A lot of times, you’ll hear about a celeb’s poor behavior , temper tantrums, or horrible attitudes . But you never really hear about the good things they do.
Sure, some celebs may be jerks . They definitely aren’t perfect people. But like the ones in this list, they can be known to do really good things every now and again.
Gerard Butler saved a boy from drowning in 1997.
Back before he became famous, the actor saved a 14-year-old boy from drowning in Scotland. At the time, he said, “I wouldn’t call myself a hero. I just acted instinctively . When I brought him out he was lifeless. I’m just glad he’s all right now.”
About two decades later, he gave a speech at the kid’s wedding.
He was asked to record a video speech for the boy, now a grown man, for his wedding. And of course, Butler did it!
“I feel like I’ve been there at all the most important moments of your life: I was there the day you almost drowned and now I’m here for your wedding ,” he said in the speech.
Joan Jett also saved a boy from drowning.
In 1985, the rock star just so happened to be in the right place at the right time, and saved a 3-year-old boy from drowning in the ocean. ” I ran in the water with my clothes on–you don’t think about that kind of stuff–and got him from about a half-foot under water,” she said.
She pulled him out and began administering CPR.
“Then some other people who knew more what they were doing came and checked to make sure he was all right,” she continued. Her quick thinking saved that boy’s life.
Chance the Rapper founded a nonprofit charity called SocialWorks.
The Grammy-winner started the charity in 2016, and its aim is to help kids and youth within the Chicago area. According to the website, “SocialWorks’ programming focuses on education, mental health, homelessness , and performing and literary arts – directly affecting thousands of youth yearly.”
They’ve raised a lot of money for the cause.
Through the organization’s events and partners, many of whom have donated millions of dollars , SocialWorks does a lot of good for Chicago youth. And it’s all thanks to Chance the Rapper.
Harrison Ford has rescued hikers using his helicopter.
Like, on more than one occasion.
Ford is a trained pilot and can actually fly a helicopter (he also owns one). He first saved a hiker in 2000 when she became stranded in Table Mountain in Wyoming.
Then he went and did it again in 2001.
He saved a boy scout who’d gotten lost in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. I honestly couldn’t imagine waiting for a helicopter rescue, only to find out that it was piloted by Harrison Ford.
Benedict Cumberbatch stopped a robbery.
In 2017, the actor encountered a bicycle delivery man who was surrounded by robbers, and got out of his car to intervene. He ended up effectively chasing the robbers away, and the dude was pretty thankful.
Though, according to Cumberbatch, the whole ordeal was a little exaggerated.
He appeared on Ellen the next year, saying, “” I just stopped the Uber that we were in and got out and tried to calm the kids down.” Still, it was a pretty good deed.
Tom Hardy stopped a moped thief.
In 2017, Cumberbatch wasn’t the only actor stopping random thieves. Hardy broke into action when he saw two teens who’d stolen a moped, and managed to chase one down and hold him in a citizen’s arrest until the cops showed up.
But a year later, he really wanted to help the kid.
A year later, in an interview with Esquire , he said, “He must stand accountable for what he’s done. But he’s got issues, and he’s in a bad way . Do we just give up on a sixteen-year-old?”
John Cena frequently grants wishes for Make-A-Wish.
The pro-wrestler-turned-actor is known for being a pretty decent dude. But what people might not always know about him is that he loves his fans, even the youngest ones. He’s made over 600 wishes for the Make-A-Wish foundation.
Over 650, to be more exact.
In June of this year, the WWE celebrated Cena’s achievement, confirming that he holds the record for most wishes granted.
“I just drop everything,” he said. “If I can offer a fantastic experience, I’ll be first in line to do my part .”
Dolly Parton’s foundation does a lot of good.
You’ve probably heard of the Dollywood Foundation, but you might not know all of what Parton’s nonprofit does. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, for instance, sends kids free books throughout the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, and Canada.
Since its inception in 1995, the foundation has sent out over 100 million books.
Parton got to celebrate this achievement in 2018. Currently, the program sends out around 1.3 million books to children each month. How amazing is that?
Muhammad Ali once saved a man from jumping from a building.
In 1981, Ali witnessed a man sitting on the ledge of a high rise building, threatening to jump. The boxer ran into the building and climbed to the 9th floor to talk the man down.
He successfully got the man to come down.
He took the man to a psychiatric hospital, and later said, “I’m going to go home with him to meet his mother and father. They called him a nobody, so I’m going home with him. I’ll walk the streets with him and they’ll see he’s big .”
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Neil Gaiman once stopped his car to rescue a dog.
In 2007, the author rescued a dog he found on the side of the road while driving one day. He brought the dog home with him and tried to find his family.
But his old family didn’t want him, so Gaiman inherited a dog.
Naming the good boy Cabal, Gaiman took care of him for the rest of his life, saying a final goodbye to the dog in 2013 .
