That's my brush with greatness.......

brettw22

Borrowing off Danger Boy's post in another thread, I thought that it would be interesting to see who's met whom. List one, two, or however many celebrities you want, but maybe list the one's that you've actually interracted with, not so much like going to a concert and paying to see the person......or not.....whatever floats y'alls boat......

Back when I was 19 and living in Dallas, I was waiting tables at TGIF and one day Morton Downey Jr. strolled in. I was VERY familiar with him because I was always up watching him go off and yell and scream at his guests on his show. Pre Jerry Springer if you will. I can't remember exactly what the name of the show was, but his shows graphic was a big wide open mouth. Anyway, I waited on him, and in addition to him leaving a big tip, he switched me hats and signed his MOUTH hat for me. Somewhere I still have that thing. Not that he was by any means considered a big star, but it was cool meeting someone that I was accustomed to watching on TV.

Also, caught a pass from Troy Aikman. Our church group participated in some program called Dallas After Dark. Basically, ya toured Dallas After Dark (DUH). One of the places that we went to was 'Da Boys' stadium and at around midnight, he was there center field and threw passes to a bunch of us. Fun stuff.......

dylan

I ran in to Alan Thicke at the airport once... top that!!

Met Patty Duke and her sons (in law?) Mckenzie (blonde kid on later 'Facts of Life') and Sean Astin (LOTR) about 12 years ago. They used to have a house one bay over from us on our nearby lake. Very friendly people.

Jstas

I was in a bar in Hawaii on a business trip. It was late and I was listening to the band. I was by myself because all my co-workers had left the day before and I had to stay and pack up equipment to send back to Jersey.

I was talking to the bar tender and drinking Coronas. The band playing was very good and I had been talking to them all night long. The guitar player was excellent and the drummer was a cousin of Jimmy Page of Led Zepplin fame.

So as I am sitting there, this guy with black, curly, shoulder length hair, sunglasses, a black silk shirt, Levis and a set of brown boat shoes walks in and sits down in a dark corner of the bar. It was about 1 am on a Tuesday/Wednesday night/morning so not alot of people were hanging around. Well, I knew I recognized the guy but in my partially anebriated state, I could not place the face with a name.

The band finished its set and the drummer got up, walked over to the guy in the corner, gave him a hug and then walked back over to a couple of girls he was putting the moves on all night long.

Then SNAP! It hit me. THAT"S JIMMY PAGE! I yelled to myself and didn't want to stare but couldn't help it. Jimmy Page catches me staring at him and makes a motion to keep quiet. So I started looking around at other things but I kept glancing back at him. All I could think was, "There is Jimmy Page, sitting over there in the corner of this bar, probably one of the most accomplished guitar players of all time, AND NOBODY KNOWS IT BUT ME AND HIS COUSIN!" So he sees me glancing at him again and waves me over! I was like WOOHOO! So I pounded back the rest of my Corona and walked over and sat down.

Jimmy Page says to me "OK, you obviously know who I am so who are you?" So I introduced myself and he had the waitress bring us a couple of glasses of scotch. He asked me a little bit about myself and then told me why he was in town. Then he asked why I was in town and where I was from. I started telling him what little I could about the work I was doing there and he was incredibly interested. So I found out very little about Jimmy Page but he knows all about John from New Jersey who works on missle defense programs for the government.

He finished his drink, said he had to go, thanked me for keeping him some company, paid for our drinks and my 4 Coronas before that, shook my hand and excuse himself. He walked out of the bar, made a left on Lewers St. I didn't see him again. That was so cool especially since he was interested in little ole me! I have no proof though, just my own memory but its something I will most likely never forget.

I'm had alot of brushes with stardom on my trips to Hawaii. Celebrities are all over Waikiki and Maui. Hell, I've even met some WWF wrestlers at the hotels I was staying at. Chris Jerhico had a room on the same floor as me last time I was there. I haven't met a WWF Wrestler who wasn't a cool guy or girl yet.

But the Jimmy Page thing was really cool. I don't think he is the **** that some of the critics try to make him out to be.

-justin-

Originally posted by dylan
I ran in to Alan Thicke at the airport once... top that!!

Did it hurt?

~JB

Steve@3dai

Ross Perot
Hooverphonic (a band)

avelanchefan

Went to a Colorado Nebraska game in 1995 we had great seats...40 yard line about 7-8 rows up. Any way John Elway was in the row right in front of us. We met him (duh) and was basically talking to him throughout the game.

We were in Vegas the spring of 1995, it was the weekend after the Oklahoma City Bombing. Foreman was in town at the MGM fighting some big russian. We went to eat at Planet Hollywood, and were informed by the waiter (who was still obviously shaking) that Ali just left with his posse and he was the server. Man was I so bummed. One person I would have loved to see.

brettw22

How about the stories that go with the person. Where did ya meet them, what were y'all doin, etc.........

Thanks for the posts.......kinda fun to see that celebs are just out and about and aren't always the stuck up bastages that they're portrayed in the mags and news......

Steve@3dai

Met Ross going into the Galleria mall in Dallas. Just casually said "Hi" smiled and kept on going.

Hooverphonic was at a concert.

I met DMX Krew at a concert as well, it's only one guy, Ed DMX hahaha

Shizelbs

Jstas, you are the coolest person I have ever met, if you can call this meeting. I am so envious of you. Ever since junior high (10 years ago) all my friends and I have loved Zep. They are incredible. I am so jealous of you.

petrym

I was visiting the Kremlin (Aug 2000) when Russian President Vladimir Putin's motorcade drove by...

Strong Bad

Jeez, I lead a boring life I guess!

Actually, A friend of mine is a professional bowler on the PBA tour. He's currently ranked 7th in the world. Danny Wiseman is his name if anyone is into bowling and watches the PBA tour on ESPN on Sunday afternoon's. He's bowling in this Sundays World Championship against 16 other guys for a top prize of $100,000. This Sunday is the end of the PBA season, so we'll be cruising around Baltimore and at the track in our Mustangs.

Oh yeah, I did meet Micah a few times. Top that one you slugs!!!


John

VR3

Ive met Rusty Walace when I was like, 4.
I met Lifehouse and 12 stones also.

heavyismymetal

In 1990 I went to the American Theater in St. Louis to see Megadeth. Had a few Vodka's and smuggled my camera into the show. Didn't get many decent pics of the band but during intermission, I snuck into the ladies room and started taking pictures of all the women pissing and powdering their noses (lol), ended up chatting with a group of girls and as it turned out one of them was Nick Menza's (drummer for Megadeth) wife. She gave me 4 backstage passes to meet with the band. She sure looked silly takin a piss! LOL

SPEAKER7

I thought it was cool......I see her when I was a kid back in the 70's on the TV show the Bionic Women..I thought she was cute back in the golden oldies.


Yes, it's Lindsay Wagner.........I seen her waiting in line at the airport check in....I kept looking at her because she looks so familar and suddenly it clicked in .......I was going to ask her for autograph but I jammed out.



dc.

dthomps

Well, I am from California so I guess that sort of disqualifies me in a way seeing as there are so many famous people that live here compared to other parts of the good ol' US of A.

Starting from the most recent-
I work for a friend of the families at his "Automart", a place where people pay to leave their cars for sale. I was cruisin the lot checking out all the good lookin chicks when a big red Humvee drives right by and a guy yells "out of the road punk!" and I look in the rear view mirror and its Joe Montana. I yelled "Hey Joe Montana Whats up dude?" and he stopped, and we talked for a few minutes, me stammering out my words in his presence. Cool rig too, Niners red, topless four door Humvee.

Second- I was gasing up at the Chevron when a Land Rover Defender 110 caught my eye filling up at the pump next to me. You dont see too many of these, and I think they are wicked. This one was white. Who was pumping his own gas? Robin Williams. Now that left me speachless, so I kinda looked at him and barely whisper "Cool car..." and he goes (with a laugh) "you wanna trade? This thing will make me bankrupt with all the gas it drinks!"

Third and fourth- (Same day) In the local paper, I read an article about Rob Schneider coming to a town close to my city to film a movie. Now what to I do? Try and think of a way to get out of school to see the him! Well, I didnt stop there, I had to think of a wat to meet him. How? Well, I called the city of Sonoma (the city is was being filmed in) and asked when I could get a copy of the notice put out to some of the residents about the streets closing ect. I called the woman who issued the notice, and told her I was from the College paper (I was a senior in high school then) and I was going to write an article about movies filmed locally, and it would be perfect if I could talk to a few members of the crew. Well what does she say? "Oh sure! that would be great! bring a few friends too, I might even let you say hi to Rob if he isnt busy!" Whoa this was cool. So me and a few friends leave school after 2nd period on halloween in 2001, and drive to Sonoma. We get there, talk to Molly (The woman from the flier) and it turns out she is like the production director or something extremely cool. She lets walk all around the set, talk to people (pretending to care about the technicallity and how they chose Sonoma) and she lets us stay and watch when she kicks people off the set that are on the crew, and various other people in the film industry. She lets us eat out of the food trailor (One of the coolest parts- free food! ) and she asks if we have a camera and me, feeling my stomach drop down, replies with a big NO!. she says no problem, I will get you one! and calls some gopher over and has him run to the store and grab us a disposable camera. Man this was really really cool. The scene in the movie (" The Animal ") turned out to be the best in the movie- they were calling it the hot chick on the set, and all it was was hours of this gorgeous babe walking down the sidewalk across the street from us again and again. After all this was done, we then got to talk to Mr. Schneider. Cool dude, for all of the 2 minutes I talked to the guy. A fellow surfer, or so he said. The second this day was Bruce Willis. He was filming "Bandits" at a hotel right across town from me, and was having a Holloween party. I tried to get in, unsuccessfully. I did get to say whats up to him through the blocked door though. I was walking on clouds for the next week or so.

I also live right next door to Puck's parents, the whacko from The Real World. Anyone remember this dude? He only lived at home when I was really young and before his Real World fame came, but I still see him from time to time come to visit mom and pop. He is actually not as crazy and mean as he is on TV, hes a cool dude. I have a bunch of stuff his parents gave to me though, stickers and buttons, and newspapers and stuff. The stickers and buttons say "Puck For President 1996" and have his photo.

Others, not so impressive stories or just seen or shook hands with-
Stan Lee, Natalie Merchant, Jacob Dylan, and the kids from "Boy Meets World" you guys are probably too old to know this show. Ben Savage, Michelle Fischel, and Rider Strong. Rider lived in the house next to my moms house on Lucas Valley Road, about a mile from Lucas Ranch. sorry for the out of hand post. Mike

danger boy

Ok. I'm a photographer and I sometimes get to videotape people and get my pic taken with them. This was from 1996 as you can see date in the pic on the wall.

My company sent me and a reporter to interview David Letterman for a story we were doing. My company put us each up in our own suite at the Nikko Essex on Central Park. Some of the NBA teams stay there when they are in NYC.

Anyway, we got to meet and interview David for about 30 minutes. He's very nice guy. At least to us anyway. I guess if he has a bad or rough show he can be a real a-hole. Anyway, back then he would smoke those big long cigars.. so we took him a box of cigars, to show our appreciation for giving us a interview. He loved them, as you can see in the picture.

A few other people i've met over the years... and not all of them big name stars or anything. But they are people I will always remember.

Lisa Loeb She signed a CD for me, she's really kind of cute and a little bit on the quirky side. (I'm not a fan actually).

Dr. Jane Goodall the chimpanzee lady. She was visiting a chimpanzee research facility were I was living at the time. She's a great lady, and very kind.

Former President George Bush. no comment.

Patty Duke (like Dylan mentioned earlier, she lives nearby) She signed her book for me. Note* Patty has appeared in more movies of the week on TV than any other actor or actress.

Gloria Steinem activist/feminist she was in town for a speaking tour. She didn't sign anything for me.

Judy Sheppard (Matthew Sheppards mom) Wow what a great lady. I was very impressed with her. She is everyones mom, yet a pilar of inspiration to everyone. I have a pic of me with her too, but I couldn't find it in time to post it here.

Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle, USMC) Nice guy.

Phil and Steve Mahre (Sarajevo Olympics, 1984) Slalom skier they lived nearby and I spent the day with them skiing. Talk about intimadating.

a few others... but most people wouldn't know them.

This is over a period of about 15 yrs.

see ya, Al the pal

Shizelbs

My mother used to work for Microsoft. In fact, she used to work directly for Mr. Gates himself. I am told that when I was 5 or so, I met him. I was coloring in a book, and he said "Hi". I said "hey." Yeah, thats about it. My mother said he was very nice to work for.

petrym

I saw Pearl Baily at the footsteps of the Lincoln Monument in 1977. I met Glen Beckert from the Chicago Cubs at a church youth event, and I still have the baseball he signed!

JESF

Here's my two cents worth of association with greatness. I'm a musician and I have recently met the Bullet Boys (original singer only), Molly Hatchet, David Lee Roth, and Quiet Riot (original members). My buddy and I ran the sound board for the shows and I tuned their drums.

During the Salt Lake City Olympics we were entertainment performers and we met many Olympiads including Mr. Ono and main stage performer Natalie Ambruglia, very cool gal, we spoke after our performance. We also met Steve Young. We opened the Olympic Medals Plaza for N'SYNC and Mr. Young was the MC, he stuck around our dressing room and shot the breeze with us, very cool. We were offered the opportunity to meet N'SYNC in their dressing room but we opted not too, because they stole our catering and would not allow us to use our in-ear monitors. Apparently, Britney Spears was backstage as well, she wasn't allowed to wander around because she's Pepsi sponsored and Coke was the official Olympic sponsor. Who knew!?

During a vacation in Puerto Rico I met legendary boxer Macho Camacho, I now know I can take him! I also was introduced backstage to Puerto Rico's Luis Enrique, although at the time, I didn't know how huge he was in the Latin American pop culture.
And last but least, I met Bobby Rock (drummer) for the Olsen twins (remember those blonde 80's rock brothers) although it wasn't a great experience because he was trying to pick up on my wife and I was apparently not cooperative and appreciative of his fame! Whatever.
I hope this helps.

Jstas

Olsen twins (remember those blonde 80's rock brothers)

Olsen Twins? Were they even alive in the 80's? I think you mean Nelson Twins?

danger boy

Originally posted by Jstas


Olsen Twins? Were they even alive in the 80's? I think you mean Nelson Twins?

dude. this made my day! thanks..

JESF

You're right! They're about the same thing, just younger versions.

gidrah

I met Tiny Tim at an airport about 2 weeks before he died.

George Grand

I always wondered what Tiny might've died of.... now I know.

Literally ran into Crystal Gayle about 15 years ago at Filthadelphia Int'l. Airport. She's a flaming hottie if I ever saw one.

I used to hang around in the Brooklyn Dodger's dugout when I was a kid, courtesy of my Uncle Jerry, who was a photographer with the New York Daily News. JStas has seen the photographic evidence.

My daughter Stephie was watching The Jackie Robinson Story on the idiot box one night, and she called me in to show me how bad she felt he was being treated by the white man. I headed for my treasured photos, pulled out the one where he's holding me, autographed "To my little pal George", showed it to her, and her eyeballs just about fell out. That was fun.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grand's)

Tour2ma

Cool old thread here...

When I was about 8 the family went on a trip to NYC. Walking down the street with my Mom we see Pat Boone. Mon says take his pic and I walked up and asked if it was OK. Pat's answer... "Snap away." So I took a pic of him with some guy... may have been his bookie.

Same trip I shook hands with Jack Dempsey at "his" restaurant. Thought he was the biggest guy with the biggest hands I'd ever seen.

Heard Ralph Nader speak at Kent State while I was in H.S. Got a chance to speak with him as well.

Later, while in college, Ali gave a speech and I got to shake hands with him after. Very imposing figure with, again, huge hands, but a peacefulness in his eyes that immediately put me at ease.