# A different six degrees game -- get thee to a celebrity **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 9, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532 "2007-02-09T18:31:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/41 "2007-02-09T21:02:38Z")
[QUOTE=LifeOnWry] And I had dinner with John Wayne Gacy. (Which is a great way to derail a thread or conversation, I’ve found.) [/QUOTE] A friend of mine went to school with one of his victims. That’s a degree or two too close. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/42 "2007-02-09T21:02:50Z")
[QUOTE=Asimovian] This one’s pretty easy. My Godmother is a location manager in the film industry [/QUOTE] Oh yeah, almost forgot. I once went on a date with the woman who is the set designer on almost every movie made in the northeast. She met lots of actors. She once accidentally yelled at Michael J Fox. Her apartment decorations were way cooler than your apartment decorations. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/43 "2007-02-09T21:21:18Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] My first concert evah! I wish I was you. [/QUOTE] I probably shouldn’t mention that I had no idea who they were then, should I? People kept interrupting our conversation to ask for autographs, and I finally said, “Who \*are \*you guys?” The guy on my right laughed and said, “Over on your left is Carlos Santana.” Blank look. “The guitar player?” he said, smiling. I got nothing. “Um…what band?” I finally asked. :smack: To be honest, I don’t remember the name of the really nice guy on my right who I talked to most with. Started with an “R”, I remember. Carlos himself was pretty quiet and napped a lot. It would have been right at the end of the '80’s when they were touring but before the whole “Crash” thing made them big for my generation. At the time I was 15 or so. More excited when my dad flew on a plane with Bon Jovi, to be honest. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/44 "2007-02-09T21:44:33Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] I probably shouldn’t mention that I had no idea who they were then, should I? People kept interrupting our conversation to ask for autographs, and I finally said, “Who \*are \*you guys?” The guy on my right laughed and said, “Over on your left is Carlos Santana.” Blank look. “The guitar player?” he said, smiling. I got nothing. “Um…what band?” I finally asked. :smack: To be honest, I don’t remember the name of the really nice guy on my right who I talked to most with. Started with an “R”, I remember. Carlos himself was pretty quiet and napped a lot. It would have been right at the end of the '80’s when they were touring but before the whole “Crash” thing made them big for my generation. At the time I was 15 or so. More excited when my dad flew on a plane with Bon Jovi, to be honest. [/QUOTE] That’s okay…I can still live vicariously through you since I know who they are! (I’ll be by to kiss your ring.) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/45 "2007-02-09T21:52:22Z")
I am 2 steps away from two actors in “The Big Lebowski.” (Via 2 different relatives.) Dude… ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/46 "2007-02-09T21:55:08Z")
I’ve met several rap stars in my office. And Al Sharpton. I know members of Wilson Picket’s family and heard about his death about 8 hours before it was announced. I also know ex-Jet Bruce Harper and Village People cop Ray Simpson. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/47 "2007-02-09T22:00:09Z")
My boss is friends with two famaous people. One owns a football team, the other plays bass in a very well-known rock band. I won’t say who, so if you think I’m going to be a patriot, dream on. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/48 "2007-02-09T22:00:39Z")
Celebrities I have met personally: Sondra Locke (Clint Eastwood’s co-star in several movies) Cherry Jones (broadway actress who’s been in quite a few movies, too) DJ Fontana (Elvis’s drummer) Hal Bynum (Country music songwriter) Mother Maybelle Carter Floyd Cramer Del Reeves ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/49 "2007-02-09T22:42:54Z")
Well, celebrity is relative. I don’t mean that I have famous relatives (I don’t), but that some people are celebrated in certain subcultures. When I was little, I don’t think I actually thought my family were famous, but thought my grandfather was sort of _known_ in the association of churches the family were affiliated with, when in fact he was mostly just _admired_ in a certain small subculture. That said, I think I’m from roughly the same part of the country as that Brad Pitt guy, & some guy at my friend Darin’s wedding apparently knew Pitt’s family, but I don’t know the exact connections. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/50 "2007-02-09T23:23:08Z")
My friend is John Cleese’s contractor. He got married at John’s ranch. I’ve got John’s old stereo cabinet sitting on my patio. I’ve almost sort of met him. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/51 "2007-02-09T23:26:24Z")
I was at high school with [Don McKellar](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001528/), who was in [Exotica](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109759/), a film by [Atom Egoyan](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000382/). But I don’t have to take such a roundabout route to Mr. Egoyan–I met him myself through another mutual friend back in the early 1980s. Also, a friend of mine used to spar with Chuck Norris when he came through town. [QUOTE=tdn] An old high school friend acted in Space Cowboys with Donald Sutherland… [/QUOTE] I had a friend in high school whose father went to school with Donald Sutherland. So let’s add these up: Me –\> My friend My friend –\> His Dad His Dad –\> Donald Sutherland Donald Sutherland –\> Your friend Your friend –\> You Looks like only five degrees separate us, **tdn**! ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/52 "2007-02-09T23:36:13Z")
I was in a children’s theatre production with Kathy Mattea. That puts me one degree away from all of the Nashville music scene, right? I was hit on by [Billy Edd Wheeler](http://www.billyeddwheeler.com/home.htm). That puts me one degree from everybody who recorded “The Reverend Mr. Black,” including The Kingston Trio, Bobby Darin, and Johnny Cash. I was in a theatre production directed by Edward Albee (he was an artist in residence at a college that was near me). That makes me a couple of degrees away from Elizabeth Taylor (“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wool?f”), so that makes me a couple of degrees away from…MICHAEL JACKSON! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/53 "2007-02-09T23:44:21Z")
I keep remembering more: a friend I used to teach with gave a blowjob to Jeff Lynne in a limo once, so that gets me ELO, the Travelling Wilbury’s, and through them the whole 80’s rock scene, not to mention Bob Dylan! ---
**Author:** ![NailBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NailBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NailBunny)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/54 "2007-02-09T23:46:20Z")
My grandmother’s second cousin was Bing Crosby. My mother went on a Star Trek cruise and met and became e-mail buddies with George Takei. I am good friends with Mark Hosler, one of the founding members of Negativland. Through him I also met the other members of the band, with the exception of The Weatherman. Through him I get Mark Mothersbaugh, Brian Eno, and tons of others. Mr. Bunny has met Tom Waits (used to come by the gas station he worked at in California every Friday night at 7:00 PM and they’d talk about books and radio dramas. Mr. Bunny never let on that he knew he was Tom Waits, even when one of his CD’s would be playing on his stereo as they spoke), Clive Barker, Glenn Danzig, and many Irish fiddle players well known in the community that I couldn’t possibly begin to name. Mr. Bunny Senior is good friends with R. Crumb. Meself, I have met Zach de la Rocha, Andrew Bird, Chuck Palahnuik, Bruce Campbell, all the members of Gogol Bordello, and while I didn’t exactly _meet_ him, I did get to hug and put my hands all over Robert Smith. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/55 "2007-02-09T23:48:01Z")
[QUOTE=Darryl Lict] My friend is John Cleese’s contractor. He got married at John’s ranch. I’ve got John’s old stereo cabinet sitting on my patio. I’ve almost sort of met him. [/QUOTE] John Cleese owns a _ranch_? That doesn’t sound right. Anyway, I once spent all St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin drinking with Robbie Robertson. I didn’t know who he was, and thought he was an asshole. And he was trying to get into my friend’s pants the whole time. ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/56 "2007-02-10T02:32:28Z")
My pathetic attempts at reflected glory 🆒 : My younger brother (known 'round these parts as **Lawoot** ) used to give **Sandra Bullock** backrubs when they were in theatre school together. (So if he finds this thread, of course, he’s automatically one degree closer than I am.) **Bill Watterson** and I were friends and classmates when we were kids. I’ve chatted with **Mike Keneally** several times. My fourth cousin is a third cousin of **HRH Elizabeth II.** :rolleyes: My third cousin is **Jack Waterford** , a prominent and respected Australian journalist. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/57 "2007-02-10T02:36:02Z")
[QUOTE=Kilvert’s Pagan] **Bill Watterson** and I were friends and classmates when we were kids. [/QUOTE] Hey I had a friend in College who went to HS with Bill Watterson (of Calvin and Hobbes fame, in case there is another one). He said the yearbook had all these Hobbes prototypes in it. Cool! ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/58 "2007-02-10T02:40:39Z")
[QUOTE=IvoryTowerDenizen] [QUOTE=Kilvert’s Pagan] **Bill Watterson** and I were friends and classmates when we were kids. QUOTE] Hey I had a friend in College who went to HS with Bill Watterson (of Calvin and Hobbes fame, in case there is another one). He said the yearbook had all these Hobbes prototypes in it. Cool! [/QUOTE] There’s an excellent chance I knew your college friend… the class in Chagrin Falls wasn’t that big and didn’t have that much turnover back then. I’ve been approached about the yearbook by C&H fans but, alas, I didn’t go to high school there and so don’t have one. I have seen it, though not since the late 70’s. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/59 "2007-02-10T02:43:35Z")
[QUOTE=Kilvert’s Pagan] [QUOTE=IvoryTowerDenizen] There’s an excellent chance I knew your college friend… the class in Chagrin Falls wasn’t that big and didn’t have that much turnover back then. I’ve been approached about the yearbook by C&H fans but, alas, I didn’t go to high school there and so don’t have one. I have seen it, though not since the late 70’s. [/QUOTE] My friend Erik and I were in college in the mid-80s, so I’m not sure if he said he actually overlapped with him, or just went to the same HS, now that I really think about it. He was a year ahead of me in college, so I guess he would have graduated in 1984. Bill Watterson and the Queen? That’s pretty cool. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532/60 "2007-02-10T02:54:59Z")
[QUOTE=IvoryTowerDenizen] [QUOTE=Kilvert’s Pagan] My friend Erik and I were in college in the mid-80s, so I’m not sure if he said he actually overlapped with him, or just went to the same HS, now that I really think about it. He was a year ahead of me in college, so I guess he would have graduated in 1984. [/QUOTE] Agreed. We were Class of '76. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-six-degrees-game-get-thee-to-a-celebrity/391532.md?page=4)