Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez greets actor Sean Penn after a meeting at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on March 5, 2011. Penn thanked Chavez for the support given by the Venezuelan government to his nongovernmental organization, which benefits victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Chavez's famous friends —
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez greets actor Sean Penn after a meeting at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on March 5, 2011. Penn thanked Chavez for the support given by the Venezuelan government to his nongovernmental organization, which benefits victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images
Chavez kisses the hand of British supermodel Naomi Campbell during a meeting in Caracas on October 31, 2007.
Chavez's famous friends —
Chavez kisses the hand of British supermodel Naomi Campbell during a meeting in Caracas on October 31, 2007.
Miraflores Palace/Reuters/Landov
Director Oliver Stone and Chavez attend the "South of the Border" premiere during the 66th Venice Film Festival on September 7, 2009, in Venice, Italy.
Chavez's famous friends —
Director Oliver Stone and Chavez attend the "South of the Border" premiere during the 66th Venice Film Festival on September 7, 2009, in Venice, Italy.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Chavez speaks to actor Kevin Spacey during a meeting at the Miraflores presidential palace on September 24, 2007.
Chavez's famous friends —
Chavez speaks to actor Kevin Spacey during a meeting at the Miraflores presidential palace on September 24, 2007.
Miraflores Palace/Reuters/Landov
Actor Danny Glover and Chavez embrace while attending the The CITGO-Venezuela Heating Oil Program inauguration ceremony in Harlem, New York, on September 21, 2006. Chavez addressed the United Nations General Assembly a day earlier.
Chavez's famous friends —
Actor Danny Glover and Chavez embrace while attending the The CITGO-Venezuela Heating Oil Program inauguration ceremony in Harlem, New York, on September 21, 2006. Chavez addressed the United Nations General Assembly a day earlier.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Actress Susan Sarandon poses for a picture with Chavez and his daughter, Rosa, at the afterparty of the "South of the Border" premiere in New York on September 23, 2009.
Chavez's famous friends —
Actress Susan Sarandon poses for a picture with Chavez and his daughter, Rosa, at the afterparty of the "South of the Border" premiere in New York on September 23, 2009.
Mark Von Holden/WireImage via Getty Images
After attending the premiere of his film "Che," actor Benicio del Toro meets with Chavez at the Miraflores palace on March 4, 2009.
Chavez's famous friends —
After attending the premiere of his film "Che," actor Benicio del Toro meets with Chavez at the Miraflores palace on March 4, 2009.
Miraflores Palace/Reuters/Landov
Boxing promoter Don King speaks with Chavez and an unidentified woman at the presidential palace in Caracas on February 2, 2004.
Chavez's famous friends —
Boxing promoter Don King speaks with Chavez and an unidentified woman at the presidential palace in Caracas on February 2, 2004.
AFP/Getty Images
Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona shares a laugh with Chavez at a press conference in Caracas on July 22, 2010.
Chavez's famous friends —
Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona shares a laugh with Chavez at a press conference in Caracas on July 22, 2010.
JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images