Bruce Springsteen
I respect anyone who really puts time and effort into his work and tries to make the movie (not himself) look good.
The actor gets bonus points if he does not take himself seriously.
My list:
Actors and Actresses
Russell Crowe - Chris Rock’s Oscar routine was probably true. Give this man a role about something that took place a week ago and he will make you believe that it’s last week.
Philip Seymour Hoffman - He was give a big Hollywood villain role where he could have collected his huge bad of money without putting much effort into the part. Instead he was the sole highlight of Mission Impossible III.
Johnny Depp - So many different roles, all played so surprisingly well.
Clint Eastwood - He gets my bonus points. He was the only one who had fate in his orangutan movie as a box office hit.
Jodie Foster - She was perfect in Silence of the Lambs.
Directors
Quentin Tarantino - The Pussy Wagon is parked outside his house. He gets bonus points for that
Martin Scorsese - He made some good films. 
Comedians
Ron White - “They Call Me Tatter Salad” was excellent stand up.
Jerry Seinfeld - Funny guy.
Chris Rock - His stand up is never not funny.
I was never a big fan of The Decemberists, but when I saw them live I was amazed at how hard they rocked. The amount of energy that band has is astounding. I still don’t listen to much of their recorded music but I would definitely see one of their shows again.
In general, I think the cult of celebrity-hating is bullshit, but there are two actors in particular who I think don’t deserve their bad raps: Tom Cruise and Kevin Costner.
I have always loved Tom Cruise’s performances, and I can’t get on the bandwagon of Cruise haters. I think he’s incredible at playing a certain character - the cocky guy - and even if he doesn’t have a wide range, he’s so good at playing that guy that he has defined cockiness for two generations of people. His personal life may be insane, but I don’t allow that to influence my opinion of his movies. Also, I know Scientology is ridiculous but I do respect him for speaking his mind. After he behaved in bizarre ways on Oprah, everyone was saying stuff along the lines of “his handlers should keep him in check.” Why the fuck should he be held back from saying whatever he wants to say? I think Oprah’s show is bullshit anyway - he was livening it up by what he did. He may be crazy, but I respect his willingness to be publicly crazy.
Also - Kevin Costner. Another celebrity that people love to hate, I think he does a terrific job of playing himself. He was a good action hero of the 90s, and he brought a confidence and presence to the screen that few could match. Everyone calls his movies shitty, but I think they’re often very creative. *Waterworld *was a good action movie with an interesting premise and great set design. I found The Postman, which many have mocked, to be a good epic movie with great environments, a unique story, and good performances all around. I wasn’t even bothered by its length.
It’s a favourite of mine. A really great movie.
As for actors that I respect; I enjoy their work but the icing on the cake for me is seeing someone accept an Oscar with grace and dignity. Speeches by Geoffrey Rush, Anthony Hopkins, and Jeremy Irons come immediately to mind - and, of course, Judi Dench.
Ann-Margaret is who comes to my mind.
For me no one fits this description better than David Letterman.
I always had so much respect for they way that he never once pretended that showbiz wasn’t all, ultimately, bullshit. That what mattered most was still family, friends, your health etc. no matter how famous you were.
And they way he would not hesitate for a microsecond to point this out to or about anyone. It’s the reason that self-important, pretentious, assholes don’t like him.
Also I respect Howard Stern for mostly the same reasons.
Ah. Nobody saw Flight Plan?
Alice Cooper. He’s been married, faithfully, to his wife Sheryl for over thirty years, raised three kids and still has a great relationship going. Plus, he’s got a non-profit organization, The Solid Rock Foundation that he is very active with. They help fund stuff mostly for at-risk youth and community centres. Finally, he’s been clean and sober for nearly twenty-five years. Oh and he’s good to his mom. And he still rocks!
I think it would be impossible to find someone who’s never made a bad movie – but overall, she seems like a very sane human being, unlike some former child actors.
Jodie Foster is also on my list, adding that she handled the whole Hinckley shit with unbelievable grace.
Reba McIntyre, Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn.
Gene Wilder.
James Garner.
He has consitently played his roles with wit and personality, and evaded/avoided the tabloid route…
Just sayin
FML
I second Springsteen, even in spite of his recent marital woes. He’s ALWAYS willing to help out local charities, especially if there’s kids involved. The true touch of class - he bought a wooden jungle gym looking playset for his kids. The kids didn’t like it, so he bought another and had the original dismantled, brought to Monmouth Day Care in Red Bank, and reassembled. Didn’t even want the credit. And, Jon Bon Jovi lives in the area, and REARELY does nice things. Even when he can get is ugly mug in the paper.
Another quality person is Bruce Willis. Aside from the little things, like underwriting the bill for his high school reunion, he also takes a lot of time out to take pictures with the fans.
Another in this same vein is Tom Cruise. Crazy as hell, but likes to get on fans’ cell phones to “prove” they’re really talking to Tom Cruise!
Special Showmanship Award goes to Michael Jackson. Looking past the kid touching stuff, he STILL holds the title for the best live show EVER! To quote Damon Wayans, “For the price of the ticket, he has lights, flying, pyrotechnics. He’ll be at one end of the stage and disappear in a flash, then reappear at the other side with Tito AND the monkey.”
The first person to spring to mind is Dolly Parton. I’m not actually a fan of her style of music, though I recognize she has a fine set of pipes. More to the point, she’s a very capable businesswoman, her personal life is very much in order (still happily married after how many years?), and she uses her own rather horrible background as an inspiration and not as a source of victimhood points. And she has a sense of humor about herself, particularly about the Dumb Blonde stereotype and the impressive mammaries. I can respect that.
I’m going to nominate someone I don’t really like!
I don’t own any Jon Bon Jovi CD’s, and have only liked (never loved) a few of his songs. And I don’t think he’s a great actor.
And yet… he’s kept the same band together for 25 years. He’s been married to the same woman since he was barely out of high school.
And let’s face it- back when he was a hot “hair metal” performer, he was undpoubtedly offered a lot of money to star in big budget cheesey movies aimed at the teenybopper set. Instead, when he finally decided to try acting, he took small roles. When he finally took a lead role, it was in an independent film by Ed Burns. He’s not going to win any Oscars, but he’s yet to embarrass himself as an actor… as most guys in his position would have.
I give the man a lot of respect for loyalty, for perseverance, and for taking acting seriously enough to TRY to be good at it.
Bill Murray.
Starred in Stripes, Ghostbusters, and Caddyshack. Reinvented himself with roles like his characters in Rushmore and Lost in Translation.
Has no publicist. 'Nuff said.