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Zach Galifianakis' big-hearted gesture at Hangover 3 premiere

Comedian invites 87-year-old woman he saved from homelessness to walk red carpet with him.

Most movie stars stroll down the red carpet with glamorous wives or girlfriends on their arm.

Not 'The Hangover: Part III' star Zach Galifianakis though, who instead often attends premieres with an 87-year-old woman called Elizabeth 'Mimi' Haist, who he saved from homelessness.  What a nice guy.



Their latest date was the US premiere of 'The Hangover Part III' earlier this week.

Galifianakis rocketed to fame after ‘The Hangover’ became a surprise hit in 2009. But he didn’t forget about his friend Mimi, who he met 18 years ago at his local launderette.


[First full Hangover III trailer arrives]


After losing touch with her for several years, the Hollywood star discovered she was homeless. She had left her adulterous husband and first worked and slept in the launderette, scraping by on tips. Eventually she found herself on the streets.

When Galifianakis discovered her situation, he swooped in to buy her a one-bedroom flat for her to live in and still pays her utility bills.

Even more amazingly, the décor and furnishings in the flat were provided by the actor's friend, 'Bridget Jones' star Renee Zellweger.



According to a source speaking to Star magazine, Zellweger also 'makes sure that Mimi always has food in her fridge'.

Galifianakis took Mimi along to the premieres and afterparties for ‘The Hangover Part II’ and ‘The Campaign’, and Mimi obviously enjoys herself. She told the Daily News: “I dress up nice and a friend helps me with my make-up. It’s fun, not something I’ve ever dreamed I’d experience. The limo takes me home afterwards.”

[What's different about The Hangover Part III?]


The story is so incredible that director Yaniv Rokah is currently raising money to make a documentary about Mimi called ‘Queen Mimi’. Check out the trailer here.

Galifianakis is one of the few Hollywood stars who has some perspective about fame. He once said in an interview: “There's more to life than being an actor in a Hollywood movie. I'm not going to adapt my life after that existence, where a lot of people do. And they get the publicist, and they get all that stuff, and it becomes them. I think it's a stupid way to live your life. A really dumb way to live your life.”

We agree Zach.