Robin Williams changed the world of comedy with his manic energy and brilliant mind. While fans remember his voices, the man behind the laughter had a deep, complex soul. For instance, he used his massive wealth to fund the education of future stars. Furthermore, he helped his famous friends smile during their darkest moments. Prepare to meet the clown who cried.
Robin Williams
He named his daughter after a video game princess. Robin Williams loved the Legend of Zelda series immensely. Therefore, he named his daughter Zelda after the famous Nintendo character.
The Academy rejected Aladdin for a screenplay nomination. They disqualified the script because Robin Williams improvised so much of his dialogue. Consequently, the writers could not claim credit for the majority of his lines.
He called Steven Spielberg weekly during the filming of Schindler’s List. He knew the director felt depressed by the horrific subject matter. Thus, he performed stand-up over the phone to cheer him up.
Robin Williams owned over 80 bicycles. He rode them to relieve stress and maintain his physical health. Eventually, his family auctioned the massive collection to raise money for charity.
He sat on his head during his Mork & Mindy audition. The producer asked him to sit down like an alien. As a result, he instantly won the role because he was the only alien who auditioned.
He wanted to play Hagrid in the Harry Potter films. However, the producers rejected him due to a strict “British actors only” rule.
He paid for Jessica Chastain’s college education. The Juilliard scholarship he funded helped the future Oscar winner graduate. Remarkably, she never got the chance to thank him in person.
His contracts often required companies to hire homeless people. He wanted to give back to the community through his films. Therefore, production crews had to employ people who needed a second chance.
He formed a bond with Koko the gorilla. The famous gorilla actually recognized him and mourned when he passed away. In fact, she signed “cry” when her handlers told her the news.
The story about his wife in Good Will Hunting was unscripted. He made up the detail about her farting in her sleep on the spot. Matt Damon laughed genuinely in that scene because he did not expect it.
He raised over $80 million for people in need. Along with Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal, he hosted Comic Relief specials. These events brought massive attention to poverty in America.
Peers voted him “Least Likely to Succeed” in high school. Although he was also voted “Most Humorous,” his classmates underestimated his potential. Obviously, he proved them wrong by becoming a global superstar.
He made Christopher Reeve laugh after his tragic accident. He entered the hospital room dressed as a Russian proctologist. This moment convinced Reeve that he could still find joy in life.
He worked as a mime in Central Park. Before he became famous, he performed for strangers on the street. He used the money he earned to pay for his acting classes.
Finally, he spoke fluent French. He often pretended he could not speak it to make people laugh. However, he conducted interviews in the language to surprise his European fans.
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Morgan Freeman commands attention with his legendary voice and calm demeanor. He rose to fame later in life after years of struggle in the industry. Furthermore, he mastered roles ranging from God to the President of the United States. Consequently, audiences view him as a figure of authority and wisdom. Explore these fascinating details about the Hollywood icon.
Morgan Freeman
A teacher forced him to act as a punishment in junior high. Specifically, he pulled a chair out from under a girl he liked, so the school made him participate in the drama competition.
He joined the Air Force to become a fighter pilot. However, the military assigned him to work as a radar technician and mechanic on the ground instead.
Morgan Freeman earned his private pilot’s license at the age of 65. Thus, he fulfilled his childhood dream of flying decades after he left the military.
He worked as a professional dancer at the 1964 World’s Fair. Surprisingly, he performed on stage in New York City long before he became a famous movie star.
Children in the 1970s knew him as “Easy Reader” on The Electric Company. He taught kids how to read on this popular educational show alongside Bill Cosby and Rita Moreno.
He did not land his big break until he was 50 years old. His role as a dangerous pimp in the 1987 film Street Smart finally launched his career into the stratosphere.
The script for The Shawshank Redemption described his character as a white Irishman. Nevertheless, the director cast Freeman as “Red,” and the actor joked about the nickname in the movie.
He converted his 124-acre ranch in Mississippi into a giant bee sanctuary. Passionately, he feeds the bees sugar water and plants special clover to help the declining population thrive.
He owns a blues club called Ground Zero in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He opened the venue to celebrate the musical heritage of the Delta region where he grew up.
He wears a compression glove on his left hand to treat nerve damage. A serious car accident in 2008 left his hand paralyzed, so the glove keeps the blood flowing.
Morgan Freeman won his only Academy Award for Million Dollar Baby. Although he received nominations for leading roles, he took home the statue for Best Supporting Actor.
He has played the role of God in two separate comedy films. Audiences loved his portrayal of the deity so much in Bruce Almighty that he returned for the sequel.
He narrated the hit documentary March of the Penguins. His distinct voice provided the perfect emotional weight to the story of the emperors’ survival in Antarctica.
Nelson Mandela personally chose Freeman to play him in a movie. In fact, the two men became friends years before Freeman portrayed the leader in Invictus.
Finally, he wears gold earrings to pay for his funeral if he dies in a strange place. He adopted this old sailor tradition believing the gold would cover the cost of a coffin.
Denzel Washington commands the screen with quiet intensity and powerful speeches. He transitioned from a hospital drama doctor to one of the most respected actors in cinema history. Furthermore, his generosity behind the scenes rivals his talent on camera. Consequently, he remains a humble icon despite his massive fame. Explore these fascinating details about the man who played Malcolm X.
Denzel Washington
A woman at his mother’s beauty shop predicted his future on a piece of paper. She wrote that Denzel Washington would travel the world and preach to millions of people.
He quietly paid for Chadwick Boseman to attend acting school at Oxford University. The Black Panther star only revealed this secret financial support years later.
Denzel Washington permanently damaged his pinky finger while playing American football in his youth. The finger still bends at a sharp 45-degree angle because he never fixed it properly.
He refuses to kiss leading ladies in many of his films out of loyalty to his fans. Specifically, he cut a romantic scene with Julia Roberts in The Pelican Brief to respect his Black female audience.
His father named him after the doctor who delivered him at the hospital. That doctor, Dr. Denzel, passed his unique first name down to the actor’s father first.
He spent six years playing Dr. Philip Chandler on the hit medical drama St. Elsewhere. This television role launched his career before he conquered the movie world.
Denzel Washington won a Tony Award for his powerful performance in the play Fences. This victory proved that his acting skills translate perfectly to the live stage.
He learned to play the trumpet for his role in the jazz movie Mo’ Better Blues. He practiced for months even though the studio dubbed the actual sound later.
His son, John David Washington, played professional football before he became an actor. He eventually starred in massive blockbusters like Tenet, following in his father’s footsteps.
He worked as a garbage collector and a post office employee before he found fame. These blue-collar jobs taught him the value of hard work early in his life.
He became the second African American actor to win the Oscar for Best Actor. He took home the golden statue for playing a corrupt police officer in Training Day.
He directs movies just as well as he acts in them. Denzel Washington directed and starred in acclaimed films like Fences and The Great Debaters.
He has served as the national spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for decades. He credits the organization with saving him from a dangerous path during his childhood.
During the filming of The Hurricane, he trained with professional boxers for over a year. He transformed his body completely to look like a convincing middleweight champion.
Finally, he met his wife Pauletta on the set of the television movie Wilma. She actually turned down his marriage proposal twice before she finally said yes.
