Robert Pattinson, Julia Roberts, many more stand up to cancer

An A-list army gathered in Los Angeles on Friday for “Stand Up to Cancer,” the biennial live fundraiser, backed by Hollywood and aired across the big four TV networks that works to raise money for cancer research.

Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Michael Douglas, Joe Manganiello, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift and Jessica Biel all appeared on the broadcast, executive produced by telethon vet Joel Gallen and actress Gwyneth Paltrow.

“Up until the end, he was the love of my life,” Paltrow shared with the audience at downtown’s Shrine Auditorium, regarding her father Bruce who passed away in 2002 from oral cancer.

The commercial-free hour saw performances from Swift, Tim McGraw, Alicia Keys and a prerecorded number from Coldplay, led by Paltrow’s husband, Chris Martin.

A series of emotional short films documented survivor stories and brought talent like Sophia Vergara, Jeremy Renner and Robert Pattinson to offer up narratives from the front lines of the disease.

Paltrow did her part by exalting the benefits of healthy living -- diet, exercise, quitting smoking and a fruit-and-green-leaf-vegetable diet -- but the night’s most galvanizing moment came courtesy of Samuel L. Jackson.

“Cancer is one big bully. But if we all stand up to cancer together, we can kick its ass so good, it’ll never come back,” he said.

We certainly wouldn’t mess with Sam.

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