25 Celebrities Who Surprised The World With Their Kind Gestures

Reddit is a place where people share their experiences and stories, often revealing surprising truths about the world. One Reddit user sparked a lively discussion by asking, “Have you ever met a celebrity and found they were much kinder or ruder than you expected?” The responses flooded in, with users eager to share their encounters with famous personalities.

#1

Image source: Marie Weaver , The Cure/Youtube

I was OBSESSED (can’t stress this enough – dressed and looked like him, listened to the Cure constantly, walls plastered with posters) with Robert Smith from the Cure when I was 18 (30 years ago), and met him after a concert once. He was absolutely wonderful – kind, gentle, patient, and beyond tolerant of an 18 year old little goth girl in full hysterics meeting the object of full-on teen obsession.

#2

Image source: Sonia Ottusch, GabboT/Flickr

Bradley Cooper sat behind my family at a local restaurant where we quietly celebrated our at the time college age daughter’s birthday. While leaving, he stopped by our table to wish my daughter a happy birthday. The other celebrity in the restaurant, who will remain nameless, ignored our table.

#3

Image source: Sandra Capri

George Kennedy lived at my mom’s retirement home. Every week, I’d go over to visit my mom, and bring my Golden Retriever, Chase. I’d usually spend 45 minutes doing pet therapy with any residents who were interested. It was love at first sight for George and Chase — they adored each other. So we had a standing order — any time that Chase was in the building, we’d go visit George. Even if he was taking a nap, we were to wake him up for a visit.

George would often sneak Chase some leftover bacon from breakfast; normally in pet therapy, I forbade residents from feeding Chase — but I never could bring myself to say that to George — he took so much joy in Chase.

George was a force of nature — big and still powerful, yet so gentle and fun to be around. He had so many great stories. I still remember him talking about how all the guys (himself included) on the set of Charade were in awe of Audrey Hepburn, and would sit and listen to anything she would say during breaks from filming. He had just published a book while staying at the retirement home, and autographed a special copy for my mom, with a sweet inscription.

I’m sorry I never got a picture of him with Chase, though my mom and I got a photo with him one day in the living room.

I’ll still miss George — a great guy

#4

Image source: Doug Reade , Eva Rinaldi/Flickr

James Earl Jones.

I was working as an extra in a TV show he was doing in the Seattle area.

Now, in on-set hierarchy, extras are considered ‘walking furniture’, In fact, sometimes, we’re held below actual furniture. They set up a separate table away from the cast when we have lunch, separate areas for us to wait when we’re not being used, that sort of thing.

So, we were having lunch over at our separate little ‘extras table’ and Mr. Jones came over to talk to us. He sat with us for about half an hour, telling stories about his years as an actor, about the other members of the cast, asking about what other shows we’d done.

When he got up to go, he leaned over the table and said, “Look, right now I’ve got the power. These guys running this show, they don’t treat you right, you come and let me know. I’ll do something about it.” And there was no doubt he meant it.

He really didn’t have to do that. On that set, we really were lowest of the low. And he went out of his way to make us feel like we were real contributors to the project we were all committed to.

Top of the pack mensch, Mr. Jones is.

#5

Image source: Curtis Childress, Pipe Loyola M/Flickr

Elizabeth Taylor. She was a patient in my hospital, and we were responsible for her security while she was with us. We split the duty with her between myself and two of my police officers. She was an incredibly gracious lady to my officers, and all of the hospital staff. Very quiet, soft spoken, smiled and would chat with anyone from the housekeeper to the Chief of Surgery. Very much the image of a lady.

#6

Image source: Humanity , Eva Rinaldi/Flickr

When she was a little girl and to this day I suppose, my daughter loved Dolly Parton. We were in Nashville visiting my parents and decided to drive her out to show her Dolly’s house. The big butterfly gates were closed to her estate but my little girl, 6 at the time, wrote Dolly a note and stuck it in the gate. A few weeks later we received a letter from Dolly with an autographed picture made out to my daughter. I’ll never know how she got our address from just a note from a 6 year old, but she did. My daughter is almost 40 now and still cherishes that letter and picture. Dolly rocks.

#7

Image source: Max Leggett , Library of Congress Life//Flickr

Joni Mitchell, 1967. Her songs had been recorded by Tom Paxton, Buffy Ste Marie, Dave Van Ronk. Judy Collins had a huge hit with Both Sides Now. Joni’s first album had been produced by Dave Crosby and was great. So Joni was right up there. But she still had some contractual commitments to the smaller clubs where she started out. Like The Riverboat, in Toronto. Held maybe 100 people. Yours truly goes to see her – for the umpteenth time – and afterwards wangles his way backstage to ask Joni if she can give him guitar lessons.

In her dressing room was her manager, there was Bernie, who owned The Riverboat, a guy who looked like a lawyer, and a couple of reporters from the local papers. Everyone’s going “Joni!” “Joni!” “Joni!” She puts up her hand and says, “Wait. I need to show Max a couple of things.”

I’m a nobody, a 16 year old schmo who’s politely pushy, and she told all the movers and shakers to wait while she explained a couple of things. Can you spell ‘gracious’? ‘Kind’? ‘Patient’? She was magnificent.

For the musicians reading this, she checked that I knew the open G and open D tunings and could play the basic chords. She then showed me – she wrote it out on a napkin which of course I lost – a 2-note descending line against various pedals. She also said, “There are no rules. If you like it, it’s good.”

I thought then, and I think now, that Joni is the goddess reincarnate.

#8

Image source: Gary Rogers

Last March, my family was visiting Southern California. They wanted to check out Venice Beach. My daughter loves to work out as much as I do so I suggested we leave the others at the beach and walk over to the original Gold’s Gym, the Mecca of bodybuilding. For the next hour and a half we lifted weights, toured every inch of the place, stared at all the pictures of the famous bodybuilders on the walls, and generally had a great time. We stopped at the gift shop and bought a couple of things to commemorate the day. I finished paying and looked up and pointed near the entrance.

“It’s Arnold,” I said. Sure enough, it was the Terminator himself. My daughter gasped, “Let’s get a picture!”

By the time we got to him he was talking to two guys who were in the gym but came out to meet him. Standing next to them we overheard their entire conversation. He was encouraging them and complementing them on their strength and size. When they left, my daughter asked for a pic with us.

“Shu-uh”, he replied. We thanked him for his time and he wished us a good day before riding off on his electric bike. He honestly could not have been more gracious or down-to-earth.

#9

Image source: Preston Bealle, oldtimemoviescenes/Youtube

I sat with Cary Grant several times at Dodger games in a private, enclosed box. I was 14–16 and he was in his 60s. We never talked about his career or his stature. Just baseball, and his newborn daughter. He was polite and self-effacing. His appearance was stunning and people who spotted him would almost faint.

The first time I sat with him, it was a hot day and I had a sport coat on. I stood up to take it off and we had a little closet in the box. He jumped up and reached to take my coat and hang it up. i said “Oh, no,, Mr. Grant, thank you, I’ll hang up my coat.” And in his inimitable voice he said “Nope! Hand it over! Already got the hanger here!” And that’s how he always was, very considerate and aware of everyone around him, asking you questions and not talking about himself.

#10

Image source: Jeremy Martinez, M.D., Eduardo Merille/Flickr

Yes, Mike Tyson.While it was just a brief encounter, I was surprised at how polite he was.

He held the door open for me at the gym.

You have to understand the dynamics of this particular gym to understand why this made an impression. Men at this workout locale generally refuse to get out of each other’s way, with the largest men having right-of-way, like ships at sea. There is a sense that each man is trying to intimidate the others.

As I was walking toward the gym entrance, I didn’t immediately notice that it was Mike Tyson holding the door open, patiently waiting. At first, I was just surprised that a man of his size would show an average joe such deference. Further, when I realized it was Mike Tyson holding the door so patiently, I was truly shocked!

It’s really interesting how a brief encounter like this can leave a huge impression. He has led a fascinating life life, which he describes in his best-selling book, Iron Ambition.

#11

Image source: Greta Elizabeth

My bike had a flat tire a few years ago when I was living in West Hollywood. I didn’t have an air pump to fix it, so I was walking with my neighbor, Anass, to the gas station a few blocks away to pump some air into the tire.

As we are walking up to the gas station, I see a vehicle resembling something along the lines of a spaceship… this was no ordinary car! (I later learned that it was a Hennessey Venom GT Super Car, WOW!)

There was a person standing next to the car with wild, crazy hair exuding alot of energy and so much wow-ness. I slowly began to realize I was walking up to the Rockstar of My Dreams, I couldn’t believe it, it was Steven Tyler, standing right in front of me. At. The. Gas. Station. (Unleaded was $3.89 on that day at that particular Chevron.)

We made eye contact and he said, “What’s up girl? What’s going on? How you doin?”

My brain was melting, but I managed to croak out,

“What’s up? Are you going to take a picture with me?”

(I wasn’t going to ask him for an autograph but I definitely wasn’t going to NOT ask him for a picture!)

He was so gorgeous and electric and rockstarry and down to earth at the same time.

And as if we had known each other for a million years, he said to me,

“Girl, you better take a picture with me! Get over here! Let’s do this!”

My legs felt like Jell-O and I was losing the grip on my bike.

Thank G-d my neighbor was with me, for moral support and also, to take the picture of us.

He walked around his Hennessey Venom GT Super Car (it was SexyBlack) and basically put himself at my disposal.

He asked me how I wanted the picture, did I want to hop in his car for a picture, and of course, as I am continuously searching for the funky, irreplaceable, and unique, and I also wanted to surprise him… I grew some balls and asked,

“Ok, how about you get on My Bike with me?”

He loved the idea and said, “Yes! Ok, do you want me to jump on in the front and you get on my back?”

I was dazzled, I was in Love.

Me: “No, you get on My Back, I’m giving YOU a ride!”

He hopped on my back and gave me the best hug, I was trying to smile for the picture and play it cool and freeze the moment and remember it forever at the same time. He put his RockStar arms around me and I was floating.

There is no one like Steven, he is extra special and made me feel like a Zillion Bitcoins that day.

I Love You, Steven!

Special thanks to Anass for helping me capture this magical moment!

#12

Image source: William Alan Donius

Several years ago I attended the national Human Rights Campaign dinner in Washington, D.C. I was walking back to my table when a gentleman stood up from his table and turned directly toward me, it was John Lewis.

I was somewhat stunned as he was one of keynote speakers for the event, he was not backstage but having dinner at one of the tables amongst all of us. I was a bit intimidated and wasn’t sure if I should interrupt him from whatever he was about to do.

He looked me right in the eye with a welcoming glance. I gained my composure and plunged ahead by blurting out, “You’re one of my heroes. Thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made to make our country more just and fair.” He smiled and thanked me in the most modest, kind fashion.

Then, rather than moving on with his business, he surprised me by asking, “Tell me about you. What do you do and why are you here?” I don’t remember exactly how I responded but assured him that he was part of the reason, I was a volunteer for human rights and specifically the rights of another historically neglected community, the LGBT community. We had a short, but wonderful conversation that seemed improbable in the midst of a big dinner with thousands in attendance.

I was reluctant to ask him for permission to take a photo with him, but I wanted to remember the moment. He smiled and said, “Absolutely.”

He was a humble warrior who inspired a generation and changed America, by bending the arc Martin Luther King, Jr spoke of, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends, toward justice.”

When I saw this question pop up, I immediately thought of my moment with this kind soul and American hero. A true privilege.

#13

Image source:  Alan Frehley, Samira Khan/Flickr

Billy Joel on the eve of his 1987 The Bridge Tour, July 5th.

I waited outside the back of the venue, Birmingham NEC, and it was a very hot day. Security at the venue were snotty and constantly reminded me not to wait in the shade. In the meantime, I could hear the band doing a soundcheck, but no vocals.

About 2 hours later, Billy Joel and saxophonist Mark Rivera arrived in a taxi. I was the only fan waiting, and requested if Billy and Mark could sign my Bridge album cover. Billy said he had a hangover as he was partying with Carl Perkins the previous night as it was American Independence Day. He saw I also had 52nd Street, Streetlife Serenade and Turnstiles and he said “shall I sign these?”

He then asked what album I liked best. I replied 52nd Street as it was my introduction to his music. After signing he said “come and meet the band” and ushered me inside. He said to the security, “he’s with me!”

I asked why was lead guitarist David Brown no longer in the band, Billy replied “we had a disagreement”

I met Liberty DeVito (drums) Doug Stegmeyer (bass) Russell Javors (guitar) who all signed and said they hoped I would enjoy the show. Mark Rivera introduced me to the other musicians, Dave LaBolt (synthesizer) Kevin Duke (lead guitar) who was the short term replacement for David Brown and the backing singer Peter Hewlett.

Billy told me to “get a drink” and I got a cold coke. He then disappeared backstage. There was no sign of Christy.

After that I wished them a great tour and left the venue.

The show, as expected, was brilliant.

Top professionals, and great people.

#14

Image source: Sarah Todd

Many years ago at his book signing, I got to meet Meat Loaf. He was freaking awesome. At one point before meeting him, someone had tried telling all of his fans that he was only signing the book and he looked at her saying that he would sign any damn thing he pleased. When it came time to meet him, I was so nervous and he could tell. He asked if I was okay and I told him yes but that I had never met a celebrity before. He looked at me with his kind eyes and said “ I’m just a normal guy who mows the lawn and gets yelled at by my wife every now and then.” He even took the time to talk to me and my aunt for a couple of minutes and to take this picture. She has both autographs and I am okay with that. (The book she got for me to get signed was her’s.) I have this picture and the memory which is all I need.

#15

Image source: Lara

So most celebs I have met have been at events. Because it is an event like a comic con, I do expect them to at least be polite because they are getting paid to be there and meet people. The least they can do for paying customers blah blah.

I’ve only met a couple “out in the wild” so to speak. One was incredibly rude, so I won’t bother naming them or describing the event. The other was well, kind of stunningly normal and kind.

My friend and I had traveled to a small town in upstate NY for a charity event hosted by a couple of celebrities there. Since we were in this small town we decided to visit a candy shop owned by Paul Rudd and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Just to see because, why not? As I was opening the candy shop door, I noticed a kid and his mom walking out so held it open for them. Just what you normally, I heard “Now say thank you to the lady for holding the door open for you” and looked up. To see it was Paul Rudd’s kid and wife I was holding the door open for. The kid said thank you, and I managed to get out “You’re very Welcome” before being stunned for a moment. Then I quickly stepped out of line to follow him, I asked if I could please get a selfie with him and he agreed. It is one of my fav selfies. My friend who also asked for and got a selfie with him was upset that he smiled in mine but not hers. The photobomb in the back of mine is just an added bit that makes it work even more. His whole family was kind and polite, as I stood by and chatted with his wife while my friend and a few others clustered around him. I did apologize to her for interrupting their outing. But the totally normal parenting (say thank you) and friendliness was a surprise considering it was in the wild and it was an interruption to their family outing to his small business.

#16

Image source: Matthew Bates, Mike Maguire/Flickr

Sting: Super nice to everyone around him. Also rode his bike through the neighborhood behind the venue before the show, pausing to talk to people who were out walking their dogs and such.

#17

Image source: Dorrie Thomas, Grunge/Youtube

John Ritter. I was 23, just widowed with 3 children and a broken shoulder from our car accident in Austin. My in-laws brought us back to Burbank for a short reprieve. I needed our birth certificates to apply for his SS. Noone would drive me to downtown LA to pick them up so I took the buses. On the last bus transfer a man insisted I take his seat while he stood. When a seat opened next to me he sat and tried to converse. I was barely holding it together and afraid of missing my stop as I explained to him. He told me he’d watch for it to. Then he got off with me saying he’d see I found the records building and gentlemanly tucked my good arm into his and escorted me down the streets. I would have been flustered except I was beyond shock already. After seeing me to the door he left. I told my father-in-law the a man who looked like John Ritter from 3’s Company helped me. Years later I read that he liked to ride the public buses around without a destination to talk to the other riders . I am sure it was him. His voice, demeanor, and body movements were also like his.

#18

Image source: Jay Williams

One day my ex-wife and I had a layover overnight in LA coming back from the Cook Islands.

We went to a mid to upscale Mexican restaurant. We were chatting, and then I looked to the table beside us and Adam Sandler (American actor/comedian) and his wife Jackie were at the next table with another guy. Seemed like an agent or something.

Anyways, we had a great dinner, got up to leave and they ended up leaving a few seconds after we got up. We walked outside and called a cab and were waiting when the three of them came out and were saying their goodbyes beside us.

We are Canadian and generally feel it is rude to say anything to someone if they are famous or whatever and they are not in a work environment.

They broke the ice with us. Sandler made a joke about the beans not doing anything for foreplay later with his wife. We all laughed and it seemed they were waiting for a few mins for a ride too.

We started chatting a bit and they were honestly the nicest, most down to earth couple.

My wife said something like “it seems so weird that it feels like I know you because of the movies” and Jackie chimed in totally laughing “ I know, right!!! I do that all the time when I meet these famous people” as she was giggling.

Jackie said hey do you guys want a picture with Adam? Your friends won’t believe your story.

We said sure but not wanting to be rude or weird.

So Adam grabbed us and pulled us in for a hug and Jackie grabbed our camera and took a picture.

We said goodbye and the cab came.

Honestly the nicest people.

#19

Image source: Ahmad, UNHCR/J.Tanner

I had the pleasure of briefly meeting Ms. Angelina Jolie when she came to Pakistan while enroute to visit the refugee camps in the west for Afghan refugees back in the early 2000s to provide assistance as part of the UNHCR mission.

I found her nothing but graceful, kind and patient in her quick interaction with me which may have lasted only 1–2 minutes (I must have come across as quite shy and awkward) while she was in between meetings with the government officials of the Musharraf era. I also heard about her later visits to Pakistan from friends in the government and the press.

While Ms. Jolie’s movies like Girl, Interrupted and Mr. and Mrs. Smith tend to portray a very racy kind image, in person, she is an epitome of class, grace, dignity, intelligence and of course, beauty.

Her interactions with the destitute Afghan refugees eking a living in poverty stricken camps were so heartfelt and full of genuine warmth.
These camps are not very nice places to be and the refugees living in them suffer from heat, poor hygienic conditions, smells and so on. Yet Ms. Jolie walked around in them and greeted the refugees without any hesitation or concern.

What was even more impressive was how she conducted herself when interacting with the government emissaries of the Pakistani State, as part of her mission back in the early 2000s to get Pakistani state cooperation for assisting Afghan refugees. She did not seem the least bit intimidated by all the big, uniformed men around her (this was back in the days of the Musharraf regime, when the military controlled the country). Even among all the medals and military peacockry she had a quiet kind of magnetism that set her apart.

She navigated her way diplomatically in her interactions with the confusing apparatus that forms the Pakistani state to ensure she could assist the UN missions get the help they needed from the Pakistani government by interacting with a series of Pakistani leaders (starting from President Musharraf and going to Yusuf Raza Gilani after the military government was replaced). I can tell you, this is a skill set that career bureaucrats spend years learning.

She would return in later years as part of different missions, notably in the later 2000s when she came to the country as part of her mission to provide relief to so many of our citizens devastated by the 2009 flooding.

She betrayed no anger when Prime Minister Gilani flew over his family to meet her on state funds when she was there to meet him to request more assistance for flood victims and she seemed to have gritted her jaw and ignored the posh opulence rolled out to her by Pakistani politicians who were throwing lavish parties for her when she had seen the abject poverty of the nation and seen the heart wrenching stories of Pakistanis who had lost loved ones and homes in the flooding. Nor was she the least bit phased by the Pakistani media hounding her for photos, especially when she was with male politicians.

It seemed that no matter what challenge was thrown at her (dealing with the opaque military government, dealing with crass civilian politicians more interested in a photo op with her than aid for their own people, dealing with a media with 0 boundary sense), she dealed with it with grace and diplomatic skill to stay on track for her objective: To help the Afghan refugees fleeing war and to help Pakistanis devastated by flooding. The US State Department should seriously consider hiring her.

I don’t know what life experiences she has had that have transformed her into such an amazingly caring, intelligent and graceful person. She didn’t have to leave the glamour of California to come to Pakistan’s harshest territories to provide help to refugees and flood victims forgotten by so many. But she did. And a lot of refugees and people in our little corner of the world are grateful to her for doing so.

#20

Image source: Robert Wolfe, Oscars/Youtube

I met Paul Newman twice. Once in 1968 while he was campaigning for Eugene McCarthy who was running for President and the other time in 1984 or 85 when I was an extra on the set of Color of Money at Navy Pier in Chicago. The first time we actually chatted for a few minutes and he was extremely approachable and kind. On the second occasion he was working, and was focused on his job. Brilliant. What an opportunity to see Newman, Cruise and Scorsese working together. I’m an old man now but will always be a fan of Paul Newman. He was a brilliant example of a truly grand actor and genuinely nice man.

#21

Image source: Peter Robertson , Dr Ghulam Nabi Kazi/Flickr

30+ years ago was walking in the Scottish hills. Came down the less travelled route and caught up with another guy. He knew the area better than me and explained we might meet the gamekeeper on our route but the owner only came up in August so should be OK (it was May).

We climbed over a gate and the Queen Mother (ie Charles IIIs granny) came up and said hello and asked where we’d come from. My new friend found his voice faster than me but eventually we explained we’d only just met to which she replied she approved of talking to strangers and invited us to stay for a picnic tea.

I really don’t like egg but when the Queen Mum offers you a sandwich from a tupperware box it’s hard to say may I have the chocolate cake instead.

On the way out we passed the one security guy in his Range Rover reading his Sunday Times. His only question “did you manage to get past them at the house?”.

#22

Image source: Kassidy Kennedy

A few years ago, Ryan Gosling was directing a movie in Michigan. A friend of mine was working on the movie and at the end of it he was able to bring a friend to the wrap party.

I’m not sure what I expected. I didn’t expect him to be a jerk by any means but he was certainly kinder than expected. Smiling and laughing with us for a bit before we got a pic. He was busy, busy as it was his event so I didn’t spend too much time with him but he was definitely a cool person.

#23

Image source: Lola Falana ·, jsmwnyc/Youtube

On my 40th birthday I was walking to work in San Francisco down Market street. It was dark and early. I noticed they were filming a commercial with Mr. T on the street. I went past to the coffee place where I always bought my morning coffee. As I walked back to my office I noticed a crowd had gathered around Mr. T. I stopped and he looked at me and said hello. I blurted out that it was my birthday! He asked if he could give me a hug? I said yes and he gave me the best bear hug! We both smiled and I went on my way. What a great guy.

#24

Image source: Jim Riley, Justin Klett/Youtube

On a trip to Hawaii with my parents when I was 14, my mother spotted Red Skelton window shopping in our hotel. Red Skelton was a radio and movie star and had the top-rated TV show at that time, “The Red Skelton Hour.” He was dressed like one of his TV characters, San Fernando Red, in a fancy suit and panama hat. He was very impressive at six foot two but that never deterred my five foot nothing mother. She walked up to him and asked if he would mind us taking his picture.

He turned to her, doffed his hat revealing his bright red hair, and said to her in all seriousness, “Yes, ma’am, I would.” Before she could react, his face broke out in an impish smile and he finished, “This light in here is terrible. Let’s go outside.”

He talked to us like we were old friends as we walked down the hall. Outside, he asked a passer-by to take our picture with my mother’s camera, still talking like he’d known us forever.

All too soon, the encounter was over as others realized who he was. Everyone wanted to meet him. With the style and grace of a true gentleman, he shook hands, posed for pictures, and signed autographs until everyone was happy. From the look on his face, so was he.

#25

Image source: Matthew Bates, Diogo Andrade/Flickr

The Backstreet Boys: I played soccer with them. At least, that’s what I tell people. In fact, I stood near their tour bus while they played soccer with their kids, and the ball came my direction once, and I kicked it back to them. Thus, I played soccer with the Backstreet Boys. They were all nice guys. If not for the tour bus, you’d think they were just random family guys hanging out with their kids at a park.