Memorable Encounters with Famous Figures: A Personal Reflection

  • Thread starter Thread starter zoobyshoe
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around personal anecdotes of encounters with famous figures, including celebrities, musicians, and political figures. Participants share their experiences and the circumstances surrounding these meetings, often highlighting the informal or unexpected nature of the encounters.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant recounts meeting Joe Piscopo while visiting a friend at NBC, mentioning missed opportunities to meet other celebrities like Eddie Murphy and Lorne Michaels.
  • Another shares various encounters, including meeting Robert DeNiro, Santana, and Sean Bean, and expresses a desire to meet several forum members.
  • A participant describes a near encounter with Ed King of Lynyrd Skynyrd during a guitar lesson and a brief meeting with Andre the Giant.
  • Several participants mention meeting famous musicians and actors, including Elvis, Jamie Cullum, and Robin Williams, often in casual settings.
  • One participant humorously notes shaking hands with Richard Nixon during a campaign visit to their high school.
  • Another lists encounters with various celebrities, including Maynard Ferguson and Shirley Temple, highlighting the diversity of experiences shared.
  • Some participants discuss their own brief moments of fame, such as being on TV or having a famous relative.
  • There are mentions of famous figures from different domains, including politics, music, and television, showcasing a wide range of interactions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion does not reach a consensus, as participants share a variety of personal experiences without any overarching agreement on the significance or nature of these encounters.

Contextual Notes

Some anecdotes are humorous or light-hearted, while others reflect a more serious tone. The nature of the encounters varies widely, from casual meetings to more structured events like book signings.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may interest those who enjoy celebrity culture, personal storytelling, or anecdotes about famous figures and their interactions with everyday people.

  • #31
Kakarot said:
Michio Kaku called me 2 summers ago

Now that would be a surprise!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
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!
 
  • #33
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.
 
  • #34
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.
 
Last edited:
  • #35
That's it! I know what Danger's day-job is!

He's a professional celebrity stalker!
 
  • #36
brewnog said:
He's a professional celebrity stalker!
Not quite. :smile:
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.
 
Last edited:
  • #37
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. :biggrin: I met Brett 'the Hitman' Hart when I was little, and Sean 'the Heartbreak Kid' Michaels too.
 
  • #38
Ooh, that reminds me! I've got Kimya from the Moldy Peaches on my msn!
 
  • #39
Arrrrrgh! Really?!? That's soooooo cool.
 
  • #40
calm down...
 
  • #41
Wow, didn't realize anyone would have heard of them!
 
Last edited:
  • #42
heard of who?
 
  • #43
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. :smile:
 
  • #44
I rode in the same car with Ted Kennedy during a motorcade parade. Never got groped, tho. 'Course I was only 7 then... :biggrin:

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
 
  • #45
hypatia said:
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. :smile:
 
  • #46
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).
 
  • #47
recon!


YOU'RE BACK! :biggrin: :biggrin: *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! :smile:
 
  • #48
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!
 
  • #49
icvotria said:
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. :biggrin: 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 :rolleyes: ) 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...
 
  • #50
Danger said:
Firstly, please let me know if you object to me referring to you as 'Vickie'.

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

Uncle Danger said:
I'm just now learning to play the radio

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





Noses run in my family.
 
  • #51
Danger said:
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.
I don't object! People usually call me Toria or Tori though but I don't mind. Now that Brewnog's taken to calling me 'Icky' I'm past caring :-p I'll try and get some more of our music online, I like this flattery!
 
  • #52
hypatia said:
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
Groupie? :biggrin:
 
  • #53
Evo said:
My girlfriend and I were allowed to sit on the corner of the stage during a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young concert, does that count?
Groupie too. :biggrin:
 
  • #54
Artman said:
Groupie? :biggrin:
Can't all have been accidents.
 
  • #55
I forgot my other brush with fame. Eddie Fisher (a singer, once married to Debbie Reynolds, and later to Elizabeth Taylor) bought one of my paintings from a Philadelphia Art Gallery for his daughter actress Carrie Fisher, who appeared in Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return Of The Jedi, and When Harry Met Sally. I saw an interview of her on TV and my painting showed up on the screen for a few seconds. It is a Trompe l'oeil of a canvas turned backwards to the wall. She had it hanging next to an empty antique frame (clever girl). :biggrin:
 
  • #56
Met Hunter Thompson in Big Sur during a party back in the mid-70s. He talks and acts just like he writes. Got into a long and interesting conversation about hand gun modifications. Was sorry to see him pass not long back.
 
  • #57
Carrie Fisher is a big art collector. I saw her interviewed on TV championing this one demented artist who painted photorealistic chimpanzees with penises growing out of their foreheads.

(That wasn't you was it?)[/size]
 
  • #58
ricin said:
Met Hunter Thompson in Big Sur during a party back in the mid-70s. He talks and acts just like he writes. Got into a long and interesting conversation about hand gun modifications. Was sorry to see him pass not long back.
His death was a hoax. He is still alive and posts here under the username Danger.


http://img226.echo.cx/my.php?image=danger5copy3sn.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • #59
zoobyshoe said:
Carrie Fisher is a big art collector. I saw her interviewed on TV championing this one demented artist who painted photorealistic chimpanzees with penises growing out of their foreheads.

(That wasn't you was it?)[/size]
Nope, never painted a chimpanzee penis.

Darn buggers just won't sit still long enough. :biggrin:
 
  • #60
ricin said:
Got into a long and interesting conversation about hand gun modifications.
Cool! Regular stuff like accurizing, Magna-porting and full-auto conversions, or something exotic? (Don't have time before work to get into a discussion, but feel free to stack up details for my later perusal.)

zoobyshoe said:
His death was a hoax. He is still alive and posts here under the username Danger.
Hush, you. It's supposed to be a secret.