"She Smelled Like Blueberries And Bourbon": Real-Life Celebrity Encounters

[Drogo]

Discuss that time you met a famous person here!

[FairyDusted]

I have a few. I worked on some short films and music videos. The video was for a band called WhiteStarr. I recognized his father, Lou Adler, driving through dropping off money for venues. The video shoot was interesting. The band members were dating Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie or Kim Stewart. All showed up on set. I was doing make up, wardrobe and had a small role. EVERYONE smelled of weed. Myself included cuz hey, I want in on that too! Bums me out I can't find that video anywhere. This was maybe 2001 or so.

Just a few years later I crashed into Nick Nolte while I was visiting Monaco. He was coming out of the Monte-Carlo casino. He was very lovely to talk to and wish I would have taken a photo but of course, I gapped.

Tommy Chong and his wife Tree were a blast. Signed my bong!

[CrazyInAlabama]

Years ago, I worked at the main building of the Library of Congress, and they were allowed to film in our halls.   (You can't film in the U.S. Capitol building, and we were all marble, and looked close enough for filming.   The scene in All the President's Men, where Redford and Hoffman are running down the Capitol stairs was the Library steps).  They were filming an Alan Alda movie, The Seduction of Joe Tynan.     One of the younger women was a cute blonde, who seemed very good.    I figured I'd never hear of her again.   I was wrong about that, it was Meryl Streep. 

I met a legendary man twice, CWO4 Michael J. Novosel, Sr. , who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism as a Medevac pilot in Vietnam.     He is credited with extracting 5,589 wounded personnel . He was a legend in Army Aviation, and a fantastic person.   

I met Pete Conrad the astronaut in the 1990s.  

Edited August 23, 2019 by CrazyInAlabama

[Mabinogia]

Met Cat Deeley when she was in talks to guest host Millionaire. She is even more beautiful in person. She is the definition of "she can light up a room" and so sweet. 

Took an elevator with Bianca Jagger who went out of her way to NOT look at me and seemed horrified that some nobody was in her elevator. Not impressed. 

Best celeb I ever met though was George Foreman. I was working at HBO and we did an incentive at one of the call centers. He was there to promote Boxing After Dark I think it was, this was years ago. So the phone operators got to take their photo with him. For him it was an hour or two of standing there getting a picture taken over and over. He could have just stood there and gotten it over with. Instead he asked each person their name, got into a cute boxing type pose with them, talked about their family or whatever. He took so long with each person that he ended up staying an extra hour or so to make sure everybody got their picture. What a genuinely nice guy. He didn't get extra money for staying longer, btw, he just didn't want to leave anyone disappointed. I still have a Polaroid somewhere of me getting punched in the chin by George Foreman. lol

Edited August 22, 2019 by Mabinogia
Polaroids may be outdated, but they still deserve to have their named spelled right

[Blergh]

I once was at a Pei Wei's restaurant when Taylor Swift and a male dinner companion got seated next to me.  I didn't let on that I knew who she was but when she said that she had never learned how to use chopsticks, I offered to teach her the technique. She declined so I let them be. 

[Bort]

When Turk on Scrubs got his cell phone number changed to (I forget the area code) CALL-TUR. It was a real phone number that was passed around the set. I called it and got Sam Lloyd, who played Ted.

[Vixenstud]

Love this thread!

Mine were local....met Will Mega from S1 of Big Brother, he was running for something political and I was waiting on the corner for a bus.  Despite how he was on the show, he was really nice and I said I'd vote for him (he lost).

You can't say you're from Philly if you don't know who Sally Starr is.  She was a lovely woman who hosted a children's show in the 70's.  I met her across the street from my former apartment building and she was opening a car dealership.  Meeting her actually brought me to tears (I was an adult when we met!) and she couldn't have been more sweeter to me.

Was in the lobby of a Philly hotel when I saw Clifton Davis (Deacon Gregory from Amen) walking to and fro with a drink in his hand.  

I'm like Lucy Ricardo when I see celebrities in that I'm like 'OMG, there's (insert name here)!' then I get goofy when we actually meet.

Edited August 22, 2019 by Vixenstud

[Mabinogia]

29 minutes ago, Vixenstud said:

I'm like Lucy Ricardo when I see celebrities in that I'm like 'OMG, there's (insert name here)!' then I get goofy when we actually meet.

haha, that reminds me of when I almost got run over by Robin Williams. My roommate and I were crossing the entrance to a gas station when a big white land rover, the kind you have to import, that look more like safari vehicles, was pulling out of the gas station and almost hit us. Naturally our first impulse was to wave our arms angrily and swear. Then I saw the driver, swatted my roommates arm and started repeating "that's Robin Williams! That's Robin Williams". He looked over and were staring like idiots. He waved, we waved back and to this day I feel like I have a deep, personal connection to Robin Williams. lol okay, not really, but it was almost being hit by his massive vehicle. 

I lived down the street from him, and Sharon Stone. I laugh because there were these huge stone pillars that marked "Sea Cliff" the part of SF they life in. I was a block away, on the outside of those pillars. I only saw her drive by once in her car, but she didn't nearly hit me so I don't remember much about it. haha

[biakbiak]

I have had several here are a few:

When I was i college I spent a summer living in NYC working at a coffee shop that would get several famous people who came through: Robert DeNiro and Harvey Keitel came in and both told me I made the best cappuccino they had ever had. Ad-Rock from the Beastie Boys came in all the time because he lived in the building next door and was extremely sweet. One day there were an older couple who were clearly tourists and Kevin Spacey, it was 1999 so they were extremely exited and he was very kind to them and posed for photographs and got his coffee and left, the couple then turned to the person in the line behind them and squealed about how cool it was to meet famous people and OMG wasn’t that the most exciting thing ever and Ad-Rock just smiled and said yes it is cool meeting famous people!

After Thanksgiving 2000 I was flying home from JFK and there were delays because of weather and I was in the old terminal 8 which was a horrifying dystopian hellscape  but did have a bar at the one end that was just a bar top with stools and only cut off from the gate seating area by a rope, I sat down ordered a drink and started talking to the guy sitting next to me and the bartender, it was mostly about the election and stuff because Bush vs Gore was still undecided, all of the sudden a group of teenage girls gather behind the rope and are freaking out and excitedly whispering and one steps forward and says “excuse me are you Felicity’s own Scott Speedman?” He says yes, signs autographs and takes pictures and than we go back to talking for several hours as we wait for our delayed planes. He was very funny and nice but to this day whenever I see him in anything I say “oh look it’s Felicity's own Scott Speedman!” 

Edited August 22, 2019 by biakbiak

[DearEvette]

10 minutes ago, Mabinogia said:

haha, that reminds me of when I almost got run over by Robin Williams.

Hey, I almost got run over by Dominique Wilkins!  He was with the Celtics at the time and my then boyfriend (now husband) and I were vacationing on Martha's Vineyard and he totally almost ran us down in his SUV.   After he braked and waved us by my husband said "Hey Dominique Wilkins almost killed us!"  and now and again he'll ask 'Hey remember that time Dominique Wilkins almost killed us?"

I have actually met quite a few famous folks mainly via either my capacity as a student or alumni at my alma mater (Syracuse Univ), where I also later worked as a Grad Assistant during my graduate school years.

I was a work study student during my undergrad years in a Dean's office and Sally Field's son was a student there.  He brought her to meet his advisor and I happened to be working hat day, she met the rest of us too.  She was rely funny and nice.  Just like what you think she'd be like.

One year I was working graduation as an usher and Kim Basinger, Alec and Billy Baldwin and the whole family came because one of their nieces was a student who was graduating that year.  Alec & Kim were sequestered away in the VIP boxes, but Billy came and hung out with us plebes.  He was really, really striking in person.  Very dark and smoldering.  Also very nice to us, joking around.

Finally, I met Vanessa Williams twice.  Once at an alumni function.  Where of course everyone is very cordial, all cocktail & finger food chatter.   But many years later we ran into her and husband in Buffalo at a candy store.  My husband has family there.  The places wasn't crowded at all and people who were there were real low key, trying not to really bother her.  I kinda smiled tentatively at her and somehow we ended up talking.  I reminded her that we had met before and shared the same anecdote that I had years earlier -- it was one of those six degrees of separation stories where 5 degrees later we each knew a mutual person.  And she totally remembered!    The woman has the most luminous skin in person I have ever seen!

[FormerMod-a1]

When I lived in Philadelphia, twice while at a restaurant Charles Barkley sat the table next to me.  The first time I wasn't paying attention but everyone at my table suddenly got this look on their faces so I knew something was up.  

While on a flight to LA, I sat in first class with several of the WWE.  I had so many FF miles that I was always in first class at that time.  (I traveled a LOT for work).  I felt bad for the wrestlers that were in coach!  The wrestlers are even bigger in person than they look on TV somehow - it's probably perspective.  Surrounded by other wrestlers there is no contrast.  And I don't mean fat - just big.  Tall, solid, etc.  I sat next to one of the managers, didn't recognize him at all, but we had a nice conversation.

Another time I was on a plane, I sat next to Angelo Surmelis.  He was a designer on Clean Sweep (among other things) so not super famous.  The whole flight I kept thinking he looked familiar.  Then I thought it was him but kept convincing myself it wasn't.  Somehow through our conversation we never exchanged names.  At the end his name came out (just the first name) and in my head I was like "Yes! It was him!"   He was even better looking in person

[Writing Wrongs]

Here's mine:

The first encounter was at a Holiday Inn where my mother and I would like to go for breakfast. We were standing behind a lady that was pretty dressed up and my mom said to me,"Who dos she think she is, a movie star?" Later when we got a good look at her we realized it was Dawn Wells, Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island. She had gone to college in our town and would come back for charity stuff periodically.

Second one was when I worked as a cashier in a pharmacy and I helped a lady with some medicine. I realized it was Marcia Wallace who was on The Bob Newhart Show. She was in town doing a play of "Steel Magnolias" and was feeling under the weather. I geeked out after she left. I never know if I should acknowledge who they are or not.

Next one was my first trip to Los Angeles. We happened to be there on the day that Bruce Willis got his hand prints in concrete in front of Grauman's Theater. As he walked down the line of people, I opted to take a photo but my mom shook his hand and said, Hi, I'm Vicki from Missouri." and he said, "Hi, I'm Bruce." I remember people kept yelling, "Where's Demi?" this was 1995.

When we were there, we asked a doorman outside a fancy restaurant if any celebs were in there and he wouldn't say. But when we asked him who one of the worst ones that dined there was, he said Michael Richards from "Seinfeld". That he acted like a dick to people. LOL

Edited August 22, 2019 by Writing Wrongs

[Vixenstud]

Ooh, this is fun....keep up the good work with celebrity stories, good or bad!

[Stats Queen]

I was on the board of a non-profit organization in Metro Atlanta. There was a golf tournament fundraiser. My business was “sponsoring” a hole, which meant I sat at a table handing out snacks to golfers. I was at the end of a huge work project and hardly had any sleep because our huge final report was due and I had been traveling every week for 5 months.

So I’m sitting there in the hot Atlanta sun in summer and yet another foursome got off their cart to golf the hole. I knew there were a few celebrity golfers but I had no idea who. The whole day all the golfers got off their cart and only one of him went out of his way to come say hi and thank me for the work I did and introduce himself, It was Dr. J.

Now I am 5’2” and he is 6’7” and could palm a basketball with one hand. He shook my hand. My hand disappeared for a minute.

I mean wow, what a man - this was not a huge, national charity, but not only did he come out, he went out of his way.

About 15 minutes later I wished I had said, I’m also Dr. J (since my first name is Janet and I have a doctorate) but I lost my golden opportunity).

[Was-MArsenault]

I haven't met any celebrities myself, but both of my parents have a long time ago. I'll list who they met later.

Here's who I've corresponded with via email though:

• The guy who did the music for Seinfeld along with other shows
• Someone who was on the Dean Cain era of Ripley's Believe It Or Not
• The mother of one of the actors on Home Improvement
• One of the actors who played Frederick Crane on Frasier
• A couple of radio DJ's

I also made a funny article about some obscure band on a parody website a few years ago, and the drummer of that said band actually responded to the comments himself.

[Bastet]

Like @aquarian1, I've sat next to several celebrities on airplanes over the years, and normally talked very briefly with them, if at all.  I know I mentioned this in the other Celebrity Encounters thread (there's one in Movies, too, but they're both about all kinds of celebrities), but it has been a while, so -- by contrast, Ray Charles was quite the Chatty Cathy.  We talked off and on throughout the flight, almost always - and, in the beginning, always - at his instigation.  Just general chit chat for several minutes at a time.  

I once sat behind Dick Clark and his wife (when I went to book my ticket, my usual seat - front row, left window - wasn't available, and it turned out to be because Mrs. Clark was in it ... and, yes, she had her hair in whatever you call that thing on top of her head she usually sported), and overheard some of his conversation with the flight attendant; he seemed very pleasant, and that voice was just so unmistakable and soothing.

Melissa Rivers and her young son sat behind me once; he was very well behaved - and she quickly put the kibosh on any attempts at acting up - and he talked about "Grandma" a lot (we were flying from LA to NY, so perhaps they were on their way to see Joan).

Then there was the time I was on a flight to Boston that was going on to Paris, and seated across from me were a pair of models whom I vaguely recognized but whose names I do not know, headed to Paris for a fashion show.  We had a male flight attendant, and I practically had to make my own food, he was so busy chatting them up (sure, dude, they're going to join you at the airport hotel).

I know this is another repeat from the other thread, but airplane encounters takes me to airport lounge encounters and I just have to reiterate how frakkin' fine Rob Lowe is in person.  I used to also see him back home, because the Mexican restaurant where I held my staff meetings (discussions always go better with margaritas!) was also one where he met with his people, but in an airport lounge, we sat just one chair apart and talked about the NFL draft, that we were both watching on the lounge TV. 

[Haleth]

I met Shirley Jones at a function yeeeears ago where she performed.  After singing she hung around and chatted with people.  She was elegant and charming and seemed like a very lovely person.

[jah1986]

While flying home from vacation I noticed I was on the same flight as Dave Bautista, he was a WWE superstar then.  He was waiting at baggage claim with all the rest of us. He looked exhausted. I just went over and told him I enjoyed his work, he thanked me and I kept moving.  

[rcc]

I like this. I saw Paul Newman with Joanne Woodward and their daughter at JFK Airport. He nodded to us, Joanne looked annoyed. I saw William Conrad (Cannon) at San Francisco Airport. He said hello.

[ABay]

I met Capt. Lou Albano at Wrestlemania ages ago--this was so far back, The Rock was routinely greeted with "Die, Rocky, die!" chants. We were invited to sit at Capt Lou's drinks table because the friend I was with is beautiful. All I remember is that I had no idea who any of the other old timers at the table were and that Lou had already had many adult beverages or he was naturally incoherent. Or both.

At the same event, Jim Ross acknowledged my existence with a nod as he talked to some guy next to me, and my friend & I shared an elevator with Davy Boy Smith. Unlike ever other wrestler I've seen, Davy Boy was actually smaller than I expected. To this day, I am bitter that my friend met Bret Hart and got a photo with him when I wasn't there.

That was probably the worst Wrestlemania in living memory--the main event was Sid Vicious v. The Undertaker (or Undie as we referred to him). So...not a lot of action there. We went for drinks and a bathroom break when Rocky Maivia (as was) wrestled the Iron Sheik. The Austin-Hart match was awesome, though. We were 3 rows from the ring and many of our signs got on camera.

[Enigma X]

When I was nine, I gave Metallica directions to a venue. I also helped the band Korn unload gear before they were famous. I met a few poets and writers at my undergrad creative writing program. Among them were Toni Morrison, Frank McCourt, Maya Angelou, and Neil Gaiman. William Kennedy Smith frequented the bakery I worked in. This was during his rape case.  I shook Obama’s hand when he spoke at my niece’s graduation. He was still a senator then.

Edited August 23, 2019 by Enigma X

[biakbiak]

7 minutes ago, Enigma X said:

gave Metallica directions to a venue

Oh that reminds me, Kirk Hammett shops at the same WF that I do and twice he has asked me to help him find a vegetable because he didn’t know what it looked like once it was fennel and the second time it was parsnips. I haven’t seen him in awhile so maybe he started using PrimeNow.

Edited August 23, 2019 by biakbiak

[Anduin]

37 minutes ago, biakbiak said:

Oh that reminds me, Kirk Hammett shops at the same WF that I do and twice he has asked me to help him find a vegetable because he didn’t know what it looked like once it was fennel and the second time it was parsnips. I haven’t seen him in awhile so maybe he started using PrimeNow.

He's currently touring.

[Calvada]

I met Corbin Bernsen at a Midwest airport once, when all flights were delayed due to weather.  Slowly a group of people gathered around him at the bar.  He seemed grateful anyone recognized him.  At O'Hare several years ago I saw a couple sitting on the other side of the section, dealing with 2 small children.  I thought she looked familiar, but it wasn't until she stood up - and up! - that I realized it was Rebecca Lobo.  I wanted to talk to her husband, not her, since she's married to Steve Rushin, a great sportswriter, but they were dealing with little ones.  Another airport story - I was sitting in a South Carolina airport with a friend who is a huge Bears fan, and we used to give each other the business since I'm a diehard Packers fan.  This enormous guy came in and sat down, and my friend said doesn't he look just like William "The Refrigerator" Perry?  I said of course he does, because that is the Fridge.  My friend was unsure, but after a couple minutes of telling him I was positive the man was the Fridge, he went over, asked if he was Perry, then shook his hand, did the fan talk.  (As a Packers fan, I stayed away.)  But now I give my friend the business about how can he call himself a fan when he doesn't even recognize the Fridge?!

[Shannon L.]

I've met/seen a few popular actors over the years.  Gilles Marini was on one of my flights last year, but I could tell that he didn't want to be approached, so I left him alone.  I've heard that Angela Landsbury can be difficult, but she was really sweet to me.  Alice Cooper sat behind me in church once (he was a guest and I only saw him that one time) and I shook his hand during the passing of the peace.  That was really cool.  My favorite story, though, was when I met Brendan Frasier.

My husband was working in the industry many years ago and did a movie with Brendan.  They were filming in the same city that we lived in, so I asked if I could meet him.  I was adamant that if any actor or actress didn't like to meet guests on the set, then that was absolutely fine--no reason to push it.  So, when I went to visit my husband, he saw me standing across the yard (it was at a huge house with a really big yard) and waved and walked toward Brendan.  I was looking around, expecting my husband to walk up to me, with or without Brendan.  If Brendan was with him, then my husband would be there to help the conversation along because not only am I really shy to begin with, I turn into an idiot around celebrities.  A few minutes later, I hear from behind me "Shannon?".  I turned and find myself staring at this chest (This was right after George of the Jungle and he was wearing a tight, white, sleeveless t-shirt, the name of which I hate and won't say, but you know what I'm talking about).  I looked up and it was him.  I said "Yes" and he said "I think we're supposed to meet.  I'm Brendan" and shook my hand.  What came next was the most awkward conversation because not only am I shy, he is, too!!  But, when my husband asked if we could meet and he said yes, my husband had to finish up a few things and was going to come back to him.  However, Brendan took it upon himself to find me!  I thought that was really nice of him and I can look back at it and laugh now, but man, was it embarassing!  He really is a sweetheart, though. 

[praeceptrix]

4 hours ago, Enigma X said:

 I met a few poets and writers at my undergrad creative writing program. Among them were Toni Morrison, Frank McCourt, Maya Angelou, and Neil Gaiman.

Frank McCourt was one of my teachers when I was at Stuyvesant High School. One of the best teachers I have had.

[Enigma X]

1 minute ago, praeceptrix said:

Frank McCourt was one of my teachers when I was at Stuyvesant High School. One of the best teachers I have had.

That is so cool.

[praeceptrix]

1 minute ago, Enigma X said:

That is so cool.

My one claim to fame! But he really was a wonderful teacher -- our class even went out to dinner once (the restaurant was owned by a classmate) and Mr. McCourt not only ordered the alcohol, he also paid for it! He also had us do fantasy casting for The Scarlet Letter.

It's been 40 years since I graduated, so 41 years since I was in his class... and I still remember so much (far more than anything else about high school!).

[Blergh]

I once saw Dierks Bentley at an airport- and what surprised me was that he actually was TALLER than I expected even via wearing flip-flops. Yeah, there were some airport officials clustered around him and he was perfectly cordial to them and everyone else around but it seemed he actually was a bit bashful as though he didn't believe he merited the extra attention. 

[ABay]

This totally skipped my mind before: I had breakfast with BRIAN BLESSED! If you know who he is, you understand the all caps. If you don;t know who he is, I pity you. My friends and I were at a con, having breakfast in the hotel restaurant, and Brian sat down next to us and proceeded to regale us with tales of Mt. Everest--his past trips, his upcoming trip. He was delightful. I've never met someone so in love with life.

I also met a lot of of other British actors at that con over the years but all pale beside the larger-than-lifeness of BRIAN BLESSED.

[Mabinogia]

43 minutes ago, ABay said:

This totally skipped my mind before: I had breakfast with BRIAN BLESSED!

I am rarely jealous of celeb sightings but this one...OMG I would love to just sit and listen to that man talk about anything he wanted to talk about. You lucky, lucky bastard!

[DearEvette]

21 hours ago, Enigma X said:

 I met a few poets and writers at my undergrad creative writing program. Among them were Toni Morrison, Frank McCourt, Maya Angelou, and Neil Gaiman. 

Oh, this made me remember another one.  Angela Davis came to SU to speak.  There was also a private invite only dinner & reception.  My husband's PhD advisor got us an invite to the dinner.  She is such a fantastic speaker.  So very brilliant to listen to.  And I especially enjoyed it because it was all about her 'Women, Race and Class' book that one of the profs was using that year.  I had a few minutes at the dinner to chat with her.  For some reason I had expected her to still be rocking her iconic fro, but alas, she was in dreads.

[Vixenstud]

23 hours ago, ABay said:

I met Capt. Lou Albano at Wrestlemania ages ago--this was so far back, The Rock was routinely greeted with "Die, Rocky, die!" chants. We were invited to sit at Capt Lou's drinks table because the friend I was with is beautiful. All I remember is that I had no idea who any of the other old timers at the table were and that Lou had already had many adult beverages or he was naturally incoherent. Or both.

At the same event, Jim Ross acknowledged my existence with a nod as he talked to some guy next to me, and my friend & I shared an elevator with Davy Boy Smith. Unlike ever other wrestler I've seen, Davy Boy was actually smaller than I expected. To this day, I am bitter that my friend met Bret Hart and got a photo with him when I wasn't there.

That was probably the worst Wrestlemania in living memory--the main event was Sid Vicious v. The Undertaker (or Undie as we referred to him). So...not a lot of action there. We went for drinks and a bathroom break when Rocky Maivia (as was) wrestled the Iron Sheik. The Austin-Hart match was awesome, though. We were 3 rows from the ring and many of our signs got on camera.

I used to work at a Marriott in Philly and once there were wrestlers in the building...Bruno Sammartino, Larry Zybisco and Chief Jay Strongbow. I was in an elevator alone when they came in; all were nice but Zybisco, who acted like he didn't want to be bothered....ass! Anyway, found out later that had I been downstairs a little bit longer I could have met Ric Flair!

Edited August 24, 2019 by Vixenstud

[Lugal]

I had a job years ago where a few celebrities came in.  I once met Gillian Anderson when she came in the store I was working at.  I was so nervous I didn't talk to her and she probably thought I was rude.  I also met Sharon Gless, Jodie Sweetin (who was a coworker's niece)  Of course there was the near misses: Erykah Badu came in but none up front knew who she was so they didn't tell those of us in the back.  And on my day off, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn came in and I missed them, but I did ship their purchases to their ranch in Colorado.

Since then at another job, I met Kimberley McCullough of General Hospital.  She was one of the sweetest people I ever met.  My coworker said how much she loved watching her on General Hospital and I mentioned her guest spot on Firefly, which I don't think she gets too often.  I also pointed out that the scenery from my town was used in some of the backgrounds on Firefly.

[Bastet]

5 minutes ago, Lugal said:

I once met Gillian Anderson when she came in the store I was working at.  I was so nervous I didn't talk to her and she probably thought I was rude. 

I'm a Los Angeles native, who's always gone to school with kids of actors, had friends whose parents worked behind the scenes in the industry, etc. and who worked for a record label for about five years when I was first starting out.  So it wasn't my daily life, but seeing and even talking with celebrities wasn't ever anything new to me.  But the first time I met Gillian Anderson (I've met her a few times at charity events), I stood there like a tongue-tied fool.  I have no idea what actually came out of my mouth, because it was something of an out-of-body experience, but she didn't look horrified or perplexed so I guess I managed to come across as just mildly nervous.  The next time I met her, she complimented me on my necklace, and I had to resist the urge to wear it daily.  (And, on the subject of celebrity compliments, Katherine Helmond once told me I had beautiful hair.)

I also kind of froze when I met Gloria Steinem.  It was after a protest march and rally in San Francisco, and I turned a corner and damn near ran into her.  She was carrying a takeaway bag from the deli I was heading to, so I babbled a bit about sandwiches before getting myself together and talking about the protest.

Getting back to charity events, which is where a lot of my celebrity encounters have occurred (those, airports/airplanes, and grocery stores make up most of them), and sticking with celebrities I have been really excited to see, I was at a Feminist Majority Foundation event in the late '90s, milling around before the program started, and spotted Tyne Daly, whom I knew was going to be there.  She had her mom and daughter (still a kid) with her, so I did not approach her.  But I soon heard her say to her mom, "I talked to Gless, and she's coming" - something I had not known - and proceeded to quietly freak my shit at an impending Cagney & Lacey reunion (and, indeed, when Sharon Gless arrived, the assembled press went crazy for shots of the two of them together). 

That was a great night all around; it was also the night Sidney Poitier touched me. 🙂  This was after the program (in which he had participated), and we were in a somewhat crowded corner of the room the theatre exited into.  He put his hand on my back to keep me from getting jostled, and then pardoned himself with that terrific smile on his face as he made his way towards another area.  I was giddy.

[magicdog]

23 hours ago, DearEvette said:

Oh, this made me remember another one.  Angela Davis came to SU to speak. 

Yeah - my dad met her - when she was at Rikers Island shortly after her arrest.  He nearly blew a gasket when I told him that she eventually became professor emerita at the University of California, Santa Cruz.  Let's just say he wasn't a fan of hers.

Back in the 70s and 80s,  NYDOC,  like NYPD were often called in to help with security for TV and film productions.  Dad was one of the team to secure an area used for an episode of Kojak.  He told me it was interesting to see Hollywood magic first hand - like taking 10-12 hours to prepare a set to shoot what would eventually be five seconds of screen time!  It was a scene in which a bunch of guys burst out of a white truck.  I happened to catch that episode a few years back on Me-TV.  I felt like my dad's story came full circle!

He also had nothing but nice things to say about Telly Savalas!  In fact, he said, the man you saw on Kojak was essentially Telly being himself!  Very down to earth guy!

His buddies in the department also told us about a prank they played on David Caruso when he was on NYPD Blue.  Caruso has been known to be a bit of a jerk sometimes (he has a bit of a rep others have confirmed to me later on) and on one occasion, he was on set at Rikers filming a scene in a jail cell.  He acted a bit jerky to some of the guys in between takes.  When the scene was done, they shut the cell door, the lights were turned off and everybody left in him there for a little bit.  

One favorite story was towards the end of my dad's career when he was running the procurement unit at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  The area is often used for filming and on one occasion, The Equalizer was filming a shootout.  Someone in the department forgot to tell my dad and his crew that there would be filming shots of gun play ( even guns with blanks sound like the real thing) so when they heard gunshots from down below, they went running out in riot gear prepared for the worst.  Then as they entered, they hear, "CUT!!!".   Everybody had a good laugh about it - and Dad and his crew got to meet Edward Woodward.  Dad said he was quite personable and appreciated this modern day comedy of errors!

[Ohwell]

20 hours ago, Bastet said:

That was a great night all around; it was also the night Sidney Poitier touched me. 🙂  This was after the program (in which he had participated), and we were in a somewhat crowded corner of the room the theatre exited into.  He put his hand on my back to keep me from getting jostled, and then pardoned himself with that terrific smile on his face as he made his way towards another area.  I was giddy.

I couldn't be more jealous if I tried. 😒

[FormerMod-a1]

I went to the Mix Tape Tour (hang on, list of artists is coming) and I got to touch every one of the NKOTB, Salt & Peppa, Naughty By Nature, Debbie Gibson, and Tiffany.  However, I wouldn't say I met them, as we didn't talk or anything.  I just happened to be sitting right by the 2nd stage and every time they came and went I stuck my hand out.  I maybe exchanged a word or two literally in passing, but that was it. 

Other celebs I actually met - Robert Smith of the Cure.  I went to a concert and the friend I went with knew where they were staying so we waited outside the secret/secure entrance and they stopped the bus outside, instead of driving in, so they could talk to us.  He was very nice and mild mannered.  The other bandmates signed autographs as the walked by but didn't stay to chat.

[shoregirl]

17 minutes ago, aquarian1 said:

I went to the Mix Tape Tour (hang on, list of artists is coming) and I got to touch every one of the NKOTB, Salt & Peppa, Naughty By Nature, Debbie Gibson, and Tiffany.  However, I wouldn't say I met them, as we didn't talk or anything.  I just happened to be sitting right by the 2nd stage and every time they came and went I stuck my hand out.  I maybe exchanged a word or two literally in passing, but that was it. 

After her first album came out I saw Tiffany at a casino theater then I was 7/8 years old and she went around and shook everyone hands (it was a really small venue) .  It was a big moment for me.

[Mabinogia]

1 hour ago, magicdog said:

His buddies in the department also told us about a prank they played on David Caruso when he was on NYPD Blue.  Caruso has been known to be a bit of a jerk sometimes (he has a bit of a rep others have confirmed to me later on) and on one occasion, he was on set at Rikers filming a scene in a jail cell.  He acted a bit jerky to some of the guys in between takes.  When the scene was done, they shut the cell door, the lights were turned off and everybody left in him there for a little bit.  

Haha, I've never heard much good about him, nothing horrible, just that he's kind of a jerk, so that makes me happy. 

[Shannon L.]

I just remembered two other encounters! 

1.  We were at Disneyland when two families walked out of a ride with a Disney guide.  We made eye contact with one of them--a very good looking man--and my daughter said "How was it?" and he responded "It was a lot of fun!".  I recognized 3 of the 4 adults by their faces, but I couldn't for the life of me put names to them.  Later in the day it came to me:  Xander Berkley, Sarah Clarke and, the very good looking one who spoke to us?  Matt Bomer.  ::swoon::

2.  This is a very close 2nd to meeting Brendan Frasier.  My husband was doing a movie with Luke Perry and one night he came home with his head shaved, saying that Luke had suggested that it would be a good look for him.  Ultimately, I had to agree, but at the time it was such a difference that I wasn't happy.  One day, they were shooting at a nearby motel and each department had their own room to hang out in between scenes and on breaks.  So, I went to visit and during one of the breaks, my husband walks in with Luke.  After the formal introduction, he sat down next to me on the bed, put his head on my shoulder and said "I'm the one who convinced him to shave his head.  I'm so sorry". lol!  Then he hung out in the room with us and more of the grip department for almost a half hour.  My husband said he was one of his favorites to work with because he was so fun and down to earth. He'd also lend a hand when it was time to break down the set, no matter how often he was told that it wasn't necessary.  Gloria Ruben was also in the show and I met her as well. She had this serenity about her that was palpable and is so much prettier in real life.  She's a really nice woman.

[Bastet]

15 minutes ago, Shannon L. said:

Gloria Ruben was also in the show and I met her as well. She had this serenity about her that was palpable

I know I said this in the other thread when you brought it up, but it's just so striking to me -- I talked with her backstage before a Tina Turner concert (this was during the time Reuben was living her dream singing back-up), which is generally a frenetic environment, and couldn't believe the calm energy radiating from her.  I've never experienced it so palpably with anyone else.

[crazycatlady58]

I have had George Forman come in the shoe store where I work. He is very nice I fitted him with shoes and we talked about how he shows ( it may be showed this was a few years ago) German Shepherds. This was my mother's favorite dog breed so we had a great talk about dogs.

Edited August 27, 2019 by crazycatlady58
Because I do not know who George Gorman is. Hopefully y'all read what I ment not what I wrote.

[scarletine]

We were in Vegas, and went to see Penn and Teller's show. For the "Catching a Bullet in the Teeth" trick, they needed a volunteer from the audience, and I volunteered my husband, who got chosen to go up on stage and participate. Afterwards, we got to meet them, and I got hugs and pictures with both of them, and chatted with them a bit. Teller DOES speak. He's very soft spoken, but very friendly and engaging. They're both really neat guys. 

I've also met George Takei when he spoke at my college. He stayed on for a Q&A session afterwards, and stayed until he had a chance to meet and chat with everyone. He was a total sweetheart. 

My sister lived in New York City for many years, and saw celebrities on the regular, but didn't engage. Until the one time she was coming out of Bloomingdale's, not paying attention to where she was going, and ran smack dab into Jack Nicholson. Her bags went flying, and he stayed to help her gather all her things. She said he was very nice, and VERY charismatic. He even asked her to dinner, but she turned him down.

Edited August 26, 2019 by scarletine
Commas are our friends.

[Shannon L.]

I've lived in or near Los Angeles for 32 years, so I've met a few and since this thread started, certain encounters keep coming back to me that I'd forgotten about. This afternoon, I remembered that I'd met Marlee Matlin twice.  Once was about 20 years ago when she came in to get her nails done at the same little shop I was at.  We were sat across from each other during the drying phase and had a nice chat.  I loved that she was not only down to earth, but also didn't mind getting her nails done in a little place at a strip mall.  Another example of her being really nice and not having a huge ego was how her kid behaved.  My daughter, back in 10th grade, wanted to take ASL as her foreign language and since they didn't have it at her school, we went to the local community college.  I decided to audit it since I was going to be there anyway.  There was a kid in there who was a bit shy, but really nice--really sweet.  A few weeks in, the teacher said that she had invited a deaf friend of hers to come visit.  In walked Marlee Matlin.  She answered all sorts of questions and took selfies with everyone.  At one point, she was tell us about her kids and said that she had a son named Tyler. She grinned and pointed to the back of the room.  Everyone's head whipped around and we said "what?!".  He never said a thing.  I don't know him outside of that class, but I get the feeling that the kid was far from spoiled by his celebrity mom.  I can appreciate that since I was a nanny for an entertainment lawyer and met a lot of children of industry people*. Some of them were very spoiled. 

*That reminds me of being good friends with Andy Summer's nanny because her kids were best friends with the kids I watched.  He was ok.  Nice, but not real sociable.   The only other instance during my time there that sticks out, whenever I think of working for them, was when they were out of town on time.  I got a phone call from a woman who was adamant that she speak to the lawyer immediately.  When I said he was out of town with his family, she demanded to know if I could get in touch with him right away.  This was before cell phones and I wasn't about to interrupt their time away, so I said that I'd let him know to call her asap, could I have her name please.  She sighed, dramatically, and said "Yes, this is Ellen Barkin.  I need to speak with him right away!".  When they got back, I gave him the message and he called her, listened, assured her that he'd look into it, then hung up and sighed and said "She's upset because the tv show that's interviewing her won't let her use the hair stylist and make up artist that she wants to use".  Then he looked at his kids and said "Please, do NOT try to become actors." lol! 

[estellasmum]

Best to worst:

Forever ago, my friend and I were dancing the night away at a small local nightclub. A giant tower started dancing with us, and eventually I thought we were dancing with Charles Barkley, but couldn't figure out why he was there. The next day I figured out he was in town for a celebrity golf tournament. He was very nice, and bought a round of drinks for us and a lot of people around us.

I was at a Poison/Def Leppard concert, and ran into my neighbor, who is a studio musician that you would have never heard of. He knew C. C. Deville pretty well, and took my friend and I to meet the band. Bret Michaels was actually really nice (none of them were not nice, he was just really nice) and offered to have the neighbor and my friend and I join him and a big  group to go out after the show. I declined, because I'm old, and had to work the next day, but the neighbor had a really good time.

The bad:

Tonya Harding lived really close to where I worked, and we were her local pharmacy. She was always really rude and demanding. We kept track of who waited on her, and took turns.

I wouldn't want to call her a celebrity, but can't resist calling out the behavior. At a different pharmacy, we had a over-dressed, super crabby lady come in to pick up a prescription for her son. Scotty Pippen Jr. Who, she informed us, was the son of Scotty Pippen. And she was in a hurry, because Scotty Pippen had somewhere to be. She really did use Scotty Pippen's full name multiple times, and every time she said Scotty Pippen, it was louder than all the other words she said. I would have rather waited on Tonya Harding.

[Shannon L.]

9 hours ago, estellasmum said:

Bret Michaels was actually really nice (none of them were not nice, he was just really nice) and offered to have the neighbor and my friend and I join him and a big  group to go out after the show. I declined, because I'm old, and had to work the next day, but the neighbor had a really good time.

My husband was working on a show that filmed at Brett's house for one day.  He not only got to meet him, but sat in his kitchen chatting for a while.  He said that Brett was really nice.  I was so jealous because I'm a huge Poison fan and back in the day, I had a huge crush on him.  My husband told him that, so he got out a really nice picture of himself and signed it:  "Shannon, Talk dirty to me!  Brett", which I thought was really sweet.  To this day, I (playfully) growl when my husband tells the story. 

[Bastet]

Bret Michaels hit on a friend and me when we were sixteen (and looked it, if that matters to anyone).  We were easily able to extricate ourselves, but ew.

[Was-MArsenault]

Let me start with my mom. She's met a lot, but I'm only going to list some.

In person:

Cam Neely

Tony Bennett

Eileen Brennan

On the phone:

Julia Child

[Anduin]

I haven't actually met anyone famous, but I want to know who smelled like blueberries and bourbon. I thought this might be a famous anecdote, but Google gives me nothing.