LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Hollywood has made plenty of disaster movies, but the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan is no fiction and the entertainment industry has responded to the dire situation there with generosity.
Oscar winner Sandra Bullock became the latest to join the cause when the American Red Cross said on Thursday that she had given $1 million to help victims of the disaster in Japan.
Several other celebrities and Hollywood studios have also pledged support to the nation.
Charlie Sheen, the embattled Hollywood bad boy, is donating $1 per ticket for all his upcoming live stage shows to the Red Cross.
Pop star Lady Gaga designed a bracelet for Japan relief and within 48 hours it raised $250,000, with sales ongoing.
Singer Katy Perry is donating sales of glow sticks on her concert tour to Red Cross relief in Japan.
Earlier this week, the Walt Disney Co donated $2.5 million to the American Red Cross for humanitarian efforts in Japan, and it also said it would match employee donations up to a total of $1 million.
The Warner Bros studio has pledged DVD and Blu-ray sales of its movie "Hereafter" to Red Cross efforts in Japan.
The donation by Bullock stands out as one of the biggest donations by a single Hollywood star.
The American Red Cross, which earlier this week announced an initial contribution of $10 million to the Japanese Red Cross Society, said it was "extremely grateful" to Bullock and her family for the gift.
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
Sandra won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in the Blind Side. In true Sandra Bullock style, she joked that her Oscar would take pride of place on her car so she can be reminded of her job when she's driving around.
