10 Hollywood Stars You Didn't Know Were Real Life Heroes

7. Sean Penn Dragged Survivors Out Of Haiti Earthquake Ruins

One of Hollywood's heavyweight actors, Sean Penn is best known for his intensely dramatic performances and work behind the camera, directing critically acclaimed films such as The Pledge and Into the Wild. It seems he prefers to keep his heroics firmly rooted in the real world. Penn is famous for his political activism and has committed himself to a number of causes throughout his acting career, from opposing the war in Iraq to helping out in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was his actions in Haiti following the earthquake in 2010 which earned him the label of real-life hero, where he reportedly pulled two survivors from the depths of the rubble. Eyewitnesses watched as Penn pulled a woman with leg injuries and her daughter from the wreckage just outside the city of Port-au-Prince, waiting with them while they received medical attention. With nowhere to go, he then took them back to his place until he could find a home for them. While Penn faced controversy in the past for his violent behaviour towards Madonna, perhaps this act was atonement of sorts. Or perhaps, as some have suggested, it was little more than a cynical ploy to garner some positive publicity and boost the coffers of his charity. We'll leave it for the reader to decide what they think the truth is.