Alaska Life

Celebrities spotted in Alaska: Joe Jonas visits kids at Anchorage hospital, Neil Patrick Harris tours a glacier

It's been a week of celebrity spottings in Alaska.

Singer Joe Jonas, his DNCE bandmates and actress Sophie Turner showed up Monday at Providence hospital in Anchorage to visit children before the band's performance at the Alaska State Fair that evening.

A hospital spokeswoman confirmed pop-rock band DNCE, best known for its song "Cake By the Ocean," talked with patients and signed autographs at the request of a fan.

That fan, 13-year-old Ashley Perry, wrote to the band several weeks ago, according to her mother, Kimberly Perry. Ashley lives in Anchorage and has Turner syndrome, a rare chromosomal disorder. She goes to Providence every three weeks for infusions.

Perry said her daughter reaches out to celebrities traveling to Alaska as well as local athletes and asks them to visit the children at the hospital, hoping the surprise guests help the patients "forget what they're going through just for a moment."

She said Turner and the DNCE members were kind, compassionate and didn't want publicity.

"They just wanted to do it from their own hearts, and that was it," she said.

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Turner, who plays Sansa Stark on the HBO show "Game of Thrones," was also spotted at the Alaska State Fair over Labor Day weekend.

"SANSA STARK IS AT THE AK STATE FAIR … she's literally lady of the north IN THE NORTH," posted one Twitter user.

Turner and Jonas, who are dating, also apparently spent time trekking around Knik Glacier, about 50 miles east of Anchorage.

Chillin'

A post shared by Sophie Turner (@sophiet) on

❄️ I'm walking on Glaciers (whoah-oh-ah-oh) TEHEHEHEHEHE

A post shared by J O E J O N A S (@joejonas) on

They weren't the only celebrities touring Alaska glaciers.

Actor Neil Patrick Harris, his husband David Burtka and their two children recently headed north to Alaska, visited a glacier and went rafting, according to photos posted online.

"Can't stop thinking about our Alaskan adventure," Harris posted on Instagram Monday. "Truly a spectacular place!"

"Alaska is delicious and amazing!!" Burtka, an actor and chef, posted to Instagram.

Alaska is delicious and amazing!! Thanks @withinthewild for fantastic time. Everything was perfect!

A post shared by David Burtka (@dbelicious) on

Earlier this summer, Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and media mogul Oprah Winfrey also spent time adventuring in Alaska.

Tegan Hanlon

Tegan Hanlon was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News between 2013 and 2019. She now reports for Alaska Public Media.

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