# Famous people you've seen in person **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 27, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995 "2009-03-27T15:09:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/1 "2009-03-27T15:09:22Z")
If you were close enough to see the person with the unaided human eye (I’m going to discount telescopes and binoculers here), share that fact with the rest of us! Here’s my list of celebrity sightings: Bill Clinton James Taylor Bill Maher George Carlin Steven Hawking ---
**Author:** ![Lungfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d78d45/32.png) [@Lungfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lungfish)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/2 "2009-03-27T15:22:49Z")
The only famous person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting was one of the Proclaimers. We met while we were standing at adjacent urinals in one of Edinburghs’ finest public houses nearly 4 years ago. And, no I didn’t ask him how far he had to walk home. (500 miles I suppose.) ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/3 "2009-03-27T15:22:56Z")
Shook hands with Richard Nixon. Talked with Michael Hedges. Got a hug from Elizabeth Montgomery. ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/4 "2009-03-27T15:24:33Z")
I’ve met and had my picture taken with: Robert Guillaume Willie Tyler AND Lester I’ve also moshed with Sebastian Bach at a Motorhead show. And once, GE Smith was ahead of me on line at the library. I found out later it was because he was performing there, but I didn’t actually see the performance. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/5 "2009-03-27T15:26:43Z")
Franco Harris (he did a signing at the local mall back the first time the Steelers were winning Superbowls) Liza Minnelli (went to a benefit concert in Baltimore…met her at the stage door) Christine Baranski (saw the Kennedy Center production of Mame a couple of years ago) Harriet Sansom Harris (also the KC Mame) The Beach Boys Tommy James Chubby Checker The Crystals Leslie Gore Davey Jones Little Anthony The Grassroots (all of the above singers/bands were at a series of oldies concerts) Duran Duran (concert at the Tower Theater about four years ago) Jimmy Carter (whistlestop tour during the 1980 campaign) Dolly Parton (concert in Hershey last year) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/6 "2009-03-27T15:34:50Z")
George H. W. Bush shook my hand and talked to me for a bit. He’s much, MUCH more charismatic in person. And extremely tall. Strom Thurmond used to come to my dad’s company’s box at Clemson home games all the time and drink the free booze. He always called me “sugar”. I met Gwendolyn Brooks at a book signing and speaking thing at undergrad. Ditto Stephen Jay Gould. I won’t count concerts and stuff - it shouldn’t count unless you spoke to them, shook their hand, or saw them at a party or something. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/7 "2009-03-27T15:36:19Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I won’t count concerts and stuff - it shouldn’t count unless you spoke to them, shook their hand, or saw them at a party or something. 🙂 I thought about that, but it wasn’t specified in the OP so I figured they counted by the rules presented. ---
**Author:** ![mauxlicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@mauxlicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mauxlicious)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/8 "2009-03-27T15:38:49Z")
I saw Bob Hope in an airport when I was young. I shook hands with and had a photo taken with David Bowie during his last tour. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/9 "2009-03-27T15:41:34Z")
Jimmy Carter and Lester Maddox (Maddox is more infamous) (Georgia Governors) Cris Collinsworth (2x), Boomer Esaison, Corey Dillon (Cincinnati Bengals) Drew Carey (Comedian) Elliot Gould (Actor) Richard Belzer (Actor/Comedian) Jay Leno (Comedian) Tom Flores (Raiders and Seahawks Head Coach) Ron Jeremy (Porn actor) Paul O’Neill, Chris Szabo (Cincinnati Reds) Eric Wynalda, Rob Stone and Scott Garlick (Soccer players / ESPN Soccer announcer) Monte Kiffin (Bucs Defensive Coordinator) Wilber Marshall, Eric Swann (NFL Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals / Florida Gators) Charles S Dutton (actor) Brady Anderson (Orioles baseball) Clay Buchholz (Red Sox baseball) I think I missed a few. Met a female pornstar once at a bar, but didn’t recognizer (she told me she did adult work). I didn’t really believe her but Googled at home and found out she was who she said she was. Drawing a total blank on her porn name. Only counting people I spoke with or could have reached out and swatted. Most of these are sports folks. Mainly, because I tend to recognize or remember them. ---
**Author:** ![Tupug\_Anachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tupug\_Anachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tupug_Anachi)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/10 "2009-03-27T15:42:35Z")
Angie Dickinson Tennesee Williams F. Lee Bailey John Mellancamp Andy Kaufman Leslie Nielsen Warren Oates New York mayor John Lindsay Not including performers in events I’ve attended. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Tompkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/258eb7/32.png) [@Jeff\_Tompkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Tompkins)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/11 "2009-03-27T15:42:35Z")
Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Katie Holmes, Michael J. Fox, Bill Clinton, Bill Murray, Reese Witherspoon, Stephen Colbert ---
**Author:** ![Dryfreeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@Dryfreeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dryfreeze)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/12 "2009-03-27T15:44:17Z")
Hmm, I’ll just say one, and he was an Ass. Bruce Willis. He stayed at the same tiny FOB I was at in Mosul, Iraq. He was hanging out at the chai bar with his shades on ignoring any and all troops that came to talk to him. A few of us tried to chat him up and he was just a jerk. Uhg. JERK! Edit: Ok I’ll add the rest: Ben Folds (my idol) Reggie Miller (grabbing a sandwich in town) Karem Abdul Jabar (at a gas station) Donny Rumsfield (jack ass) Oprah (at Ft. Campbell for the worlds largest baby shower) Cindy Crawford (see above - absolutely gorgeous) ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/13 "2009-03-27T15:47:56Z")
The most famous person that I’ve been reasonably close to (but not actually met) was Bertrand Russell at a [Committee of 100](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_of_100_(United_Kingdom)) demonstration in London (he would have been about 89 years old, and I was about 16 years old – it was my first demonstration). ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/14 "2009-03-27T15:54:13Z")
Peter Yarrow - Had dinner at his house John Kerry - Saw him shaking hands outside my house in NY during the campaign on St. Marks Place Sarah Michelle Gellar - She was eating at the Italian place by my house in Little Italy Timothy Hutton - Used to hang out with him Kevin Bacon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Harvey Keitel and many others - passed on the street Marilyn Manson and his band - Was signing autographs at Virgin when I went to a screening of some film I forget which Governor David Paterson - Met him when I did sound for an event he spoke at when he was a Senator Neal Stephenson - Met at a book signing Scarlett Johanssen - Met her at a screening for a short where her brother Adrian played someone loosely based on me. She was like 16 at the time, it was right after the Horse Whisperer. Joey Ramone - He was at Coney Island High on St. Marks once Peter Steele - He used to go to a club I went to. En Esch from KMFDM - He used to go to clubs I went to Rudy Giuliani - Gave a speech right below my window in Little Italy That’s all I can think of. Living in New York you see celebrities all the time and there are certainly more. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/15 "2009-03-27T15:56:06Z")
Gregory Peck Cecilia Peck Lauren Bacall - I was an extra in a movie with the three of them when they made a film in Raleigh. They used our movie theater to run their dailies and I saw them every night for at least a month. Have my picture made with: Carlos Mencia James Denton (Mike on Desperate Housewives) Several NHL (or former NHL) players: Glen Wesley - he’s a good friend of my boss and I’ve driven his car and been to his house Rod Brind’Amour Cam Ward John Grahame Michael Leighton Scott Walker Ray Whitney Eric Staal Sergei Samsonov Frank Kaberle Mike Zigamanis Amazing Johnathan Carrot Top Dave Attell I’ll be able to add Terry Fator in May. I know there are more, but I’m not remembering them right now. I’m not counting concerts and shows where I just saw them on stage. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/16 "2009-03-27T16:02:51Z")
I yelled “Hey Evil” at Evil Knievel from a passing van when I was a little kid. A couple friends and I saw Michelle Pheifer at the Dekalb Corn Fest about 10 years ago when she was in the area filming a movie. She was taking her kids on some rides and we just happened to take my friend’s daughter on the same rides. I met a former NFL lineman once in Vegas. I honestly don’t remember who it was, so I guess he wasn’t that famous. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/17 "2009-03-27T16:23:49Z")
If we stick to people I’ve seen UP CLOSE… The Dixie Chicks (they used to play trivia games regularly at a local Irish bar I frequented. I sat close to them several times by chance, but never talked to them. They were usually with friends and family, and I could never think of any good reason to bother them.) “Jungle Jack” Hanna Chuck Jones Ted Koppell Bob Lilly Ann Richards Tommy Smothers Cheryl Tiegs Tom Wolfe ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/18 "2009-03-27T16:25:29Z")
Oh, and of course, Regis Philbin, whom I met for about 5 seconds during my taping of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” (I never made it to the Hot Seat, and didn’t win a cent.) ---
**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:** [March 27, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/19 "2009-03-27T16:27:40Z")
Just going with some of the high points here: **Buckminster Fuller** (giving a speech, about a year before his death) **Stephen Hawking** (speech and reception) **Chuck Yeager** (speech at the Smithsonian, 50th anniversary of first supersonic flight) **Bill Clinton** (speech and handshake line during '96 campaign) **Roger Ebert** (speech, Q&A, and booksigning) **Simon and Garfunkel** (concert during their '82-'83 tour) **John Lithgow** (singing and reading one of his children’s books) **Mitt Romney** (two rows ahead of me on an airplane, while he was governor) **Bob Gainey** ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995/20 "2009-03-27T16:29:13Z")
quite a few, special mention for Thom Yorke who was a complete douche. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-youve-seen-in-person/490995.md?page=2)