Top 20 Celebrity Heroic Acts

This British actor may have played one of the most iconic villains on screen, but he is clearly not a fan of real-life bad guys. Back in 2017, while taking a casual stroll near his home in South West London, Hardy ran into a man who had allegedly stolen a moped and crashed it into a car. Channeling his inner action hero, he chased the guy through gardens and across building units until he eventually caught him. Hardy even gave the alleged thief a quick pat-down for weapons and held him until the police arrived. Safe to say, he is not someone you’d want to cross paths with.

Los Angeles native Danny Trejo proved he’s not just tough on screen when he helped save a child’s life after an accident in 2019. Trejo was in the Sylmar neighborhood of LA when he witnessed a car run a red light and crash into another, flipping it upside down. After spotting a baby strapped to a seat in the overturned car, Trejo wasted no time and crawled through a window to help. With the aid of another bystander, they were able to get the boy out safely before firefighters arrived to free his grandma. Despite being hailed as a hero, the ever-humble Trejo insisted the real credit should go to the boy’s car seat.

This Miss Alabama turned Bachelorette turned winner of “Dancing with the Stars” can now add “life saver” to her impressive resume. In June 2020, while on a rafting trip in Tennessee with their family, Hannah Brown and her brother spotted a man in serious trouble. He had fallen overboard and was being dragged downstream by the current. Without hesitation, they leapt into action, grabbing the stranger and pulling him onto their raft. The dramatic rescue, which was captured on a helmet cam, was narrated on Twitter by the man’s grateful girlfriend. Forget pageants and mirrorball trophies, this might just be Brown’s most heroic title yet.

For about a decade, Patrick Dempsey saved lives on screen as the dreamy Derek Shepherd on “Grey’s Anatomy.” In 2012, Dempsey took his heroics off-screen when a teenager named Weston Masset lost control of his car while driving, causing it to flip over in front of his Malibu home and trapping him inside. Dempsey didn’t just watch from the sidelines, he rushed to the scene with a crowbar and fire extinguisher, and rescued Masset from the wreckage. Even more, he remained by Masset’s side until the paramedics arrived and airlifted him to the hospital. Guess if you play the hero long enough, it really sticks with you.

Some people save lives with their music, others through their actions, but Jon Bon Jovi proves he can effortlessly do both. In September 2024, the rock legend showed he really meant it when he said he’d “Be There For You,” by stepping in to save a woman in crisis. The woman had climbed onto the ledge of the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville, Tennessee, seemingly with the intention of jumping. Fortunately, Bon Jovi was shooting a music video on the same bridge and noticed her. He then walked over and was able to talk her out of her decision. A true rockstar move from a real-life hero.

In January 2023, news broke that actor Jeremy Renner had been in a snowplow accident on New Year's Day that left him in critical condition. But what many do not know is that Renner was actually trying to save his nephew’s life when the accident occurred. The actor was reportedly pulling his nephew’s truck with his snowcat when he noticed that the vehicle was sliding sideways toward his nephew. In the process of trying to stop or redirect the truck, Renner was crushed underneath, suffering blunt chest trauma and breaking over 30 bones. Thankfully, he was promptly airlifted to the hospital for life-saving surgery and has since made a full recovery.

When Minnie John collapsed from exhaustion while hiking in Utah, she certainly didn’t expect “Modern Family” star Julie Bowen to swoop in and save her life. But that’s exactly how things played out. While visiting Arches National Park with her family, John started feeling lightheaded and told them to go ahead without her. After sitting down to rest, she fainted and fell on her face, only to be awoken by the sound of Bowen’s voice. The actress and her doctor sister were also hiking in the park when they noticed John falling and rushed to her rescue. They assisted with dressing her wounds and helped call her family. Typical Claire Dunphy, always ready to handle any crisis like a pro.

Known as the “Godfather of Britpop,” Ray Davies forged a legendary career as the frontman and guitarist of British rock band The Kinks. Davies put his life on the line and became an unexpected hero during a trip to New Orleans in 2004. While walking with a female companion, the pair was accosted by two men who attempted to rob them at gunpoint. When the thieves snatched the lady’s bag, Davies didn’t hesitate—he sprinted after them. However, one of the men turned around and shot him in the leg. Thankfully, the injury wasn’t too serious and he made a full recovery. Davies later recounted the wild incident in his 2013 book “Americana.”

John Malkovich has played many characters throughout his long career, but back in 2013, he stepped into the role of an actual hero when he saved the life of 79-year-old Jim Walpole. A resident of Ohio, Walpole was visiting Toronto with his wife, Marilyn, when he took a nasty fall outside their hotel and slashed his throat on some scaffolding. Things easily could’ve turned tragic if Malkovich, who happened to be standing nearby, hadn’t jumped into action. Along with two other bystanders, he applied pressure on the wound until paramedics arrived. Walpole was deeply grateful and initially thought the actor was a doctor, due to his quick-thinking. But nope, he was just being John Malkovich.

Some heroes just never retire. In 2004, Arnold Schwarzenegger had stepped away from Hollywood to serve as the Governor of California, but he didn’t hang up his action hero cape just yet. While vacationing in Hawaii that year, Schwarzenegger spotted a swimmer clinging to a boogie board, clearly in distress. Turns out he had suffered cramps all over his body and couldn’t make it back to shore. Schwarzenegger apparently borrowed another boogie board and, we imagine, asked the man to come with him if he wanted to live. He then managed to guide the swimmer back to the safety of the beach, saving his life in the process. They don’t call him the Governator for nothing.

In 2004, this professional wrestler encountered two men sexually assaulting a woman. Wasting no time, Perry Saturn, real name Perry Satullo, fought off the perpetrators and saved the victim. In the process, however, he was shot multiple times, including once in the neck and once in the shoulder. The road to recovery was arduous, as Satullo suffered significant injuries, had no medical insurance, became homeless, and ultimately grappled with substance use disorder. Fortunately, Satullo would eventually recover from all of his troubles and returned to wrestling in 2009. Inside and outside of the ring, Perry Saturn is a true champion in our eyes.

Standing on the ledge of a 22-story building back in 2010, a man was prepared to take his own life. When rapper T.I. heard about the jumper, he recorded him a special video message. According to Rolling Stone, the hip hop star told the man, "Nothing is that bad. Nothing in life is worth taking your life. I'm here to help you. Please come down to talk to me.” After hearing those heartfelt words, the man decided that life was indeed worth living. T.I. also notably prevented a similar situation involving fellow musician Scott Stapp four years earlier in Miami. Talk about a regular guardian angel.

Upon spotting a grass fire heading towards the home of Ryan and Randall Cooper, Garth Brooks and another Good Samaritan leapt into action. The country singer helped escort the young boys to a neighbor’s truck, getting them out of harm’s way. On top of that, Brooks also pushed the Coopers’ boat away from the raging fire. As for the Coopers’ house, firefighters arrived in time to prevent the flames from reaching it. This gallant act certainly brings a whole new meaning to Brooks’ song, “Standing Outside the Fire.”

While driving one evening in Santa Monica, Tom Cruise came across a woman who had been stricken by an unknown driver. Cruise immediately pulled over and called an ambulance, which he then followed to the hospital. The woman survived the accident, but unfortunately had no medical insurance. Seeing how Cruise reportedly made $70,000,000 that year for the first “Mission: Impossible,” he was happy to pay her $7,000 bill. While the tabloids haven’t always been kind to Mr. Cruise, it’s hard to deny he’s a pretty awesome guy after hearing about this compassionate deed.

In early 2016, a car skidded on a slippery California road and flipped over. Luckily for the driver trapped inside, Jamie Foxx just so happened to live close by. Hearing the accident, Foxx called 911 and rushed over to the crash site. Along with an unidentified companion, the Oscar-winning actor helped pull Brett Kyle out of the burning vehicle. They arrived on the scene just in time, as the car quickly went up in flames. Being the humble man he is, Foxx doesn’t view himself as a hero, though Brett’s grateful father might say otherwise.

You might know of documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog and you almost definitely know who Joaquin Phoenix is. Back in 2006, the Oscar-winning actor was unable to hit his car breaks and overturned the vehicle. Flipped upside down, Phoenix found Herzog tapping on the passenger window. Herzog instructed him to stay calm, although the grim situation didn’t seem to faze Phoenix. He even attempted to light up a cigarette while the gas leaked. Herzog proceeded to pull him to safety and returned home once Phoenix was in good hands. This encounter is every bit as bizarre as it is heroic.

In August 2011, a tropical storm ripped through the private Caribbean island where billionaire Richard Branson maintained a luxury home. As luck would have it, Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet was staying on the property when lightning struck the house and set it ablaze. Winslet swung into action, helping to evacuate everyone who was inside. In a standout move, she carried Branson’s then 90-year-old mother in her arms and rescued her from the flames. Branson, who was staying in another property on the island, credits Winslet with saving his mother—and he’s been singing her praises ever since.

Now here’s a fun fact. Before he was a well-known character actor, Steve Buscemi was a New York City firefighter for four years. Following the September 11th terrorist attacks, Buscemi chose to take a break from acting and hopped back on board Engine 55. Over several days, he took 12-hour shifts to help uncover survivors at Ground Zero. During one of the darkest periods in American history, Buscemi truly stepped up and did his part. Of course, the same can be said about all those courageous enough to join the FDNY.

From Han Solo to Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford has portrayed some of the most iconic heroes in cinematic history. Given his onscreen roles, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Ford is a hero in real life as well. Being a private pilot, Ford has been known to provide helicopter services during times of crisis. When 20-year-old Sarah George fell ill during a hike on Table Mountain, Ford came to the rescue. While flying in Ford’s Bell 407 helicopter, the dehydrated George got nauseous. Fortunately, Ford had a cowboy hat for her to vomit in. There’s a story she’ll be telling for the rest of her life.

With the “Fast & Furious” movies and several other action flicks, Vin Diesel has established himself as a badass in the public’s eye. Even if Diesel never became a movie star, however, he’d still be a man of action. While driving his motorcycle in 2002, Diesel witnessed a car crash with a family trapped inside. Diesel not only retrieved two young children from the back seat, but also guided the driver out of the car as well. Not too long after that, the entire vehicle went up in flames. Now that’s a stunt worthy of Dominic Toretto himself.


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