Not that you need another reason to love Ryan Gosling but here's one anyway: he saved a woman's life yesterday (story below). Sometimes celebrities in real life disappoint (they're short) and sometimes they exceed our expectations (they're brave). Check out 15 Celebrity Heroes who not only saved someone's life but also gave them another special gift: a dinner party story they can tell ad nauseum for the rest of their (saved) lives.
Ryan Gosling
Already a hero for breaking up a street fight in downtown NYC, Gosling saved a British journalist's life yesterday when the gal almost walked into an oncoming taxi and he pulled her away from the street. Suggested addition to the Ryan Gosling Feminist Tumblr meme: "Hey girl, you're about to be killed -- I know the "knight in shining armor" thing is a very heteronormative construct, but Ima have to rescue you."
T.I.
After hearing on the radio about an Atlanta man who was threatening to jump off a 22-story building, the rapper drove alone to the site and recorded a video message on a cell phone, asking the jumper to step off the ledge so they could talk. He did and the two spoke in the lobby before the man was taken to the hospital.
Harrison Ford
After a hiker in Wyoming succumbed to heat, dehydration and altitude sickness during a five-hour escapade, it was Indiana Jones himself (apparently even wearing a cowboy hat!) who flew down in his helicopter to rescue the woman and take her to a nearby hospital.
Tom Cruise
Proving no mission is impossible (har har), Cruise has rescued quite a few people. He notably saved a woman struck by a hit-and-run driver in L.A. (even paying her medical bills after learning she was uninsured), pulled two boys to safety after they got pinned to a fence during a mob scene at one of Cruise's red carpet appearances, and rescued a family whose boat caught on fire while the actor and then-wife Nicole Kidman were vacationing on a yacht.
Kate Winslet
Picture this: an opulent Carribean home owned by Virgin Group mogul Richard Branson goes up in flames and out of the smoke comes Kate Winslet carrying Branson's 90-year-old mom! It happened, really, it did.
Garth Brooks
Seeing that a grass-fueled fire was quickly threatening to engulf a house, the country singer joined another man in alerting the house's occupants -- two teenage boys home from school on break -- and bringing them to safety.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
While on a family vacay in Hawaii, Schwarzenegger saw a man struggling in the water and hauled him onto a boogie board before taking him safely to shore.
Vin Diesel
In a case of life imitating art, the Fast and Furious franchise star was riding on his motorcycle when the vehicle in front of him lost control and burst into flames. The actor wasted no time before getting off his bike, dragging the kids in the back seat out of the burning car and helping the driver out, all while keeping everyone calm. Shortly thereafter, the car became completely engulfed in flames.
Tom Colicchio
Man, all of these rescue stories seem tailor-made for the hero in question! While Diesel's tale involved dangerous car accidents, Top Chef judge and chef Tom Colicchio's incident naturally involved food. During a benefit in D.C., Colicchio performed the Heimlich maneuver on cookbook author Joan Nathan after he saw her choking and, yes, probably saved her life.
Brad Pitt
While shooting World War Z in Glasgow, Scotland, the leading man swooped in to rescue an extra who had fallen amidst a crowd of 700 stampeding actors and saved her from being trampled.
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey: Animal Rescuer. While driving, the nudist actor saw some kids spraying a cat with hair spray and trying to light it on fire before he ran out of his car, grabbed the animal and took it to a shelter. The actor doesn't discriminate between felines and humans, however, as he also resuscitated a woman by performing mouth-to-mouth after she had a seizure at the Toronto Film Festival.
Tom Hanks
During a Malibu jog, Hanks reportedly heard the screams of a drowning man and, without thinking twice, jumped into the ocean and brought him to shore.
Mark Harmon
Back in the 90s, the NCIS actor rescued two teenage boys trapped in a burning car by breaking the windows and pulling them out to safety.
Viggo Mortensen
During the filming of Hidalgo, Mortensen and co-star Zuleikha Robinson found themselves on a runaway horse. The actor jumped off and grabbed the reins, which Robinson had lost, and managed to tame the animal.
Werner Herzog
In one of the more interesting rescue stories, the German cult director saved Joaquin Phoenix after the actor's car became overturned after the brakes failed and he collided with another vehicle. Phoenix reportedly said of the incident, "I remember this knocking on the passenger window. There was this German voice saying, 'Just relax.'.. I'm saying, 'I'm fine. I am relaxed. Finally, I rolled down the window and this head pops inside. And he said, 'No, you're not.'"
Ryan GoslingAlready a hero for breaking up a street fight in downtown NYC, Gosling saved a British journalist's life yesterday when the gal almost walked into an oncoming taxi and he pulled her away from the street. Suggested addition to the Ryan Gosling Feminist Tumblr meme: "Hey girl, you're about to be killed -- I know the "knight in shining armor" thing is a very heteronormative construct, but Ima have to rescue you."
T.I.After hearing on the radio about an Atlanta man who was threatening to jump off a 22-story building, the rapper drove alone to the site and recorded a video message on a cell phone, asking the jumper to step off the ledge so they could talk. He did and the two spoke in the lobby before the man was taken to the hospital.
Harrison FordAfter a hiker in Wyoming succumbed to heat, dehydration and altitude sickness during a five-hour escapade, it was Indiana Jones himself (apparently even wearing a cowboy hat!) who flew down in his helicopter to rescue the woman and take her to a nearby hospital.
Tom CruiseProving no mission is impossible (har har), Cruise has rescued quite a few people. He notably saved a woman struck by a hit-and-run driver in L.A. (even paying her medical bills after learning she was uninsured), pulled two boys to safety after they got pinned to a fence during a mob scene at one of Cruise's red carpet appearances, and rescued a family whose boat caught on fire while the actor and then-wife Nicole Kidman were vacationing on a yacht.
Kate WinsletPicture this: an opulent Carribean home owned by Virgin Group mogul Richard Branson goes up in flames and out of the smoke comes Kate Winslet carrying Branson's 90-year-old mom! It happened, really, it did.
Garth Brooks
Seeing that a grass-fueled fire was quickly threatening to engulf a house, the country singer joined another man in alerting the house's occupants -- two teenage boys home from school on break -- and bringing them to safety.
Arnold SchwarzeneggerWhile on a family vacay in Hawaii, Schwarzenegger saw a man struggling in the water and hauled him onto a boogie board before taking him safely to shore.
Vin DieselIn a case of life imitating art, the Fast and Furious franchise star was riding on his motorcycle when the vehicle in front of him lost control and burst into flames. The actor wasted no time before getting off his bike, dragging the kids in the back seat out of the burning car and helping the driver out, all while keeping everyone calm. Shortly thereafter, the car became completely engulfed in flames.
Tom ColicchioMan, all of these rescue stories seem tailor-made for the hero in question! While Diesel's tale involved dangerous car accidents, Top Chef judge and chef Tom Colicchio's incident naturally involved food. During a benefit in D.C., Colicchio performed the Heimlich maneuver on cookbook author Joan Nathan after he saw her choking and, yes, probably saved her life.
Brad PittWhile shooting World War Z in Glasgow, Scotland, the leading man swooped in to rescue an extra who had fallen amidst a crowd of 700 stampeding actors and saved her from being trampled.
Matthew McConaugheyMatthew McConaughey: Animal Rescuer. While driving, the nudist actor saw some kids spraying a cat with hair spray and trying to light it on fire before he ran out of his car, grabbed the animal and took it to a shelter. The actor doesn't discriminate between felines and humans, however, as he also resuscitated a woman by performing mouth-to-mouth after she had a seizure at the Toronto Film Festival.
Tom HanksDuring a Malibu jog, Hanks reportedly heard the screams of a drowning man and, without thinking twice, jumped into the ocean and brought him to shore.
Mark HarmonBack in the 90s, the NCIS actor rescued two teenage boys trapped in a burning car by breaking the windows and pulling them out to safety.
Viggo MortensenDuring the filming of Hidalgo, Mortensen and co-star Zuleikha Robinson found themselves on a runaway horse. The actor jumped off and grabbed the reins, which Robinson had lost, and managed to tame the animal.
Werner HerzogIn one of the more interesting rescue stories, the German cult director saved Joaquin Phoenix after the actor's car became overturned after the brakes failed and he collided with another vehicle. Phoenix reportedly said of the incident, "I remember this knocking on the passenger window. There was this German voice saying, 'Just relax.'.. I'm saying, 'I'm fine. I am relaxed. Finally, I rolled down the window and this head pops inside. And he said, 'No, you're not.'"
