Let’s get real: if you lived for months or decades as a superhero, wizard, or TV show staple, wouldn’t you want to steal something back to your place as a memento? As it turns out, some of Tinseltown’s most legendary stars had the same idea. From sentimental trinkets to eyebrow-singeing oddities, these thespians couldn’t help but swipe a little bit of their on-screen personas for the road when the cameras stopped rolling. Here are 10 of the most unexpected, most humorous, and straight-up weirdest props that actors brought home from film and television sets.
10. Misha Collins and the Supernatural Trench Coat
Few costumes holler “iconic” like Castiel’s beige trench coat on Supernatural. Misha Collins sported it for years, and when the show ended, he ensured it didn’t get relegated to storage. Yeah—he took it with him. Today, somewhere in his closet, Castiel’s coat sits alongside Collins’ regular clothes, a piece of TV history concealed in plain view.
9. Mark Wahlberg and the Boogie Nights Prosthetic
Certain actors leave with a jacket. Mark Wahlberg left with. Something else altogether. He retained Dirk Diggler’s notorious prosthetic from Boogie Nights. Wahlberg once quipped about how embarrassing it was to wear, but didn’t let that stop him. It’s one of the oddest (and most mythical) film props in Hollywood history.
8. Daniel Radcliffe and Harry Potter’s Glasses
After playing Harry Potter across eight films, Daniel Radcliffe wasn’t about to leave Hogwarts empty-handed. In fact, he swiped not one but two pairs of Harry’s glasses—one from the first movie and another from the very last. Fun fact: the glasses were lensless during filming to avoid glare from the lights. Imagine having those tucked away as reminders of a decade-long magical journey.
7. Reese Witherspoon and Elle Woods’ Wardrobe
Reese Witherspoon didn’t merely act as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde 2—she all but lived like her. That’s why she negotiated a special rider in her contract that let her take home Elle’s entire wardrobe, including an astonishing 77 pairs of Jimmy Choo stilettos. Witherspoon said she hardly ever wears them, but each one is a time capsule of sorts from one of her favorite roles.
6. Chris Pratt and Star-Lord’s Jacket
Chris Pratt’s memento wasn’t vanity—it was heart. Following the shoot of Guardians of the Galaxy, he took Star-Lord’s leather jacket as well as some of the character’s clothing. Why? So that he could use them to dress up as a superhero when he paid visits to ailing children in hospitals. Pratt revealed that he wished to share the magic of Star-Lord with kids who most needed a hero.
5. Jennifer Lawrence and Katniss’s Gear
When The Hunger Games wrapped up, Jennifer Lawrence did not depart with a few of the iconic props. She “borrowed” Katniss Everdeen’s leather jacket, boots, and even the bow. Lawrence confessed they’re just hanging in her closet with no serious plan, but still—they’re invaluable souvenirs of the role that captured a generation.
4. Ian McKellen and the Key to Bag End
Even wizards appreciate a memento. Sir Ian McKellen, who portrayed Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, took the front door key to Bag End—the warm hobbit abode of Bilbo and Frodo—quietly into his pocket. He also confessed to pilfering some of Smaug’s golden coins. McKellen has teased that director Peter Jackson still hasn’t found that key.
3. Sandra Oh and the Grey’s Anatomy Rug
While other actors get flashy costumes or accessories, Sandra Oh went functional. After wrapping her eight-year stint as Cristina Yang on Grey’s Anatomy, she was seen hauling out the rug from Cristina and Owen’s apartment. Oh, eventually disclosed it now adorns her own living room, and said it was the best thing she ever took from a set.
2. John Stamos and the Full House Couch
Nothing says nostalgia like a sitcom couch. John Stamos, aka Uncle Jesse, took home the famous living room couch from Full House. Today, it has a new purpose: a baby gate in his home. He once posted a photo showing the couch being used to block the stairs for his son. Talk about recycling TV history.
1. Will Ferrell and the Step Brothers Testicles
Leave it to Will Ferrell to top this list. From the comedy Step Brothers, Ferrell took with him the fake prosthetic testicles used in the notorious drum kit scene. He’s even confessed to pulling them out at dinner parties in order to shock guests. Of all the props taken home, this one might be the craziest and the most hilarious.
The sets of Hollywood may resemble fortresses, but these tales demonstrate one thing: if an actor desires a memento, nothing’s secure. A coat, a bow, or a set of prosthetics—props have a peculiar way of slipping out the door and becoming cherished (or strange) mementos.