The funny and well-liked actor Zach Galifianakis became famous for his parts in “The Hangover” movies. Aside from his fame, he used to be a simple man who did stand-up in burger places. One woman always gave him ideas and encouragement along the way.
Galifianakis met Marie “Mimi” Haist, a volunteer at Fox washing, in 1994. He often did his washing there. Haist had been through a lot. She had been divorced, lost her home, and lived in a laundry, sleeping between washing machines.
Haist was able to find an apartment thanks to Galifianakis, who paid the rent. Reneé Zellwegger helped Galifianakis decorate her new home after being introduced by her. “Zach and Renée changed my life,” Haist said with deep thanks. I have a place to live, a bed of my own, and money from social security to pay my bills.
As Galifianakis’s fame grew, Haist became an odd red carpet partner for him. As he watched her shine, he thought, “She fits in, in a very strange way.” “I dress up, get help with my makeup, and ride home in a limo,” Haist said, loving the attention.
The 2016 documentary “Queen Mimi” put Haist in the spotlight and showed how amazing her life was. Director Yaniv Rokah was interested in her story and said, “I wanted to know who she was, why she was there, and what her story was.”
Even though Haist was famous, he stayed normal and kept cleaning machines at the laundromat. She never thought of herself as homeless because she was focused on her friends and her daily schedule.
King Haist’s work lives on in “Queen Mimi.” Galifianakis and she became friends after she died in 2021. Their friendship is still a great example of how powerful kindness and friendship can be. Galifianakis did not become famous all by himself. He was helped along the way by a woman whose strength and determination moved him.
Their strange friendship shows that real connections can happen across class lines and that sometimes the most interesting stories can be found in the most unlikely places.
