In this May 14, 2014 file photo, actress Halle Berry attends the CBS Network Upfront presentation at Lincoln Center in New York. Berry stopped a man from entering her home through her kitchen door in July 2011, leading to Richard A. Franco’s arrest on stalking and burglary charges. He pleaded no contest to stalking and was ordered to stay away from the Oscar-winning actress for 10 years and undergo psychiatric counseling in January 2012, with prosecutors agreeing to drop the burglary charge. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, file)
Armed guards, tall fences and the threat of prosecution aren’t always enough to deter an overzealous fan or celebrity stalker.
For decades, stalkers have presented musicians, actors and even reality television personalities with a persistent, and potentially dangerous, downside to their fame. The unwanted attention ranges from unsolicited love letters and social media messages to kidnapping plots and home break-ins.
Madonna, Steven Spielberg, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, Halle Berry, Paris Hilton and many other stars have had to contend with stalkers who have threatened their safety and required the intervention of police and prosecutors. In this April 7, 2014 file photo, Selena Gomez arrives at the 22nd Annual Alliance for Children’s Rights Dinner at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Gomez was at her newly-purchased home in Calabasas, Calif., in late March 2014 when she had to call authorities because a man had broken into her guest house. Che Cruz admitted he trespassed at Gomez’s home in an initial court appearance and was sentenced to jail time and to stay away from the singer-actress’ home, but within hours of his release he returned to the property. He was charged with felony stalking and was ordered to undergo psychological treatment in June 2014 after he pleaded no contest to stalking Gomez. (Photo by Annie I. Bang /Invision/AP, file)
