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Have you ever met a celebrity?

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Retired Community Manager

Have you ever met a celebrity?

Have you met a celebrity in person? If so, who was it, where and when? What did you think--did they appear different in person than you would have imagined? If so, how?

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Sir Paul McCartney. I work in the music industry & have worked on concerts or recording sessions with many well known people, but Sir Paul is at the top of the list. He's very personable & approachable, genuinely friendly.

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Regular Contributor

Yes, I grew up in NY so I met a few.  Waiting on line to get into a daytime show Lou Christie walked by and stopped to say hello.  Also met Rita Moreno when she starred in the broadway musical "Chicago".  I met Glen Campbell in Macy's one day.  He was there to perform a few songs and sell his latest album.  Roy Scheider from Jaws fame use to have breakfast in the coffee shop across from the bank I worked in.  He was there every morning and always said hello.  I actually worked in that bank with a young girl who eventually moved to Hollywood and became an actress, Roma Maffia.  She has been in dozens of films and tons of TV shows.  Before retiring to Texas I lived in LA for a few years.  Never met a single celebrity the entire time I lived there, go figure.  All of them were really very nice, friendly and accomodating.  

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Newbie

I worked for a small town fire department in rural northern Idaho. Late one winter evening we were called to a vehicle off the road in a creek. The vehicle was upside down in the water. There were no people around but there was a dog in the vehicle which we rescued from the icy water. I was flagging the adjacent road. Only one vehicle, an old pick-up truck came through. I spoke with the driver until I could let him through. He was quiet, but concerned and very kind-hearted when he heard what was going on. He waited patiently. I thought he looked familiar, but couldn't place him. Turns out he owned most of the mountain above the scene of the accident. I had heard about him purchasing the land but was unaware at the time he had built a home and actually came there to live part-time. Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn-LOTR, Hidalgo, Witness) was a well-liked member of the community. He even brought out his truck and did some plowing around town one winter I lived there!

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Yes, I met Hal Holbrook who played in "Designing Women" as well as in the movie "Lincoln". Hal was sitting beside me in a New York airport with his script for "Lincoln" in his hands. He agreed to a photo with me.

 

I also met the comedienne, Angelah Johnson, after one of her shows in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also agreed to a photo with me.

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Bronze Conversationalist

I didn't actually meet this person, and I'm not sure we can call him a celebrity, but I'm sure his name is familiar to all. Back in the late 1950s my older cousin was attending MIT in Boston and I was attending another school close by.  I would go to MIT on Saturdays to study at the library with my cousin.  One day as we were walking across campus an older man was walking in our direction.  He had bushy hair and was wearing a trench coat - popular in those days when the weather was cool.  My cousin asked if I knew who the man was and I said "no".  It was Dr. Albert Einstein! Of course I didn't actually meet him, but to this day, over 60 years later, I can still vividly picture Dr. Einstein walking across campus.

 

Then, on a lesser note, when I was in high school some of the cast of the Howdy Doody show put on a performance in our town and asked for high school students to volunteer to be ushers.  So I 'met' Howdy Doody and Claribel the Clown!  

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Newbie

I was working as a waitress at a restaurant in Montana when one of my (much) younger co-workers asked me if I knew who Juliet Prowse was. When I said, "Yes", she told me that the actress was sitting at one of her tables. I went over to talk to Juliet, and got her autograph. 

Another time, in Reno, I was working at a men's clothing store when one of the customers told me he was Rip Torn. At the time, I did not know who Rip was, but as time went on, I heard a little more about him. 

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Regular Contributor

Yes I have met several.  I grew up in NYC and I had my first celebrity encounter while my friend and I were standing online to get into a TV show.  Here coming down the street was Lou Christy and he stopped to say hello to us.  We were teenagers then so it was really exciting.  My second time was in, of all places, Macy's on 34th street.  Ran into Glen Campbell and he signed an autograph for me.  I also got an autograph from Rita Morena on a playbill for Chicago.  Great show to see in person.  I worked in a bank on Broadway and 90th street in Manhattan and there was a greek diner right across the street.  We went in there almost every morning to get coffee and in one booth every morning was Roy Scheider of Jaws fame.  He always said hello.  Another encounter was with a not so famous person but she was the coach of Kristi Yamaguchi, the ice skater.  Knew her for several years as she came into our bank on a regular basis.  So I was pretty lucky.  The funny part is I moved to California in 2005 and never met a single celebrity.  Everyone I met was very nice and always friendly.  Just like regular people.

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Regular Contributor

Chubby Checkers taught me how to Twist at my friends birthday party, her Dad was a movie producer.  And Bob Denver was my after school supervisor in elementary school.

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Conversationalist

I just remembered I met someone in Hawaii when I graduated high school.

My dad asked me where I wanted to go, anyplace with you.  So, he took me to a nice restaurant by the beach.  I was so happy that I finally got out of jail ( graduated)!  I felt like I was imprisoned for so long.

All of a sudden, a man came on stage and started to sing.  Boy, he sounded just like Dean Martin, but it wasn't Dean Martin.  That voice was so beautiful. He came over to our table and asked what my name was, which to me was odd, then he asked me why did I come to this restaurant.  My Dad and Mom were smiling.  So, I told him I graduated and wanted to spend time with my parents because they are the ones who never gave up hope for me, pushing and guiding me to graduate.  Everybody was clapping.  My Dad asked me, do you know who is this man?  No, they smiled, again

He walked back to the stage and began to sing a wonderful Hawaiian Song, tho I don't remember the name of it, now.

My Dad said, " This is Don Ho"

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Conversationalist

My brother and I went to see Someone at the airport.  We noticed that a lot of reporters were there and wondering who will appear.

We saw a small man get off the airplane, somewhat chubby also.  We thought to ourselves is this Perry Mason?  We looked at each other and said No way!  Perry Mason was a tall man, also not very chubby.

As he came down the steps, he was greeted by reporters and he began to talk - oh my God- yes- this is him!

So, Hollywood dressed him up to make him seem powerful in the courtroom!

The other person we met when we were so young was Pancho and the Cisco Kid, a favorite kid show back in the day.  They looked exactly the same as in the show.  We got autographs and pictures.  It was awesome!

I also met Cochise, the famous Indian, who played in the movies.  Don't know if he was ever an Indian in the first place, his skin was the same color as me,pale.

I stood in the blistering heat with hundreds of other kids waiting for a chance to say HI!  It was awesome!

 

 

 

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Trusted Contributor

I met actors Christopher George and his wife, Lynda Day George in 1979.  I recognized her first from her time on the TV series Mission: Impossible.  I was at a Blue Angels airshow at Pt. Mugu, California and was in the Navy at the time.  I shared a house with a couple and her father was a crew member of Fat Albert, the Blue Angels C-130.  She arranged for us all to get VIP passes and I was an avid photographer at the time so I was ecstatic to have a prime photography spot at the flight line.  It was a windy day and as I squatted down on one knee to help steady my hands with the telephoto lens, I became aware of a shadow that moved over me.  I looked up to see Lynda leaning over me watching with her face about 10 inches from mine.  She started asking me questions about the camera and photography.  I was in awe.  Here was a beautiful woman who makes her living in front of a camera asking me questions about operating one for various shots.

 

I've met other famous people over the years but this one was the most memorable because they engaged me in a conversation rather than just a casual hello type situation.  I somewhat regret that I didn't ask for an autograph from them but I think that would have altered the situation from being a chance meeting and conversation to just another fan wanting to say they had met them.

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Periodic Contributor

I remember them.  I always thought he was so handsome, and she was so pretty!  Like a fairy tale couple!  

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When I was in my teens, my family and I  were at the contemporary hotel at Disney world. My father and my one brother were up early for breakfast. My father observed a man in a robe getting his morning paper. He suggested that we go get his autograph. My brother and I had no idea who this was. He was an older man in his late 50 or early 60. When approached, he obliged us with his autograph and asked how we were enjoying  Disney.  After a short conversation,  we looked at the autograph and did not recognize the name. My father explained that he was Guy Lombardo who used to do the new year's eve celebration.  Very nice and personable man and we were glad to have met him.

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I grew up with Canadian TV so am very familiar with Guy Lombardo, one of the greatest band leaders and violinist. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

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Regular Contributor

I have met several celebrities in my lifetime.  When David Cassidy was alive, I attended several of his concerts where he shook my hand, but there was one concert where he kissed me, and I will never forget it.  He was my teenage crush, so it will always be a fond memory.  I have also met Olivia Newton John after her show in Las Vegas, and she is so different in person than on the stage or tv.  I told her that she shared the same birthday with my brother, and she replied back real sarcastically, "oh really".  It was also a money gimmic because you took your picture with her, and they charged an arm and a leg for the picture, which I had never seen before, except with her.  I have also met Donny & Marie Osmond after their concert, and they are so down to earth and kind.  I have never met such nicer people in my life.  I have also met The Grass Roots after their concert, and they were all really nice.  I met Gary Puckett after one of his concerts, and he is very nice.  He also dedicated a song to my husband and I for our 24th wedding anniversary, and the band member gave me a list of their songs that they sang during the concert, with Gary's autograph, which I will always treasure.  I was at another one of his concert's in Lancaster, PA this past summer, and he dedicated "Young Girl" to me for my 60th birthday.  How cool was that!! 🙂

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Newbie

Mickey Roonie

Red Skelton

Author Godfrey

Sally Star

Liberance

Bob Hope

Rachal Walch

Shirly MacLaine

Julet Prowse

 

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Trusted Contributor

What I’ve learned is that celebrities are people, too. In 1965, I flew to CA when Michigan State played in the Rose Bowl. I was 19. While visiting, I literally ran into Telly Savalas walking through a parking lot in Hollywood. All I could say was, “I just saw Battle of the Bulge and it was great!” In 1971, my husband piloted Sen. Ted Kennedy around South Korea while our one day old daughter and I saw it aired on television. In 1973, I met General Clark of U.S. Fifth Infantry Division who crashed a cocktail party (mine). I learned at the last minute he would accompany my husband’s commander. Many years later, I briefly met Peter Coyote narrating a documentary in a small hometown theater, Bonnie Raitt at a restaurant, and Robin Williams at IHop. In 1990, my daughter waited on Cher at Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach and my son ran into Gene Simmons of KISS in Venice Beach and had a conversation. When I moved north of Mill Valley, one day I found myself standing next to Robin Wright at a deli counter. She and Sean Penn lived in the area at that time. I was on my lunch hour. Each celebrity I met was quite gracious and unassuming.

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yep Long ago in my first marriage My then husband and I met James Brown at a concert when we lived in St. Louis Missouri 

Cheryl Purtee
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How could I forget Michael Parks of TV's "Then Came Bronson?" He was my heart throb, so I nearly passed out when my husband introduced me to him. Another night while attending a gala performance of groups from the 50s and 60s such as The Four Tops, The Temptations and more, we were headed backstage when I realized that my husband was behind me and I was walking next to Jeremy Irons. I said that I enjoyed his work; he smiled and nodded. My husband also met Joan Crawford when she was on the Board of Pepsi (long story) and sat next to many celebrities during his travels. The one that comes to mind is the soulful James Brown. I'm sure I could come up with more celebrities (like Phyllis Diller) as my husband worked in entertainment, but I promise to end here.
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After the October 1st shooting in Las Vegas, I met and have pictures of myself and Dr. Phil who came to visit some of our patients while Donald Trump was on another floor with his wife. 

Many years ago,  my ex-boyfriend and I were eating breakfast at Dukes on Sunset and although it was crowded as usual,  we noticed that they had stopped seating people. All of the sudden, a guy and his people walked in. It was Bruce Springsteen. A week later, we were again having breakfast at Hamburger Henry's In Santa Monica and we ended up sitting next to George Carlin. I have a story about that,  but not now. 

I also met Mary Lou Henner while standing on line at a grocery store in West L. A. 

I also met singer Macy Gray backstage after one of her concerts. 

 

I'm sure there's some more,  but I can't remember all of them. 

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Super Contributor

Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio del Toro were filming "The Hunted" in downtown Portland, OR.  I was on my lunch break and accidentally walked right into a scene they were filming.  Nobody stopped me - maybe they thought I was an extra or something - and I didn't realize what I had done.  Finally, the director said "Cut!" and Tommy Lee said, "Who is she?" and I was escorted away.  So that's my story about meeting a celebrity!  Smiley LOL

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Newbie

I was, working during Christmas vacation from university, at a department store in Palm  Springs when my all-time actor William Holden entered the store. I was working the cosmetic counter, at the front of the store. He saw me and asked where the executive offices were located.  I gave him directions and of course told him I enjoyed his movies. He was most gracious especially since I was only 19 years old.  Definably made my vacation!

 

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Conversationalist

I was just a kid when "Hopalong Cassidy" (William Boyd) came to visit our city.  My father was a printer and helped in making trading cards for his tv series.  I remember his white horse and that he was very nice!  I have also met celebrities at fan shows.  One was Deanna Lund from "Land of the Giants'" and I also met Ken Osmond (Eddie Haskell on "Leave it to Beaver.").  They were all very nice!  I am not sure if I met my real favorite, Clint Eastwood, in person.  Sometimes it is just better to see them on screen!

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Yes, many years ago as a young adult I was in the front of a large crowd as Pope John Paul II was making the rounds in Chicago. He approached me with a hug and I immediately reached down, grabbed his arm and kissed his ring! I didn’t realize until lately that I was hugged by a SAINT! Thank goodness I didn’t break his arm! Perhaps, as I’m rather short, he thought I was one of the kids!

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Bronze Conversationalist

Back when Billy Joel began his career in New York, my husband and I met him several times, as we were local groupies. He knew many of the people my husband knew and so when he played in the village, many from Oyster Bay LI would go to listen to him if possible.

For many years we followed him and occasionally he would give us free tickets to a concert. 

In the beginning when he wrote COLD SPRING HARBOR, he was a fun guy to hang with, and it was so interesting to watch him and his band create songs. He wasn't pretentious, he was just into his music and thrilled that people were listening. I really liked that about him! Later as he became famous, though we would occasionally be invited backstage after a concert, there were too many people in his dressing room, so there was no time to talk. We lost touch over the years as his career soared and our lives moved in different directions.

I still love his music, and COLD SPRING HARBOR will always be my favorite album of his.

Sir Granny Tracy
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Honored Social Butterfly

Yes, I have met a celebrity.    Years and years and years ago (it was ancient history really), when I was in high school, I was working in a small drugstore pharmacy when a lady came in to pick up a prescription.  When she gave me her name, I didn't think anything of it.  So I simply went and retrieved the prescription and rang it up for payment.  It was while I waited for her to gather her monies together for payment that I looked right into her face and I realized that the patient named on the script, Gladys Knight, was in fact the real GLADYS KNIGHT minus the Pips.

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I have never met any celebrity.

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I was an opera singer, musical singer, Music and Theater critic, member of the US Army Band and Chorus singing concerts for the White House, Smithsonian Institute and private concerts in the homes of generals and congressional members.

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yes. I went to highschool and later worked as a linesman for many years with a guy who ended up marrying Linda Lovelace. We all played cards and had a few dinners together.

 

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