Last week, Christian Bale took a kid with leukemia to Disneyland. And this might not register for most celebrities, but he did it without even notifying a camera crew! In short, Christian Bale is a badass. Except for maybe that time he totally degraded a crew member on the set of Terminator. But I digress.
From Kate Winslet rescuing an old woman to Sean Penn pulling victims from flood waters, here are a handful of celebs who might not be superheroes, but they’re pretty damn close.
Before we go any further, here’s the picture of Christian Bale with Jayden Barber, the cute 4 year old boy with leukemia. Awww…
Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet was enjoying the perks of being a celebrity earlier this year, vacationing on Richard Branson’s lavish Necker Island home. During a storm caused by Hurricane Irene, the main house was struck by lighting, and it immediately burst into flames. Knowing that Branson’s 90 year-old mom was inside, Winslet rushed into her room and carried the old lady out of the fire and onto safe grounds.
Some might say this is just common decency?when you’re in the middle of a fire, you try to save the helpless?but let me just say, it ain’t that easy. We all like to think that’s what we’d do in that situation, but you just don’t know until it happens. Case in point, in 2006, my office caught on fire and my only instinct was to run out of the building, screaming at the top of my lungs without stopping to tell anyone what was going on. There could’ve been a room full of old people, each carrying a box of newborn kittens, and I’m pretty sure I would have done the same thing. Fire is scary.
Sean Penn
Say what you will about Sean Penn, but the man is a fucking hero. In 2010, Penn traveled to Haiti to help victims of the devastating earthquake. According to reports, Penn drove an hour and a half to rescue a woman and her child who were trapped under some rubble. He personally helped pull the two out, and then he drove them to a hospital in Port-au-Prince.
That’s almost as good as making a little song for them!
This certainly isn’t the first time Sean Penn has gone all superhero. Back in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Penn rescued a ton of stranded victims?personally pulling them out of the floodwater.
Alex Trebek
The world has found an unlikely superhero in Jeopardy host Alex Trebek. Last year, the 72 year-old chased down a thief after being robbed in his San Francisco hotel room. Okay, so he was just looking out for number one. But hey, it’s the same way Spiderman got his start! And also, Alex is 72, for crying out loud. He ripped his Achilles tendon in the process, but he still nabbed the robber. Pretty badass for an old guy. A Canadian old guy, at that.
Vin Diesel
I know, I know. Vin Diesel is a tool. But in 2002, that tool saved an entire family from a flipped car. He was driving his motorcycle when he saw the wreckage of a car accident. The car was turned over, and a family was inside. Diesel grabbed the two children from the backseat and helped the dad get out of the driver’s seat. Moments later, the car burst into flames.
Five words I never thought I’d say: thank god for Vin Diesel.
Harrison Ford
Fuck yeah, Han Solo. Harrison Ford is a licensed pilot and often uses his skills to rescue random people.? A while back, he rescued a couple of hikers who were lost, dehydrated and in danger of impending death. Harrison Ford swooped down in his Bell 407 helicopter and brought them to safety.
One of the hikers summed up the experience pretty succinctly:
“I can't believe I barfed in Harrison Ford?s helicopter.”
Ryan Gosling
If the bastard couldn’t get any dreamier, this year, Ryan Gosling gained superhero status. First, he broke up a fight in the streets of New York. A vendor was arguing with a man who had stolen a painting, and Ryan Gosling successfully arbitrated. Months later, Ryan pulled a woman out of the way right before she was about to get hit by a cab.
With all of the bullshit that some celebrities pull, it’s nice to know that a handful of them choose to use their powers for good. Keep on superhero-ing, celebs.
ne says
you left out Penn tying up Madonna? but include Bale’s pass shouting at a lightening director? rich. I don’t see what either issue has to do with their acting or other deeds. If Robert Downy Jr had done anything to be a hero would you include his miserable behavior for years? no. But then again Downy leaks dirt about other actors to the media so he gets forgiven.