Zach Galifianakis Saved Elderly Woman From Homelessness By Paying Her Rent

Feb 14, 2022 by apost team

Funnyman Zach Galifianakis has shown time and again that he has a heart of gold. While celebrities typically enjoy a life full of fame, fortune, and luxury, many of them go on to use their newfound wealth and established platform to help others. Galifianakis fits in the latter category and has continued to do his part to give back to those in need.

Galifianakis was born on Oct. 1, 1969. He is best known for being an actor and comedian, but he also has experience as a musician and as a writer. He has been in a few television series and several films, most famously starring in “The Hangover” trilogy. Some of his other well-known feature films include “Due Date,” “The Lego Batman Movie,” and “Dinner for Schmucks.” He received critical praise for his role in “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).”

On television, Galifianakis has starred in the FX series “Baskets” – which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination – and also in the HBO series “Bored to Death.” The actor has even hosted “Saturday Night Live,” truly showing off his incredible comedic timing and hilarious jokes and antics.

While Galifianakis has gained worldwide recognition for his sense of humor and great acting skills, nothing quite compares to how kind-hearted he is. During the 2010s, the actor befriended Mimi Haist, better known as Queen Mimi, who was a homeless woman in her eighties. Galifianakis did everything in his power to help Mimi, even buying her an apartment and paying her rent for years, and also helped Mimi experience some unforgettable moments.

While Galifianakis found worldwide recognition with “The Hangover” trilogy, he showed that he was using his platform for the betterment of others. According to the New York Daily News, the actor decided to put his platform and money to good use by helping out a homeless woman named Mimi, who the general public came to know and love as Queen Mimi.

Galifianakis first struck up a friendship with Mimi in 1994, having met her in the Los Angeles area. He was new to the area and was still trying to find his big break and moved into an apartment just around the corner from Fox Laundry – the laundromat where Mimi volunteered. According to the New York Daily News, she survived off tips from customers. She had once been married and lived in a house, but she sadly lost “everything” and ended up on the streets, according to CBS.

Galifianakis began finding work and was busy pursuing his passions, resulting in him not visiting the laundromat anymore. In 2011, he found out that Mimi was homeless and wanted to do something to help. Galifianakis ended up buying her a one-bedroom apartment and even paid for her rent and utilities. 

Not only that, but the actor decided to treat the 87-year-old woman to a life of luxury and took her with him to a couple of “The Hangover” premieres. The New York Daily News reported that the bearded actor took Mimi to the opening night of “The Hangover Part II” and “The Campaign,” but nobody knew who she was at the time.

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When it came time to attend the premiere for the third movie in “The Hangover” trilogy, Galifianakis knew exactly who he was going to bring, and Mimi was ecstatic. “I’m looking forward to it, I like the excitement of it,” she had said. The actor even picked the once-homeless woman up from her Santa Monica apartment.

Mimi talked about how exciting it was to ride in a limo and meet other celebrities. She also enjoyed having her photo taken and waving at fans, even if they didn’t know who she was. The experience wasn’t just great for her but also for Galifianakis, who expressed just how much he “hates” fancy Hollywood events. “Mimi helps me feel better when I see her there,” the actor explained.

Many people were fascinated by Mimi’s story and moved by Galifianakis’ heartwarming actions. A documentary about Mimi’s life titled “Queen Mimi” was released in 2015, directed by Yaniv Rokah. The documentary went on to receive a few awards, clearly touching the hearts of those who watched it.

During an interview with CBS in 2016, Mimi talked about the documentary and explained that she never really viewed herself as homeless. “Well, I just kept my faith up and I talked to people and I made sure I didn’t make friends with the wrong ones,” she said. Fortunately for Mimi, one of the friends she did end up making was “The Hangover” star, and it’s evident that he certainly helped change her life for the better.

Sadly, Mimi passed away in November 2021. The Queen Mimi Facebook page posted, “Goodbye our beloved! You will be remembered and admired forever. RIP Queen Mimi 1925-2021.”

Were you moved by this story? What do you think about Zach Galifianakis doing what he could to help a homeless woman? Let us know, and feel free to send this to your loved ones, too.