In 1994, long before Zach Galifianakis could afford such luxuries as a washing machine and dryer, he was a regular at Fox Laundry, where he met Elizabeth “Mimi” Haist, who volunteered at the laundromat and lived off tips. They became friends, and two years ago, when Galifianakis discovered Haist was homeless, he bought her a one-bed, one-bath apartment and covered her rent and utilities. He’s even taken the now-87-year-old to movie premieres:
Haist told the Daily News she will be Galifianakis’s date for the Monday premiere of the new Hangover film.
“I’m looking forward to it, I like the excitement of it,” said Haist, who’s gone to premieres with Galifianakis before. “If he’s in town [Los Angeles], he takes me. Otherwise he lets me take a friend. I dress up nice and a friend helps me with my makeup. It’s fun, not something I’ve ever dreamed I’d experience. The limo takes me home afterwards,” said Haist.
“All the fans were taking photos and I waved at them, I said, ‘They don’t know who I am!’ ” said Haist of her prior premiere experiences. “Afterwards, they have a party at somewhere close by and you meet the stars. I drink lemon drop martinis with Grey Goose vodka.” (Via)
Zach’s next good deed: donating his vast collection of Little Orphan Annie dresses to a local shelter.