Famous people you've met

I met LL Cool J and Run DMC when I was in college. I know my state's Lt Governor. A handful of NFL players. The GM of an NBA team. Good friends with a former NFL mascot. I met a former big 3 network evening news anchor, now deceased. Friends with the possible future king of an African tribe with subjects into the tens of millions.

i was an extra in a few movies when i was a kid. got to briefly meet Dennis Hopper and Gene Hackman, but didn't get to talk to them. same situation years later : Nick Nolte and Ed O'Neill. one of the coolest was when my band got an opening gig for Loverboy; got to hang out with the drummer during setup, and he was a real character. we were double booked that night, and Mike Reno (their singer) came over to our gig and jammed with us. i thought that was pretty cool. he actually played drums while i sang Roadhouse Blues, and he was a pretty decent drummer. i also met CC Deville, and got a picture with him. it made my day, for sure.

Helix said:

i was an extra in a few movies when i was a kid. got to briefly meet Dennis Hopper and Gene Hackman, but didn't get to talk to them. same situation years later : Nick Nolte and Ed O'Neill. one of the coolest was when my band got an opening gig for Loverboy; got to hang out with the drummer during setup, and he was a real character. we were double booked that night, and Mike Reno (their singer) came over to our gig and jammed with us. i thought that was pretty cool. he actually played drums while i sang Roadhouse Blues, and he was a pretty decent drummer. i also met CC Deville, and got a picture with him. it made my day, for sure.

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Don't you love it when the "superstars" we happen to meet are some of the coolest, humble and down to earth people?

Oscar Robertson in a hotel elevator in Chicago.

Ric Flair at a hockey game.

Yogi Berra at a minor league baseball game in Memphis

John Davidson, Liberace, Donna Summer, Roy of Siegfried & Roy and Muhammed Ali. I had a retail store in the LV Hilton and they bought stuff from me. Donna Summer bought a bronze statue of 2 people ****ing and some other erotica. Same for Roy, Davidson bought a ship's binnacle and I don't remember what Liberace and Ali bought.

OMG....

I wouldn't know where to begin. My years of stage managing has led me to countless famous people. I treat 'em just like everybody else. Except, perhaps, I don't provide everybody else with cheese trays and green M&M's. LOL!

My wife and I were, on one occasion, browsing in an antique store in Goleta, when my wife struck up a conversation with another woman who was there. As the two of them were talking, I noticed that the other woman bore a noticeable resemblance to someone famous, though I thought she looked much younger than the famous person who I thought she resembled must be. Just as I was beginning to comment on this resemblance, I noticed that she was wearing a name tag that identified her as “Ruthy”, (consistent with the celebrity that I thought she resembled) and indicated that she was a participant in the “Concourse de Elegance” event (a car show, in which very expensive, exotic, or otherwise remarkable automobiles are on display) that was, at the time, taking place nearby.

It turns out that this woman was, in fact, Ruth Buzzi. She was pleased that I thought she looked younger than I thought she must be (she could easily have passed for my age, but I remembered seeing her on “Laugh In” when I was a young child, at which time she was already an adult.) As it happens, she's around my parents' age, which is about what I would have thought she should be.

Had I not recognized her, and commented on it, my wife would never have had any idea that the person she was talking with was anything but some random, unremarkable stranger. She was previously aware that there was someone named Ruth Buzzi who was famous for something, but she didn't know what Ms. Buzzi looked like, or what she was famous for.

Smeagol said:

I met LL Cool J and Run DMC when I was in college. I know my state's Lt Governor. A handful of NFL players. The GM of an NBA team. Good friends with a former NFL mascot. I met a former big 3 network evening news anchor, now deceased. Friends with the possible future king of an African tribe with subjects into the tens of millions.

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I kissed Minnie Minoso about 20 years ago.
Had lunch with Ed Asner in L.A. Gave me a kiss, too.
Met Conny Payton, Walter's wife, shortly after he passed away. She gave me a hug.
Oh! And Gene Siskal -- he whispered in my ear.

Most of every Atlanta Thrashers player from the past several years, not really hard when practice was open to the public, I also met Bob Hartley, really cool guy, also met Don Waddel, and Bruce Levinson(one of the former owners, complete and utter tool)

I've also met Amy Lee, after a concert, she was so nice and gave me a hug, twas awesome!

Also met everyone in the band Halestorm, also after a concert, all really nice people.

And Jeff Gordon.

Micheal Dorn...

Bob Blaylock said:

My wife and I were, on one occasion, browsing in an antique store in Goleta, when my wife struck up a conversation with another woman who was there. As the two of them were talking, I noticed that the other woman bore a noticeable resemblance to someone famous, though I thought she looked much younger than the famous person who I thought she resembled must be. Just as I was beginning to comment on this resemblance, I noticed that she was wearing a name tag that identified her as “Ruthy”, (consistent with the celebrity that I thought she resembled) and indicated that she was a participant in the “Concourse de Elegance” event (a car show, in which very expensive, exotic, or otherwise remarkable automobiles are on display) that was, at the time, taking place nearby.

It turns out that this woman was, in fact, Ruth Buzzi. She was pleased that I thought she looked younger than I thought she must be (she could easily have passed for my age, but I remembered seeing her on “Laugh In” when I was a young child, at which time she was already an adult.) As it happens, she's around my parents' age, which is about what I would have thought she should be.

Had I not recognized her, and commented on it, my wife would never have had any idea that the person she was talking with was anything but some random, unremarkable stranger. She was previously aware that there was someone named Ruth Buzzi who was famous for something, but she didn't know what Ms. Buzzi looked like, or what she was famous for.

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I hear ya. Many times I have been face to face with celebrity and didn't snap to who they were. Real life looks often differ from the screen.

Can you name this celebrity posing with my band after the show?



Can you name this famous person watching us do our sound check?




This guy here was kinda upset that we brought him raspberry Yoplait instead of blueberry.



This guy here still owes me 52.00 for some kind of wheat germ bulk-up stuff I bought for him from GNC.

I've met more athletes than "movie stars"... Matt Cassel (if you wanna call him an athlete), Reggie Bush, Kevin Durant, Larry the Cable Guy, Mic Foley, Triple H, Mike moustakas, all the members of NSYNC.. Would love to meet the Kardashians!

Oh yeah my nephew played for Trent Green's team in NSYFL youth football league.

I lived in Los Angeles for about 6 years, and especially if you live/hang out in the San Fernando Valley near the studios, you'll run in to famous people from time to time.

I actually talked to Ozzy Osbourne at a Starbucks (big meat head security guy scowling and looking toward the door to indicate that Oz wasn't going to be hanging about to chat).

Talked to Richard Karn (Al of Home Improvement) on the sidewalk as he was loading a headboard into his Lexus. Just a quick "hello, love your work" sort of thing.

I didn't know it at the time, but I saw and exchanged a "hello" with Alex Borstein (Lois Griffin in Family Guy) outside comedy club during the day. I remembered her face because she was walking barefoot on the concrete with her shoes in her hand.

Saw Jennifer Tilly in a Brazilian barbeque place, didn't talk to her, but she was right behind me in the buffet line. Outside the restaurant I heard her say "I gotta walk off some of this meat". Awesome.

Shared an airplane flight to Houston with Carmen Electra (she had her hand over her face to prevent people from recognizing her and had a big meathead body guard sitting in the aisle seat beside her to further discourage conversation).

Pretty sure I saw Lorraine Bracco from Sopranos zoom past me in a Lamborghini once on the freeway.

Some guy I was in the car with claimed that we passed by Will Smith on a road somewhere in the Hollywood Hills. I was paying attention to the road and can't confirm that.

He might not be famous in a general sense, but I went to see the Los Angeles premiere of the movie Naqoyqatsi, and the film director Godfrey Reggio was sitting behind me during the screening.

Went to a 3D film festival at the same theatre and passed film director John Landis in the bathroom.

Hanging around in Venice I saw Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller getting money out of an atm. Saw him again being driven away from Venice while I was crossing the street.

I lived in Los Angeles for about 6 years, and especially if you live/hang out in the San Fernando Valley near the studios, you'll run in to famous people from time to time.

I actually talked to Ozzy Osbourne at a Starbucks (big meat head security guy scowling and looking toward the door to indicate that Oz wasn't going to be hanging about to chat).

Talked to Richard Karn (Al of Home Improvement) on the sidewalk as he was loading a headboard into his Lexus. Just a quick "hello, love your work" sort of thing.

I didn't know it at the time, but I saw and exchanged a "hello" with Alex Borstein (Lois Griffin in Family Guy) outside comedy club during the day. I remembered her face because she was walking barefoot on the concrete with her shoes in her hand.

Saw Jennifer Tilly in a Brazilian barbeque place, didn't talk to her, but she was right behind me in the buffet line. Outside the restaurant I heard her say "I gotta walk off some of this meat". Awesome.

Shared an airplane flight to Houston with Carmen Electra (she had her hand over her face to prevent people from recognizing her and had a big meathead body guard sitting in the aisle seat beside her to further discourage conversation).

Pretty sure I saw Lorraine Bracco from Sopranos zoom past me in a Lamborghini once on the freeway.

Some guy I was in the car with claimed that we passed by Will Smith on a road somewhere in the Hollywood Hills. I was paying attention to the road and can't confirm that.

He might not be famous in a general sense, but I went to see the Los Angeles premiere of the movie Naqoyqatsi, and the film director Godfrey Reggio was sitting behind me during the screening.

Went to a 3D film festival at the same theatre and passed film director John Landis in the bathroom.

Hanging around in Venice I saw Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller getting money out of an atm. Saw him again being driven away from Venice while I was crossing the street.

Rod Serling
Ella Fitzgerald
Erroll Garner
Kirk Whalum
Trout Fishing in America (many, many times)
Dinesh D'Souza
Bill Fortschen (author of One Second After)
Randy Travis
Ricky Skaggs
Weird Al
Harm de Blij
Gene Autry
Chicago (and they were all wearing floor-length mink or sable coats)
Mark O'Connor

Saw Richard Simmons in a little card shop years ago but pretended not to see him so he could shop without being bugged.

I met Aaron Lewis of Staind after a concert at a small venue back in '99, and the entire band stopped by at a party at friends house that we were at after the show. Very cool guys! Had some beers, smoked some...uh, cigarettes. Good time.

I surveyed Mickey Schuler's neighbor's property about 14 years ago, and Mickey came out to talk to me/ask about what I was doing. Very friendly guy.

ehh i met this guy:



Did this for SPIN nagazine

nota bene said:

Rod Serling
Ella Fitzgerald
Erroll Garner
Kirk Whalum
Trout Fishing in America (many, many times)
Dinesh D'Souza
Bill Fortschen (author of One Second After)
Randy Travis
Ricky Skaggs
Weird Al
Harm de Blij
Gene Autry
Chicago (and they were all wearing floor-length mink or sable coats)
Mark O'Connor

Saw Richard Simmons in a little card shop years ago but pretended not to see him so he could shop without being bugged.

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I did an opening for Weird Al once. That guy had a whole semi loaded with costume cases. They shut down our set-up for an hour rolling them off. Never got to meet him though.

Lots of acts have in their rider no meet and greet. I once had Nancy Sinatra do my stage and her road manager told us all up front, no conversation, no eye contact, if she is in the wings we must exit immediately and wait for her to pass. I thought that was kinda weird.

Lets see: Famous people I have had conversations with

Rod Laver
Ken Rosewall
Steffi Graf
Daren Cahill
Brad Gilbert
Ana Ivanovic
Andre Agassi
Jim Courier
Tom Gullickson
Matts Wilander
Ivan Lendl

all at the ATP tournament in Mason Ohio-all of them have sat in or next to the box I hold

Oscar Robertson (his daughters I grew up with)

David Hyde Pierce
Bronson Pinchot
Jodie Foster

Peter Keisler (Former US attorney General)
Shannon O'Brien (Lost to Romney for Mass Governor)

all at Yale several were close friends

Folk Country singer Tim O'Brien (counselor at a summer camp I attended)

G Gordon Liddy
William F Buckley Jr
Allard Lowenstein
George McGovern
John Connolly
Oriana Fallaci
George HW Bush

all came to the Yale Political Union when I was an officer

Senator Robert Portman -close friend of the family

Chad Everett. We sat at the ST Louis airport many years ago waiting for a plane. He was coming back from the some award ceremony and I was waiting to go to the Olympic trials. He showed me some award he had won and I showed him my credentials from the Olympic training center. he wished me well in Moscow but I missed the team narrowly

Mikael Applegren (four time world table tennis champion)-we shared a suite at the US Open many years ago.

I know at least a dozen Olympic gold medalists and a guy considered the greatest ever in one olympic sport is one of my best friends.

I don't know that I've ever met anyone famous. Or if I did, I didn't realize they were famous when I met them.

Konstantine Karamanlis - Greek President and Prime Minister
Vaclav Havel - Czech President
Admiral Hyman Rickover - Father of US nuclear submarine fleet
Bill Walton - US basketball player

The rest I couldn't care less about.

Captain America said:

I did an opening for Weird Al once. That guy had a whole semi loaded with costume cases. They shut down our set-up for an hour rolling them off. Never got to meet him though.

Lots of acts have in their rider no meet and greet. I once had Nancy Sinatra do my stage and her road manager told us all up front, no conversation, no eye contact, if she is in the wings we must exit immediately and wait for her to pass. I thought that was kinda weird.

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Diana Ross (who at least was talented, not that this is an excuse for diva behavior) has always been known from crap such as, "You may not look at Miss Ross." Couple of times a year I like to read up on the riders at the Smoking Gun. One year a little Jennie from the block is thrilled to have a gig and be gaining attention; the next she demands only white flowers in that corner of the room, never this one.

Here's a link for an idle early Saturday morning: Backstage | The Smoking Gun

i have met some famous people but you dont know them hehe

My job puts me in contact with high level politicians all the time so that list is pretty long. But of those the highest profile ones would be:

President Clinton
President GW Bush
President Obama
SECSTATE Clinton
Colin Powell (once when he was in the private sector and later when he was SECSTATE)
Countless governors and congress critters

Entertainment celebrities:
David Copperfield
Meg Ryan
Hugh Jackman
Ricky Martin (he came to the embassy I worked at)

But the only person whose autograph I ever felt compelled to ask for, was Norman Borlaug. His contributions to this world dwarf everyone else's on my above list put together.