Meeting a celebrity...

[jfn111]

I Was in the company's VIP tent at an auto race in WI, old CART days, and this young bald guy sat down at the table and started chatting. My teenage daughter, at the time, was mad I didn't get Billy Corgan's autograph for her. I had never heard of the Smashing Pumpkins and didn't have the slightest idea who he was.

[latexman]

Ate lunch beside Rex Linn, Detective Sergeant Francis "Frank" Tripp on CSI: Miami, in Houston Hobby Airport back sometime in 2006-2010.

[COcheesehead]

If you really want to go waaaay back, when I was a kid, 12 years old, I worked as a caddy at a local country club in Wisconsin. I got to caddy for Zeke Bratkowski, who was the Packer's back up QB to Bart Starr in the Lombardi glory years. He could drive the ball well over 300 yards off the tee.

[Beldar]

I met Colin Powell right after he was nominated to be Chairman JCS. He was visiting our unit (Division HQs) in the field while still FORSCOMM commander.

As soon as he exited his civilian Bronco, his security escort set up a portable SATCOM terminal. It was funny to see the 1 and 2 star generals snap to attention and follow him around like ducklings.

When he entered the Intel van that I was in charge of he shook my hand and asked some questions (I was mere Capt at the time). Made some comments about a broken Apple computer we weren't using. It must have been really boring for him.

He was a lot shorter in person than he appeared/appears on television.

I'm not sure he qualifies as a celebrity but thats it for me.

_B

[easysurfer]

Not real meeting but more gawking....

On business in early mid 80's. Saw Joe Frazier all by himself at a hotel lobby.

In a bookstore looking for computer books, there was a line of men with issue of Playboy in hand waiting in line for a very young (starting out) Jenny McCarthy.

[urn2bfree]

Walking from Upper East side to Grand Central I noted a petite, lovely woman standing at the corner waiting for the light to change. She turns to me and asks, "Do you have the time?" I oblige her and the light changes and we cross. "Excuse me," she starts in again with me, "do you know where Bumble and Bumble is? ( it was the name of a salon that I did not know) "No, I'm sorry, I don't." And I am about to continue on my way as I realize who she is. Someone I had a huge crush on from her appearance in a certain music video, but at this point she was not famous enough for people the next day to know whom I was talking about. "Hey," I say, "you're Courtney Cox!" She says yes and shakes my hand. I ask her if she has a street address. Nope. A phone number. Nope. I suggest she pick up a pay phone (this was a long time ago) and dial 411- a free call- and ask them for the address. She asks me where she might find the nearest pay phone. Now I am trying to get to Grand Central and catch my train, and I have to be on my way. i point to the Citibank building as probably having a phone in their lobby and leave. Later, seeing she married a nerdy looking David Arquette who I sort of resemble, I wonder, was she hitting on me? Does she have a type? Was I it? Should I have stopped and offered to accompany her to find this salon? Maybe meet for a drink after her appointment? How could I have missed the signals? Oh, right, I was hurrying to get home to my wife and new born first child. Sometimes I wonder. Who knows where I would be now.
Honestly, with all the plastic surgery Ms Cox has had over the years, she has not aged as well as my wife.

[braumeister]

Ran into Muhammad Ali once when we were both checking into a hotel at the same time. He was already suffering from Parkinson's disease (this was in the 80s) and looked exhausted. Had about 3 or 4 aides helping him. I felt sorry for the guy and moved away so they could get him checked in first.

[Sunset]

I sat down in an empty chair beside a fellow at the airport waiting for the plane. We struck up a conversation, and as we talked I realized he was a famous movie star. Of course I'm bad with their names but I recognized the face. He was a normal nice guy, and didn't even seem offended when I introduced myself (first name) , just so he would say his first name !!
It was Tom Green.

[Revlefty]

A whole bunch of people have met me. I wonder why they aren't posting?

[CardsFan]

One more:
A few years ago, on a trip back from Asia, I connected through LAX to ORD. First Class upgrade since I had flown business overseas. Sat down next to Jessie Jackson. He was on his phone when I sat, and when the door closed, and when we taxied, and pretty much until the wheels left the ground. I was tired and fell asleep.

Needless to say, we did not talk.

Ironically, he was actually the commencement speaker at my college graduation (Northeastern University, 1978).

[Midpack]

Sat next to Bobby Rahal on a plane back when he was an active driver. Talked a little, but I tried to let him be.

DW and I met Sheryl Crow at a concert, got pics with her, and she honored a song request from me at sound check (about 20 of us had VIP access). After a few songs, she asked 'any requests?' - everyone was too stunned to reply except me I guess, asked for Hard to Make a Stand - and they played the whole thing even though it wasn't on their set list, was several albums old by then.

Met and talked for a few minutes with Walter Cronkite purely by chance in Mystic CT. He was standing alone at the end of a transient dock one beautiful evening, we talked about what a pleasant night it was on the Mystic River. Again, tried to let him be.

I've met with several Senators (Lugar, E Bayh, Coats) and Representatives (Visclosky, Hamilton) for 10-20 minutes each, work related.

JFK's motorcade passed by my elementary school in San Antonio, and we were all out there to wave as they went by. He was assassinated the next day.

I've seen several other athletes (Johnny Miller, Craig Stadler, Michael Jordan), politicians (Quayle) and celebs up close - mostly in airports or on planes.

[SecondCor521]

One week in the summer of 1987:

I taught Jane Goodall about rodeos.

I buried a two-time Nobel prize winner in the sand of a hotel beach pool. (I've written about that one here before.)

I talked 1-on-1 with Diane Sawyer for about 20 minutes. She's quite pretty on TV and is much better looking in person (as are most TV anchors it seems to me).

Also met Chuck Yeager, Francis Crick, Reinhold Messner, John Sculley, Barry Goldwater, and a number of others.

...

On other occasions I have met J.R. Simplot, who lived here in Boise at the same time I did - although lots of people in Boise have met him.

...

On average, IMHO, famous successful people are almost always extraordinarily gracious - I think it is part of what helps them be so successful.

[COcheesehead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecondCor521 One week in the summer of 1987: I taught Jane Goodall about rodeos. I buried a two-time Nobel prize winner in the sand of a hotel beach pool. (I've written about that one here before.) I talked 1-on-1 with Diane Sawyer for about 20 minutes. She's quite pretty on TV and is much better looking in person (as are most TV anchors it seems to me). Also met Chuck Yeager, Francis Crick, Reinhold Messner, John Sculley, Barry Goldwater, and a number of others. ... On other occasions I have met J.R. Simplot, who lived here in Boise at the same time I did - although lots of people in Boise have met him. ... On average, IMHO, famous successful people are almost always extraordinarily gracious - I think it is part of what helps them be so successful.

My wife is friends with a local TV anchor so I have met a few. I think TV may add 10lbs, but it also removes 10 years.

[Van-Guard23]

About ten years ago, my wife and I were visiting New Orleans, and while trying to seek shelter from the rain moving from one building to another, I happened to find myself standing in front of John Ratzenberger (aka Cliff Clavin of "Cheers" fame). I couldn't remember his real name and all I could blurt out was a hearty "Cliff!"

Somewhat annoyed, he then told me: "My name's John. Do you have a made up name I can call you by?" I was taken slightly aback and couldn't come back with something smart like "call me Sam Malone".

We later saw him again later that day (believe he was filming his show "Made in America") and he actually remembered my name as he waved and said hello to us.

[Just_Steve]

I met Darryl "The Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins.
It was a time after he stopped destroying backboards.
I asked him why he stopped doing it and he said the NBA started applying hefty fines for the smash so it kind of sucked the fun out of it. Nice enough guy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5j0KDzb1LA

[Bamaman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by COcheesehead Couple things about Jenner. He appeared smaller than you'd think and he already had the nose job so he looked "fake", probably the best way to describe it.

I ate lunch daily in college 4 years with Bruce Jenner's former wife and ex-girlfriend of Elvis Presley: Linda Thompson. She went on to marry the incredible music writer and producer David Foster. Nice gal.

I never met Elvis, but I did know his step-mother, Dee Presley. Her son, Rickey Stanley, had a Mustang GT convertible financed with us in her name and she refused to pay. I hated at the time to order the car repossessed, however she deserved it.

[eytonxav]

My former neighbor was the local channel 11 news anchor, also met many football and baseball players over the years: Frank Gifford, Kyle Rote, Tucker Fredrickson, Demarcus Ware, Phil Rizzuto, Gil McDougald, Don Stanhouse, Pudge Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, Rusty Greer, Rudy Jaramillo, Doug Melvin, Steve Busby, Josh Hamilton, Chris Davis, and David Murphy.

[GalaxyBoy]

Summers between years at college I worked at a convenience store off the interstate. Charles Kuralt came in one day and bought two cartons of Lucky Strikes and an ice cream sandwich. I wasn't positive it was him so I said something or other to him that required a response. What a distinctive voice!

[razztazz]

Sammy Davis Jr and Lionel Hampton. They used to do free shows at Nellis AFB while I was there

Chuck Yeager & Chappie James

Frank Rizzo. He was police commish' in Philly when my uncle died on duty. He showed up at the funeral

Someone mentioned Jenny mcCarthy. In the April 1980 edition of Playboy there was a spread that included an Airman First Class named Cindy I worked with and talked to every day at Tonopah. In the internet age you can find the pics online.

She did not go on to become a celebrity after being drummed out of the A.F.

[Secondact]

In the early 80's my girlfriend (now my DW) had a female roommate who was a major league baseball groupie. The roommate would often hang out with the visiting players after games. I was hanging out at their apartment one night and in she walks with Steve Carlton and Tug McGraw. I was so in awe that I didn't get their autographs. Worse yet, my wife didn't know who they were.