When Peter Dinklage accepted his much deserved Globe on Sunday for best supporting actor of Game of Thrones, he mentioned the name of a man and told people to Google him. He said “I want to mention a gentleman I’m thinking about in England: his name is Martin Henderson. Google him.” I did Google that name Sunday night right after he said it, but at that time, before this story was trending, the first result was the IMDB and Wikipedia page for an incredibly hot actor from New Zealand. I should have googled “Martin Henderson England,” but it was late and my motivation was low. I assumed that the guy Martin was another actor who helped Dinklage in his career and whom he wanted to thank.

It turns out that Martin Henderson is also a little person who was cruelly victimized in a “dwarf tossing” incident, after which he was unable to walk unassisted. Henderson used to get work as an actor but now relies on crutches and a wheelchair and can no longer book jobs. Dinklage was trying to raise awareness of this guy’s injuries and the practice of “dwarf tossing,” which may have been popularized when news came out last fall that some of the English rugby players, including Mike Tindall, (Zara Phillip’s husband) attended a dwarf tossing contest. Here’s more:

Rather than just basking in his own success, actor Peter Dinklage made sure to use the spotlight for a good cause when he accepted his Golden Globe award on Sunday.

The Game Of Thrones star ended his acceptance speech by telling the audience to Google the name Martin Henderson.

“I want to mention a gentleman I’m thinking about in England: his name is Martin Henderson,” said Dinklage, who has a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia. “Google him.”

Millions of viewers did as they were told and transformed Henderson from an unknown actor to an Internet sensation literally overnight.

What came to light thanks to Dinklage’s guidance is the shocking story of a 37-year-old dwarf and aspiring actor who was left badly injured after being ‘dwarf tossed’ by a drunk man outside a pub in Somerset, England.

Out celebrating his 37th birthday last October, Henderson had left the pub in the town of Wincanton to have a cigarette when the unknown man picked him up and dropped him on the ground, injuring his back and legs, which have been numb since the attack.

He has not been able to walk since and been forced to resort to using crutches and a wheelchair.

According to a report in U.K. newspaper, The Sun, the unprovoked attack could have been inspired by the English rugby team who attended a “Mad Midget Weekender” event in New Zealand during the World Cup just weeks before the incident, where they watched a dwarf-throwing contest.

“The England players had been in trouble for going to a dwarf tossing event and this might have given this guy the idea,” 4’2″ Henderson told The Sun. “I guess I was an easy target and the only reason I was picked on was because I am small,” he said.

“People’s attitudes to me when I go out can be pretty cruel. Most are OK but you get the odd idiot who will make fun and start laughing at me.”

His attacker has yet to be identified, but police describe him as 5’8″ with dark hair.

[From Radar]

That’s terrible and I feel so bad for that guy. What kind of loser cretin would do something like that? Henderson has responded to the news that Dinklage gave him a shout out. In an interview on British channel’s ITV’s Daybreak, he said “it is a very, very good thing. I just couldn’t believe it when I woke up yesterday morning.” He also said he still suffers from numbness in his leg and has broken his hand as a result.

Dinklage is the most famous little person there is, and he clearly achieved success through his incredible talent. He’s so excellent on “Game of Thrones” and he can deliver the cleverest, the most obnoxious and the most moving lines with a wink, a middle finger and a tinge of sadness. He’s wonderful.

This has me wondering when “Game of Thrones” is coming back finally. The second season isn’t premiering until April 1, which a date which just serves to remind me that my taxes are due around that time. It’s too far in the future, but at least we don’t have to wait until this summer.

If you’d like more stories about celebrities doing nice deeds, please comment on this one, even if you’re dissing Bradley Cooper in any other area of his life. The dude is milquetoast but he does random kind deeds, just like his ex girlfriend, Renee Zellweger. I actually like him a lot more after this story, which could be leaked by his publicist but if so they did it expertly. Only the National Enquirer has this news, which makes it sound real to me. I know a lot of you diss the Enquirer, but they get more genuine scoops than the other gossip rags, they just paint everything with the same awesome, sensational brush. I love that rag so much. Anyway supposedly Bradley Cooper was filming in Philadelphia, which is where he’s from, and sent his assistant to buy thousands of dollars of winter coast for the homeless. He then personally handed them out, and when one guy told him he liked his coat, Cooper gave it to him!

The 36 year-old actor, who is filming “The Silver Linings Playbook” in his hometown, Philadelphia, shelled out thousands of dollars on coats, gloves, hats and scarves for the homeless.

“While filming in Philly, Bradley noticed a lot of people shivering on the streets,” a source told The Enquirer.

“He knew that the weather was only going to get worse, with early snowfall and blistering cold temperatures predicted, so he sent his assistant to several discount stores to buy thousands of follars of clothing.

“The Bradley returned to the area and began to hand out the clothing himself…

“One homeless man mentioned that he liked the designer jacket Bradley was wearing,” recalled the source. “It had been given to him by his pal Robert De Niro, but Bradley still gave the guy the coat off his back – literally.”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, November 21, 2011]

Ok, I was buying this story until they added the detail that Cooper gave a guy the jacket off his back and that it was given to him by De Niro! That’s a little much. Still, if Cooper’s dad used to take him to homeless shelters I could see him going to his hometown, remembering what his dad taught him and wanting to help. Cooper’s dad passed away earlier this year and he started wearing his dad’s wedding ring as a remembrance to him. The guy may have a soft heart underneath that confusing GQ exterior. Plus, this was in The Enquirer, not in one of the publicist approved magazines like People or US. After reading this nice story, I almost forgot that Cooper is fake-dating J.Lo!

Hugh Jackman is the cover boy for the October issue of Men’s Fitness magazine. His interview is focused around an all day training session and photo shoot he had with boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard. Hugh was preparing for his role as a washed up boxer in Real Steel, which is not-so-jokingly being called the Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Robots movie. It’s out on October 7, and is yet another role in which Jackman had to take his body to the limit. He’s more than up to it of course, and has the dedication and attitude to do whatever it takes.

Hugh’s article in Men’s Fitness necessarily focuses on the way he trains and eats right, but there’s also a lot of marveling at how down to earth and genuinely friendly he is. Hugh is so nice and normal, the author declares that he’s taken “the nicest guy in Hollywood” title away from Tom Hanks. Here’s more:

A typical “good day” is lunch with Deborra-Lee Furness, his wife of 15 years, a walk, an hour of singing, and a visit with friends. A mention of his 2008 People Magazine “Sexiest Man Alive” crown elicits self-deprecation. “An old friend of mine e-mailed me and he said he had cowboy boots sexier than me,” he says. He discusses his extensive charitable projects, inquires sincerely about my career and life, and perhaps most surprisingly, he’s not on his iPhone when I return from the bathroom. Instead he’s by the front door waiting for me. “Ready, mate?” he asks.

“Honestly,” I say, careful not to fall for that g’day chumminess. “When was the last time someone called you an asshole?” He bellows a deep and genuine laugh. “I don’t really know,” he says. “I”m a bit of a people pleaser, unfortunately. My wife says it’s hard to be married to me. She wishes I were more of an asshole.”

A short walk later we arrive for the cover shoot at Brooklyn’s legendary Gleason’s boxing gym. Old fight posters cover the walls. The air is sharp with sweat. Bells ring, ropes snap, mitts crack, trainers bark…

Two dozen of the gym’s current fighters, entrenched in their daily regimen, barely bat an eye. Jackman needs no sycophants, however. He immediately introduces himself to the gym owner, a few trainers and the photo crew. Smiles and handshakes. A pat on the back here and there. Nothing phony, nothing forced…

At 5 p.m., the shoot wraps. While Leonard doles out pointers to awestruck fighters, Jackman changes into street clothes. THen he eats a small portion of grilled chicken and veggies, his third such plate of the afternoon. When he finishes, he does not, as I expect, bolt for the exit. Instead, he makes his way around the gym thanking all of the folks for their efforts. It’s at this moment that my New York cynicism disappears. When he sidles up to me, flashes that megawatt smile, and asks, “That wasn’t so bad, eh?” a truth hits me like a right cross. Tom Hanks, you’re toast. Hugh Jackman really is the nicest guy in Hollywood.

[From Men's Fitness, print edition, October, 2011]

The journalist spent all day with Hugh and didn’t even see a glimmer of attitude or phoniness. That’s more convincing to me than any interview or quote directly from Hugh. I really like the guy. I know some people think he’s hiding some giant secret, but think about it. With our rampant gossip press, wouldn’t we have heard way more than just vague rumors by now? I think those started because it’s hard to believe that he’s that decent a guy and has been happily married, with nary a cheating rumor, for 15 years.

On a more superficial note, Hugh looks hot on the photos inside the magazine, but he looks tired and worn out on the cover. I’m not a fan of all the stubble, or of his haircut. His pecs and arms are amazing, though. There are more photos, along with Hugh’s workout plan, in the October issue of Men’s Fitness.

Hugh is shown at the Real Steel preview last Friday in London on 9/16/11. Credit: WENN.com

These are new photos of Sandra Bullock leaving her house in New York City. I think Sandra and Louis have been spending a lot of time in New York lately, for whatever reason. And it’s the only city they seem to get consistently pap’d in. I think Sandy looks really good in these photos – she looks healthy and content, and I like that she even gives the paparazzi a smile. So classy.

In addition to getting back to work, hanging out in New York with her son, and generally being cool (and maybe being a lesbian too, of course), Sandra also donated one million dollars to the Red Cross, to help support the people of Japan:

Sandra Bullock gets charitable as she donates $1 million to the Red Cross to support the relief effort for the Japan disaster.

“The American Red Cross is extremely grateful for this generous support from Sandra Bullock and her family,” the organization said in a statement. “This contribution is vitally important as the Red Cross works to provide critical assistance and essential relief items in this time of urgent need for so many people in Japan.”

This isn’t the first time the Oscar winner has shown such generosity. Bullock also gave $1 million to Doctors Without Borders to aid in the Haiti relief effort after the devastating earthquake there in January of 2010.

[From Entertainment Tonight]

Yes, and Sandra has given to all of the big tragedies over the years – Katrina and the Gulf Coast, 9/11, the 2004-05 Tsunami. She’s a giver. She’s got a good heart.

In other Sandy news, In Touch Weekly (via Jezebel) is reporting that Jennifer Aniston is trying desperately to throw Sandy a big pity party. According to the tabloid, Sandy and Aniston are “bonding over their breakups” and Aniston and Courteney Cox have invited Sandra to be part of their First Wives Club. God, I really hope that isn’t true.

To make a donation to the International Red Cross, go here.

Photos courtesy of Fame.

There’s a cute story in this week’s National Enquirer about a celebrity doing the right thing and returning a duplicate check for an appearance fee payment that was already astronomical. Ben Affleck allegedly “earned” $250,000 for showing up at the opening for a new casino in South Carolina. His wife Jennifer Garner came too, so I’m hoping that check was for the both of them and not just Ben. Anyway the casino sent them two checks by mistake (maybe something to do with one for Ben, one for Jen) and he sent one back! The casino told the Enquirer that they’re really grateful that Ben was honest because they probably wouldn’t have noticed.

Ben Affleck… was mistakenly sent two $250,000 checks for attending the glitzy grand opening of an $80 million casino at the famed Greenbrier resort. But unlike the shady thief he plays in the smash hit “The Town,” Affleck notified casino officials of the error, and promptly returned one of the $250,000 checks.

“We’re very, very grateful. He’s obviously a very honest guy,” said Jim Justice, the multimillionaire owner of the Greenbrier casino in White Sulpher Springs, W. Va…

An avid poker player, Affleck reportedly didn’t sit down to play a hand. But after [he] returned home, he discovered the casino had sent him not one, but two $250,000 checks for his appearance fee.

“We mistakenly paid him twice,” admitted Justice. “Fortunately, he called us or we never would have caught it.”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, November 15, 2010]

This is heartwarming and all, but I’m sure Affleck has someone handling his schedule and finances for him who noticed the error. Still, it’s nice. The real story to me is that he was paid a quarter of million just to show up somewhere. You would think that Ben wouldn’t even rate six figures. If you add his wife in there, I get it though. Plus he’s back with a vengeance now that The Town was such a succes.

Kaiser reminded me that Ben is rumored to have a gambling addiction, which is a story that I think was started after he went to rehab for alcohol in 2001.
He’s since won poker tournaments. I remember stories about him dropping tens of thousands gambling – and also being an incredibly generous tipper. While I was doing some googling for this post, I found this touching story about how Affleck granted a dying 21-year-old’s wish to go gambling with him in Vegas last year. Now that’s a more generous act than returning a duplicate check.

Last week, the Today Show’s Ann Curry began tweeting photos of her trip to Sudan with George Clooney. She and George and a group of people were traveling either with or in tandem with a group from the UN Security Council – they were checking in with the Southern province of Sudan, which will soon have a vote on their independence. It’s a situation where everything could very easily go wrong, and there could be mass casualties. Clooney is trying to bring awareness to the situation, and this morning Ann had her formal interview with Cloons. He was shilling his new site, Sudan Action Now, amongst other things.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

He’s handsome and has a heart – what can’t this guy do?

With Sudan again spiraling toward civil war, George Clooney is calling for aggressive diplomacy to avoid another potential genocide in the Darfur region.

“I think it can be stopped,” the Oscar-winning actor and director said Tuesday on NBC’s Today show. “We stopped [the previous Darfur conflict] in 2005 with diplomacy. We didn’t stop it with soldiers. So, yes, if we get involved now, we have a shot.”

Clooney, 49, who traveled in Sudan recently, says there’s an overwhelming consensus that Darfur is primed to explode – you don’t have to take his word for it.

“It doesn’t matter what I believe, because obviously I’m an actor,” he says. “The Secretary of State said it’s a ticking time bomb. The CIA said this is the next genocide if we’re not careful – it is the biggest risk. The president has said as much.”

He adds: “Everyone acknowledges that this is what is going to take place if someone doesn’t moderate and mediate. … I’m just trying to say it as loud as possible.”

Clooney has set up a Web site, SudanActionNow.org, to continue his call for intervention.

[From People]

God, just what this area needs – another refugee crisis and more political instability. I’m glad Clooney is using his star power to bring attention to it. I just wonder if people’s reaction to this would be completely different if it was Angelina Jolie.

These are some newish photos of Johnny Depp, dressed up in character as Jack Sparrow, on set in England yesterday. While he had all of his junk on this morning (or maybe it was yesterday), he also paid a visit to a London school. The photos are here – Johnny looks hilariously deranged standing next to normal children. What would you do if you were a kid and Jack Sparrow came to visit your school? You would freak the f-ck out, right?

OH to be a kid again. Hollywood Lord JOHNNY DEPP was a surprise guest at a London school’s assembly this morning.

The actor – who is currently filming the fourth Pirates Of The Caribbean movie in Greenwich – took some time out to make an impromptu trip to Meridian primary school dressed as his character Captain Jack Sparrow.

His visit came after one of the school’s pupils, Beatrice, wrote a letter to him saying: “Captain Jack Sparrow, at Meridian Primary School we are a bunch of budding young pirates and we were having a bit of trouble mutiny against the teachers. We’d love it if you could come and help. From Beatrice De Lap aged nine, a budding pirate.”

Teachers only found out the actor was coming ten minutes before he arrived and parents were shocked when their kids came running out telling them what had happened.

[From The Sun]

Aw… a kid wrote a fan letter and Johnny showed up! That’s magnificent. I imagine there were a few damsels-in-distress/teachers who were swooning too. But just one little criticism, because my mom’s a teacher: I bet those kids weren’t able to be calmed down for the rest of the day. Ideally, this is the kind of visit that should be scheduled for the end of the school day, not the morning. Still, it’s an adorable thing to do, and bless him.

Photos of Depp in costume in Greenwich on October 6, 2010. Credit: Bauer-Griffin.

Below is a new PSA from Angelina Jolie that she did on behalf of the UNHCR’s efforts in Pakistan. Pakistan has sustained substantial flooding that has killed thousands and left millions homeless. While Angelina was on the European tour for Salt, it was announced that she had donated $100,000 to the UNHCR’s efforts in Pakistan, and now she is making an international plea for money and attention directed towards Pakistan. In the PSA, Jolie says, “This is not just a humanitarian crisis. It is an economic and social catastrophe. The more support we can give, the greater number of tents, food, clean water and medicine will get to the people in need.”

Once you get past the bangs trauma (just me?) and the low-budget style that makes the video seem like it’s a tape made by someone being held hostage in a dank basement, the message is solid.

If you would like to donate to the UNHCR’s mission in Pakistan, GO HERE.

If you would like to donate to the International Red Cross’s operations, GO HERE.

There’s more information here about the flooding and about charities and NGOs doing good works in-country HERE.

Johnny Depp took part in a benefit concert and poetry reading in Little Rock, Arkansas over the weekend to help pay the legal fees of the “West Memphis Three,” a group of then-teenagers who were convicted in 1993 of the murder of three eight year-old boys. There is recently uncovered DNA evidence at the crime scene that points to another suspect, the stepfather of one of the murdered boys, and many believe that the teenagers were wrongfully convicted. I don’t know much about this case, but it’s been the subject of two different documentaries and several books. There’s a huge movement to free these men. (You can learn more about it on Wikipedia, this Salon article and on some of the many websites for their defense.) Retrials have been denied and the case is scheduled to go before the Arkansas Supreme Court on September 30th. During the performance Depp read from the diary of one of the convicted men now on death row, Damien Echols, and performed guitar while Eddie Vedder and Patti Smith sang. Some videos are below.

Johnny Depp, along with Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines, held a music and poetry session Saturday to help raise money to pay legal fees for the West Memphis Three, RadarOnline.com has learned.

The West Memphis Three are Jason Baldwin, Damien Echols and Jessie Misskelley, Jr., three men convicted in the 1993 murders of three West Memphis 8-year-old boys. Depp has gone on record saying he believes the three men wrongfully accused of the crimes and vowed to help raise legal fees to help with their defense.

More than 2,000 people packed Little Rock’s Robinson Center Music Hall to support the West Memphis Three. Many in Arkansas say the West Memphis Three were wrongfully tried and convicted.

Depp and other celebrities are not the only ones asking for the release of the three men. Some of the parents of the three children killed now back the convicted getting new trials and hope celebrities like Depp and others will bring national attention.

Depp grew up Owensboro, Kentucky, about 200 miles outside Arkansas.

[From Radar Online]

I didn’t know Depp grew up in Kentucky! This isn’t the first time he’s been involved with this cause, as Depp spoke out on behalf of these men earlier this year on a 48 Hours special on the case. It was good of him to lend his celebrity, and I hope that these three men are finally granted fair and complete trials after 17 years behind bars, especially in light of all the evidence that points to another murderer.

Johnny Depp reads from Damien Echols’ journal. Echols is currently on death row, and you can read an interview with him here.

Depp performs with Eddie Vedder

Patti Smith sings “Dancing Barefoot” while Eddie Vetter and Johnny Depp perform

The Fox runaway muscial hit “Glee” is huge right now, and most of the attention is on its big breakout stars, Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison. But Chris Colfer, who plays fabulous out-and-proud student Kurt Hummel, has quite a cult following, too. Not only can this kid sing, dance and act, but according to The Enquirer, Chris has spent most of his life prior to his “Glee” success caring for his younger sister who has severe epilepsy. He once promised his sister that if he became rich and famous, he would raise money and awareness to help find a cure for the disease.

Teenage “Glee” star Chris Colfer spent much of his young life taking care of his severely epileptic younger sister before heading off to seek fame and fortune in Hollywood.

In an exclusive Enquirer interview, Chris’ proud mom said he’s a “hero” for the sacrifices he’s made for his sister. “Chris was always instrumental in Hannah’s life – he still is,” Karyn Colfer says.

Chris, 20, plays Beyonce-loving gay singer Kurt Hummel on the hit musical comedy. In real-life he was a three-time speech and debate champion at Clovis East High School in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

But he spent much of his time caring for his little sister.

“He was the center of her world, taking the time to do whatever she wanted to do,” says Karyn, 47. “Chris was absolutely selfless when it came to his sister – he gave up a great deal of his social life for her.”

Hannah, now 14, was crushed when Chris decided to strike out on his own, says Karyn. But a few days before he left, he bought web cams so the two could teleconference through Skype when they started missing each other.

“Chris is a great brother. He’s a hero to Hannah.”

Karyn told the Enquirer that Hannah can have as many as 50 seizures an hour, and has not responded to several different courses of medication. Hannah recently underwent operations to implant nerve stimulators, and the family is hoping the procedure will improve her condition.

Karyn adds: “You know, when Chris was growing up, people would ask him, ‘Are you going to become a doctor so you can find a cure for your sister?’” And he would say, ‘I’m going to grow up and become a famous actor so I can pay someone ELSE a ton of money to find a cure.’”

True to his word, Chris recently donated a large sum of money to the nonprofit group CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy).

[From the National Enquirer print version, July 5, 2010]

So, while Lea Michele is out there allegedly racking up diva bitch points, Chris, who is every bit as talented, is using his new found fame for good. I think that alone warrants another Kurt-centered episode of Glee soon, don’t you? What a great kid.