If I ever manage to catch a “What celebrities have you met?” thread, I’d be sure to include people I’ve bumped into on the street (Dubya, Kerry), people whose daughters I’ve known (Art Buchwald, Maynard Ferguson), and people for whom I’ve done software support (Julia Child).
But there is a special category of celebrities – those I knew before they were famous.
You’ve probably never heard of Paul Lidel, but he was a famous rock star. I was in a band with him when we were teenagers.
You’ve probably never heard of B-movie actress Karen Mistal, but I was in a band with her as well.
Singer Paul Warfield (Showboat) was in my house once.
Screenwriter Gordy Hoffman (Love, Liza) was my bestest friend when I was a kid.
And of course I knew his bratty little brother, Phil . We’re all proud of Phil.
And now comes the latest news – When I was a senior in high school, I was in the pit band of The Sound of Music. We had a bunch of children in the cast. One was Cory English. I knew his brothers, but didn’t get along with them well. And Cory wasn’t particularly talented, but he tried damn hard. A few years later he was in a dance class with my mother. Once again, not great, but he really tried. He stood out as the only male in the class. And I knew he’d be going places someday.
And go places he did. Apparently, The Producers is currently touring the UK. Nathan Lane suffered an injury and cannot perform. His understudy, who is now playing the role, is Cory English.
Mine too. When I last saw his family, it was not on friendly terms. My sister had a nasty split with the his older sister, Gordy and I were sworn enemies (after years of friendship) and our respective mothers vowed never to speak with each other. When I heard that Phil became an actor, I wished him ill will for some reason. But after seeing him in a bunch of movies, I realize what an awesome talent he is, and look forward to any chance to see him in another movie.
I still harbor some resentment, however, because of when we used to play Partridge Family. Phil was always Chris, Gordy was always Danny, and our friend Doug was Keith. I always got stuck playing Reuben Kinkaid. What a gype. :mad:
Imagine my first day of high school, after having moved to a new town. I didn’t know a single soul in my new school, and I was feeling pretty lonely and scared. I walked into my first class following lunch, which was chorus, and in walked this drop-dead gorgeous girl, who gave me a big friendly smile. It was Karen.
High school can be a pretty segregated place, with sharp divisions between the jocks, freaks, nerds, etc. Normally a girl that looks like Karen wouldn’t condescend to throw even a hurtful glance at a guy like me. But Karen wasn’t like that. She would be friends with anyone. She was a close friend of mine until she graduated. I just can’t say enough good things about her.
In fact, we entered the school’s Gong Show with a song that we wrote together. We later took that song into the recording studio. Then we formed a band. Unfortunately, she quit it a few months later, because she had enough insight to realize that we sucked. It broke my heart, but she made the only sensible decision.
[list=A]
[li]A cousin who was a drummer in a major Metal band, & who now has his own group.[/li][li]A couple of cousins who play in symphony orchestras[/li][li]An ancestor who owned & operated the first steel foundry in Allegheny County. Pennsylvania.[/li][li] Another who was a part onwer in the second & third oil wells ever drilled, anywhere in the world.[/li][li]A distant cousin, who was nominated for a Nobel Prize, in Economics.[/li][/list]
The only relative I know of who became famous held the office of President. Another relative (with the same last name) started a major vacuum cleaner company.
One relative was a cabinet member during the Lincoln administration, but he could hardly be considered famous.
I got all excited a few weeks ago when I found out that I’m related to the guy that painted the famous Coca-Cola Santa Claus. Until a few days later when my mother informed me that we’re not in fact related, we just share a very rare surname. Surprising, considering that the surname was invented by my great great great grandfather.
Of all the celebrities I’ve run into on the street, talked to on the phone, knew their daughters, etc., there is only one that I’ve actually met – Joey McIntyre, of New Kids on the Block.
It was at a benefit show to dedicate the refurbishing of America’s oldest community theatre, the biggest benefactor of which was McIntyre’s family. This is largely the reason why his sister consistantly lands the biggest roles in every production there (as well as being fabulously talented). In fact, up until a few years ago, I would often see her on the subway, and she would always give me a cheery hello.
FWIW, McIntyre’s performance was an a capella rendition of Gary Indiana.
One of my high-school classmates is reasonably prominent (I think) on the improv comedy circuit, with a resume that includes Improv Olympic, the Second City National Touring Company, Unnatural Acts and Modern Problems in Science as well as solo performances at festivals including Edinburgh and Melbourne.
Two guys who were a couple of years behind me in high school were executive producers of The Simpsons for several seasons.
