Celebrities are masters of making a good impression. They are like the moon that only shows its light side at night—so brilliant at it that observers tend to forget that a dark side exists at all. So bright and mysterious, it has the capacity to influence the whole vibe of the night. Desires are aroused, and people fall in love with this bright light's illumination. Such is the power of celebrity.
But how are they really, these celebrities, when the public eye isn’t looking up at them? Are they as immaculate as the pale moonlight when the cameras are shut off when the spotlights are unplugged?
Read what servers have to say about their experiences with some of the world’s most popular personalities.
Kate Winslet Being Sweet as Pie
The English actress comes off as a kind, even a little shy, person, but it’s hard to tell how she is in real life versus the actress we see smiling flawlessly on the silver screen. A waiting staff member was surprised at how the co-star of The Titanic chatted with her like they were old friends.
She was just as sweet as pie, and she even let the dog sit on her lap. The actress talked about their life there and asked questions as if she meant it and cared about how things were going with them. She was even more impressive than the Kate we have come to love in the movies!
The Charming Stanley Tucci
Moviegoers tend to absorb a character’s personality, especially those that are very well portrayed by very talented actors like Stanley Tucci, and take them to be a true-to-life depiction. It doesn’t help that a film might only be a work of fiction—some actors are subconsciously associated with their most famous role.
A server shared on Reddit that Tucci turned out to be quite a charming guest at a restaurant with his wife. He was far from the fashion director in The Devil Wears Prada or the creepy Harvey in The Lovely Bones. And when the couple left, Tucci made sure to leave a hefty tip.
A Surprisingly Genteel Matthew Matthew McConaughey
A Reddit user who once served actor Matthew McConaughey’s table at a restaurant did so with reservations. They suspected the loud Southern boy of, at any minute, coming up with obnoxious demands and complaining once his requirements weren’t met.
But to the server’s wonderment, McConaughey turned out to be extremely well-mannered. He was a role model father to his children, and he made sure they were always courteous to everyone they met. The experience turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
A Generous Robin Roberts
Meeting a rock star or Hollywood personality is potentially a high point in a person’s life. It makes you feel lucky and glad to be at the right time and the right place—giving you the feeling that the stars up above have aligned in your favor.
But Robin Roberts, Good Morning America’s TV anchor, made sure that her server’s celebrity experience was profitable too. Talk about sharing her blessings! She left a tip that was larger than her actual bill. Everyone she meets must wish her more success.
Blake Shelton, the Big Tipper
Country artist Blake Shelton had come a long way from his debut album back in the early 2000s. He’s received numerous accolades throughout his career, transcending as a judge for singing reality contests like Clash of the Choirs and as a coach on The Voice.
But this food server attests to Shelton’s humbleness as if he were merely an ordinary Joe hoping to have a relaxing time in a bar. There were no false airs to him at all. In fact, he seemed to have made his server feel appreciated by leaving a huge tip before leaving.
Awesome Out-Of-Towner, Emma Thompson
A room service worker once got a chance to assist an honored guest. This one has a strong personality that’s even more intimidating when her words are clearly modulated with a strong British accent. But you can’t always judge a celebrity by their accent!
Emma Thompson turned out to be an even bigger tipper than the ones we’ve already mentioned in this list. As a result of her kindness and generosity, her server received $150 for five minutes of work—she would have barely broken a sweat.
Eleventh Hour Customer
Imagine walking into a closed-up establishment where the employees have just finished mopping up the floors. The regular employees are rushing up sales reports, too eager to go home to their families and to rest to serve you. A person of importance might feel as though this service was sloppy.
But not Matt Dillon, who was apologetic right from the start. Without exhibiting that aura of self-assuredness or self-entitlement common to affluent personalities, he left the diner with gratitude and knowing that the remaining staff had sacrificed their precious time for him.
Maria and Katherine Schwarzenegger Combo
In just a few moments-worth of experience, this server caught a glimpse of what it is like to be employed in the household of the former First Lady of California. Maria dined at the restaurant with her daughter and other lady guests.
You’d have to be on your toes when she’s around. Although she wasn’t especially stringent, you can tell that she expects high standards. Somehow this report of her personality makes us think that you wouldn’t want to be in her vicinity when she’s in a bad mood.
Turned Down by Jay-Z and Beyonce
It all goes with the territory that celebrities, especially music artists like Beyonce and Jay-Z, would be dogged by fans and reporters when they are seen in public. Occasionally, people will come to them in private to say hi and ask for an autograph. After all, these are the same people who listen to and buy their records and concert tickets.
Of course, the couple was well within their rights to turn down a fan for a couple of spur-of-the-moment snaps. But, really, why not smile for the camera for a second? Maybe they were in the middle of a serious conversation and didn’t want the attention. They’re only human, after all.
The Monstrous Dwayne Johnson
Imagine bearing the brunt of Dwayne Johnson’s anger, who, on a regular day at the gym, would probably lift around six hundred pounds of weight. And back in the day, prior to his foray into Hollywood, he was a professional wrestler among the likes of Dave Bautista and Hulk Hogan.
Where do you think he gets all his energy? The kind of food you need to fuel that muscle mass must be enormous, and unless it’s one of his infamous cheat days, he’s likely to simply need a particular kind of nutrition—namely, protein. Other than that, he’s a really nice guy.
Serving an Oddball
Perhaps in the eyes of a surrealist like Spanish painter Salvador Dali, the world isn’t as it seems. Who knows what the mountains could really mean to them or what the sunlight splashed outside one’s window truly signifies? They are always looking to expose the works of the unconscious.
Odd must be the perfect word to describe how such artists behave around people, which can be quite difficult to handle, especially for those tasked to wait on them. While they sit at the table awaiting their food, their minds must be engrossed in expressing bizarre images and an unknowable kind of logic.
Queen of Divas, Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand knows her place in the world of music. Her exceptional talent has led many media outlets to refer to her as the “Queen of the Divas.” That, and one of the most influential singers of all time. The bar is already quite high.
A restaurant owner in Virginia would attest that one of the world’s most talented singers is also a diva in person. She can be picky-picky and hard to please. Sometimes having complete creative control necessitates discernment of a supernatural kind.
A Taste of Morgan Freeman’s Acting
Morgan Freeman came by the restaurant for good food that day. Everyone has to fill themselves, after all. But little did the waitstaff or the sous chef know that they were the ones who were in for a treat: a taste of the actor’s impromptu acting.
Like Jimmy Cagney, who was famous for things he didn’t even deliver on screen, Mr. Morgan gave them his version of the ‘You dirty rat’ line about the food mix-up. All with the cool voice that cinema producers and casting directors would pay to hear and put on record the moviegoers’ glee.
Gordon Ramsay Was Actually Very Mellow
If you are in the food industry, it’s quite difficult to imagine a more difficult situation than having this guest in your restaurant: British chef Gordon Ramsay. The Master Chef judge himself visited this restaurant, and the server was expecting him to hurl insults at any moment.
But Gordon Ramsay didn’t turn out to be the villain we are used to seeing on television. On the contrary, he was quite different from the persona viewers loathe and love to watch. Ramsay being so polite is almost unthinkable to those who only know him from a distance.
A Supermodel and an Everyman
This Irish server had never heard of Billy Joel or any of his songs played on the radio. They couldn’t be more dismissive of him—an everyman, by her standards, who was just lucky to be with a supermodel. But the Piano Man singer didn’t seem to mind at all, which gives us a peek into his personality.
He does seem a nice guy, and there are a lot of stories about him being friendly to his fans. Did he wait for half an hour to be seated without eying the management? He’s not just a lucky fellow who comes in with such a lovely beauty. He’s Billy Joel!
Joyful Challenges of Serving Snoop Dogg
Even before Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., aka Snoop Dogg, declared he was a born-again Christian, he was known to be way past his gangster days. It’s even in one of his lyrics. Snoop is known to be a friendly guy—a family man too. In this case, he didn’t even mind that fans were keeping him from finishing up his (two) ordered meals.
But the experience itself must have been challenging to his waiter, or at least it must have required a special Dogg dictionary. If one isn’t familiar with his rap work, how would anybody understand what “indo” or “fo shizzle” mean when taking his order?
Comedians Adam Scott and Rashida Jones
Most comedians practice looking dumb on camera—because, most of the time, they aren’t. In fact, to connect with all audiences and find their “tickle spot,” comedians need to be highly intelligent people with exceptional cognitive abilities.
Rashida Jones and Adam Scott’s server had to struggle to break the ice, but the stars of Parks and Recreation took it from there like the great pros they are. It’s no surprise that the duo aren’t snobs. It’s nice that they are easy to like in person.
Drake’s Chain of Command
A server happily bumps into Drake one day. From the sounds of it, he came into the bar with a small army. The server didn’t get to say much to him, thanks to his troopers, who basically echoed what he said like radio repeaters.
Drake’s break in the music industry came when he launched his album Thank Me Later, and the server really wanted to thank him now for his music. But it just seemed impossible to get through to him directly, across all those layers of people who have him walled in.
The Cool Neil Armstrong
What an experience it must be to be able to serve the first man to ever walk on the moon—in one way or another—when he was still in this world. A server at a diner in Purdue was among the lucky ones to get close to the American astronaut, and he testifies to the man’s preference for flying under the radar.
Such is the case of most men who have nothing left to prove. He was pretty much sure of himself and wasn’t a talker. He was offered a shot at a political career back in the day, which he categorically refused—as those who know him best would have expected.
A Very Polite Peter Dinklage
With the fantastical TV series Game of Thrones in mind, which propelled Peter Dinklage’s popularity to epochal proportions, taking the actor to his seat should feel like being an assistant to the witty Lord Tyrion Lannister as far as fans are concerned.
Yet, at least in this scenario, he didn’t come out quite as bubbly as his character from Westeros. He was more of a Finbar McBride perhaps, from his breakthrough film The Station Agent: quiet, soft-spoken, for a moment isolated in the corner of the restaurant, as in the farthest corner of the world.
Jolly Duo of Paul Rudd and Jason Segel
It’s funny that of all the things this waitress could throw at him, she chose to comment on how beautiful his phallus was in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Of all the things she could have said about his acting career or his work as a producer—why that?
Talk about being straightforward while breaking the ice. The two actors made sure she was well rewarded for her honesty—probably because it gave them such a laugh. That’s one shift she won’t be forgetting soon!
A Distant Gates
The richest people in the world are always looking out, scanning the horizon for answers, plotting ways to augment their wealth and expand their influence. They can be right in front of you, and yet they see nobody else in the room, so to speak. They’re all alone.
They are hard to please because they always expect more. The bar for anything worth doing has been categorically raised according to their definition of success. They can have anything they want, and they probably do already, but it’s never enough.
Leonardo Dicaprio With an Accent
Not many people can say that they didn’t recognize Leonardo Dicaprio—one of the highest-paid actors in the world and among Martin Scorcese’s favorite choices for lead roles. But his identity had actually escaped his server until she conversed with the superstar for about five minutes.
Most would see through a thick beard he’d supposedly grown for The Revenant—or his simulated behavior as a child with ASD in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, or his tan and sporadic attitude in The Wolf of Wall Street. So accomplished, and yet so very shy. Interesting.
An Engaging Bryan Cranston
For fans of the Breaking Bad series, speaking with Bryan Cranston, aka Walter White, must have felt like being in one of the episodes itself. That’s a dream come true. Or a nightmare in the waiting, depending on how much you know about the world of the show.
And what an experience it must have been for the server that Cranston put on a little bit of Walter White stare for entertainment. What a treat! He seems to have all the time in the world for his fans. Here’s another actor who seems nice on camera being nice in real life.
Kim Kardashian, The Eternal Socialite
Kim Kardashian is no longer known as just a friend of Paris Hilton, an association that first drew attention to her existence as celebrity potential. Instead, she now has a strong online presence as a socialite, media personality, and successful entrepreneur.
This friendly behavior will no doubt increase her presence on all the platforms she’s on and will shape people’s view of her—one selfie at a time. It’s like a goddess had descended to earth, to her fandom’s eternal gratitude.
A Socially Awkward Tommy Lee Jones
Sometimes, it is easier to play the role of somebody else rather than be ourselves and be exposed to criticism, which is never lacking in our society. And perhaps, in a way, Tommy Lee Jones is way better at acting in movies than we think.
He’s probably not being rude, although a little frown on his stern face could reveal so much more in a moment and be more intimidating than anything he could say. There must be so much going on in an introvert’s mind while they’re out of their comfort zone than most of us can imagine.
Brian Austin Green, Megan Fox in Their Salad Days
It’s been such a long time since we’ve heard these two names mentioned next to each other. Perhaps this experience comes from the early years of their relationship when they were having the time of their lives. Despite being almost half his age, Fox really believed their relationship could work, and they eventually tied the knot in 2010.
It’s no wonder that Brian Greene was so nice to the staff. This must have been at a time when they were both so content and happy as a couple. They divorced in 2021, which must make this experience even more bittersweet for their server.
Bombastic Banks
Some people have reviewed older episodes of America’s Next Top Model and complained about Tyra Banks’ off remarks and insensitivity. Some wonder how those commentaries have gone unpunished until this day—with some being racially charged—including certain model challenges that make the contestants feel violated.
That may just be one side of the story. However, it seems that Tyra Banks’ subsequent behavior, such as causing a scene in a public place—as this server attests—won’t help improve her reputation. If this is true, she’s down the pits in this.
Blameless Drew Brees
After a highly successful football career as a winning quarterback for the NFL, first from the San Diego Chargers, where he made it to the Pro Bowl in 2004, and then with the New Orleans Saints, where his career really took off, it’s amazing how Drew Brees remains grounded.
Not only that, he’s even rubbed off some of his discipline and old-school values with his wife and children. They are an impeccable bunch that any establishment would love to welcome. What a night that must have been for the server!
Matthew Perry Can Take It
It’s fairly safe to expect celebrities—being at a certain level above the average Joe—to be naturally finicky characters. But it seems that Matthew Perry, who became popular as Chandler Bing in the Friends series, is an exception to that rule.
While other VIPs would have demanded to speak with the restaurant manager, Matthew Perry only seemed to shrug it off after the fact. He probably just resolved the bug situation with a simple flick of his finger.
Cool Timberlake
Unlike many celebrities who purposely go out to seek attention in the guise of sipping coffee in a cafe along a public street, Justin Timberlake disguises himself. He likes to be somewhat incognito, to avoid all the fuss that being a superstar celebrity would bring.
It’s great to know that he doesn’t mind being approached for a quick photograph or signing an autograph for a fan from time to time, especially for the kids who look up to him. Don’t we have enough celebrities with inflated egos already?!
Shaking Hands With a Great Action Hero
If there is one thing you could ask your favorite action hero in person, what would it be? We hope the server who had this once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet the legendary Bruce Willis, who played the role of the fabled John McLane in the Die Hard Franchise, used this small window of opportunity to say—if not ask—the right things.
And it’s wonderful news that Bruce Willis is as cheerful and lighthearted in person, almost just as he portrays his well-loved characters in his films, like The Last Boy Scout and Cop Out. The fact that he’s now retired even makes this direct experience even more meaningful.
A Boorish Rodman
To be fair to one of the best NBA rebounders of all time, “The Worm” has never pretended to be a nice guy. He doesn’t preach about it, either. He’s purposely missed practice and had his fair share of suspensions during the game when he was active.
He has always been very vocal about his opinions. He wants the world to know who he is without compromise. It could come with the territory. You have to be strong, or the game of life will beat you mercilessly. Maybe it’s how he got so good in the first place.
Like a Boss
If this were a competition for the most outstanding celebrity, it would be really tough to pick one from the lineup of John Goodman, Morgan Freeman, and Steve Carell. How this waitress managed to stand among these great actors, with the right tool for the job at the ready, is certainly a case of being in the right place at the right time, such pure luck.
But John Goodman takes the prize for his generosity, and to hand out that $100 bill we imagine to be in slow motion invokes images of him being the top honcho, à la Al Capone, with a freshly lit cigar in his mouth.
A Second Stanley Tucci Encounter
Present with his wife and another celebrity at a venue, we would have thought Stanley Tucci would try to impress them by sharing a relatively bigger tip for their server than the last time he’s been mentioned in this post.
But does this make him an unreliable tipper? While tipping leaves the door open for restaurant owners to completely take advantage of their staff on the sly premise of “the customers will pay you if you impress them,” this is still America, where restaurant workers will likely suffer without this kind of subsidy. Come on, Stan!
A Consistent Danny McBride
To quote someone who has consistently waited on him, Danny McBride has a generous and kind soul. He is a good person and sensitive to those around him—which is sure to be good news to any of his fans out there.
It must all boil down to the actor’s upbringing, coming from a religious family, of which he himself stated that the church was very much a part of him. Church visits on Sundays weren’t just something he did perfunctorily. He seems to be one of the few followers who actually live Jesus’ values.
Dan Aykroyd’s Awful Behavior
This outburst reveals a Dan Aykroyd that we never expected in a million years after watching many of his beloved films like Ghostbusters, Casper, and Coneheads. Whatever happened to the man with a great sense of humor who gave people a great time watching Saturday Night Live in their homes?
The least Dan could have done would have been to thank the cashier for her efforts. She really didn’t have to do that, shelling out from her own pocket. What an appalling behavior—and for such a trivial problem.
A Frugal Go-Go’s
This was probably from a time when the Go-Go’s were doing really great, hitting the top of the charts with We Got the Beat. They must have wanted to give their room service guy a tip he deserved for being so kind and helpful, but they didn’t have enough cash on them when they left.
It’s the thought that counts for Belinda Carlisle and her all-female band, even if they had to scrape up down to their last penny. But I guess this butler expected more out of his extra kindness to them.
A Dismissive Vanessa Hudgens
Before Vanessa Hudgens made it big in mainstream media, she used to perform in various stage plays and sang in many theaters. Her major break came when she played a lead role in The High School Musical series in 2006.
There are a lot of success stories out there that we’d all like to hear, but what would be awesome is when people like her can appreciate the position they are in. People look up to them now, and a bit of acknowledgment for the “little guy” who also wants to be successful someday would be welcome.
Tommy Lee Jones and Company
The Hunted is a ninety-four-minute movie that showcases violence drawn between the authorities and a criminal on the run, set in the wilderness. The movie can be dark and gritty, as Aaron Hallam takes out many FBI agents throughout the film.
But the sad part of this is that its actors, in real life—Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio del Toro, among others—couldn’t even be a little appreciative of their servers at a restaurant where they became regulars during the film’s shooting. Unlike the movie, which is just fictional, how they’ve conducted themselves in public is real.