Steve Martin's lost wallet returned by stranger

Comedian, actor and bluegrass musician Steve Martin lost his wallet while bicycling through Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Tuesday morning, and an unidentified man returned it to the venue where Martin was performing that night.

Will Beekman, programming director at the F.M. Kirby Center, said he knew only that the man telephoned the Kirby box office at about 10 a.m. to report what he had found.

“We thought it was a joke at first,” Beekman said.

Martin was in town for a one-night appearance at the Kirby Center, where he performed Tuesday evening with Edie Brickell with the Steep Canyon Rangers. The man apparently knew the star was in town for a show and returned the wallet, which contained Martin's driver's license and credit cards.

Kirby box office manager Tina Yurko also didn't know the man's name, but said Martin was anxious to thank him in person. Yurko said that Martin offered two tickets to the show that evening, but the man turned them down because he said his wife was ill.

Ellen Masaitis, who works next door to the theater, said the man came in after meeting Martin and described the incident, adding that he received a $100 reward. “I can’t remember his name, but I see him all the time, though,” Masaitis said.

The comedian gave the honest stranger and his community a shout-out on Twitter to express his thanks.

An honest man is found in Wilkes-Barre! Thank you, sir! RT @CBSPittsburgh: Stranger comes to the aid of comedian and returns his wallet!

— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) July 2, 2013