Who's the most famous person you've ever met?

Oh, forgot. I went to a book symposium back in 2006 and met the author of the series of books that were the topic - Sister Fidelma - a fictionnal 7th century lawyer in Ireland.
 

William Shatner and Heather Locklear when they were filming a T.J. Hooker episode in the JCPenny where I worked during college. They even assigned me to 'guard' Heather's dressing room--the fitting rooms in the men's department. Talk about a rooster in the hen house!

Patrick Stewart in the coffee shop in my tiny Oregon mountain town's only motel. Can't imagine what he was doing in a place like that but he was very cordial as I hero worshipped.

Joanna Cassidy when I was doing the costumes for Rescue 911 (another college job). Asked her to do her trademark goofy laugh and she did. Got her autograph, too.

Henry Gibson, Ruth Buzzi, Arte Johnson and Gary Owens during a Sunday brunch at the Tehachapi Country Club when I lived in the area briefly. Also Whoopie Goldberg, Chuck Conners and Jack Palance were my neighbors at the time.

Forrest J. Ackerman at, of all places, the Long Beach, Ca. Home and Garden Show. I was so surprised to see him there that I just stood and stared at him. He returned the favor with complete aplomb.
 

SifuPhil said:
Chuck Norris (at a tournament in NYC - very nice guy)

Andre the Giant (at a wrestling match in White Plains, NY - MAN, he was big!)

Cardini (Richard Valentine Pitchford) - a famous magician known for his card manipulation skills. I was looking for a certain magic shop in NYC when I was 15, went to the address I had - 12th floor of a large building - and almost shat myself when it turned out to be Cardini's home. He graciously invited me in and gave me an impromptu show. Sadly he passed away later that year.
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I almost forgot(did forget) about Chuck Norris. I took karate at his studios before he started making movies.

My original "famous" meet was with Engineer Bill. I was somewhere in grade-school(probably 3rd or 4th), he had an appearance at a shopping center parking lot. I got a model railroad boxcar as a gift from Engineer Bill...got it home and found that it was missing parts. :-(
 
Thought pretty long to answer, part of my problem is "memory bankruptcy". But usually, only the short-term is really empty, yet, I don't believe I recall meeting anyone truly "famous" in person, but chewed plenty of them out in absentia, politicians mainly! imp
 
I was only six years old but met Wendell Wilkie in 1940 Paterson, New Jersey and later as a 18 year old met Nelson Eddy on a train going to Chicago. Went to Junior High and High School with song writer and poet laurete Rod McKuen. I never met him but Clint Eastwood and I went to the same High School. He is eight years older than me.
 
Lon said:
I was only six years old but met Wendell Wilkie in 1940 Paterson, New Jersey and later as a 18 year old met Nelson Eddy on a train going to Chicago. Went to Junior High and High School with song writer and poet laurete Rod McKuen. I never met him but Clint Eastwood and I went to the same High School. He is eight years older than me.
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YOU, Sir, are of vital interest to me! Born, NJ, lived NZ? What a most wondrous background! Just a bit older than I, (not much!), would you possibly be disposed to reveal a bit of the living interval between US and "down under"? Thank you graciously! imp
 
I've never met anyone famous but I think it's interesting my oldest son met and shook hands with Jimmy Carter in grade school and then many years later his son while in grade school met the second George Bush. Our son was very excited and happy and was even interviewed on the radio about it, but our grandson couldn't care less. My daughter has met a lot of famous people so maybe if I hang around her more I'll at lest get to meet one some day.
 
Richard Nixon's black Limo pulled up next to me to a stoplight at the beach where I lived in Cardiff by the Sea, southern California in 1977. I was in the passenger seat and his window was right there. He rolled his window down when I barely glanced over, then I did a double-take. We didn't meet per se but our eyes met and he gave a chuckle at my surprised reaction. We smiled and drove on. He was the farthest thing from a "surfer dude" I expected to see at our quaint beach. He lived in San Clemente, north of me, and it was at a time when he was doing his first interview (since his resignation) with David Frost regarding Watergate. He was probably on his way to the San Diego airport because he lived inSan Clemente.

In 1993 sat on the floor next to Sissy Spacek to watch our daughters take acting classes together in Charlottesville VA ,humble, down to earth
A couple of years ago I met Sandra Oh of "Grey's Anatomy" at my nephews wedding. His bride was her assistant. Very nice person
In 1971 had a 10 minute conversation at Mt Vernon in Great Falls MD with Katherine Hepburn, classy, gracious, and charming.

I spoke with Sheri Lewis online. Her user ID was Lambchops and she was online talking about Beanie Babies while she was sick in the hospital. When I saw her User ID, I asked her if she was Sherry Lewis, she said, "If you believe then it is so". She died a few months later.

At 17, Bob Hope stopped in my High School in VA to use the phone on his way to the airport because his driver was lost (no cell phones nor GPS at that time). I worked on the yearbook staff and put his pic in there full page lol….but I never saw him myself.

At 18 I met and had conversations with Bob Barker and Paul Anka, unimpressive although his songwriting talent was very impressive.
At 26 met Charles Durning at the Highlands Inn in Carmel by the Sea CA and had a conversation regarding an ocean cliff wedding there. Pleasant man, quiet.
At 37 didn't meet but passed by Alice Cooper entering the, "il Giardino" restaurant in West Hollywood, as I was leaving.
...Sondra Locke (Clint Eastwoods girlfriend and co-star at the time) was in the same restaurant having lunch next to my table with a guy whom I assume was a friend or co-worker…she split with Clint a year later I think.

These are all such random encounters. I had no idea I had met this many people until I started thinking about it.

Oh, also in Charlottesville VA, Howie Long was my son's baseball coach and my daughter's "1st date" was with Howie's older son (and his mother lol…to a movie). John Grisham used to frequent the Belair Market for an early morning coffee and newspaper there in Charlottesville where we sometimes went as well.
 
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Yes, but the thing about Paul Anka that I wasn't impressed with was that he had about 2 hours before doing an important LIVE wholesome show (this was 1968) and reeked of alcohol, had rather drunken conversation during the pre show gathering...then later, during the show, he couldn't remember the words to the song. He had to lip sing the words he knew and turn his back to the audience as if to be singing to the other people on the stage for the lines he didn't know. This may be the norm today but back then (I was only 18) it was upsetting to see him be so irresponsible.
 
Lara said:
Richard Nixon's black Limo pulled up next to me to a stoplight at the beach where I lived in Cardiff by the Sea, southern California in 1977. I was in the passenger seat and his window was right there. He rolled his window down when I barely glanced over, then I did a double-take. We didn't meet per se but our eyes met and he gave a chuckle at my surprised reaction. We smiled and drove on. He was the farthest thing from a "surfer dude" I expected to see at our quaint beach. He lived in San Clemente, north of me, and it was at a time when he was doing his first interview (since his resignation) with David Frost regarding Watergate. He was probably on his way to the San Diego airport because he lived inSan Clemente.

In 1993 sat on the floor next to Sissy Spacek to watch our daughters take acting classes together in Charlottesville VA ,humble, down to earth
A couple of years ago I met Sandra Oh of "Grey's Anatomy" at my nephews wedding. His bride was her assistant. Very nice person
In 1971 had a 10 minute conversation at Mt Vernon in Great Falls MD with Katherine Hepburn, classy, gracious, and charming.

I spoke with Sheri Lewis online. Her user ID was Lambchops and she was online talking about Beanie Babies while she was sick in the hospital. When I saw her User ID, I asked her if she was Sherry Lewis, she said, "If you believe then it is so". She died a few months later.

At 17, Bob Hope stopped in my High School in VA to use the phone on his way to the airport because his driver was lost (no cell phones nor GPS at that time). I worked on the yearbook staff and put his pic in there full page lol….but I never saw him myself.

At 18 I met and had conversations with Bob Barker and Paul Anka, unimpressive although his songwriting talent was very impressive.
At 26 met Charles Durning at the Highlands Inn in Carmel by the Sea CA and had a conversation regarding an ocean cliff wedding there. Pleasant man, quiet.
At 37 didn't meet but passed by Alice Cooper entering the, "il Giardino" restaurant in West Hollywood, as I was leaving.
...Sondra Locke (Clint Eastwoods girlfriend and co-star at the time) was in the same restaurant having lunch next to my table with a guy whom I assume was a friend or co-worker…she split with Clint a year later I think.

These are all such random encounters. I had no idea I had met this many people until I started thinking about it.

Oh, also in Charlottesville VA, Howie Long was my son's baseball coach and my daughter's "1st date" was with Howie's older son (and his mother lol…to a movie). John Grisham used to frequent the Belair Market for an early morning coffee and newspaper there in Charlottesville where we sometimes went as well.
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Lara, You've met a lot of interesting people. I like it that you told us a little about each one also.
 
Manatee, that's cool, tell us more.

Linda said:
Lara, You've met a lot of interesting people. I like it that you told us a little about each one also.
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Thank you Linda. I forgot that, when I covered a convention for their newsletter in Hawaii (1974) my husband, who came for free while I worked, went scuba diving with John Kennedy Jr for the day…just the 2 of them on a Zodiac type boat and and the boat driver (or secret service man not sure who he was). The boat trip wasn't pre-arranged. My husband just showed up to rent a boat and John Jr. asked him to join him.

Do dreams count? ha. Whenever I am in my dreams I'm always in my prime (20something). I dream in color and very detailed but this is the one time it was black and white…recently I dreamt I went to a party and Bob Dylan was my date. He was in his prime too. Where did THAT come from?? I've never followed his life but have enjoyed his music. He was quite the social butterfly at the party but I didn't seem to care. Anyway, it was short, but "far out" :cool:
 
Shelly Winters...I was really young so not too impressed.
Lawrence Welk, a big deal for me, I used to watch his really big shooow with my favorite grandfather.
Tim Curry, pixie-like, I'm 5'4 and he was shorter than me...just as personable in real life though, he was sweet!
Maya Angelou, one of the most gracious celebrities ever.

I must mention my Dad, former school teacher and social butterfly
Keir Dullea-former student and still a friend
Blythe Danner-former student and still a friend
Gwyneth Paltrow
Ethel Kennedy
 
fureverywhere said:
Shelly Winters...I was really young so not too impressed.
Lawrence Welk, a big deal for me, I used to watch his really big shooow with my favorite grandfather.
Tim Curry, pixie-like, I'm 5'4 and he was shorter than me...just as personable in real life though, he was sweet!
Maya Angelou, one of the most gracious celebrities ever.

I must mention my Dad, former school teacher and social butterfly
Keir Dullea-former student and still a friend
Blythe Danner-former student and still a friend
Gwyneth Paltrow
Ethel Kennedy
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Actually the "really big shoooow" was Ed Sullivan. Lawrence was famous for his "one anda two anda...." when he started his champagne music. I loved both shows back then. Now, we have no real "family shows" on Sunday nights or really any night in the USA.
 
This 'thread bump" helped me recall a couple more "celebrity encounters": I met Jeanie and Royce Kendall of The Kendalls; I enjoyed talking to Royce(the father), he was a warm down-to-earth person. One of their hits:



About 5 years ago Arnold Schwarzenegger, then governor of California attended the groundbreaking of an expansion project of a correctional facility I was working. We didn't really "meet", but he was just "in person" and not on the TV or movie screen, like I've always seen him in the past 25 years.
 
AZ Jim said:
Actually the "really big shoooow" was Ed Sullivan. Lawrence was famous for his "one anda two anda...." when he started his champagne music. I loved both shows back then. Now, we have no real "family shows" on Sunday nights or really any night in the USA.
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Thanks AZ Jim, for the correction. We appreciate it. (And Ed's was really big shoe).
 
Something that stands out about Lawrence Welk. He had just written his autobiography and there was a book signing in some store in New York. 1971 so that means I was nine, he was at a desk greeting the many people in line. It must have been hot under those lights, I remember his smile and shaking my hand, but his face was so tan red. Maybe he got sunburned I dunno, but that startled me a bit.
 
Prince Charles
Margaret Thatcher
Alice Cooper (Vincent Furnier)

Prince Charles was visiting the office where I was working. I wasn't on the official list of people scheduled to speak to him, but he has a habit of going "off-piste" to talk to people, much to the annoyance of his "minders". I was on the official list to meet Margaret Thatcher, who was officially launching a new computer system we had spend about 45 man-years developing. Alice Cooper was staying in the hotel where my son worked and I had a drink with him in the bar. He turned out to be a realy nice chap.
 
Oh, Jeesh. So some of you met a few Presidents and kings. Well, when I was 6 or 7, I met Madam Zacchini. I got her autograph and kept it for years. While it's highly unlikely you don't know her, she got shot out of a cannon in the circus. She really IS considered circus royalty, and her signature does for big$$$, but I lost it.
Met Julia Child and ate some of her cooking. She was a large woman, 6'2". I got her signature. Her husband Paul added his name. I was angry at that, but when I found out how much they loved one another, I was glad he did.
 

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