# Ever met anyone famous? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 16, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867 "2008-09-16T18:06:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![mariposalabrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@mariposalabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mariposalabrown)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/141 "2008-09-25T23:04:24Z")
Being a theatre major who has worked on movies and tv shows and lived in LA for awhile I’ve met: Michael Rappaport (exactly the same as he appears on tv, nice guy) Jeri Ryan (very short, wasn’t as pretty in real life, kind of cold) Sandra Bullock (absolutely gorgeous, funny, sweet, you can laugh and have beers with her, she was drinking Shiner at the time, but this was in Austin) Eliza Dushku (tiny, bitch, very pretty) Adam Goldberg (he can suck it. He screamed at me at a bar in Silverlake, so I hate him but secretly think he’s pretty great in movies) Jeff Goldblum (tall as hell, very nice) George Hamilton (goodlooking, even more orange in real life, if you can believe that) Matthew McConaughy (stunk to high heaven, covered in sweat, super outgoing and very very friendly) Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham (both gorgeous, Alexis’s eyes are the bluest I’ve ever seen) Peter Gallagher (short, his eyebrows are his main feature, very nice) Owen Wilson (a month after his suicide attempt, hotter than I could ever imagine, his nose looks much more normal in real life) Andrew Wilson (his older brother, I think? Pussy hound. Little bitch) Dane Cook (someone told me he says he doesn’t do drugs. He lies) William Shatner (freaking awesome. Very flirty) Seen in the Wild: Nicole Richie (very short, this was before she got skinny and was not attractive at all, seemed nice) Lindsay Lohan (this was when she was 17 or so, just saw her screaming at a girl and got kicked out of a bar in Hollywood, very pretty, kickass outfit) The Janitor from Scrubs (singing karoake, looked exactly like on tv) And if anyone watches soap operas, a good friend that I did theatre with in high school is now playing Johnny Zacara on General Hospital. We all think it’s hysterical that he has all these fansites and stuff. Nicest guy you will ever meet. There are many more, I’m drawing a blank though. Oh yeah. I saw someone on the first page mentioned mc chris. He put me in his song “Yachtbirds”. I am the girl the last verse is about. He hates me now, and I don’t know why, but oh well. ---
**Author:** ![mariposalabrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@mariposalabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mariposalabrown)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/142 "2008-09-25T23:15:34Z")
Darn, you only get one edit? Ok, I forgot my most amazing one! (Well at least to me): Marcel Marceau. Came and talked to the theatre department in 2001 at UT. Yes, he spoke. Small flexible man, absolutely amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/143 "2008-09-26T01:18:30Z")
The late Michael Hedges. He was performing at Rockefeller’s in Houston back in the day. Did a two show set and I happened to stumble across him between the sets and spent a great 15 minutes talking guitars with him. ---
**Author:** ![Darwinian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Darwinian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwinian)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/144 "2008-09-26T06:18:35Z")
Michael Chamberlain came into the newspaper library where I worked to do some research on one of the various appeals to get Lindy out of gaol. Seemed quite nice. Saw Billy Connolly walking down the mall when he was in town to do a show. Have seen several Federal and Territory pollies in the mall including Senator Neville Bonner. Met Jon English at an autograph signing session and Michael Keating (Vila from Blake’s 7) at the theatre door. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/145 "2008-09-26T18:58:38Z")
Had dinner with Bret Easton Ellis, during which it was apparent that all his dickhead characters were likely based on himself. Antonin Scalia, also pretty much of a dick. JFK Jr. Terribly nice. Not THAT famous, but Earl Klugh (several occasions). ---
**Author:** ![festiva76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@festiva76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/festiva76)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/146 "2008-09-26T20:03:16Z")
I once sat a few seats down from James Brown waiting for a seat at Olive Garden in Augusta…his bodygaurd was freakin huge! I was surprised he had to sit and wait just like I did. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/147 "2008-09-26T21:45:05Z")
Let’s see: I met Mark McGwire, but I didn’t know who it was until later. I’ve met lots of famous poets–well, persons famous in the poetry community–as I haunt readings. Robert Bork at a lecture. Oh, and I tried to fuck Mary Gaitskill once. Oh, and I knew Shelby Foote; he lived down the street from my college and was friends with a couple of my professors, who introduced us. Foote once accused me of wasting my life & talent. So I’ve been bitchslapped by a famous person. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/148 "2008-09-26T22:47:42Z")
I just remembered- twice visited Forrest J. Ackerman in his home. (Health permitting, he does weekly tours of his SciFi/Fantasy/Horror-movie memorabilia collection.) Also, met him, Dolores Fuller, Conrad Brooks, Paul Marco & Rev. Lyn Lemon at the Hollywood premiere of “The Haunted Mind of Edward Wood Jr.” Mu brother also met Bela Lugosi Jr. there. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/149 "2008-09-27T08:34:07Z")
Earlier today I delivered food to a theater; when I got there I discovered Janis Ian was playing tonight. Then, it turned out my delivery was for her. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/150 "2008-09-27T17:35:48Z")
“Famous” is a relative term, but…here goes. Spotted briefly but never approached: Chuck Connors Patrick Stewart Ed Begley, Jr. Tom Welling Stephen Collins ---
**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:** [September 27, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/151 "2008-09-27T18:04:57Z")
I once walked six blocks with Christopher Reeve (yes, he walked). When he was doing 5th of July in NYC, I met him at the stage door and asked him if he could sign my window card from the show. He asked me where I got it and I told him “At the store up there.” So he asked me to walk him to the store so he could get some. We went into the store together and he bought six of them. Years later I got my hands on one with Richard Thomas, who replaced Reeve. These were not distributed to the public. I waited on line to have Thomas sign it, and his mouth fell open when he saw it. Needless to say, those two window cards are shining gems in my theatre collection. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/152 "2008-09-28T00:05:10Z")
Had to stand in a line once while Prince Andrew (4th in line to the throne) wandered by shaking hands. Fun times. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/153 "2008-09-28T00:44:28Z")
Ooh, I’d forgotten this until I read some of the other replies: I met Robert Rodriguez once, when doing research for a software product I worked on. This happened after _El Mariachi_, during work on _Desperado_. Robert was finishing up _Desperado_, and we talked about his editing style, and what he liked/hated about the NLE he used ([Lightworks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightworks)). He was a nice guy, but very intense. ---
**Author:** ![st.opus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@st.opus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/st.opus)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/154 "2008-09-28T02:04:56Z")
I’ve had the opportunity to meet quite a few college basketball players, coaches, refs, and NBA scouts. Most are incredibly friendly. Jerry West, Larry Bird and Kevin McHale - often hounded by autograph fans they are patient but not overly friendly in public [Walter Szczerbiak](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Szczerbiak) - [Wally Szczerbiak’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szczerbiak) dad - a great guy to talk to, very fun Hung around an autograph session for Terry Bradshaw - very friendly and patient with everyone, very funny [Marty Blake](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_Blake)(Director of Scouting for the NBA) - has had a fascinating life in the sporting world [Gary Gygax](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Gygax) - watched him run a special D&D table game at a dragon con, had the chance to chat with him a bit, definately a “fun to have a beer with” guy [Tom Clancy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Clancy)- stayed on the same floor of the hotel - polite with fans ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/155 "2008-09-28T02:43:04Z")
Hmm… let’s see… Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton. Actually got to spend some more time talking to the Senator, less with the former Prez. They’re both quite impressive one-on-one (though Bill’s starting to show signs of wear). Joe Biden George W Bush, very briefly, back when he was governor Max Cleland (former US Senator) Antonia Novello (Former US Surgeon General) Teller, of Penn & \_\_\_\_ (I dispensed medication to him when I worked at a hospital) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/156 "2008-09-28T03:17:00Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > … ninth-degree black belts at judo back when there were no tenth degrees alive. If the highest judo masters in the world are ninth degrees, who could determne when any of them reached the tenth degree? Do they fight to the death at the island fortress of a criminal mastermind during a solar eclipse to determine who gets that tenth degree? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/157 "2008-09-28T03:24:16Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > If the highest judo masters in the world are ninth degrees, who could determne when any of them reached the tenth degree? Do they fight to the death at the island fortress of a criminal mastermind during a solar eclipse to determine who gets that tenth degree? Solar eclipses don’t last long enough for such a fight. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/158 "2008-09-28T05:33:48Z")
I had front row seats and backstages passes to a Willie Nelson concert. He took us on both of his tour busses and signed my hat and took pictures with us and just chatted for about 30 minutes. He was wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Saratoga\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Saratoga\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saratoga_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/159 "2008-09-28T06:47:07Z")
Met in the wild… \*\*Richard Nixon \*\*- On a San Clemente Golf course in the summer of 1976. Very jowly sort of guy, with a blueish sheen to his cheeks and chin. Only two SS guys with him and his playing partner, whom I think was **Bebe Rebozo** but whose name I didn’t quite catch. \*\*Elvis Presley \*\*- At Meteor Crater near Winslow Arizona, in 1966. My sister, mom and myself were the only ones there beside EP and his entourage of three buddies and a gal friend. A bit like an eighth-grade field trip with that lot around… \*\*Jack Vance \*\* - SF/Fantasy author, very soft spoken guy with a droll sense of humor, around 1980. Sad to hear he’s since lost most of his sight. Spotted but not met… \*\*Leslie Caron \*\* at a small revival movie theater on Sunset Blvd in 1977. She and her family sat right in front of me. \*\*Zsa Zsa Gabor \*\* at same time and place; stood in ticket line ahead of me. \*\*Fernando Llamas \*\* at a Vons Grocery in Santa Monica around 1978. Someone yelled out “Hey, Fernando!”. Very uncool, no self-respecting Angeleno would do that. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867/160 "2008-10-08T21:24:56Z")
Got to chitchat with James Randi in person for a few minutes a week ago. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-met-anyone-famous/463867.md?page=9)