# What celebrities have committed heroic acts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 10, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845 "2005-03-10T15:30:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/21 "2005-03-10T17:14:19Z")
Darryl Hall and John Oates apprehended the Rusty Gun Bandit who had tried to rob a restaurant in which they were eating. The robber earned the nom de plume becasue fo the state of his firearm, and was Australias most wanted criminal after a string of crimes. Hall and Oates were unarmed at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/22 "2005-03-10T17:14:21Z")
David Niven was another established actor who volunteered for military service during WWII. Niven, who was a Sandhurst graduate, joined an British Army infantry unit. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/23 "2005-03-10T17:51:21Z")
W.S. Gilbert (of Gilbert and Sullivan fame), at the age of 74, dove into a frigid lake to save a drowning swimmer. His heart gave out from the shock and killed him. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/24 "2005-03-10T17:57:06Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > Darryl Hall and John Oates apprehended the Rusty Gun Bandit who had tried to rob a restaurant in which they were eating. Interesting. I googled this and found three whole links. I presume it is true, for there is no reason _every_ newspaper article should be online, but there is a dearth of information on the “interweb” about it. Do you have any more details? ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/25 "2005-03-10T17:59:05Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > Darryl Hall and John Oates apprehended the Rusty Gun Bandit who had tried to rob a restaurant in which they were eating. Private Eyes are watching you, watching your every move, indeed. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/26 "2005-03-10T18:09:12Z")
> [@The Gaspode](#): > > While most movie star coasted on their fame during WWII, Jimmy Stewart flew bombing missions over Germany. Isn’t there a film or two with him actually in the pilot’s seat? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/27 "2005-03-10T18:17:36Z")
Hall of Fame ballplayer George Davis and two teammates once charged into a burning building to save a trapped woman. They were on their way to the ballpark at the time, and went and played in that afternoon’s game. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/28 "2005-03-10T18:35:52Z")
[Christopher Lee](http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/christopher_lee_biog/3) was both in the airforce and British Inteligence during WW II. ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/29 "2005-03-10T18:58:52Z")
> [@The Gaspode](#): > > While most movie star coasted on their fame during WWII, Jimmy Stewart flew bombing missions over Germany. More properly, that would be Brigadier General James Stewart, USAF (ret) - he stayed in the Reserves after the war and retired in 1968. He flew B-17s, B-24s, B-47s (just like in his movie _Strategic Air Command_) and B-52s. Tom Cruise bolted from the red carpet at the premiere of one of his movies to tackle a purse snatcher a few years ago. That’s the only one I can come up with that hasn’t been mentioned. Oh, and I don’t know if this counts as “heroic”, but Bruce Willis sent 30,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to the troops in Afghanistan a couple of years ago. Thin Mints, if I recall correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/30 "2005-03-10T19:04:08Z")
For what it counts he hosted army radio programs as Lt. James Stewart. A lot less of a mouthful. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/31 "2005-03-10T19:28:09Z")
Don’t know if this counts as heroic or not, but Elvis Presley was drafted in 1958, served his two years, and left the military. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/32 "2005-03-10T19:49:21Z")
[Julia Child](http://www.moaa.org/magazine/January2003/f_juliachild.asp) was a spy before she was a chef. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/33 "2005-03-10T20:03:29Z")
Wow, I’m surprised nobody has mentioned David Lee Roth yet. Isn’t he training to be an EMT in New York City or something like that? I guess he hasn’t done anything heroic yet, but it sure is a career change that is at odds with the usual rock’n’roll lifestyle. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/34 "2005-03-10T20:05:42Z")
Oh come on now, you can not be seriou… ::actually reads the article:: :eek: Holy Jeez!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/35 "2005-03-10T20:12:17Z")
> [@paperbackwriter](#): > > [Ted Williams](http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KWG/is_2001_Oct-Dec/ai_80952246), maybe? Baseball player Ted Williams was coming off a remarkable season with the Boston Red Sox when he received his draft notice in 1941. He was called to Naval aviation duty in November 1942. Commissioned a second lieutenant in May 1944, he served until December 1945. After his discharge, he went back to the Red Sox, until he was recalled in 1952. He flew 49 combat missions during the Korean War with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Discharged again in 1953, Williams returned to the Red Sox. [/quote] Missed all or part of five seasons. [/QUOTE] Ted Williams was such a good fighter pilot that he spent some of his time in the service as a flight instructor to other pilots. Great hand eye coordination; good for baseball and flying. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/36 "2005-03-10T20:13:28Z")
really messed up my coding there didn’t I? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/37 "2005-03-10T20:36:40Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Dunno if you’re counting professional sports players as celebrities, but i thought of Pat Tillman, who left the NFL to join up and was killed in Afghanistan. > > And again, not sure if he qualifies as a celebrity or not, but left-wing historian and political commentator Howard Zinn was a B-17 bombrdier in WWII, flying missions over Europe. While volunteering to serve in combat may be an indicator of bravery and self sacrifice, we don’t know whether he actually performed any _particular_ heroic act while serving, which is what I think the OP calls for. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/38 "2005-03-10T20:39:13Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > At least a few Hall-of-Fame bound MLB players gave up their careers to head for WWII or Korea. I can’t remember his name, but there’s one guy from the HoF who died within the last couple of years who was remembered for having given up his career at its peak to go to Korea and fight. When the war was over he picked up right where he left off. Damn if can’t remember his name. :smack: > > Senate Majority Leader [Bill Frist](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frist), R-TN, helped save the lives of a couple of victims of a car crash (well after his election to the Majority Leader post). > > Arizona Cardinals player [Pat Tillman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Tillman) gave up a lucrative career in the NFL to go fight, and die, in Afghanistan following the September 11th terrorist attacks. I think you’re thinking of Christy Mathewson, baseball’s biggest star in the teens. His health was ruined when he inhaled poison gas while serving in France in the First World War. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/39 "2005-03-10T20:41:42Z")
> [@+MDI](#): > > Dun Goodhew, a former British swimmer, performed CPR on a heart attack victim who collapsed in a London street, saving her life: > > [http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/lancashire/archive/2000/04/26/NEWSBLY2ZM.html](http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/lancashire/archive/2000/04/26/NEWSBLY2ZM.html) You mean [him](http://www.uniservity.net/images/clubs/pages/3932/13435_53797_original.jpg)!? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845/40 "2005-03-10T21:07:52Z")
Not him, Duncon Goodhew, [here](http://www.royalhumane.org/citizenship/famous/goodhew.htm) . Note no eyebrows, he is hairless after a head injury as a junior apparently. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-committed-heroic-acts/293845.md?page=3)