responding to his fans in 1991 - 17 years before he finally said “No more.”
Nor did Ringo simply stop responding to fans - he provided notice to his fans that he would be doing so. Other than that would people have known? Why yes, in this case because Ringo responded to fan mail.
Finally, he subsequently noted that he was seeing much of his autographed material for sale on e-bay.
As to “fans are who keep the celebrities’ billfolds good and full.” So you were buying a lot of Ringo’s products in the 21st century (til 2008)? Was anybody?
