New Celebrity Sightings

Everybody has their own opinion on great actors and great movies.  No one is more right or more wrong since it is just an opinion however it is fun to have favorites and enjoy.  Some actors have enormous talent, and some actors are easy on the eyes and then there are the actors that are both.  We like some actors more for what they do off the screen than onscreen, as some of them are great individuals who use their fame and fortune to help others and the world.   

It’s pretty remarkable to think that Tom Hanks started out on a small and kooky TV show called “Bosom Buddies”.  Who would have thought that he would boast the talent to pull off such great roles as Andrew Beckett, a gay lawyer who is infected with AIDS, who is fired from his conservative law firm because of the fear that they may also contract the disease.  He won his first Academy Award for that role in 1993 and it was well deserved.

His following Academy Award came just the next year making him only the second actor in history to win back-to-back Oscars with Spencer Tracy being the first back in 1937 and 1938.  In 1994 Tom Hanks again took home the Oscar for his moving portrayal of Forrest Gump.  He also has a list of other great movies but it is too lengthy to cover here. 

Brad Pitt has been adored for his good looks ever since he charmed us in the 1991 film “Thelma and Louise”.  But he hasn’t always played the pretty boy roles.  Recollect “Seven” and “Twelve Monkeys” both from 1995?  Sometimes his personal life seems to outshine his acting roles but the most notable thing about Brad Pitt is that he has been especially active in humanitarian causes throughout the world and he has donated large sums of his cash to these causes. 

After Hurricane Katrina basically wiped out New Orleans, Brad Pitt started the “Make It Right Foundation” to help in the redevelopment of the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans.  The foundation builds homes that are affordable, sustainable and true to the diverse culture of New Orleans.  The goal was to achieve the building of the homes fast so that the residents could return home as soon as possible.  That has been his true success. 

And that brings us to another great actor who is also known for his philanthropy.  Paul Newman left us as he passed away this past year on September 26, 2008.  During his life he entertained us with many great movies such as “Road to Perdition” in 2002, “The Color Of Money” in 1986, “Absence Of Malice” in 1981.  He also played the leading role in the well known and much loved favorite “Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid” from clear back in 1969.  Of course he played in a lengthy number of other impressive movies too. 

Nevertheless we also remember him for his philanthropy.  In 1982 he created a line of food products called “Newman’s Own”.  It began with a salad dressing and then extended to include pasta sauce, lemonade, popcorn, cookies, salsa and more.  He established a policy that all of the profits generated from Newman’s Own, after taxes of course, would be donated to charity.  As of 2006, the company had donated in excess of $250 million.

Movies are enjoyable and they entertain us and we will forever have our favorite actors and actresses along with our favorite movies.  They could be our favorites because of their talent or for other reasons. But since it is now possible to download free movies instantaneously we won’t have to miss any movie from any of our favorite actors.

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