mine’s lame compared to most of these, but i met clinton kelly(co-host of “what not to wear” on TLC) in may when he was in orlando doing a book signing. he complimented my outfit and i about died of excitement. i can’t imagine how i’d react if i met an actual A-lister.
One of my favorite family vacations was spent visiting the Smithsonian, and my parents, my younger sister (about 7 yrs old) and myself (~ age 10) went to see the new MASH exhibit. I was trying to talk my dad into getting me a MASH 4077th t-shirt, when my sister said loudly, “Hey! That’s Klinger!”. I looked up and it was Jamie Farr with a few other men in suits. Suddenly, everyone in earshot started to mob poor Mr. Farr and chased him out to his limo. It was brief, but memorable, and I tease her about to this day.
Many years ago, I worked on Capitol Hill in DC (1966-1982). I worked for a few Senators who never really achieved the status of celebrity, but of course saw many others in the corridors and elevators. I saw Bobby Kennedy ducking his head rather shyly as tourists recognized him. I once shook hands with Bob Dole (left-handed). I worked for 3 years in the office of Senator Thomas Dodd, whose son Chris visited the office from time to time, long before he followed in his father’s footsteps. And in my last job there, I worked in the office next door to Senator Biden. He used to visit the office I was in because we had a huge kettle of candy right next to the hallway door. He’d stop by for candy on his way to the floor of the Senate. Sometimes he’d stick his head in and say hello, sometimes all we saw was the door opening a few inches, a hand snaking in and scooping up some candy, and the door closing again. During that last stint, I also saw John Glenn, most notably at a softball game between his staff and ours – I was working for the other Senator from Ohio at the time. The contrast was somewhat comical. Glenn showed up in gray slacks and navy blazer, smoking a pipe and mostly just quietly observing from the sidelines. My boss showed up in khakis and an Izod shirt, insisted on taking a turn at bat, and even got as far as first base. The differences were also reflected between the two staff groups. After the game, both groups went to a local bar/restaurant for beer and pizza. Glenn’s staff sat politely at their tables, sipped their beers, and ate their pizza. Our crew jumped up on the tables, spilled their beers, and threw their pizza across the room.
While working on the Hill, I also met George Takei at a reception sponsored by a number of mass transit organizations. At the time he was working for BART in San Francisco. I saw him and nudged the friend who was with me. She, being less restrained and more excited, shouted out “Sulu!” So he came over and chatted with us for a few minutes. Very nice and friendly guy.
Barry Goldwater.
This was around 1988 or so. I was a co-op student at Comsat Laboratories in Maryland, and Mr. Goldwater sat on the board of directors (or something like that). One day he paid a visit to the small lab I was working in. He was in a wheelchair, and some guy in a nice suit was pushing him. The only people in the lab were me, my boss, Barry, and the dude pushing him around.
I guess he’s not all that famous (at least not yet), but the son of my first cousin is Stevie Brock. I see him at our family parties from time to time.
I’ve met a lot of Nobel prize winners and other famous scientists, but none of them are household names. I suppose the current Secretary of Energy is the most widely known of them.
The nicest celebrity I’ve met was James Earl Jones. I was a bellman and helped him with a lot of luggage to his room. He was very personable, really does stutter, and as soon as he was in the room put a picture of his wife and son on the bedside table.
The nastiest was the comedian Gallagher, who is a total little douche demon. Apparently stories about him are legendary; when he had several heart attacks recently there wasn’t exactly an outpouring of support from the comedian community (and there usually is when it’s somebody who at least used to be big). (While I met him in the mid-1990s, I understand that in recent years he’s become a mean spirited homophobic misogynistic Tea Party comic; also plays venues that he wouldn’t have gone near at his height.)
I’ve met a few. Some are sports guys that honestly, I didn’t know much about, but I was working events where they spoke…
Ron Jaworski
Rocky Bleier
Derek Daly (Former Formula 1 racer)
Vince Papale (subject of the movie Invincible)
There are definitely more in this vein, but those are the ones that come to mind. Otherwise…
I met Cary Elwes at a nightclub in DC. The club was shutting down, it was around 5 or so in the morning, and we spoke very briefly.
I met Ollie North at a pig pickin’ when I was a kid
I met Bam (of Jackass fame) at a club in dc.
Eddie Izzard, after one of his shows (does that count?)
A lot of club DJs that would only be famous to a certain, small audience
I used to work for a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist in his home office. I don’t know if he is famous enough to count for this thread, but he certainly moved in fascinating circles. He was friends with Jackie O, the Hearst family, a few different royal families, etc. His daughter, who is a dear friend, came up to me at an event and said, would you like to meet the Crown Prince of Greece? WHY, YES, yes, I would. He was charming.
I know there are some more, but cant bring them to mind at the moment……
WOW…this thread had me take an inventory, so here goes:
Rock Hudson: 1950’s, he was distant relative–I was very young and I remember him being nice to a little kid.
Deacon Jones: 1970’s [after he retired], a very humble man who was working with my father for awhile–asked me if I wanted I tryout for the Rams. I was surprised at how small in stature he was and he was surprised that my 5’7" father could have such a huge kid.
Lesley-Anne Down: 1970’s, told her she better move her purse because the guy behind her had just spilled a coke on the theater floor. She acted like that was the funniest thing anyone had ever said to her.
Marissa Berenson: 1970’s, same performance as above–BTW. She was the oddest looking woman that I have ever met. Made me realize the wonders that Scavullo, et al, can do for magazine shoots.
Telly Savalas: 1976, Ceasar’s Palace. He acted just like Kojack, enuff said.
Sen. John Kyle, 2000: fundraiser; ultimate politician. When he was talking to you it felt as though you were the only one in the room (of 1000 others). Then he turned to talk to the next person, and you were gone–and the person we was now talking to felt the same way that you just felt. And then he turned to the next person…It is astounding that some people have this ability. If you have never had it happen to you, you cannot believe it.
Bill Clinton: 2002 LR, Ar. See above. Truly, these guys have some DNA that others do not.
Dennis Franz: 1990’s, LA Airport–nice guy actually, even though he was obviously hung over.
Debbie Gibson: sat next to her on a flight to NYC from LAX right after her big hit (1980’s?); Very pretty young lady and very shy. She was OK, but her entourage was insufferable. Felt really sorry for her.
Arlene Golonka: 1980’s, SFA in BH, Ca; just as ditzy in real life. Asked me to help her find her car in the SFA parking lot. She could not remember where she parked or what kind of car she was driving that day, so “let’s just walk around and I’ll recognize it when I see it”. What a hoot she was.
Morely Safer: NYC late 90’s; just your normal NY’er doing some shopping on Park Ave.
Barbara Walters: 2008 Ceasar’s Palace; WOAH! She must have some serious make-up’age going on when she is on the air. Either that or vaseline on the lens.
Prince Andrew, NYC 1997 benefit theater performance and dinner; very gracious and made it a point to compliment something about everyone he said hello to without making it look like an ordeal or that it was all fakery. I am in awe of people that can do this.
Spielberg and Irving, 1985, Santa Barbara @ Plow & Angel. They ate, we ate–I sent a note over asking for an autograph on the menu for our wedding anniversary. he complied Then later stopped over and he and Amy said congratulations–which he obviously didn’t have to do. So he is OK with me.
Michael McKean, 1994, Agoura, sat behind him and his kids while watching a move. Good dad.
and the best for last…
Cary Grant: 1979, Magic Castle, came in behind us to watch the show in the “big room”. The air kind of went out of the place and everybody turned around to see what was happening. And there he was, impeccable grey suit and white hair. Any woman in the place [including my 24 y.o. wife] would have left with him. WOW, just wow. What Michael Caine said: “He is responsible for raising a generation of non-slobs”.