Top 10 Celebrities Who Do Good Things Aside from Their Fame

Everyone is a hero in one way or another. Some just wear the mask known as fame to play the "I do whatever" card.

Here are some celebrities who try to be great people and generally are successful.

The Top Ten

Russell Wilson

Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback. He played for the Seattle Seahawks before being traded to the Denver Broncos in 2022. After two seasons, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and then joined the New York Giants for the 2025 season.

Russell Wilson pays weekly visits to Seattle Children's Hospital. Wilson generally excites kids because they get to meet him, and he tries to provide a sense of hope.
Jon Bon Jovi

John Francis Bongiovi Jr. (born March 2, 1962), known by his stage name Jon Bon Jovi, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, philanthropist, and actor. He co-founded the rock band Bon Jovi with keyboardist David Bryan in 1983.... read more

Yes, he's a bigwig in the music industry, even in 2020, but when his free time isn't spent getting emotions out by playing his guitar, Jon Bon Jovi is working in the Soul Kitchen, feeding the homeless.

You don't have to be a hardcore fan of his to know he loves the homeless and is an overall good guy when he's not behind the microphone. But you DO have to learn a bit about the guy.
Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie is an American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards and was frequently cited as one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood through much of the 2000s and 2010s. Jolie's career includes... read more

I never thought I'd put her on this list (mostly out of prejudice), but Jolie used her fame for the better. She made extensive donations to various humanitarian causes, served as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, and paid visits to at-risk communities in 2015.

Not surprised she makes this list.
Sandra Bullock

Sandra Annette Bullock is an American actress and producer. She is one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses and has received an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Her notable films include Speed, Miss Congeniality, The Blind Side, and Gravity.

I thought she was kind of weird, but when I looked up celebrities who use their fame to help their community and the world, I found out that Sandra Bullock is involved in disaster relief. She donated $1,000,000 to the American Red Cross in 2011.
Chris Pratt

Christopher Michael Pratt (born June 21, 1979) is an American actor. He gained recognition for his television roles as Bright Abbott in Everwood and Andy Dwyer in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation.
He later became a leading film actor with roles in Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World, The... read more

Star-Lord here may be a bit goofy in character, but he is a member of the Make-a-Wish Foundation and March of Dimes. Chris Pratt also, like Russell Wilson, visits children with poor health.
Chris Martin

Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. He's best known as the co-founder and lead singer of the rock band Coldplay.
He's written and produced for various artists and has been involved in many charitable efforts.

Chris Martin donates 10% of his income to charity. He and the rest of Coldplay gave their support to individuals leaving the Middle East to escape persecution and the constant war there.
Adele

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, born May 5, 1988, is an English singer and songwriter. She graduated from the BRIT School in 2006 and signed with XL Recordings after a demo posted on Myspace gained attention. She's best known for emotional ballads like Rolling in the Deep, Someone Like You, Hello, and Easy... read more

In 2017, Adele spent much of her time doing charity work under the radar with disadvantaged youth in London. In July of that year, the artist was seen at Grenfell Tower comforting individuals less than 24 hours after the fire tore through the building, killing 72 people. Adele utilized social media to pay tribute to the victims and encouraged public donations.

I used to think she looked a bit strange, but I'm starting to think she's pretty. Being a "do-gooder" just reinforces that.
Elton John

Sir Elton Hercules John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, is an English singer, pianist, and composer. He has collaborated with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums. John has sold over 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.... read more
Ben Stiller

Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller (born November 30, 1965) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. Known for his blend of slapstick humor and sharp wit, Stiller rose to fame through comedies such as There's Something About Mary, Zoolander, and Tropic Thunder.... read more

To be honest, it's generous to call Stiller a celebrity since he hasn't been in any movies since Night At the Museum 3, but hey, Ben Stiller served pancakes during Hurricane Sandy. Not gonna deny credit where it's due.
Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Shrader Lawrence is an American actress. She began her career in television with a starring role on the TBS sitcom The Bill Engvall Show.
She's known for her performances in the X-Men film series, The Hunger Games franchise, Silver Linings Playbook (for which she won the Academy Award... read more

J-Law may have played the role of a hero in The Hunger Games movies, but Jennifer Lawrence became a real hero when she aided a collapsed woman and waited with her until paramedics arrived in 2012.

The Newcomers

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Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American comedian, television host, actress, writer, producer, and LGBT activist. She starred in the sitcom Ellen from 1994 to 1998 and hosted The Ellen DeGeneres Show from 2003 until 2022. DeGeneres has received multiple Emmy Awards and was awarded the Presidential Medal of... read more
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Rod Serling

The Contenders

Carrie Underwood

Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983, in Muskogee, Oklahoma) is an American country singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame by winning the fourth season of American Idol in 2005.
Her debut album Some Hearts, released in 2005, produced five hit songs, including "Before He Cheats... read more

In 2009, Carrie Underwood launched The C.A.T.S. Foundation, which was established to help the country star's hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma. The organization is dedicated to aiding both humans and animals by providing supplies and programs to local schools, as well as the building of a new animal shelter.
Carrie's love for animals doesn't stop with her own charity. She has also partnered with the Humane Society of the United States to raise money for animal welfare.
Zendaya

Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman is an American actress, singer, and producer. She began her career as a child model and backup dancer before gaining recognition for her role as Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up.... read more

Zendaya has worked with many different charities, including PETA, UNICEF, and, most notably, Convoy of Hope. This organization's mission expresses a passion to "feed the world through children's feeding initiatives, community outreach, and disaster response."
Zendaya joined Convoy of Hope after Hurricane Sandy destroyed parts of New York and New Jersey in 2012. She also partnered with Feed ONE and encouraged fans to wish her a happy birthday by donating to help end world hunger. She was able to donate over $6,000 each to Haiti, Tanzania, and the Philippines.
Lady Gaga

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.
Early in her career, she performed at Lollapalooza on August 4, 2007, as part of "Lady Gaga & The Starlight Revue," where she was noticed by Interscope Records executive Vincent... read more
John Cena

John Felix Anthony Cena Jr. (/ˈsiːnə/. Born April 23, 1977) is an American professional wrestler, rapper, actor, and reality television show host signed to WWE, where he is currently associated with the SmackDown brand.
Cena began his professional wrestling career in 1999 with Ultimate Pro Wrestling... read more
Avril Lavigne

Avril Ramona Lavigne (born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress. At age 14, she won a radio contest singing with Shania Twain, performing before a large arena crowd. By age 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records, reportedly worth over $2 million.... read more
Evan Taubenfeld

Evan David Taubenfeld is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known for being Avril Lavigne's lead guitarist, music director, and a frequent collaborator. Taubenfeld was also the lead singer of the band The Black List Club.
José Andrés

Famous chef who was awarded a National Humanities Medal (it was given to him by Barack Obama) for his charity work with his foundation, World Central Kitchen.
Taylor Swift

Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter, born on December 13, 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania. She developed a strong interest in country music around the age of nine after watching a Faith Hill documentary. Swift moved to Nashville as a teenager and, after signing with RCA Records, began... read more

I'm surprised that characters like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift have ever done anything short of showing up late for concerts. The latter can be said, whether I like it or not. Apparently, Taylor Swift is known for her good deeds almost as much as her pop songs.
Just one example is her meeting a six-year-old girl, also named Taylor, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Swift's own mother tested negative for cancer, so it must be something she has an unbreakable stance on.
Emma Stone

Emily Jean "Emma" Stone (born November 6, 1988) is an American actress. She has received various accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. In 2017, she was the world's highest-paid actress and was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential... read more
Andrew Garfield

Andrew Russell Garfield is a British-American actor. Born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in Epsom, Surrey, he began his acting career on the UK stage and in television. He is best known for starring in The Amazing Spider-Man films and The Social Network. In 2021, Garfield reprised his role as... read more

Much like Adam Levine, back when Andrew Garfield was dating Emma Stone, they used the paparazzi to promote 'Youth Mentoring Connection', 'Worldwide Orphans Foundation', and 'Gilda's Club NYC'.
Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande‑Butera (born June 26, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Her four‑octave vocal range has earned widespread critical praise, and her personal life continues to attract significant media attention. She has received numerous honors, including two Grammy Awards, a Brit Award... read more
Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson, June 1, 1926 - August 5, 1962) was an American actress, singer, and model. Decades after her unexpected death, she has remained one of Hollywood's greatest sex symbols with her eye-catching style, champagne blonde hair, and breathless manner of speaking. She... read more
Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Gail Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show, which ran from 1986 to 2011. She is also the founder of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and has been a powerful influence in both media... read more
Justin Bieber

Justin Drew Bieber (born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He currently resides in Ontario, Canada, and is Christian. He is the son of Pattie Mallette, an author.
Justin Bieber is best known for his songs "Baby" and "What Do You Mean?" As of mid 2025, 11 of... read more

A lot of people hate Justin Bieber with a passion, but much like Chris Pratt, he is a member of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Justin Bieber granted his 200th wish to Annalysha Brown-Rafanan and has probably fulfilled more wishes since then. (I still don't like the guy, but I can respect him more now.)
Prince

Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 - April 21, 2016) was an American musician, widely regarded as one of the most popular and influential artists of the 1980s. He was known for his eclectic musical style, flamboyant stage presence, and mastery of multiple instruments. Some of his most iconic songs include... read more