If you had been in the habit of leading a double life for years, wouldn’t you want to bring a piece of it home with you? Actors hurling themselves out of the studio with a memento has become something like a tradition – sometimes it’s a personal keepsake, a mere joke, and now and then a complete theft. While these props are not souvenirs, they are still the very things of the stories we’ve been eating up. Here are the top ten most iconic props that celebrities couldn’t help but spirit away, countdown-fan style.
10. John Stamos and the Full House Couch
While most other actors steal mementos, John Stamos decided to get away with a couch instead. He retrieved the couch from the Fuller House set, which is a replica of the one that fans saw for years on Full House. Now, instead of being just nostalgia, Uncle Jesse owns the ultimate set décor item that is more like a lifestyle item parked in his house. That’s not a meme, it’s a way of life.
9. Jennifer Aniston and the Central Perk Sign
Jennifer Aniston didn’t leave empty-handed when Friends ended. She managed to acquire the iconic neon Central Perk coffee cup sign, probably the most eye-catching beacon of the show next to Monica’s purple apartment. It is the most fitting homage to the numerous caffeine-soaked study sessions that were at the heart of the show, and now it is Aniston’s living room lighting up as a piece of sitcom history.
8. Robert Downey Jr. and the Avengers “A”
Robert Downey Jr. didn’t just steal a little device; he borrowed an entire monument. After Avengers: Age of Ultron, Downey had the massive Avengers “A” flown to his office. It’s the kind of absurd move only Iron Man himself would do and get away with. Tony Stark would have done the same thing, let’s be real.
7. Ian McKellen and the Bag End Key
Sir Ian McKellen was the one who stole the best Middle-earth memento out of all of them. The actor appropriated the key to Bag End—Bilbo’s little hobbit hole, and even a few of Smaug’s treasure hoard coins that glittered like diamonds. Gandalf might have been a wizard, but McKellen was just a regular guy off-stage who liked good memorabilia.
6. Daniel Radcliffe and Harry Potter’s Glasses (and a Creepy Bonus)
Daniel Radcliffe took his time to gather a huge collection of his own, and he was not stingy. He only took several sets of Harry’s round glasses, but his oddest keepsake by far is the Chamber of Secrets floppy, boneless fake arm. Both amusing and scary, it is proof of Radcliffe’s unusual sense.
5. Reese Witherspoon and Elle Woods’ Entire Wardrobe
Some celebs get one outfit. Reese Witherspoon was given all the outfits. Due to a smart contract provision, she was allowed to keep the Legally Blonde 2 wardrobe of Elle Woods. We are talking about pink suits, shoes, and every fabulous accessory in the middle, and she had them all. She would have been proud of that level of commitment, really.
4. John Krasinski and the Dunder Mifflin Sign
In the finale of The Office series, John Krasinski was on a mission to steal. He took the Dunder Mifflin sign off the wall, hid it in his car, and pretended to be clueless for years when showrunner Greg Daniels inquired about its whereabouts. Jim Halpert was not the only one who was up to no good at Scranton.
3. Chris Hemsworth and Thor’s Hammers
To be honest, Chris Hemsworth didn’t just take Mjolnir for some cool photos; he actually collected them. He had, in fact, at a minimum of five different versions of the hammer by the time he was playing Thor. I mean, if you are the God of Thunder, it seems that the only downside of the package is that you don’t get to have a personal Asgardian armory.
2. Jennifer Lawrence and Katniss’ Gear
Jennifer Lawrence decided to go through a more sentimental route. She kept Katniss Everdeen’s first bow, her hunting coat, and boots from The Hunger Games. Instead of displaying them, Lawrence kept the pieces hidden underneath the house. Her reason? She did not want the visitors to get scared by her blockbuster past that was haunting the rooms.
1. Rupert Grint and the Flying Car
While most of the actors decided to take only a small piece of Harry Potter home, Rupert Grint chose to go big. He actually got hold of the Weasleys’ flying car from Harry Potter. He didn’t stop the;e, he didn’t even hesitate when he got hold of the number on Privet Drive and the golden dragon egg on Goblet of Fire. Compared to the glasses and wands of his co-stars, Grint pretty much stole a whole wizarding museum.
From the strange to the normal, these actors’ “mementos” are a testament to the fact that the line between work and play disappears very quickly in Hollywood. Some props are old times, some are achievements, andsomeme like Grint’s flying car, are just one-of-a-kind. Or maybe they are just pieces of pop culture history, hidden safely in the homes of those who created the worlds.