Richard Donner was a famous actor who was also a friend and mentor to the speaker. He showed the speaker that there were more important things in life than just being an actor. This could mean that there is more to life than just success and fame, or that you should focus on developing qualities like friendship and kindness instead of just on having a successful career. Donner showed the speaker that it is important to consider the value of relationships and developing oneself as a person, rather than just having the career you want.