Some celebs are a whole lot nicer than others. But it still depends on what kind of mood they are in at the time you meet them.
I once met Geddy Lee from Rush. I said, “Hello Mr. Lee”. He growled at me and looked at me as if I had told him that I had just fucked his wife.
On the other hand, I once met Molly Shannon in a big city subway system. I walked up to her and said, “Did anyone ever tell you that you look just like Molly Shannon”? She replied, “Yes, I’m Molly Shannon”.
She was looking for some help getting to some public meeting. I was happy that she agreed to let me help her get there. I completely forgot about where I was going and sat with her and talked to her while we traveled to her destination. It was one of the most enjoyable hours I ever spent. She was warm and friendly and had this sparkle in her eyes that was the true meaning of “Star Power”. At least it seemed that way to me.
I suppose that she just might have been in a good mood while Geddy Lee was in a bad mood. But I’ve always carried the feeling that Geddy Lee is a real prick.
I met the late blues man Johnny Shines before he played at a small club. I was sitting at a table by myself and he asked if he could join me. He asked if I was in school and what I was taking. He told me he’d gone the local technical college in Alabama to learn upholstery. Two other guys came up and asked him if Robert Johnson had really sold his soul to the devil. He replied, “you can’t prove he didn’t.” I met Mike Farrell from MASH when I was interning with the TN state legislature in 1986. We talked about the situation in Nicaragua, but I didn’t mention MASH.
If we made eye contact, I’d say hi. Then if s/he wanted to talk, cool. If not, also cool.
There are a few who I’d be all fangirly over, but not many. In fact, I’ve been known to not recognize famous people, and/or not know who they are. (Until a few months ago, I wouldn’t have known a Kardashian if I ran over one.) I don’t keep up on a lot of current pop culture.
I’ve interacted with a fair amount of celebrities (upwards of a thousand, I’d guess) due to various jobs and just living in L.A., and the only person I can recall who stood out as genuinely and unnecessarily unpleasant was Mira Sorvino. And she has acknowledged in interviews years later that she had some growing up to do and regrets her behavior.
(That said, I gather you wouldn’t want be in charge of catering an event at Barbara Streisand’s home if you prefer to leave feeling good about yourself.)
But to answer the OP, I agree with those who suggest that you express one’s appreciation briefly and move on. But if there was something from their distant past or especially arcane that mattered to you, that gives the best chance to have a special moment. I saw Linda Cardinelli on a studio lot once, had made the choice not to approach her, but then a little while later when I was leaving the gift shop she happened to be entering. I told her I was a huge Freaks & Geeks fan and added, “just a wonderful show,” or something like that and she really beamed, genuinely appreciated it. Similar interaction with Jason Segel and some others. Oh, if there much older, way past their heyday, I think you can open up a bit more with them, too.
Not to sound pompous, but celebrities often seek me out.
I’ve related these stories previously, so won’t expand on them here:
Chubby Checker came up from behind while I was playing the piano (I was a stage hand at the time and goofing around with the other stage hands after setting up Chubby’s equipment). He said, “you’re pretty good, how’d you like to play with my band tonight?” He was serious, but it didn’t work out.
I also had a nice chat with Annie Haslam of Renaissance setting up for their show. Had a bit of a crush on her at the time, so I was on cloud nine.
I had a bit part in the movie Lonely Hearts (it tanked at the BO). I was in a scene right behind John Travolta and James Gandolfini. Between takes, John kept turning around to chat with me (maybe he just didn’t want to talk to James). He liked my movie costume. I also talked briefly with Salma Hayek and Laura Dern on that set.
The founder and lead singer of a rock group you should all be familiar with was a patient of mine for ~a year. I won’t mention his name. He has since died of medical complications (nothing to do with me).
I shook Richard Nixon’s hand when I was very young. My mitton came off in his hand and he laughed about that.
All nice folks. None were standoffish.
My brother sat next to Ringo Starr on the Concord. Ringo started the chat, and my brother said he was both charming and funny. On another Concord trip he sat right in front of Stephen Hawking (while he could still talk), He cracked a couple jokes about how big my brother was (6’6”).
My mother was picked up from the floor and hugged by Burt Reynolds (she tripped on the carpet as she was walking toward him at his book signing. She was also asked by Jack Klugman’s brother to work for him. She met Jack at one of the meetings and said he was very nice.
I just recalled another celebrity experience I had when I was little. Tom Poston had been in town doing a one-night show. It was a nasty night and his flight had been cancelled and he couldn’t find a hotel room anywhere. I was staying for the weekend with friends. The pater familias was the president of the local chamber of commerce and somehow he got called to help Mr. Poston out. Lacking any other solution, he offered Mr. Poston his spare room for the night and Poston accepted. The mater familias whipped up a quick meal and we all sat around the dining room table being regaled with wonderful stories by Mr. Poston for a good hour or so. Most of it went over my head, darn it. I wish I’d been old enough to really enjoy all the good dirt.
I once got Donnie Van Zant out of a jam at a concert in Eugene, Oregon. I was working security, and as .38 Special was preparing to go onstage, he realized his guitars were still locked in a storage room offstage, and the person with the key was nowhere to be found. I got a table knife from the buffet table, and was able to jimmy the lock and open the door, for which I got thanked profusely.
But, to answer the OP more specifically, I think many celebrities like to talk with regular people as long as you don’t act star-struck and treat them like a celebrity. They get enough of that in their plastic celebrity bubble.
About 15 years ago I ran into Mexican telenovela star/actress Thalia.
It was at O’Hare Airport. Nobody recognized her but me. So I asked her {in English} if she was indeed Thalia and she answered yes. I switched to Spanish and she seemed to appreciate it. I told her that my wife is a fan of hers and that’s how{as a white guy} I recognized her.
She was wearing a very low cut/revealing blouse and she caught me glancing at her cleavage and just smiled knowingly. We chatted briefly and she ended up giving me a 5 by 7 autographed picture that stated “besos Glenn” with a few hearts drawn in as well.
I told my wife about the encounter and she didn’t believe me. I patiently waited a few days and then put the now framed picture in our living room. When my wife noticed it she freaked.
To this day I occasionally tell her to fly right or I’ll leave her for my “good friend” Thalia:D
I once met Bill Paxton, and since we are from the same city, I mentioned that I was familiar with his high school alma mater. He’s undoubtedly the most famous person ever to graduate from Arlington Heights High School. He laughed and said, “Go Yellowjackets!” and then politely excused himself.
In retrospect, that was probably a little creepy of me, but I was thinking that people probably constantly bug him talking about the various movies and TV shows he’s been in. Surely people get tired of hearing about how awesome and talented and accomplished they are, or being asked about their work, or their previous co-workers.
The worst thing you can say to a celebrity - “I wrote this script…”
Michael Jackson came into the store worked at (in the 80’s) I thought he was a look alike and treated him like any other customer, he was dressed in a very ordinary way. I chatted with him about the clocks he and his companion were looking at and said “bye thanks for coming in” as they left.
As I finished ringing up the customers in line, I said “he looks just like Michael Jackson but what would Michael be doing here? and dressed like that?” Two girls dropped all of their stuff and ran out of the store.
The couple times this has happened to me I’ve said nothing to them. Because if that was the celebrity that is what I’d want. To be left alone when I wasn’t in a situation explicitly opening myself up to fan interaction.
If I did feel compelled to say something it would not be an invitation to a conversation. Maybe something like “I just wanted to let you know that your work has brought me great pleasure over the years. Thank you.”
And then start to move on. If they want to engage, the ball is in their court.
The L.A. thing to do is nothing at all. Making a fuss makes you look like a tourist.
My wife and I once had dinner seated next to Robert Redford. It was a little Italian place on Montana and we were side by side at two two-tops. We ignored him, as did everyone else in the place.
I meet 'em all the time. Benefit/ Hazard of being a professional camera operator. Usually a nod and smile then no words are exchanged. On my first day on “Malcolm X”, Spike Lee walked past me with Denzel Washington in tow. He said to me, " Toons, this is D. D, this is Toons. ". Denzel gave me a warm smile and said, " nice to be working with you tonight " and that was it. ( I was MUCH more starstruck to be working for Spike than I was to be meeting Denzel Washington… )
I DID indulge myself once a long time ago. In the small town in upstate New York where I lived, I saw the improbable sight of what appeared to be an aging Frank Langella driving two very ancient people in a large black SUV.
They walked into the furniture store next door to where I was. I couldn’t resist. I walked in. The place was empty but for Mr. Langella and his parents and the salesman.
I waited for a moment when the parents were deep in discussion with the salesman and Frank had stepped back a bit. I introduced myself and asked if he had a house up in town. He said his parents lived there and he was shopping for some new furniture for their country house.
I shook his hand and said, " Thanks for the great body of work. I’ve loved your movies ever since ‘The Twelve Chairs’ "- at which point he threw his head back and roared with laughter. What a twinkle in that eye !!
He thanked me for that. I said without missing a beat- You were expecting “Dracula”, right?? He said yeah. Everyone says “Dracula”. He was still grinning when I took my leave.
Nice, to surprise a celebrity with the unexpected remark !!
At work, I may pass some conversation but I know enough not to gush. And… I would not have known what to say to Pope Francis 10 days ago when I backed up the aisle in front of him at the Basilica in D.C… had the opportunity arisen. Silence is usually golden
