Running into a famous person?

W

Winnipeg

Well-Known Member
Messages
5,400
Have you ever run into a famous person and found them to be either nicer than you had thought or snottier than you thought?

I ran into John Wayne years ago and found him to be so polite and courteous.........he opened the door for me, let me go in ahead of him etc etc
 
When I was working in nightlife, 'famous' or semi-famous people were often popping up at the bar. Adele came during Pride in my last year there- she was lovely to every bartender, was dancing and singing with the crowds, and was very gracious in general. Lil Nas X came on a very slow night in the summer and literally sat at my bar by himself and was asking me about my life and my goals- insanely down to Earth. Sam Smith was also there a few times, most of the Rupaul Drag queens showed up constantly whenever in Miami. I also met and talked with Ross Mathews and Carson Kressley, and Andy Cohen sat at my bar with friends and we had plenty of shots together. I also saw Billy Porter, Gus Kenworthy, and of course many skaters from around the world who were either vacationing or skating on the cruise ships that docked down here. There were also a few reality-competition people that came, and of course I was one of the few people that recognized them :p I know there are so many others that I'm forgetting-- I was there a long time.

There were only a few people that had attitudes, and they were usually D-list 'gay scene' celebs that wanted special treatment or were annoyed they weren't getting the recognize they (thought they) deserved by way of free stuff or whatever else.

Here's Andy and I: https://imgur.com/a/dBk5nnQ
And Adele living her best life: https://imgur.com/a/1UPE9Nx
 
This is the only place I can tell this story and have the person be considered a famous person! :) The day of a pro competition, back in the '90s, I passed Todd Eldredge on the street near the arena. (I used to work a couple of blocks from that arena.) He looked like he was trying to be inconspicuous (sort of moving his eyes around in a "don't notice me" way), so I left him alone.
 
I worked on the concert committee at my university and found Pat Benatar and her band nice. My dad had a random encouter in Omaha when he stepped onto an elevator and the man riding with him was Harry Truman and a man he assumed was his secret service agent post presidency. He said Truman was congenial.
 
Not really but Tom Cruise used to live in my neighbourhood growing up (a long time ago and his last name was different)and Bryan Adams used to play in a band - not professional or anything but a teenage thing - at my neighbours across the street. I could very well have run into them who knows lol. Tom Cruise’s dad wasn’t great and I believe Bryan Adams dad wasn’t either. I remember in later years my neighbour told me she’d feed him and make sure he had socks. She also said he would send a car for them and they could watch the concert free when he played in Ottawa.

That’s as close as I’ve gotten lol.
 
Last edited:
Like many of us here, back when I attended a lot of competitions and shows I met a lot of skaters, although usually found the coaches, choreographers, judges and media a lot more interesting :sekret: to talk with. One time we had on-ice seats at SOI, and as part of one of her numbers, Jennifer Robinson sat on my husband's lap and left him with a lipstick kiss on his forehead. When they did the glad-handing at the end of the show she skated right up to me and said she hoped it was OK and thanked us for playing along (of course!). Cool of her though.
 
We were staying at The Parker (a rather exclusive luxury hotel) in Palm Springs as guests of our daughter and her family. We were sitting as a family eating breakfast in their divine outdoor cafe and Jesse Tyler Ferguson with his husband and a small dog sat down at the table beside us. Our daughter's children were quite young and her smallest are twin girls. The kids were, of course, taken with the dog who was happy to reciprocate the attention. Jesse's husband was warm and friendly and happily let the children pet the dog. Jesse studiously ignored us and did not so much as glance at any of us. I realize he probably wanted to have a private breakfast and gets tired of unwanted attention but his attitude was very cold. A bit of a message for me that we may feel we know them but really we don't. I know he is a father now and wonder if his attitude about the magnetism of small dogs and children has lightened a little.
 
Im a part time dance critic and thus am friendly with several ballet dancers and their moms. The ones i have met have all been super nice although it's a tough business.
 
Some years ago in Kauai, our family was seated at the same table as Ben Stiller at a luau. He was amazingly nice, and of course funny, and was asking all of us about our lives and careers and such, and just acting like a normal person getting to know new folks. He also commented on how polite and well-behaved the twinnies were at that time (they were about 7). VERY nice man, and will forever be one of my favorite actors because of this interaction.
 
I met out former chancellor Kohl once. I remember being amazed by his hugeness. I knew he was big but he was big and tall and had an enormous presence which I did not expect.

I am a little bit famous in very small circles and I had a job applicant coming to me once who only wanted to do the interview in order to get the selfie with me. 😂
 
Most of my encounters have been with skaters @ competitions or after shows (SOI). Most of the skaters have been super kind to us. In some cases, we've also met/spoken to their parents (Sean Rabbitt's mom & dad, Max Aaron's parents, Todd Eldredge's parents, Madison Chock's parents, who came to our section during the medal ceremony @ 2023 Skate America). All in all, great encounters.

Musically speaking, we got to speak to Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, & Mary) after one of their concerts. We thanked him for singing a particular song during their concert that night. We have had the pleasure to talking to Gordon Lightfoot (of blessed memory now) after many of his concerts through the years. I was able to give him a copy of a children's "Big Book" about the Edmund Fitzgerald (the reading teacher from the school where I taught let me have it to give to him). This happened about 10 years ago, and every time we got to talk to him after one of his concerts from that time on, he always thanked us for that book!

None of our meeting famous people encounters have been random, but they've been memorable for us. Re: figure skating, you never know whom you'll see in the concourse!
 
Cachoo said:
I worked on the concert committee at my university and found Pat Benatar and her band nice. My dad had a random encouter in Omaha when he stepped onto an elevator and the man riding with him was Harry Truman and a man he assumed was his secret service agent post presidency. He said Truman was congenial.
Click to expand...
One of my former coworkers used to tell a story about growing up in Independence, MO and his encounter with President and Mrs. Truman. The Secret Service followed my friend and his friends because Bess saw them and thought they should be in school. The agents brought them to the Truman home and they explained they were on an alternative schedule due to renovations at the school. She served them a snack and spoke to them for a while. Eventually, Harry came in from the yard to greet them. My friend also said he would see President Truman walking through Independence from the school windows.

Skating related: I once saw Emanuel Sandhu outside an arena clearly deep in concentration. I had spoken to him before, but I didn't interrupt him. I kept walking. He noticed me, smiled, waved, and I did the same.
 
canbelto said:
Oh also I ran into Elisabeth Moss at the ballet. She was super nice. Mikhail Baryshnikov was not.

Was at a Lady Gaga concert and Caroline Kennedy was at the same concert and got on the same subway to go home. She smiled and waved at my friend.
Click to expand...
I went to to the same gym as Caroline Kennedy. She routinely asked me for change of a quarter for the pay phone. Very unassuming.
 
I used to teach violin lessons to Vincent D'Onofrio's son. His mom was usually the one around but I met Vincent a few times. The first time he was very quiet, but after that was quite friendly with me.

Another time I was walking through Chappaqua, NY, and there was Bill Clinton (he and Hillary used to live there). He was speaking with some of the locals and seemed very nice and engaging. I'd always heard that his charisma was off the charts in person, and I would have to agree with that.

As for skaters, I usually go out of my way not to approach them at skating events. But I was in an elevator with Michael Weiss at a Skate America... he struck up a conversation with me and was very nice. Also ended up sitting right next to Katarina Witt (SA again) and she came across as friendly and down-to-earth.

For opera lovers: I worked at a music festival in Italy along with Sherrill Milnes (famous American baritone). I was quite starstruck at first, but we got to know each other well during that month and he was clearly a down-home boy from Iowa.

ETA: At SA in Atlantic City, my friends and I were in a restaurant close to the arena. Tables were fairly close together, and in walks David Spade with a woman, who sat at the table next to us. Spade snottily asked the waitress not to allow anyone to bother him. No one did... and then he started complaining to his friend that he couldn't believe that no one was coming to the table asking for autographs. He honestly seemed like a complete ass.
 
Last edited:
The closest I got was through my father. He did yard maintenance and was the pool boy for a friend of the choreographer Agnes de Mille (Rodeo and Fall River Legend ballets; Oklahoma, Carousel, Brigadoon for Broadway; Oklahoma for film).

One of the greatest days of his life was when de Mille and friend were chatting on the pool deck, and de Mille got up and pushed him into the pool.

I can’t remember why, but I was brought backstage at Seattle Opera during the middle of a work day and the person I was with introduced me to Gordon Hawkins. I have not idea what happened or how they reassembled me from the melted puddle I became.
 
We ran into Kathy Ireland in Niagara Falls way back when. She was all dressed down with no make up, a bulky coat and snow hat. We recognized her voice. She took off her hat and smiled and looked absolutely gorgeous and every bit the super model she was at the time. And was super nice. Some people are just naturally beautiful 🤷🏻‍♀️

I also had a weird encounter with Dominik Hasek at the tiny local mall near me when I was much younger. My sister and I were in line to buy pretzels at Auntie Anne's. The man in front of us with his young son had a size sticker hanging off this bum, so I told my sister we should tell him. She was like, no! Don't do it! That will be so embarrassing for him! But I told her he'd be more embarrassed of he walked around all day and didn't know it was there. So I tapped him and said "excuse me mister". He begrudgingly turned to talk to me, and I told him he had a sticker hanging off his booty. He was appreciative and thanked me. Then his son started laughing and said "it was ME!!" 🤣 When he pulled out his wallet, we saw his ID. Dominik Hasek. My sister about lost her mind. I told her it's a good thing we told him about the sticker. 🤣
 
I knew 3 famous people that lived in my hometown. Sammy Joe Odom had a camp close to our camp on the Sabine River in Logansport and was a good friend of my dad's. He was always friendly and would fish with us on our barge. Sammy Joe played for the Houston Oilers as a defensive tackle in 1964.

I also knew Vida Blue. I would see him all the time because he was friends with my dad. Vida was a left-handed pitcher and played for the Oakland Athletes, San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals throughout his career. He was also a six-time All-Star. Vida was the first of only five pitchers in major league history to start the All-Star Game for both the American League in 1971 and the National League in 1978.

His wife, Annette, also became the first female and African American Chief of Police in Mansfield in 2019. She worked for the Mansfield Police Dept. for 33 years.

I also know Terry Bradshaw. He would come to Mansfield on Fridays and meet my dad at the auction barn. That was in my teen years. Terry was always coming to Mansfield in the 70's, and he was always friendly. He had also recorded a song once and brought my dad the record. He didn't sound bad at all, and I still have the record.

www.youtube.com

Terry Bradshaw - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

1976 - Mercury Records Album - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry Terry Bradshaw - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry Written By ~ Hank WilliamsTerry's debut single releas...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

He once had his ranch (Circle B Ranch) in Holly, Louisiana which wasn't but about 8 miles north of Mansfield. I never got to meet JoJo Starbuck while she was married to Terry. She was married to him from 1976 until 1983. I remember Terry saying that she was skating with the Ice Capades for a short time when they first got married, and I don't think he got to see her as much as he wanted to. I remember that she was also doing those Cup of Noodles commercials.

I also got to meet Denzel Washington and Oprah Winfrey during the production of the Great Debaters in our town. I can say that they were so nice, and it made my day. I was also allowed to take pics of the courthouse square where they turned the surrounding area into downtown Marshall, TX. and the old cars and bus used in the movie. I ended up sharing those pics with the Mayor of Mansfield, the tax assessor and several more of my friends because they weren't allowed to take pics. I just happened to be there at the right time! lol!
 
Last edited:
I was once within arms reach of Patrick Swayze and Cameron Bright when they were filming a movie in West Edmonton Mall (that I'm pretty sure you can only buy in West Edmonton Mall honestly) because my friend and I got recruited to be extras when they needed more people. Didn't get the chance to meet them though.

My dad recently retired from being a gate agent for one of the airlines and he met a few semi-famous to famous people. The ones I specifically remember are Kurt Browning (because he got me Kurt's autograph), he said Kurt was super nice and engaging. Jamie Salé and David Pelletier were also on that tour and he said they were very cold and standoffish but this was around the last time they split up IIRC.

Charley Pride played here a couple of times and my dad met him both times and he was apparently very nice to all the staff.
 
I litterally ran into Marya Butyrskaya once. I think it was Euros of 1999 in Prague, it was in the catacombs and we both were in a hurry - she was on her way to the changing room, obviously, and I was trying to find my seat which was at the opposite side of the rink. We both said „Sorry!“ and looked embarrassed and continued running…
 
I met Nadia Comaneci at the Athens
Olympics during podium training. I managed to sit together with all the coaches and suddenly people started saying Nadia, Nadia, welcome. I turned around saw Nadia next to me asking if she could pass.

I still have her autograph but was too young/speechless to ask for a photo. This was exactly 20 years ago!!!!
 
Adam Rippon spent an entire senior pairs event sitting next to me and chatting away. I've encountered several other skaters along the way, but not much more than hi.

Warren Buffett can be seen walking around Omaha frequenting his favorite steak house or Dairy Queen. But to actually talk to him, I think would be too much invading space.

I went to high school with an actress who had some small parts in TV series. I think she would have gotten bigger roles if breast cancer hadn't taken her before her time.
 
Gene Simmons in Beverly Hills in the 00’s. He was buying gossip mags at a stand. My father made me a toy box and put KISS stickers on it, I wanted Holly Hobby. I would throw a blanket over that toy box every night. :lol: I went over to tell him this story and he was completely dismissive so all I said was, “My dad is a huge fan” and I moved along.

I think I also saw Adrian Grenier during that same three week work trip. In line at Urth Cafe. I wasn’t sure though as he had a ball cap on.

I rode on an elevator with Al Michaels and Frank Giffords back when DH worked for the NFL (and pre 9/11 when they allowed family of employees back to the offices). I just said hello and told them to have a good evening. I would often sit outside DH’s office and watch the post-game player interviews. You could hear my MIL and I giggling like schoolgirls on ESPN during a Drew Bledsoe interview. :swoon:
 
DeeDee Conn who played Frenchie in Grease and Denise Stevens Downey in Benson, went to grammar school with me, and was in my ballet class; I still remember DiDi playing Pippi Longstocking in 4th grade. I also knew her as Didi Bernstein. In 6th grade, we were in the same "Junior Sorority".

Our mothers were friends. Both of them were involved in PTA drama productions and they also were in a monthly "Sewing Circle". I ran into her in a Nyack, New York restaurant in the mid-nineties. Fortunately, she remembered me. Her second husband is David Shire, a song writer and film scorer and was formerly married to Talia Shire(nee Coppola).

.Her younger brother, Richard is a Grammy Ward winning opera singer and regularly appears at the Metropolitan Opera.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)

Similar threads

Sylvia
RIP Matthew Perry
2
Replies
59
Views
7K
MacMadame
MacMadame
canbelto
Bridgerton thread (with spoilers)
Replies
28
Views
4K
canbelto
canbelto
H
Katarina Witt's Sex Appeal and the Possible Inspiration of Her SP
Replies
11
Views
2K
Frau Muller
Frau Muller
Sylvia
Vincent Zhou [Brown U.] ’25.5 finally got his gold medal. What’s next?
Replies
1
Views
1K
Sylvia
Sylvia
Hindernisse
Jeffrey Buttle's Ararat free skate
2
Replies
34
Views
5K
sadya
sadya
Back
Top
Do Not Sell My Personal Information