Memorable Encounters with Famous Figures: A Personal Reflection

[zoobyshoe]

Could be after a concert, or lecture, you got to shake the great person's hand. Who was it, and what were the circumstances?

I got introduced to Joe Piscopo years ago when I was visiting a friend who did makeup at NBC NY. He worked Saturday Night Live. I saw Eddie Murphy running around in the halls being chased by two babes, but didn't meet him. My friend steered me away from a room where Lorne Michaels who became the inspiration for Mike Meyers' Dr. Evil was talking to someone, so I didn't meet Dr. Evil either. So, all I met was Joe Piscopo and the other makeup artists.

 

[marlon]

i have a cousin who met Robert DeNiro in Paris...he has a picture taken of him with DeNiro

my mom once met Santana in the 70s in Brussels and my brother once met BONO in Antwerp

i met Sean Bean in Ghent
i had the chance of meeting Luciano Pavarotti in 1998 in Paris but it did not work out. I do have met a lot of Belgian politicians from the far left to the ulra right ...
marlon

ps i am hoping to meet EVO, Danger, SpaceTiger, Stoned, heman, and Humanino some day

 

[Artman]

I didn't actually meet him, but I went to take a guitar lesson at a music store and there was a guy sitting there trying out some guitars. He was really good. I went back to the practice room with my teacher and he said, "Do you know who that was?" I told him I didn't. He said, "That was Ed King, a Guitar player with Lynyrd Skynyrd!"

Another time, I was coming into a restaurant and Andre the Giant and his manager (another pro wrestler whose name escapes me), were coming out. He looked like a nice guy, a little embarrassed that he barely fit through the door.

 

[zoobyshoe]

He looked like a nice guy, a little embarrassed that he barely fit through the door.

What was the problem? Was Newton standing on his shoulders again?

 

[Chi Meson]

Elvis. I've met Elvis. He's still the King.

 

[Artman]

What was the problem? Was Newton standing on his shoulders again?

Yeah, and with Einstein on his, they were enourmous.

 

[brewnog]

I met Jamie Cullum, we had quite a good chat about how much better my music was than his. I also bump into Jarvis Cocker quite a bit when I'm back home, he's a nice guy. And I played frisbee with Prince Naseem Hamed last summer!

 

[meteor]

I play poker on weekends with Tony Blair and his wife, also have had more than a jag with Mr Putin drinking vodka in a muscovite tavern; last summer I made a trip to the Seychelles Islands in company of Britney Spears, and there I happened to meet personally the president of the NASA!

 

[Phobos]

Jack Hanna (the animal guy you see on the Letterman show a lot). When working at a bookstore one summer, I got to carry in some of his setup for a book signing. Just being a teen at the time, he didn't let me carry any live animals. I still hold a little grudge.

One of my college math profs was supposedly a friend of Einstein.

I once stood next to Robin Williams at a cafe...and he knew I knew who he was...but I didn't bother him for an autograph.

 

[Integral]

I shook Richard Nixon's hand (dish rag?) when he visited our High school during his 1968 campaign.

 

[Bladibla]

I met the queen in portsmouth.

 

[FredGarvin]

Let's see here...

- Maynard Ferguson
- Steve Martin and Victoria Tennant (they were married at the time)
- Dan and Marylin Quale
- Shirley Temple

 

[Moonbear]

Nope, don't think so. I could have and would have never known, I probably would be wondering why they looked vaguely familiar to me, or why there was some big crowd of people hanging around.

Do I count? I've been on TV once, for about a minute of my lifetime 15 minutes of fame (oh, so I guess the guy from the CBS morning news who I was talking with counts as someone famous...I have a picture of him with one of those shiny silvery reflective umbrellas they use for the lighting in the background, and their electricians fixed our dorm PA system while tapping into the power supply for the lights and cameras...but I can't even remember that guy's name). I didn't do anything special to get on TV other than be willing to wake up at 4 or 5 AM so the crew could use my dorm room for filming while doing one of their campus tour things...they needed a room on my side of the building so they could get the view they wanted out the window and to avoid the glare of the morning sun. My picture was in the local newspaper once too...silly college protest march thing (that's what you do when in college, right?).

Oh, and of course, how could I forget! I've met Mickey Mouse!

 

[icvotria]

I used to go to school with Sting's daughter and my mum used to go for cigarettes with him at our school plays and stuff. I know the keyboard player and the bassist from the Kaiser Chiefs a little bit cos the singer from my band worked in a pub with them. I have a pair of Mick Jagger's socks which my brother won at a raffle. I never met him but it's pretty cool to wear his socks. The singer from D:ream came round to my house for a party once. I met Tre Cool, the drummer from Green Day, at Leeds Festival last year when I snuck backstage, and Justin Hawkins from the Darkness the year before that, who went to the same music college as me but at a different time. I used to live next door to Trevor Jones who's a film music composer, he did Labrynth and Aracnophobia and Last of the Mohicans and lots of other stuff. I met Peter O'Toole and Ted Danson at a film premiere he'd done once too. I've met lots of famous people.

 

[brewnog]

My best mate's mum used to go out with Joe Cocker!

You going to Leeds this year ic?

 

[arildno]

Do I count?

You ought to.

 

[JamesU]

Since moonbear is famous for being on tv, I'm famous. I've been on TV 3 times I think

 

[Dr.Brain]

I was on TV 8 times but then i came to know the news channel was a fraud.

 

[Chi Meson]

I was serious about Elvis you know.

Elvis Costello that is.

 

[matthyaouw]

I've shaken hands with Carl Palmer and got his autograph at a drum clinic.

You going to Leeds this year ic?

I'm going. Perhaps I'll run into you if you're going.

 

[icvotria]

You going to Leeds this year ic?

I'm going. Perhaps I'll run into you if you're going.

Iron Maiden, Foo Fighters and The Pixies, are you joking? Of course I'm going! We can hold our first North of England Clique meeting there. I propose the motion that you put me on your shoulders when the Pixies play 'Hey'.

 

[goldi]

i have met Shahrukh Khan...
Any bollywood fan here...one for sure is Monique ,Dont know abt. others

 

[matthyaouw]

We can hold our first North of England Clique meeting there. I propose the motion that you put me on your shoulders when the Pixies play 'Hey'.

I'm all in favour of the first part of that

 

[hypatia]

I've met Lenny Bruce,Bill Cosby, Cheech Martin and his wife, Gabe Kaplan and Lou Anderson{comics}.
Cato, of the OJ trial fame.
Martha Steward {witch}
Ted Neguent, Sting, Danny Elfman, Rick Wakeman, Bob Segar
Presidents Nixon and Carter
Several astronauts {got some great autographs}
Darla of The Little Rascals {as a kid I took danceing lessons at her school}
Mr Ed {of talking horse fame}
one of the Lassies

 

[Evo]

My best friend's brother was Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac's boyfriend for several years. He also dated Stevie Nicks for a short time.

My friend is the 3 time academy award winning director of animation for the Lord of the Ring films.

I sang on national tv with Arlo Guthrie for a PBS special and it's archived in the Library of Congress. Ok, I was told to sit next to him and sing (along with a group of co-workers atthe radio station that was bombed by the KKK).

When I was little I met Art Linkletter (only OLD people will remember him).

I ran into Bill Murray at the 1990 All Star game at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

I dated the former president of the SDA (Students for a Democratic Society), ok he's infamous. He was also in a Documentary aired on PBS last year (but it was actually about him)

My girlfriend and I were allowed to sit on the corner of the stage during a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young concert, does that count?

 

[brewnog]

Iron Maiden, Foo Fighters and The Pixies, are you joking? Of course I'm going! We can hold our first North of England Clique meeting there. I propose the motion that you put me on your shoulders when the Pixies play 'Hey'.

Awesome! Brewnog, icvotria and matthyaouieuow at Leeds fest? Yay!

Meet yous by the sound tower before Foo?!

 

[Evo]

You met the famous Mr Ed! I always watched that show!

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I got to sit and hang with Michael Landon at a Rams game. This was when they filmed the finish for the race in the movie, The Marathon Man. Since it was my sister's birthday that day, I asked him to write her a happy Bday wish. My sister slept with this under her pillow for years!

I knew several of the guys that made the first Phantasm movie. Good ole Wally something or other had one of lead roles. To his credit, as opposed to the movie, he was also a studio quality electric guitar player.

Paul Davies
Stephen Chu
Philip Morrison

also, Chuck Yeager who promised Tsu that she could be the first CAT Scan tech on the space station. We're still waiting Mr. Yeager!

UFO devotees would appreciate the hour that I spent talking with Colonel Halt of the famed Rendlesham Forest incident. I also know Linda Howe who is known to the fringe crowd. In fact I have her home phone number but let's not get into that. And no, I don't call her anymore.

Ran into JJ Walker at the Comedy Store while he was on his way down.
I knew two guys who wrote hit songs; one each.

I know there are more...

 

[Kakarot]

i met http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/KF/ghengis_khan.mpeg

but in reality, Michio Kaku called me 2 summers ago at my house because my friend told him I was a big fan of his books and asked me to ask him a question on his radio show. I couldn't believe he was calling me at first lol

edit: oh yea and i met "sean" from that clarissa explains it all show lol

 

[Grizzlycomet]

I met Jackie Chan and James Gandolfini when they were on vacation here

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Michio Kaku called me 2 summers ago

Now that would be a surprise!

 

[polyb]

Here's my brush with "FAME":

I am on the video "Panama" by Van Halen for about a 1/4 of a second. It was my first concert.

While working as a valet driver I met Shacquil(?) O'neil and his whole family, whom are all very tall from my perspective. I drove his ford explorer from LSU as well as the Mercedes 1k he had. Even with the seat pulled all the way forward in the explorer my feet barely reached the peddles, it did have a kickin sound system though! I also met an ex governer.

Seriously though, I am not very impressed with fame!

 

[Kerrie]

hmm, the closest I have ever gotten to anyone famous was Woody Harrelson at a Hemp Fest in Seattle a couple of years ago. Never officially met anyone though.

 

[Danger]

Lessee now... bought Sylvia Tyson a pop while waiting for her radio interview; had a nice wee chat with G.W. Bailey at my bar; had Christopher Reeve tell me to precede him in the lunch tent while shooting 'Superman III' (talk about no ego at all!); met Marc McClure on the same shoot; encounted Ray Walston wandering around the parking lot while shooting 'Rad', but didn't approach him because he was practising lines for his next scene; hung out with The Slugs in the beer tent during a concert, then again at a local bar when they played there; spent a fair bit of time talking to Jack Semple, Amos Garrett and Harpdog Brown (they played at my bar frequently); have known Lori Wagner (Penthouse Pet of the Century) for about 23 years; was working security for Larry Niven and L. Sprague de Camp at conventions; met Roger Zelazny in the elevator at another convention; am related to Don Lever (formerly of Calgary Flames and Colorado Rockies); talked briefly to Dr. Robert L. Forward; had a meeting with Gene Roddenberry some 20 years ago; was tending bar and doing security when Brad Pitt used to bring the 'Heaven and Earth' crew into the bar after work; spent an evening with Brett Hart's (WWF) wife, sister-in-law and mother-in-law at the bar (I was friends with the sister-in-law for a while before that); talked to Big Daddy Don Garlitz and Fred Goeske in the pits at the drag strip; got an autograph on my wineskin from Bob Hoover (North American Rockwell test pilot and air show performer); my niece was on Oprah once, but I don't think that counts; worked with Steve Forrest and Earl Holliman on 'Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge'; there've been a few more, but I can't remember right now.

 

[brewnog]

That's it! I know what Danger's day-job is!

He's a professional celebrity stalker!

 

[Danger]

He's a professional celebrity stalker!

Not quite.
It was always a matter of 'right time—right place', or working on a movie.

edit: Just noticed the time! Gotta go to my pool match. Catch you later.

 

[icvotria]

Danger, you forgot to mention that you often spoke over the internet with the incredibly famous bass player from Mr Shiraz, the next big thing in the world of skunkey metal. I met Brett 'the Hitman' Hart when I was little, and Sean 'the Heartbreak Kid' Michaels too.

 

[brewnog]

Ooh, that reminds me! I've got Kimya from the Moldy Peaches on my msn!

 

[icvotria]

Arrrrrgh! Really?!? That's soooooo cool.

 

[JamesU]

calm down...

 

[brewnog]

Wow, didn't realize anyone would have heard of them!

 

[JamesU]

heard of who?

 

[gonpost]

A friend of my father met and talked with Mother Teresa back when she wasn't quite as well known, but nonetheless pretty cool.

If meeting the local news guy counts then I've met one.

 

[Tsu]

I rode in the same car with Ted Kennedy during a motorcade parade. Never got groped, tho. 'Course I was only 7 then...

Also:
Hubert Humphrey
George McGovern
Numerous other senators and house representatives
Wil Wheaton (played Dr. Crusher's son, Wesley, on TNG)
As Ivan mentioned - Chuck Yeager

 

[Huckleberry]

I've met ...
Mr Ed {of talking horse fame}
one of the Lassies

Did they have much to say? Mr. Ed is notorious for speaking backwards. .sdnuos ti naht redrah si tahT

I've never met anyone famous.

 

[recon]

I've never met anyone famous by international standards...just a few local celebrities, and the Bruneian royal family (almost everyone in Brunei has met them).

 

[Tsu]

recon!


YOU'RE BACK! *pops off a few cartwheels* WOOHOO!How have you been? I've been thinking of you so often since the tsunami. That was the last we heard from you here in GD, I think. What have you been doing? How's school? I'm so happy you're back! We MISSED you!

 

[recon]

Hi Tsu! The reason for my absence isn't profound at all. I did not camp out for the Star Wars III movie, or anything...

School is a bit more challenging this year (we're in the middle of exams), but for the most part, I've been busy with a mathematics program (outside of school) that recently ended with an excursion to the Star Wars III movie. Since I have not been able to find the time to watch a movie in the last three months, I found it very enjoyable.

Our two-week term break is coming up soon, so that either means that I'll be busy with homework or I'll have more time to hang out here on PF!

 

[Danger]

Danger, you forgot to mention that you often spoke over the internet with the incredibly famous bass player from Mr Shiraz, the next big thing in the world of skunkey metal. I met Brett 'the Hitman' Hart when I was little, and Sean 'the Heartbreak Kid' Michaels too.

Firstly, please let me know if you object to me referring to you as 'Vickie'. It appears from your user name that your real name is Victoria. Until you posted (multiply ) the link to your music, I had no idea of what you did musically. And until now, I didn't know the name of your band. I've had a lot of exposure to heavy-duty bands, from sitting 3 metres away from Steppenwolf in a 200 seat room, to doing sound checks for every band that played in any bar that I worked in. I will say this in all honesty: the small bit that I heard on your link, through the little-bitty speaker in my computer, sounded excellent. I really do wish that I could hear you live. Your music is fresh, with a really nice back-beat, and (not just going for brownie points) the more bass the better. Any stereo that I use is set for high bass, low treble, and an incremental fade between. You seem to have a very good drummer as well. Among other reasons, I love Adam Ant because of the 2 drummer set-up. It makes for more creative dancing.
And yes, Icvotria, even if you never make it to the international circuit, I am proud to be in your social circle. I'm just now learning to play the radio, and I have a fine appreciation for those with more talent in that regard. All that I can offer in return is that if you ever need a home-made chaingun on short notice...

 

[brewnog]

Firstly, please let me know if you object to me referring to you as 'Vickie'.

Heh, "icky Vicky" Bet she's not heard that one before.

I'm just now learning to play the radio

Quick, think of a witty come-back, quick!





Noses run in my family.