# Celebrities you don't, or can't, recognize **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 24, 2025, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755 "2025-05-24T18:53:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/21 "2025-05-26T02:56:38Z")
> [@Zoobi](#): > > George Clooney was famously in ER and then he had pretty established career in major movies. And so? Does that mean everyone shoudl be able to spot him at a dinner? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/22 "2025-05-26T03:01:16Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Does that mean everyone shoudl be able to spot him at a dinner? I think that Clooney is pretty danged striking, and has a distinctive look. If I saw him at a restaurant, I’d find him to be very recognizable. YMMV. [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjEyMTEyOTQ0MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzU3NTMzNw@@._V1_.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjEyMTEyOTQ0MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzU3NTMzNw@@._V1_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/23 "2025-05-26T03:02:08Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I think that Clooney is pretty danged striking, and has a distinctive look. If I saw him at a restaurant, I’d find him to be very recognizable. Good on you. And so? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/24 "2025-05-26T03:06:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Good on you. And so? No matter how famous and recognizable a celebrity is, there will always be people who either have no clue who they are, don’t find them to be recognizable, and/or don’t care. That _is_ why I stuck in the “YMMV.” So you wouldn’t recognize him. Good on you? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/25 "2025-05-26T03:12:22Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > So you wouldn’t recognize him. Good on you? **That is the whole concept of this thread.**** “Celebrities you don’t, or can’t recognize”.** Note i also answered the OP- > [@DrDeth](#): > > Most of them. and i went on to show i was never any good at recognizing celebrities. But two posters have decided that everyone MUST be able to recognize him at a glance. Note that many posters her have admitted they couldnt recognize _other famous people-_ are you gonna correct them also? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/26 "2025-05-26T03:15:09Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Note that many posters her have admitted they couldnt recognize _other famous people-_ are you gonna correct them also? It was not my intention to correct you, nor anyone else. My apologies if you took it that way. Dropping it. ---
**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/27 "2025-05-26T03:36:34Z")
No. I was just trying to be helpful. I sounded like you might not have realized he was a quite famous actor. I didn’t realize you had such a temper I will bow out now so as not to offend anymore. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/28 "2025-05-26T03:39:25Z")
> [@Zoobi](#): > > I didn’t realize you had such a temper I will bow out now so as not to offend anymore. One post would have been fine, but three for two posters? I mean- read the OP- it is about celebrities you DONT recognize. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/29 "2025-05-26T03:45:14Z")
[Zooey Deschanel is famous for her trademark bangs.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Flickr_-_Genevieve719_-_Zooey_Deschanel_%288%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/250px-Flickr_-_Genevieve719_-_Zooey_Deschanel_%288%29_%28cropped%29.jpg) [When she adopted a different hairstyle, it was hard to recognize her.](https://cdn01.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/deschanel-proves/zooey-deschanel-without-bangs-02.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/30 "2025-05-26T03:52:41Z")
Moderating: > [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@Zoobi](#): > > > > I didn’t realize you had such a temper I will bow out now so as not to offend anymore. > > One post would have been fine, but three for two posters? I mean- read the OP- it is about celebrities you DONT recognize. Please stick to the topic, and don’t get personal. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/31 "2025-05-26T03:57:31Z")
“recognizing George Clooney” is in the news because Biden didn’t. But also, Biden actually knew the guy personally and is a politician, and politicians are good at recognizing people. Fwiw, the photo doesn’t look at all familiar to me. But I’ve never met him, and I’m partially face blind. I’d be a terrible politician. Yes, it’s surprising (in a bad way) that Biden didn’t recognize him. Like when my MIL leaned over and whispered to me too ask who “that handsome young man” was (my son, her grandson.) Or like when my mother was delighted to meet her charming adult grandson. I basically don’t recognize celebrities. I’ve been at the airport when the people i was traveling with were all in a buzz because they recognized a celebrity. Looked like a middle aged white guy in a suit to me. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/32 "2025-05-26T05:06:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > **That is the whole concept of this thread.** **“Celebrities you don’t, or can’t recognize”.** Actually, what I was originally asking about was celebrities who, _even once you know who they are_, have changed so much that you see nothing familiar about them. I remember Lynda Carter playing Wonder Woman in the 70s. I remember thinking there was something very distinctive about her smile. She did a cameo in one of the movies; that’s probably the most recent thing I’ve seen her in. She still looks great, and quite recognizable. The thing is, she could let her hair go gray, and all the other things that happen to us as we age, but as long as she still had that same smile, there’d be something familiar about her. That’s the sort of thing I was asking about; whether other people experience something like that, and with whom. I’m not sure I’d recognize very many celebrities if I encountered them in the wild. But once someone pointed out George Clooney to me, I hope I’d recognize his voice, or his eyes, or something. Somewhat related, and maybe worth a thread of its own, but I’m terrible at trying to describe people. Even when I recognize them, I can’t put it into words. If I ever witness a crime, and the police have me talk to a sketch artist, it would be a waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/33 "2025-05-26T06:49:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And so? Does that mean everyone shoudl be able to spot him at a dinner? Again with the Biden? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/34 "2025-05-26T07:01:53Z")
> [@Zoobi](#): > > ER And in _E/R_. Yes, they are different shows. Clooney was in both. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/35 "2025-05-26T11:05:00Z")
John Cullum > **[John Cullum](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cullum)** > > John Cullum (born March 2, 1930) is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in many stage musicals and dramas, including Shenandoah (1975) and On the Twentieth Century (1978), winning the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for each. In 1966 he gained his first Tony nomination as the lead in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, in which he introduced the title song, and more recently received Tony nominations for Urinetown The Musical (2002) (Best Actor in a Musical) and as Out... He’s in one of my favorite movies - 1776 as Rutledge, the representative from South Carolina. In later years, he’s been Mark Greene’s father on ER and Mike’s father on The Middle, and any number of other roles, but I just don’t see him as the same guy. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/36 "2025-05-26T11:14:31Z")
To be fair, **DrDeth** DID start his post by saying he would not recognize MOST celebs. I wasn’t sure why he named Clooney. I hadn’t noticed him mentioned previously in this thread. Since Clooney has been a MAJOR MOVIE STAR and his face has been plastered just about everywhere in print and film for several decades, I find it curious that someone wouldn’t recognize him. He CERTAINLY is more “famous” than my suggestion - Anthony Michael Hall, and many others suggested. But, for someone who does not recognize MOST celebs, I’ll happily accept that Clooney was just chosen off of a near infinite list. In the gaps of knowledge area, just yesterday I was driving with my BIL - a big White Sox fan, and I shocked him that I could not name a single current Sox of Cub player. We both live in the Chicago area and I read the Chicago Trib daily. Some folk just have knowledge gaps that are surprising to others. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/37 "2025-05-26T14:46:10Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > That’s the sort of thing I was asking about; whether other people experience something like that, and with whom. I’m not sure I’d recognize very many celebrities if I encountered them in the wild. Okay, then I’m out i basically don’t recognize celebrities who haven’t changed their appearance. It’s unusual that i recognize an actor I’ve seen in other shows. It happens, but not so consistently that it would be weird for me to not notice. Sorry to interrupt a fun thread. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/38 "2025-05-26T14:49:23Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > In the gaps of knowledge area, just yesterday I was driving with my BIL - a big White Sox fan, and I shocked him that I could not name a single current Sox of Cub player. To be fair, the Sox have had a massive amount of roster turnover in the last couple of years, have essentially zero stars left on the team, and their _manager_ probably couldn’t name most of them. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/39 "2025-05-26T14:58:23Z")
Holling on ‘Northern Exposure’ for years - he looked much the same on his stint on ‘ER’. (he sang a bit of ‘They Call the Wind Mariah’ on an episode, it was spine-tingling good - wished there had been more). ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755/40 "2025-05-26T15:04:07Z")
Now that you mention that, I recall that episode [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-you-dont-or-cant-recognize/1018755.md?page=3)