Why Do We Glorify Actors So Much? And Their Deaths?

Because most people do not have enough friends, and start thinking of actors that they see on tv everyday as their personal friends, someone familiar to relate to.... or simply because they wish they were as popular, good looking and rich as those actors; so they see their own wishful thinking reflection on those people.

Me, personally, I don't give a crap. I hate tv, and the only actors I really like are the old big guys (Sean Connery, etc.)... and I like them because they are good at what they do (and I admire talent in any field), not because of their looks or money.
Heck, I wish I had those big dollars, but I know I won't!

if kerry only had some balls

bush killed superman?!?!

he's a berry bad man

I don't glorify them unless they did good job to attract my attention.

Very rarely do people "give 2 shits" about issues unless they're directly impacted. Once impacted, some will make an effort to support their cause, while most will sit back and do nothing.

I find this a pretty funny thread coming from one of the biggest GFY "celebrities".

Its not all celebs who get the exposure when they die.... I bet at least 20 or more have died in the last year that you dont hear about.... But a few rise to the top that effect alot of peoples lives.

In this case he was a survivor.... he became famous because of his role as Superman but he will be remembered as the man who never gave up fighting after his horrible accident.

I was never a big fan of his acting.... but I became a big fan of the man and his spirit and will to get better from his accident....

I think its because in movies and tv ,we share emotions from their performances. So we feel a connection to them.

Dreams are good to have, buddy

He'll be missed.....

No respect!

They do all they can, you just don't hear about them or remember their name because they're not famous actors.

Anybody with money is going to fund research and encourage people to give donations to find a cure for their problem.

Like Stocktrader said, none of these actors cared about paralysis or Parkinsans until they got it.

I don't, most don't, it's the media sheep herders.

I agree with KRL on one point: if the media glorifies a person just because he was a famous actor, that would be wrong. There's no value in glorifying someone that only lived for himself or his family. So what... that's just a large version of everyone's tunnel-like existence in serving one's self and one's interests. Self-interest and self-seeking people are a dime a dozen billion.

However, Christopher Reeves and other like him are worth celebrating in their deaths

From his interview with BBC's Hard Talk extra:

Paralysis is a choice. Many people walk but are in paralysis due to anxiety, depression, low feelings of self-worth, and cheating themselves of their potential. My body maybe paralyzed but I choose to remain active and commit myself to something greater than myself.


Whether you dig on whether 'mere' actors are worth the attention during their deaths, you have to hand it to Christopher Reeves for nailing the essence of what having the opportunity to live is all about. It's not where you come from, disabilities/diseases you have, its what you do with your life to help others that counts.