8 Celebs Who Were Taken Under The Wings Of Other Stars
As the quote goes, "it's not what you know. it's who you know". For most of us, success is based on that perfect combination of hard work and being in the right place at the right time. However, in the competitive world of showbiz, effort and talent are not enough! To become global stars, young celebrities need a mentor who can help them have a more straightforward career.
In fact, many big stars have used their time, their efforts, and even their money to help those who come after them. They help budding celebrities avoid some of the missteps of their predecessors so they can hopefully have an easier career. Even more astounding is the fact that many of them even supported their mentees during their recovery from addiction.
From Oprah to Denzel Washington to Meryl Streep, check out these celebrities and their equally famous mentors who molded them into the successful stars today.
Meryl Streep thanked Fonda for her counsel and support in her statement at the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award presentation in 2014. “All of the young actors I’ve worked with subsequently, in the years following, thank you too because that lesson and kindness got passed down,” she said. “And it does keep going.”
In her interview with ELLE, Davis said that Streep has been assisting her by giving some advice about her career and life. “I think she does it in a way that she doesn’t even understand or think she’s doing it.” In another interview with Entertainment Tonight, Davis released “I never feel like the words she has for me are haphazard. I feel like they’re very specific and they’re well thought out and that makes me feel good. It makes me feel like she really is a friend, that she really takes me in.”
And such a wonderful deed was never forgotten by Boseman. During his acceptance speech for the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, he gladly shared this story. “As fate would have it, I was one of the students that he paid for,” said Boseman. And added, “There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington. And not just because of me, but my whole cast — that generation — stands on your shoulders.”
According to Robin Williams, Jonathan Winters was the reason he became a comedian. At the time, Winters was a true pioneer and he also taught Williams that “that anything is possible, that anything is funny.” Williams remarked during a speech at the 2008 TV Land Awards, “Once upon a time, I called Jonathan my mentor and he immediately corrected me and said, ’Please,’ he told me, ’I prefer idol.’”
Today, Oprah Winfrey tries hard to become a source of inspiration for so many others.
The beginning of their friendship dates back to 1971. “The friendship was basically that this guy salvaged me from certain professional and maybe personal annihilation — simple as that,” Pop said. Bowie also persuaded Pop to take a three-year hiatus during which he was able to overcome his substance addiction and enroll in acting lessons. Pop had a nervous breakdown and wound up in a psychiatric hospital after his band, The Stooges, broke up in 1974. Only David Bowie came to show his support for his pal at that time.
Firth was still a young actor who was unsure of himself after graduating from theater school. That was the first time the two guys met. They became fast friends, and Snape helped Firth have the confidence and acting experience. According to Firth, this guidance always was more a “personal wisdom, not actor-y advice.”
During that time, Elton John became Eminem's guru. He called Eminem once a week to see how he was doing. And in those cases, that's exactly what works. “I’m there if people want my help,” Elton said. “If people ask for help, you can tell them where they should go, but there is no point advising someone if they don’t want to do it.”
In fact, many big stars have used their time, their efforts, and even their money to help those who come after them. They help budding celebrities avoid some of the missteps of their predecessors so they can hopefully have an easier career. Even more astounding is the fact that many of them even supported their mentees during their recovery from addiction.
From Oprah to Denzel Washington to Meryl Streep, check out these celebrities and their equally famous mentors who molded them into the successful stars today.
#1 Meryl Streep
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Meryl Streep thanked Fonda for her counsel and support in her statement at the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award presentation in 2014. “All of the young actors I’ve worked with subsequently, in the years following, thank you too because that lesson and kindness got passed down,” she said. “And it does keep going.”
#2 Viola Davis
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In her interview with ELLE, Davis said that Streep has been assisting her by giving some advice about her career and life. “I think she does it in a way that she doesn’t even understand or think she’s doing it.” In another interview with Entertainment Tonight, Davis released “I never feel like the words she has for me are haphazard. I feel like they’re very specific and they’re well thought out and that makes me feel good. It makes me feel like she really is a friend, that she really takes me in.”
#3 Chadwick Boseman
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And such a wonderful deed was never forgotten by Boseman. During his acceptance speech for the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, he gladly shared this story. “As fate would have it, I was one of the students that he paid for,” said Boseman. And added, “There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington. And not just because of me, but my whole cast — that generation — stands on your shoulders.”
#4 Robin Williams
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According to Robin Williams, Jonathan Winters was the reason he became a comedian. At the time, Winters was a true pioneer and he also taught Williams that “that anything is possible, that anything is funny.” Williams remarked during a speech at the 2008 TV Land Awards, “Once upon a time, I called Jonathan my mentor and he immediately corrected me and said, ’Please,’ he told me, ’I prefer idol.’”
#5 Oprah Winfrey
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Today, Oprah Winfrey tries hard to become a source of inspiration for so many others.
#6 Iggy Pop
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The beginning of their friendship dates back to 1971. “The friendship was basically that this guy salvaged me from certain professional and maybe personal annihilation — simple as that,” Pop said. Bowie also persuaded Pop to take a three-year hiatus during which he was able to overcome his substance addiction and enroll in acting lessons. Pop had a nervous breakdown and wound up in a psychiatric hospital after his band, The Stooges, broke up in 1974. Only David Bowie came to show his support for his pal at that time.
#7 Colin Firth
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Firth was still a young actor who was unsure of himself after graduating from theater school. That was the first time the two guys met. They became fast friends, and Snape helped Firth have the confidence and acting experience. According to Firth, this guidance always was more a “personal wisdom, not actor-y advice.”
#8 Eminem
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During that time, Elton John became Eminem's guru. He called Eminem once a week to see how he was doing. And in those cases, that's exactly what works. “I’m there if people want my help,” Elton said. “If people ask for help, you can tell them where they should go, but there is no point advising someone if they don’t want to do it.”
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