I mentioned this in the “Brotherhood” thread, but an acquaintance of mine who worked on “The Patriot” with Mel Gibson and Jason Isaacs had nothing but nice things to say about Isaacs. Very friendly, would spend a lot of time hanging out with the extras (who were mostly long-time historical re-enactors), seemed genuinely interested in getting things historically accurate, etc. He even made sure all the re-enactors (who camped out in their period tents in the cold weather) got served their breakfasts before he would eat. This was in stark contrast to Mel Gibson.
It was a follow on from a trip to the set of one of the Star Trek movies. He went to see Shatner who dismissed him with a “I wouldn’t let a kid on my bridge” commment. Which naturally left Wheaton feeling a bit deflated.
When fans came to see him at a convention, he remembered the feeling he had after Shatner had let him down and made an effort not to let them down. Staying on a bit longer to sign autographs, having a bit of a chat with the fans etc.
I hear Matt Damon is quite nice. He certainly seems it, though I’m sure he’s had his off days occasionally.
Ah, the Rita & The Runt episodes from Animaniacs. Yes, that cat could sing!
Friends of mine have met him on occasion, and he’s always been reported as a very nice guy to interact with. In fact, I recall quite some time ago we had a thread here about personal anecdotes from interacting with him. Can’t seem to find it via search, though.
He acts like a traditional star - he shakes hands and signs autographs. Very few people have anything bad to say about him personally.
Even when he screws something up - like needlessly insulting Charlton Heston on a personal level some years back, he seems to do the right thing afterward. He apologized and exchanged kind words with Heston’s wife.
I’d nominate also Gary Sinise - on the basis of his philanthropy and his support of the troops. I don’t know what he’s like on a personal level, but he seems a decent sort.
Well, I dropped a few bucks on a charity not long ago. For him, thats about the same level.
I have no doubt that there are some rich and famous people that are truelly class acts.
But for alot of that kinda of behaviour I’ve always said they sure as hell should be, its a hell of alot easier for them than some poor smuck living day to day.
Saw their show in Vegas. After the show, the run off the stage and into the hallway to greet people leaving the theatre. They shake hands, sign autographs, pose for photos and answer questions (even Teller!). I was very impressed by this.
I met Adam Arkin when he was walking with his wife and his dog in North Hollywood. I spoke with Jamie Farr over the phone. They seemed like really nice people.
Of course, I met Robert Blake after he killed his wife. He seemed really nice to me too.
We’re still talking about David Spade right? Somehow I don’t think he has $100,000 just to drop on a whim in hopes it gets him a few seconds of positve press on TMZ. I mean, he’s David Spade for god’s sakes.
Personally, I know that Jason Mewes and Brian O’Halloran (the guy who plays Dante in the Kevin Smith movies) are really good guys. I met them when they did an appearance at RIT when I was in college there and even though I was at the back of the line they were still shooting the shit with fans for as long as they could.
And apparently Jay is a pool hustler who took down everyone while the Clerks screening they spoke before was going on.
However, no one would ever accuse Mr. Mewes of being a class act. I’ve met him while he was still getting high and never when he was clean and he reminds me of several other really nice stoner friends. So I’ll agree he appears to be a nice guy.
Jason used to work at the original Secret Stash in Red Bank and I would wander in occasionally. I guess this was around 2000 give or take a year. Why was he working there? I’m not sure. He really did not seem like or act like a celebrity. In fact, oddly enough he acted like a clerk and comic book fan. I understand that when the Secret Stash first opened apparently Kevin Smith would be in there to. But I never saw him there.
ISTR hearing good things about Keanu Reeves, at least in the sense that directors and his fellow actors find him to be a very hard worker and very easy to get along with. I have no idea what his rapport with the public is like.
Of course, someone will joke that this is a thread about actors and therefore Reeves doesn’t deserve a mention, but nevertheless.
I’ve heard that too, which troubles me because I love his writing. I’ve heard that he refuses to give autographs, but instead carries around little printed business cards that say something like, “This card is proof that the bearer of this card has met Steve Martin,” which he gives to fans who approach him. Now, that does sound like a pretty cold brush-off, but at the same time, I see the humor in it.
I’ve read many stories about Dolly Parton being one of the nicest celebrities around. Apparently, even after all the wealth and fame, she never lost touch with having grown up a poor country girl. Humility: what more celebrities need.
True. I more or less meant that he hung out with this gang of Kevin Smith fanboys who were assigned to keep him occupied during the movie screening and just had a good time.
People that I have had really good interactions with, who seem to go out of their way to be nice to fans:
– Wayne Brady, Willie Nelson, Liz Phair, Charlie Kaufman, Margaret Cho, Dan Savage, Andy Richter, Jason Schwartzman, David O. Russell, Robin Williams, Rhett Miller, Michael Ian Black, David Wain.
Robin Williams, for example, stayed after each of his Seattle shows a few years back to make sure that every single person that wanted one, got an autograph or photo taken. There were seriously at least 200-250 people and he didn’t leave until they were all satisfied.
I am rather old so most of my contact with “stars” was with an older generation. Interacting with him on a few films, I always found John Wayne to be a “class act”. During the filming of “True Grit” there was some down time and the extras, bits, crew and minor players used to hang around in a local saloon that was being used in the film as a, well, saloon to drink and play cards and it was not unusual for “The Duke” to come in share a drink with us and generally interact with people that he need not spend time with. None of the other two big stars in the film did. I was told by a family member he did the same in “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” and “McClintock”. In fact this family member said he and one of the featured players in “SWaYR” used to put on boxing matches for the people stranded out in Monument Valley for the filming.
Another star I found very classy was Martin Sheen. He was not quite a star yet, but while filming “Badlands” he would sit and visit in people’s backyards and watch his two sons play with the local children. I will mention that the older son was considered a bit rough at times. He once pushed his young brother down a hill in a trash can.
I met Nathan Fillion at GenCon SoCal in 2004, and he came off as a remarkably nice and down-to-earth guy, so much so that the line to meet and hang out with him was longer than the line to see Morena Baccarin at the table right next to him (not that she wasn’t very nice too, but Fillion was just amazingly congenial). He was wearing this beaded bracelet a fan made for him that said “W.W.M.R.D.” and happily showing it off to everyone who came to the table. He also thanked everyone who came up to see him and seemed genuinely overwhelmed by the turnout and reception he was getting from all the attendees.
Apparently later that afternoon he went upstairs at a fan’s invitation and actually sat in on a homebrewed Firefly game – I think they were running GURPS, since the actual Serenity RPG didn’t come out till the year after. That to me just says “class act” all over.
Okay, you know what, I think Margaret Cho is funny.
But she’s not anything like a class act. Her whole act is based on the fact that her life is the epitome of what class is not. Rampant drug use, alcoholism, compulsive sex. Waking up from a chemical haze in a bed full of your own shit. Whatever that might be, it’s not class.
Moving just a bit further afield of the OP and into authors (all the Gen Con anecdotes reminded me of this): Michael Stackpole is one of the nicest “famous” people I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for almost 20 years (in the sense of “he recognizes me at conventions and we can sit down and chat for awhile”, not in the sense of “we do lunch every Friday and send each other Christmas cards”) and he has never been anything but gracious, funny, and accommodating of fans. I’ll never forget when he came to our college’s gaming convention back in the early '90s and GMed a Shadowrun game for us. He took a group that consisted of everything from hardcore roleplayers to annoying kids and stitched the whole thing together into one of the best RPG sessions I’ve ever had.
If that isn’t a fan’s dream come true, I don’t know what is. That’s awesome.
Wil Wheaton keeps a blog that’s a trip to read, and can be very touching when he talks about his family. He’s a very open person and writes very engagingly. (Of course, we’re talking about nice guys/class acts here, and the latest entry in his blog is about him sending hate mail to some columnist. Justified, but still.)
Sure, but it’s still a hundred grand he’s out. Even if he’s taking it off his taxes, it’s still like $60K or so out of his pocket that could keep for himself, right? That’s what I’m asking–is there a tax scenario where giving $100,000 will cost you literally nothing? I can’t think of any case where giving a hundred grand will save you a hundred grand in taxes.