I've been lucky through work to meet many celebs, mostly actors and directors. Here's my favourite story.
Many years ago, I once organised a big charity event due to a very personal reason and managed to get several actors and film people to come and talk at. One of which was Michael Winner. Most of the celebs did the bare minimum and buggered off as soon as their bit was done. Not him. He was due to arrive at 2 and be there to talk for about half an hour, sign a few autographs and go probably by 3.30 when there was an auction of promises. There were assorted talks and events all day. He arrived at 10 for the opening of the event and said "what can I do to help?" He immediately picked up a collecting bucket and spent the next two hours going around accosting people in a very jovial way and getting them to chuck money in the bucket.
He came to find me at 12 and said "you didn't tell me there was an auction, you should have said; auction me off - I'll take the highest bidder and their family out to dinner at London's best restaurant". In the event, he took over from the volunteer auctioneer and ran the auction himself, was hilarious, and I am sure raised far more money as a result. And he did indeed take a family out to a very swanky restaurant. It was a great day but I was absolutely shattered at the end of it.
But the story doesn't end there. A few days later I had a phone call from Michael. "I want to know how much we raised!" So I told him. He shouted "Brilliant!" and added "you worked really hard for that, you deserve a treat. What are you doing Saturday night?"
At 5 pm on Saturday, down my little terraced street, a chauffeur driven Rolls-Royce arrived, Michael and his latest glamorous girlfriend in the back. He took me off to his favourite restaurant for the most fabulous meal I ever had, most expensive wines, just astonishing. I can honestly say he was very charming, very funny, incredibly generous and very intelligent. Back to his for port and coffee and showed me his collection of original artwork for children's books. Talked film and stars and who was great and who was a shit.
Called a spade a spade, but left no doubt in my mind after 7 hours that half of his well self-publicised behaviour was carefully crafted caricature and it amused him to have that persona to hide behind when necessary. Chauffeur drove me home and Michael insisted on coming with me. As I got out he handed me an envelope. A cheque for £5,000 for the charity.
Don't care what anyone else says about him. Bloke was a bloody one off and a diamond.