One of my friends adores Dolly Parton because an incident when he was nine. He was at Dollywood and Parton showed up. All the little kids flocked around her and she started giving out hugs. My friend was one of those kids.
In Opposite Land we find Andie McDowell. Another friend used to deliver pizzas in Asheville and found himself delivering one to McDowell’s son one night. According to him, she was a right bitch when she answered the door.
I think this goes beyond class act, but whenever the topic of praiseworthy celebrities comes up, I have to mention Steve Buscemi.
A former firefighter, when 9/11 happened he went to his old station and volunteered to work at ground zero, all the while refusing photos and interviews. I think it took a while for the public to find out about his heroism.
Bit unfortunate though that he’s usually typecast as the weirdo/pervert.
Tell him Revenant was his best book and I want a sequel!
This line applies to some of the best people I have ever known.
But not the classiest people you’ve known, right?
Sure, pick on Margaret Cho. But nobody ever says a word to Judi Dench.
Yes, as I define class. Caring, kind, giving, friendly, genuine.
The way someone was may be quite different from the way some IS.
Just saying, is all. I don’t know Margret Cho from a hole in the ground. But if she did that in the past, she could still be a classy person now.
I hear Gary Oldman is a good old boy, but quite indiscreet when it comes to blabbing about what his Hollywood mates have been up to.
Alex Zane, perhaps a bit of a UK-centric one - he presents a lot of music TV shows - is a bit of a dick. He was at university same time as me.
Tom Hanks cheated on the wife he had before Rita Wilson, so that took away the classiness for me. Paul Newman, too.
Well I don’t know if he cheated on his earlier wives, but I would nominate Harrison Ford. He’s on the board of directors of Conservation International, is a trustee for the Archaeology Institute of America, served food at Ground Zero, and flies his own helicopter out to assist in search and rescue missions near his home.
Plus he poked fun of himself in that commercial where he had his chest hair waxed to raise awareness against deforestation.
I have heard from friends I had who worked TVLand publicity events behind the scenes that both Mister T and Henry Winkler were just wonderful to everyone they interacted with.
George Takei is also well-known as one of the Trek celebs who always is genuine, kind, and fun. I had the pleasure of meeting him at a local SF con. I had no camera with me, but he had members of his fan club/entourage there taking pictures of him with each person he signed an autograph for, for nothing. They took my name, my email address, and a few days later I had a picture in my email. Just a small thing, but thoughtful to make sure everyone he met got a little something besides their autograph.
I have heard Tim Gunn is very much the same way, but have never gotten to meet him in person. I’d love to at some point.
I listened in on a press conference with him pimping his show a year or two ago. Obviously you can never trust that celebs in public settings are being genuine, but he did seem warm and friendly, and was pretty open about his personal life when asked.
I heard Clooney is really nice… usually, but definitely has off days and even off conventions.
I’ve heard Jon Stewart is just a regular guy, I heard that without makeup it’s really hard to even notice him on the street, not impossible mind you, but hard. He’s not “classy,” but definitely not “mean,” just kind of like your next door neighbor or co-worker (unless all your neighbors and co-workers are dicks, in which case feel free to substitute some cool dude you met that has his flaws).
Back when I was a valet in college, it was well-known that the best tippers and coollest celebrities in town were Mike Ditka and … Dennis Rodman. I’ve also heard multiple accounts of Rodman giving to charity but asking for anonymity, staying to sign autographs, etc.
Oprah, not so much.
Thinking of geek heroes, I met Mike Nelson and Kevin Murphy (Mike and Tom Servo of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame) briefly when they were presenters at the Wisconsin Film Festival. They were hanging out in the cafe area in front of the theater beforehand, very casual, and I got to talk to them for a few minutes. Both were very nice and just how any MST3K fan would hope they would be IRL. They were totally laid back, obviously old friends, and were cracking jokes with each other and the few fans who were there early. Kevin Murphy started singing a silly little song at one point. It was especially funny to meet him because his real voice is the Tom Servo voice.
They did an autograph session later and were really nice about signing multiple items for people who’d brought a big stack. I’d been prepared for them to be much more stand-offish, especially considering that they must have their share of awkward/creepy fans, but they seemed happy to chat with everyone there and answer questions about the show.
** Which of today’s actors are “class acts” or genuine nice guys?
**
I’ll nominate Harrison Ford. I’ve heard he is a nice guy, not to mention that he has participated in a couple of rescues in his helicopter.
From my online experience with him and most of the cast I’d agree. Maybe Joss, who loved us, told them to play nice.
Adam Baldwin, OTOH…was a real nice guy with, er, notions contrary to mine regarding vaccinations and politics. We agreed we were happier not talking. Which, I suppose, means he’s a nice guy.
…and will tip you into the next tax bracket. 
Didn’t they also show up to a canceled convention to not disappoint their fans once?
I’m sure the “diva” rating is quite high, but Elton John impressed me.
I got to see him last April when my family went to our last Mother’s Day concert at WSU (I was there four, as was my sister, this was her last year). Mother’s Day tickets were sold out in 45 minutes, a good portion to people who were NOT students.
People were extremely upset. Having sat through subpar acts for every year they’d been at school, finally a headliner shows up for their senior year, and now they can’t get tickets on mom’s weekend?!?!?!
Elton John then schedules a SECOND concert the following night, and opens tickets up to students before the general public. Not only did Elton John play Pullman, WA. He played it TWICE to allow more people to go.
Godspeed Sir Elton.
What about Will Smith ? The husband & I were talking about him this morning, saying how we’ve kind of grown up with him and how his film roles have changed, expanded, wondering if we’ll be watching him get Oscars/lifetime achievement awards into his 80s while the “youth” say “wow is he still alive ?”. I like the man I see in interviews but as others have said that could be an act … so anyone know what he’s really like ?
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Nathan Fillion on a few occasions now (once at a private party that was given as a thanks for a group of people working on a charity project he’s involved with - he showed up as a surprise) and I agree, he’s a class act, he goes out of his way to make fans feel good. He’s a lovely guy and all his cast mates and co-workers (I’ve spoken to a couple of directors that have worked with him) and even the media say he’s a genuinely kind considerate human being.
Yup, I’m a fan 
P.S. He’s got a new series starting in March on ABC called Castle http://www.castletv.net
I’ve met the rest of the Firefly cast as well and they’re all genuinely great people who go out of their way to be friendly to fans. It’s not unusual for Adam Baldwin for example to make his way to the bar if there’s one at the convention venue and casually hang out with fans (not getting drunk, don’t think he’d ever do that in public, not his style) He’s also just celebrated his 20th wedding anniversary! I think that says a lot.