We’ve all heard horror stories about celebrities who are absolute nightmares to work with. Once you become a star, it’s easy to find yourself in a bubble surrounded by yes-men who will cater to your every whim and allow you to treat them poorly without any consequences. But, if you can believe it, there are some famous people out there who have managed to stay humble and still treat everyone they meet with respect.
Redditors have been sharing stories of celebrity encounters they’ve had with stars who were surprisingly genuine and friendly, so we’ve gathered the most wholesome tales below. Enjoy reading these stories that might make you love your fave actor even more, and be sure to upvote the ones that you’d like everyone to read!
#2
Ive heard many stories about Robin Williams being really kind and supportive to other people in the entertainment industry. Plus he named his daughter Zelda.
49points
#3
Steve Zahn lives in my city and frequents the gas station I work at. One day he helped a man push his truck onto our lot and then gave the guy a twenty for gas. He talks to everyone like he's known them forever, drives a big pick-up truck, and he's always smiling.
Another story about him- one day while driving home my mom stopped to help an old man who had fallen out of his wheelchair at the end of his driveway. She's tiny and was struggling. Steve pulls up, hops out of his truck, helps her, they high-five, and he gets back in his truck and leaves.
I like to think Steve Zahn is just cruising around all day looking for people to help.
Another story about him- one day while driving home my mom stopped to help an old man who had fallen out of his wheelchair at the end of his driveway. She's tiny and was struggling. Steve pulls up, hops out of his truck, helps her, they high-five, and he gets back in his truck and leaves.
I like to think Steve Zahn is just cruising around all day looking for people to help.
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45points
#4
John Cena was really cool when I met him at a mall thing for my brother years ago. Stayed for 8 hours to meet all the people lined up to see him. This was during his first big fame blow up so I'm sure he was busy.
He also does a lot of Make a wish stuff. Blends into his surroundings easily though.
andybmcc:
John Cena. He hit his 500th Make a Wish gig a few years ago, and he's still going. Seems like a really nice guy.
Let's add Dwayne Johnson to the list as well.
He also does a lot of Make a wish stuff. Blends into his surroundings easily though.
andybmcc:
John Cena. He hit his 500th Make a Wish gig a few years ago, and he's still going. Seems like a really nice guy.
Let's add Dwayne Johnson to the list as well.
39points
#5
George Takai is a genuinely nice guy. My wife and I were at Planet Comicon in Kansas city last year when he was there, and his line was empty. We were getting his signature for my brother-in-law who is a big Trekkie.
We were expecting the standard shuffle through and signature experience, but he stood up, shook both our hands, and then just talked with us for what seemed like 10-15 minutes, but was probably only about 2.
We talked about his musical and when it was coming to the Midwest, and about his daughter's first job in Iowa, but how she missed the California weather.
He was the highlight of the convention for us.
A few years earlier, at the same con, my wife met Levar Burton. She is a librarian so had a "Read" poster of him from several years back.
She told him how when she was getting ready to move across the country to start grad school the Reading Rainbow episode about the Library of Congress came on, so she took that as a sign that she was making the right move.
He got up and gave a her a big hug, which of course drove the Star Trek fans mad.
Both of those guys are class acts, and really love their fans.
We were expecting the standard shuffle through and signature experience, but he stood up, shook both our hands, and then just talked with us for what seemed like 10-15 minutes, but was probably only about 2.
We talked about his musical and when it was coming to the Midwest, and about his daughter's first job in Iowa, but how she missed the California weather.
He was the highlight of the convention for us.
A few years earlier, at the same con, my wife met Levar Burton. She is a librarian so had a "Read" poster of him from several years back.
She told him how when she was getting ready to move across the country to start grad school the Reading Rainbow episode about the Library of Congress came on, so she took that as a sign that she was making the right move.
He got up and gave a her a big hug, which of course drove the Star Trek fans mad.
Both of those guys are class acts, and really love their fans.
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36points
#6
I met Willy Nelson briefly when I was 16. I was pouring liquor at an auditorium he was playing at when he walked up, bought a pepsi and slid a crisp $50 into my front pocket. He winked and said "to the unsung heroes helping me look good on stage." Was really cool and I think about it often. :).
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31points
#7
Tim Curry and Eric Idle are super sweet.
I saw the opening night of Spamalot in Chicago a few years ago and I'm a HUGE Tim Curry fan so I was really hoping to meet him. I've been into Rocky Horror for a very, very long time and it was a huge part of my life when I was younger.
As he is coming through the door, my brother-in-law is shaking my shoulders like hyping me up and I started to cry because I was so excited and overwhelmed. Tim Curry was so sweet about it. He signed a bunch of my Rocky Horror stuff and walked away. And then he came back, kissed his hand and rubbed my cheek with it saying I was a sweet girl.
I died.
As I'm walking away, still crying, someone grabs my arm and asks if I'm okay. I look up and it's Eric f*****g Idle who has just witnessed me sob-crying in front of Tim Curry. I said yes, he hugged me and signed all my stuff, too.
They were so nice and understanding of a crying fan. I felt so foolish but they made it worth the embarrassment.
I saw the opening night of Spamalot in Chicago a few years ago and I'm a HUGE Tim Curry fan so I was really hoping to meet him. I've been into Rocky Horror for a very, very long time and it was a huge part of my life when I was younger.
As he is coming through the door, my brother-in-law is shaking my shoulders like hyping me up and I started to cry because I was so excited and overwhelmed. Tim Curry was so sweet about it. He signed a bunch of my Rocky Horror stuff and walked away. And then he came back, kissed his hand and rubbed my cheek with it saying I was a sweet girl.
I died.
As I'm walking away, still crying, someone grabs my arm and asks if I'm okay. I look up and it's Eric f*****g Idle who has just witnessed me sob-crying in front of Tim Curry. I said yes, he hugged me and signed all my stuff, too.
They were so nice and understanding of a crying fan. I felt so foolish but they made it worth the embarrassment.
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30points
#8
Not gonna lie, Samuel L. Jackson is like dad levels of nice to you
Like a nice dad sort of way.
Like a nice dad sort of way.
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29points
#10
I met Noel Fielding when he was in my town for a show. He was leaving the theatre to go for dinner and we ended up waiting at the same crosswalk for the light. I wasn't going to bother him because I guessed he was in a hurry, but the light took forever and I decided this was the one time I'd get to say hi to one of my heroes.
He was really kind and sweet, and took a photo with me and chatted about how his trip to the US was going. He was also ridiculously attractive- even more than on TV. My totally straight husband who was really just tagging along to the show with me said afterwards that even he'd fancied him a little bit. I've never met anyone with that much raw charisma before.
The show was great too.
He was really kind and sweet, and took a photo with me and chatted about how his trip to the US was going. He was also ridiculously attractive- even more than on TV. My totally straight husband who was really just tagging along to the show with me said afterwards that even he'd fancied him a little bit. I've never met anyone with that much raw charisma before.
The show was great too.
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27points
#11
Bryan Cranston.
I met him once in an audio recording immediately after Breaking Bad He came in, told a short funny story which broke the tension. Then he shook everyone's hand while greeting them. After the session he signed a hazmat helmet that a producer wanted to give as a wedding gift (bride groom were huge fans). He was also phenomenal in the booth nailing the script and making it his own. A+ all around.
I met him once in an audio recording immediately after Breaking Bad He came in, told a short funny story which broke the tension. Then he shook everyone's hand while greeting them. After the session he signed a hazmat helmet that a producer wanted to give as a wedding gift (bride groom were huge fans). He was also phenomenal in the booth nailing the script and making it his own. A+ all around.
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25points
#12
Barack Obama. Back when he was a huge underdog in the 2008 election, he came to my city for a town hall meeting. Showed genuine interest in people's concerns and shook hands with everyone he could. Class act.
25points
#14
Taylor Swift! I wasn't even a fan until I met her. I went to a concert with my friend, who is a superfan, and we got picked for the T-Party, which is like a backstage party after the show. She came around to everyone there and spent a few minutes talking with each person. You can tell she genuinely cares about her fans.
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23points
#16
Mark Hamill is a genuinely good guy. I worked in a Warner Bros. Store in NYC while I was in college, and we got word one day that he would be coming by with his family, and to make sure any needs he had were met. (Since he voices The Joker, he was a WB VIP) He came in, and stayed in my area for a while. (The floor I worked on sold animation cels and collectibles, and he was really into that stuff.) He was just beaming, happy to talk to people, shake hands, etc. Everyone had to be professional, but we were all smiles, too. The only thing he asked for while he was there was water. Really....I cannot stress how wonderful and nice he is.
I don't know if they count as a celebrities, but I got drunk in bar with Mark Millar (comic book writer, creator of Kick-A*s and Kingsmen) and Tony Harris (Comic Book artist, Starman, Ex Machina) They were in town for a signing at a comic shop, and then invited everyone to go drinking after it was done. Both fun guys. Mark Millar bought me whiskeys & cokes. After we left the bar, they were going to karaoke, but stupid me, I declined the invitation. I still regret that.
I don't know if they count as a celebrities, but I got drunk in bar with Mark Millar (comic book writer, creator of Kick-A*s and Kingsmen) and Tony Harris (Comic Book artist, Starman, Ex Machina) They were in town for a signing at a comic shop, and then invited everyone to go drinking after it was done. Both fun guys. Mark Millar bought me whiskeys & cokes. After we left the bar, they were going to karaoke, but stupid me, I declined the invitation. I still regret that.
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22points
#17
Jay Leno. And please, hear me out.
When I was 17 (this was in 2010), I got to go backstage at the Tonight Show because I was a huge fan of the show. After the show, he came into the green room and talked to me and my family for a solid ten minutes.
After we had left the studio, we saw him in his car leaving the studio and signing autographs for fans.
The real kicker: the next year, I graduated high school. Out of nowhere, the dude *sent me a f*****g letter* congratulating me on that.
He couldn't have been nicer to me.
When I was 17 (this was in 2010), I got to go backstage at the Tonight Show because I was a huge fan of the show. After the show, he came into the green room and talked to me and my family for a solid ten minutes.
After we had left the studio, we saw him in his car leaving the studio and signing autographs for fans.
The real kicker: the next year, I graduated high school. Out of nowhere, the dude *sent me a f*****g letter* congratulating me on that.
He couldn't have been nicer to me.
22points
#18
Matthew McConaughey
Met him at an airport. I was an employee and he had some TSA questions. Genuinely nice, we had a great chat for about 15min. After he was set, we shook hands, he had his kids all thank me individually and shake my hand as well. His wife was reserved but nice as well.
When he then hopped in the TSA line, everyone FREAKED out in line and was taking pictures, swooning, etc. He looked me dead in the eye from across the terminal and gave me a light wave again and turned out around chuckling a bit.
Very good social interaction, would participate again.
Met him at an airport. I was an employee and he had some TSA questions. Genuinely nice, we had a great chat for about 15min. After he was set, we shook hands, he had his kids all thank me individually and shake my hand as well. His wife was reserved but nice as well.
When he then hopped in the TSA line, everyone FREAKED out in line and was taking pictures, swooning, etc. He looked me dead in the eye from across the terminal and gave me a light wave again and turned out around chuckling a bit.
Very good social interaction, would participate again.
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21points
#19
John Waters.
The dude is over 70 years old, and he's still touring doing spoken word stuff. He gave one of the most entertaining and hilarious speeches of all time, and then as the show was ending just said "I'm going to be up here signing books afterwards so stick around."
You could tell he was exhausted after, as it was pretty late. Sure enough, hundreds of people lined up to get their books signed, and an attendant was there to grab your phone and take your picture with him. He was such a good sport and made small talk with nearly every person.
I had bought pre-signed books before the show because I didn't know he'd be doing this after, and he offered to personalize them for me anyway. I recommend watching his spoken word special on Netflix if you haven't seen it already. He's an amazing man.
The dude is over 70 years old, and he's still touring doing spoken word stuff. He gave one of the most entertaining and hilarious speeches of all time, and then as the show was ending just said "I'm going to be up here signing books afterwards so stick around."
You could tell he was exhausted after, as it was pretty late. Sure enough, hundreds of people lined up to get their books signed, and an attendant was there to grab your phone and take your picture with him. He was such a good sport and made small talk with nearly every person.
I had bought pre-signed books before the show because I didn't know he'd be doing this after, and he offered to personalize them for me anyway. I recommend watching his spoken word special on Netflix if you haven't seen it already. He's an amazing man.
21points
#20
Whoopi Goldberg. My wife met her in London, having a smoke outside the hotel we were attending a wedding at. After sharing a smoke together, Woopie came in and had photos with the bride and groom (my wife's sister and brother-in-law) finally uttering the line of the day "It wouldn't be a Jewish wedding without a Goldberg.".
18points