Esteemed actor, producer, director and fashion designer, John Malkovich took on another role last week - hero - after he helped a heavily bleeding man who'd fallen over in Toronto.

Ohioans Jim Walpole and his wife Marion were enjoying the last of their cross-Canadian train-trip in Toronto when an innocent sidewalk toe-stubbing turned sinister as Jim fell to the ground. The 77 year-old's fall was impeded by a scaffolding pole, tearing the shocked man's neck as he crashed to the ground, according to ABC News. Blood began to pour from Jim's neck as he cried out for help whilst his mortified wife stood frozen before she too began to scream frantically for help.

Marion, a nurse, recognised her husband's injuries were serious: "The way he was spurting I thought it was the carotid [artery] or the jugular [vein]."

Casually taking a cigarette break, John Malkovich - who is best known for his portrayal of villains in movies such as Con Air (1997) and In the Line of Fire (1993) - took on a hero's role, rushing over to Walpole along with local restaurateur, Ben Quinn.

Despite it being Jim's wife, Marion, who had the medical training, it was Malkovich who quickly and calmly put pressure on the fallen man's neck to stem to flow of blood with his own scarf, reportedly.

The 59 year-old actor tended to Walpole's wound, taking over "just like a doctor" as they waited for an ambulance to arrive, reassuring the terrified fellow American: "Listen, they got a really good [health care] system up here up here."

The wounded Walpole says he had no idea who his mysterious yet compassionate savior was until afterwards, at the time only being told his name was "John." After ensuring Walpole's safety in hospital where 10 stitches were administered, Malkovich simply "faded into the night", disappearing into nowhere as enigmatically as he'd swept to the civilian's rescue.

Since the incident, Malkovich hasn't provided any comment but The Sun reports he received "an extra round of applause" after Saturday's staging of 'The Giacomo Variations' at Toronto's Elgin Theatre, in which he played Casanova.

Toronto slept easy this weekend, safe in the knowledge that a kind-hearted crusader had their backs.

John Malkovich
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