Just seeing, probably Princess Di.
Short conversation? I think Rick Astley probably counts as the best known.
Working event security, I had minor interactions with quite a lot of moderately famous people, but, much like with wildlife, unless I had to, I let them come to me, rather than trying to chase after them, so I rarely actually talked to them.
The only celeb that actually just wandered over to chat was comedian Rich Hall. Dunno how famous he is the other side of the pond.
They do - I met Penn a few months ago at their theater in Vegas after the show.
President George W. Bush at a campaign rally would have to be #1.
As for personal appearance I have a meet and greet photo with William Shatner.
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I’ve also been at campaign rallies for John Kerry and Al Gore. I got to see former President Bush speak on behalf of his son in a meeting room setting.
Attended a lecture on magic with guest speaker David Blaine in a lecture hall.
Met current New York Giants Coach Pat Shurmur about 20 years ago.
Have photos with Oscar Isaac, Dan Aykroyd, Larry Holmes and Olivia Wilde.
Buzz Aldrin was my college commencement speaker.
Was front row center (not my choice) for Neil Patrick Harris in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Seen Al Pacino on broadway. Was a few feet from Ed Asner and Paul Rudd entering the stage door.
If you want to go creepy I’ve met and shook hands with Chris Benoit.
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One more—-have a photo with Keegan Michael-Key.
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Used to go to the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles to watch wrestling in the 60’s. Long before any sort of security was enforced. We got there early and waited in the parking lot for the wrestlers to arrive and offered to carry their bags to the dressing room door. (Most obliged.) Buddy Austin, Bobo Brazil, El Mongol (speaking Spanish to his friends), Haystacks Calhoun, Pedro Morales, Gorilla Monsoon, The Destroyer and many more. All very friendly and happy to have a short conversation.
The President and Mrs. Obama, eight years ago: In which I meet the President and smooch the First Lady - Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share (MPSIMS) - Straight Dope Message Board
I saw the Queen when I was eight and she was in the Vancouver area. Princes Charles and Philip too.
I met Alice Cooper at a cd signing and had a brief conversation.
Bill and Hillary, Barack, and Reagan.
I saw the late Sen Ted Kennedy at a book signing. I could have spoken to him, but there was a long line (and I would have had to buy his book) A few other pols at book signings.
I walked past Al Roker on 15th St in Washington DC one day. He was just strolling along by himself. I said something like “Hey Al, looking good” (this was after his weight loss)
he said thanks. Seems like a nice dude.
Wow everyone has such cool stories lol I almost feel silly posting mine but I was pretty excited about it at the time and it’s the best I have.
I saw the ‘famous’ Brown sisters in San Francisco back around 2001 I think. I just saw them as I was waiting at a stop light and I couldn’t stop grinning. Totally made my day.
Bill and Hillary were in Uganda, Obama was in Portland, and Reagan was in Moscow when it was the USSR.
Shook hands with JFK.
Met Jesse Big Daddy Unruh and Scoop Jackson.
Had a long talk with Raquel Welch. She was waiting out her turn at a telethon, bored , and walked up and said “You dont look like our usual Security?” (i worked for a company that had almost all retired cops & military). I said No, I am working my way thru college. She asked what Major, and I said marine biology, and i found out she was interested in and knew a lot about cetaceans. We talked for a good half hour about whales & dolphins.Raquel is quite intelligent.
I met David Carradine, Johnny Carson, and several others.
I met the Grateful Dead, but only briefly as they walked by, i had a pass. I got a Tie for Christmas from Jerry Garcia, but I will bet their manager sent it.
I got to hang out with the E Street Band after a Meadowlands concert, being a friend of a person who knew one of their back up singers. Bruce & Patti weren’t there, but the rest of the guys were really nice and cool.
I saw Elvis way back when. He was in Macon Georgia and i worked the concession stand. This was during his fat phase probably a couple years before he died.
Dang, I forgot Ted! I interned for him one summer while I was in Law School. Saw him a bunch. Talked to him a few times.
Ran into a lot of other Senators too, of course. Daniel Inoye (D-HI) was always very nice.
Name any band that played at the Verizon Center in DC from 2007 - 2008, and I probably met them.
I was working as a PA for LiveNation at several venues in the area but mostly at Verizon Center. I dropped off and picked up their laundry. I ran errands, I went and found stuff for the stage, I picked up dinner for the crew, I drove their wives/husbands/girlfriends/families to and from the venue to their hotel. I drove Valerie Bertinelli from the Four Seasons in Georgetown to Verizon Center when Van Halen came through, which was when her and Eddie’s son joined the band on bass. I played ping-pong with Ben Folds (he toured with his own table). I went to the 930 Club to buy a sweatshirt for someone in Widespread Panic (they just gave me one, upon verifying my credentials). Usually I got a t-shirt and a handshake at the end of the night.
Some bands were too cool to meet the locals and would go from their bus directly to the stage, then straight back onto the bus the moment the show ended. Example: when The Police came through, Sting’s people notably had us set up a very elaborate dressing room for him that he never got within whatever distance away that room was from the stage. What a fuckin’ douche.
Concerts, sporting events, rallies, and plays all feel like cheats. I’ve seen many famous people from afar with thousands of my closest friends.
I’ve been part of 3 presidential security details (1 Bush 43 and 2 Obama) but being within a couple feet of their limo as they drove past doesn’t count.
Probably the most famous person I’ve met and had a couple of words with is Buzz Aldrin.
The most surprising was when I bumped into Stevie Ray Vaughn on his way into the concert I was going to.
The one that moved me the most was meeting Bill Guarnere a few months before he died.
“Beer”
JFK
RFK & Ethel
Emperor Akihito ( When he was Crown Prince)
Musicians who watched our band play:
The guys from KISS
Jesse Colin Young
Played with:
Larry Knechtel & Jim Horn (“Wrecking Crew”)
Country Joe McDonald
Karla Bonoff’s touring band
Incidental:
Joan Baez (going to our respective gigs)
Moon, Daltrey & Entwhistle (in line with us at the airport)
Partied with:
Maria Muldaur & band
Chubby Checker; I’m somewhere off camera at the back of the room. He hung around to stroll around the exhibits, during which time I practically got right next to him but let him be.