Zach Galifianakis saved an 87-year-old woman from homelessness and then invited her to be his date to The Hangover: Part III première in Los Angeles on Monday night.
The actor met Elizabeth ‘Mimi’ Haist 18 years ago when she used to work at his local laundromat in Santa Monica, California.
But when he heard that the woman was living on the street he promptly bought her an apartment.
But the actor lost touch with her over the years only to learn that since he last saw her things had turned dire.
The Campaign star quickly set up his old friend in a one-bedroom, one bathroom apartment, nearly two years ago.
But the Between Two Ferns host was not alone in his commendable efforts.
Zach employed fellow movie star Renee Zellweger to help Mimi with decorating the apartment.
A source told Star: ‘[Renee] furnished the apartment and makes sure that Mimi always has food in her fridge.’
According to a documentary titled Queen Mimi – currently in production about the unlikely friendship between the movie star and the former vagrant – she first became homeless at the age of 55 after leaving an adulterous husband.
The courageous departure led to a financially unstable existence, which ultimately resulted in her working and sleeping in the laundromat for nearly 18 years.
She scraped by on tips for folding the laundry of customers patronising the Santa Monica shop.
Without Zach she would still be pulling pennies together for a hot meal, as she is, according to her own testimony, the only surviving member of her family.
But Monday night’s première was not her first invitation to attend a red carpet.
Zach has taken Mimi to two previous industry events, including the première for The Hangover II and The Campaign.
While there was no confirmation that the 87-year-old was in attendance on Monday, Zach made sure to speak to his feelings regarding the hollowness of celebrity.
In the wake of the storm in Oklahoma that day he told USA Today: ‘Just like with any disasters, you feel silly doing a red carpet thing.’
Adding: ‘All of this is very bizarre to me and silly. The worship of celebrity culture is bad for our culture, to be honest. … But as far as Oklahoma, obviously, you just hope and pray that things will turn up.’
Lucignation 