Have you ever had a chance to meet a celebrity?

[Whodat]

Something was mentioned recently that sparked my curiosity. Has anyone here ever met an actual celebrity? You know, TV star. Movie star. That kind of thing.

When? Where?

Was it at a sci-fi convention? Did you see them at a sporting event? A book signing? A chance meeting?

What kind of impression did they leave?

Relate your stories.

 

[Sixchan]

I've met a 'famous' person once, but because I'm not 60, I didn't know who the hell he was. Can't remember his name either, but he was supposedly an actor or something.
On the slightly better known side, My cousin is married/engaged/dating (been a long time sine I last saw her) one of the members of the Band 'Suede'.
Also, My Grandfather could be one of Saddam Hussein's doubles, does that count?

 

[Henry]

Lessee... I met Anthony Daniels. For all of 15 seconds. At Gencon 2000.

I have also met Michonne Bourriague (Aurra Sing from Star Wars I) at the same con - lovely lady. Also a lot more willing and able to talk than Mr. Daniels.

Other celeb's are celeb's to gamers, but very few else. I've met R.A. Salvatore, Mike Stackpole, Ed Greenwood; had a brief conversation and handshake with Gary Gygax (though I've spoken to him far more online); and I have met Rich Redman and Bill Slavicsek, and briefly met both Peter Adkison and Ryan Dancey at same Gencon.

I have to say, that the game designers and authors were a LOT more willing to talk than the Movie Celeb's - which is perfectly understandable.

 

[Whodat]

I was visiting relatives up at Bear Valley (a winter ski town in California) a few years ago, when I saw Robert Conrad coming out of the Men’s room.

Didn’t actually “meet” Robert Conrad, mind you. Only saw him walking out of the john.

I don’t think anyone has a lamer celebrity close-encounter than that.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I used to work as a videographer, shooting interviews and such. I've met a fair amount of minor, local stars. I've shot videos for/with Bob Vila, Martha Stewart, and Regis Philbin - Regis is a jerk, BTW. Contrary to his rep, however, Bob was just fine.

My sister-in-law's younger brother was the original lead guitarist for the Spin Doctors. About 20 years ago, the then center for the New York Knicks attended my church. I know a guy who's played Carnegie Hall, though he's not a celeb, by any stretch.

My dad's best friend's daughter married Thomas Watson, Jr. (former IBM CEO and ambassador to Russia).

My cousin Jane is a wingwalker - she's not a celeb, she's just plain nuts.

I once applied for a job that turned out to be personal assistant to Ginger Lynn Allen. How do you explain that to your mom?

For a long time I thought the first person I saw in LA was Steven Spielberg - I was driving down for a job interview, and pulled off the highway into some swanky suburb to check my map, and a guy bicycles past me - beard, baseball cap, glasses, the whole deal.

After ten more years in the biz, I realized that every director in the world dresses exactly like that. Hell, it made a good story while it lasted.

 

[John Crichton]

I've been to 2 Farscape Cons and met most of the main cast.

Ben Browder (plays John Crichton) was great. And for those of you who watch the show, you will get this: I asked him to give me a shot at rock-paper-scissors. I was so darn thrilled that he smiled and put one hand in the air that I all remember was that I lost. I thanked him, told him to take care and that was pretty much that. But a very memorable moment.

An interesting follow-up was at the next con where I was able to meet Anthony Simcoe (plays D'argo). Let me just say that he is completely nuts, during the middle of a picture taking session during a post-Con cocktail party he got up, jumped in to the middle of the dance floor and started grinding with a large group of women. Anyhow, I digress....

I was going to get a picture taken with him, Gigi Edgley (plays Chiana) and Wayne Pygram (plays Scorpius). I guess Wayne Pygram got a bit dehyrated and had to step out for a few minutes so I got to BS with Anthony for a bit. To make a long story short I asked to get a quick picture of just he and I doing rock-paper-scissors. I told him he had to beat me and he insisted that D'argo always loses. I forgot about that. Needless to say, he did it and I was happy. Farscape rules.

I don't really count this but James Van Der Beek grew up near the electronics store I used to work at and stopped in from time to time. He had a very "don't bother me" attitude. But I didn't really care since I didn't really want to meet him to begin with. And I couldn't blame the guy, I'm sure he got pestered wherever he went because of his fame.

But meeting Ben Browder was tops on my list, he was just simply a ton of fun.

EDIT: And on a related note, I dated a girl (briefly) about 5 years back was who's sister (I believe she had many sisters) was married to Snoop Dog. I honestly didn't believe it at the time until she showed me the house they lived in. She always wore expensive and fancy clothes, too. But still, I never saw any pictures or got any proof so to this day I am still sceptical.

 

[Chun-tzu]

I ate lunch in the same (regular) restaurant as David Schwimmer a couple years ago. He's shorter than you think. I pointed him out to the group I was with, but none of us went over to meet him or get his autograph or anything. Actually, no one in the restaurant seemed to make a big deal.

I met Moses Znaimer on a class field trip many years ago. Torontonians will recognize him as the owner of City/Much/Bravo (and now Space, MuchMoreMusic, and I think more...).

One of my co-workers knows Alison Krauss & the Union Station (they did a song on the Buffy soundtrack, among many other things).

One of my grade school teachers dated Billy Dee Williams (at least once, I don't know the details).

Personally, I'd like to meet Chow Yun Fat.

 

[Daiymo]

Met Woody Allen at Michael's Pub in NYC circa 1988 when he was playing clarinet in his jazz band there. Got his autograph and everything, geek that I am. (not really sci-fi I guess unless you count his work in Sleeper).

 

[jdavis]

Me and some friends hung out with Robert Downey Jr in the local Denny's one night. He was too wasted to give autographs or anything, sort of had a glazed over look in his eyes (go figure). he traded his hat for food as he didn't have any money on him and we sat around making fun of people as they came in. He stumbled around Denny's for a couple of hours then left with some white trash girls around 3 in the morning. They were in town filming US Marshalls.

I've met a couple of guys in rock bands but nobody too important (Kip Winger tried to pick up my ex, I should of let him have her.) And I met a couple of pro wrestlers back in the late "80's (Shawn Michaels and a couple of others suprisingly at the very same Denny's). My wife saw Wierd Al Yankovic at Six Flags and talked to a member of one of the real world cast.

Gee none of those were really fantasy or Sci Fi related though.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

Living in NY for several years I ran into quite a few in passing. My reaction to celebs eventualy let me know when I was a New Yorker (LA might be similar), this is the case when your reaction to a film/tv shoot on the street is no longer "neat I wonder who is there" but becomes "why are these people in my way."

Outside of NY I saw Penn & Tellar at a Smithonian Star Trek exhibit. Who would of thunk