August 16, 2007

When I was around 18 or so I worked at a movie theater in downtown Portland—the Broadway theater, for those who might live in the area. Its fishbowl-like ticket selling stand and central location made for some great people watching, although unfortunately many out-of-towners did tend to treat it like an general information stand for the city (Helpful Tip: surly minimum wage earning teenagers forced to wear clip-on polyester bow ties are not your best bet for getting accurate directions on locating your tourist destination of choice).

During my stint as cashier/popcorn hawker/inventory counter-wronger (I remember being continually assigned to count the inventory in the stock room, which involved, among other things, visually tallying the number of paper cups in a giant stack—I’d get about two feet up and blink, then have to start over. And over. And over. Don’t even get me started on the giant case boxes of Twizzlers and the impossibility of accurately counting those motherfuckers), I saw a number of quasi-celebrities at the theater, including Willem Dafoe (in town, I think, to film the oh-so-unwatchable Body of Evidence), who is even shorter than you might guess; Lori Petty; Ed “Pale Eyebrows” Begley Jr; and most exciting of all (hey, it was the 90’s), Keanu Reeves, who I sold a ticket to and observed the social phenomenon of a crowd of people suddenly recognizing a movie star in their midst—it was freaky, like a pile of metal shavings being exposed to a magnet.

Since then, I once met Patrick Warburton outside his beautiful ranch house on the Rogue River, I saw Sinbad come by my company’s booth at a streaming media tradeshow, and last year at Macworld I saw Robin Williams.

I think that’s it, as far as my personal brushes with fame. I’m telling you these boring anecdotes in hopes that you’ll share your own celebrity encounters, for no particular reason other than I have the feeling some of you will have some interesting stories. Dish!

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J
J
16 years ago

Christian Slater filmed the forgettable “Hard Rain” close to my hometown. My friends and I went over to the set in hopes of seeing him and to gawk of course. He’s shorter than you think but he was a pretty nice guy (autograph! score!) considering the large quantities of water they kept dumping on his head.

Jenn
16 years ago

I went to a performing arts high school in Orlando, Fl which loved to boast of their Alumni. My run ins include the pompus Joey Fatone (Or as we say in my house Fat-One) and the ever so nice Wayne Brady who we had lunch with on the stage of our high school auditorium.

hello insomnia
16 years ago

The last celebrity I saw was that British rapper Lady Sovereign outside Neumo’s. She was waiting in her tour bus and stuck her head out the window several times to shout that she was bored and that she needed some weed. Her show went on two hours late and I don’t know if she ever scored.

My friend asked her if she had a playstation in there. She said no.

Also, I saw Levar Burton at the Hilton Wakiki. He is about the size of your average lawn gnome.

Liz
Liz
16 years ago

I once shook hands with Garth Brooks and Tammy Wynette waved at me.

My husband has way more and better encounters since he goes to Comic-Con and other conventions for his job.

Creekle
16 years ago

My only brush with celebrity was when I was but a young girl of 16, visiting LA with my boyfriend. I saw Wesley Snipes jogging while we were at the beach one day, and I did the stereotypical squeal of recognition. (Not a proud moment, shut up.)

He was kind enough to sign some flyer I had stuffed in my purse, and then he did what actually makes telling this story worthwhile – he grabbed my butt.

This was around the time when he was still a legitimate movie star and not just a tax-evader, so I was both in awe *and* skeeved out.

Leah
16 years ago

Pulitzer-Prize-winner Gary Snyder hung out in my office for a few minutes a couple of week ago. And I’ve met Ishmael Reed and Al Young and all sorts of people who are mostly only interesting to book snobs.

Denise
16 years ago

I used to work at a hotel in Williamsburg, VA, where I saw some famous people. Most notably to my boyfriend, I saw Robert Plant, who must have been in town for a concert (they hold concerts like that at William and Mary Hall, or they did at the time). I also worked through a golf tournament thing that had football players as the golfers. I don’t watch football, so I don’t remember many names, but I do know that Lawrence Taylor was there – I remember him because he graduated from my high school (way before me). He was a nasty son of a bitch, if you’ll excuse my language. Was it my fault that the lights went out on the morning they were all checking out, and the computers were inacessible? No, it wasn’t. So we had to check you out from a paper copy of a report that was run earlier that morning, and it took a little longer. Suck it up and deal.

Otherwise, I’ve talked to Andy Rooney, who was in my current home town to talk to the graduating class of the local private, fancy pants college, and I saw Jack of Jack and Jennifer from Days of Our Lives at the bank I used to work at. Those are the only brushes with fame that I can remember, off the top of my head.

rai
rai
16 years ago

Living so close to Hollyweird and having a lot of celebs with away-from-mansion mansions locally, we see a LOT of ’em. And no one really notices or cares beacuse a) They have more money than god and celebrity status doesn’t mean a damn thing to them, b) They’re so old they have no idea who they [insert famous person name here] are, or c) You’ve worked a minimum wage shit-job (or know someone who has) who has had to deal with these people. Some of them are gracious and nice to deal with. The majority are self-entitiled assholes who live in a crazy moon land where the reality that the rest of us subscribe to doesn’t quite reach.

Eric's Mommy
Eric's Mommy
16 years ago

I met Stone Temple Pilots and saw the lead singer of Sonic Youth at a record show. I think there were a few other people but they must not be important enough to remember.

M.A.
16 years ago

Dave Coulier slept in my bed. Alone. Well, maybe with my cat. I wasn’t even home at the time — I was living in DC and my at-the-time house/cat sitter was 1/2 of a set of twins — the kind all the guys dream about: tall, blond, gorgeous. Dave-o was in town doing a comedy schtick and the twins attended, picked him up, got him drunk, stole his license (I think they still have it), and brought him back to my place. NOTHING happened — that’s their story and they’re stickin’ to it. I can’t tell you how long I held on to that bed just … well, because. He is from Michigan and sometimes calls in to the radio talk show to which I listen in the am — I’ve been SORELY tempted to call in and ask him if he (1) still wants his license back; and (2) remembers my cat, “Visa” (I’m thinking “the twins” will be a more effective memory-jogger…). Dave — you out there buddy? Remember that? Yeah. That was MY bed. Other than that… I sent a drink to John Goodman (triple vodka rocks) while in Key West, and he sent me one back. Oh, and countless Jeff Daniels sightings, but it’s an unwritten code that we just let him be a regular Joe around here. I’m still holding out for Jason Bateman or John Krasinski sightings — I think I would scream like a leeetle guhl!

wealhtheow
16 years ago

Leah, I am SO JEALOUS!

I’ve met Adrienne Rich, and did a poetry workshop with Li-Young Lee. I’ve sung (in the background choir) with the ladies of Anonymous 4 and with Joshua Bell (he of the famous violonist in the subway station fame). I talked with Ossie Davis at one of the national Memorial Day concerts–it was the first one after my grandfather had died, and I told him “I never got to thank my grandfather for his service, so I want to thank you for yours.” He was visibly touched.

My husband drove Kiri Te Kanawa around town for a weekend when she in in Santa Barbara for a concert. After her recital she gave her bodyguard her roses to give to my husband to give to me (he told her I was a huge fan).

McCashew
16 years ago

I love this topic… I like you, was minimally employed and forced to don silly outfits in the public domain. I will promise you that my “costume” was far more embarassing as I worked for Mickey Mouse at Disney’s Magic Kingdom for a semester of college. AHH yes, think tube socks to your thighs, newsie hats, bow ties – or if that isn’t good enough – how about a Heidi skirt with a million layers of crinoline (hello, this is Florida people!?!?)?? – still not enough – try my Frontier Land get up – drapery style farbric knee length kulots (??) and a plaid FLANNEL shirt. I longed for days on the Adventureland Nut Wagon when I could wear khakis and a jungle print shirt, listening to the Tiki Room behind me all. day. long. ANYWHO – what a tangent!!!

While there I saw Tim Allen (my roommate actually sat him at a table in Cindy’s castle – that Disney-ese for Cinderella of course), Diana Ross walked right by my post at the Haunted Mansion, Stone Cold Steve Austin grabbed a Mickey Bar from me, as did all of Roger Clemon’s BRATTY children with eye rolling names beginging with K, Adam Sandler, Ex-President Jimmy Carter was whisked through to the front of the Splash Mountain line while I manned that ice cream cart…

Now if my hubby was answering this – he would go on and on about the time he and his drunk friends saw Joey McIntyre at a bar in Chicago en route from the Notre Dame BC football game known as the Holy War. He has a photo =)

Signed, religious reader of this and everything else you write =)

My blog is a sorry sad little mess in comparison…

M.A.
16 years ago

P.S. My cousin and her husband are struggling actors living in Hollyweird (love that!) and provide lots of dish on celebs — but I actually feel some responsibility not to pass it on, since some of it is quite enlightening. Let’s just say you might be surprised how On Target the tabloids often are about people. Ahem. But their basic summary of living there and the super-celebs matches Rai’s description to the T.

divinemissk
16 years ago

living in new york, one encounters celebrities pretty frequently, and trust me, stars, they are just like us!

people i have seen randomly on the street:
rosie o’donnell
heath ledger and michelle williams
julia stiles
frodo
bono
bette midler (the original divine one- i almost died)
many others who i can’t think of right now.

people i have personally interacted with:
liza minelli- she visited an office i was working at and we talked about a dance class she had just taken and she asked me for an ib profen. lovely woman.

hugh jackman and family- we were at bubby’s and his daughter was flirting with me from across the room- she was so cute- they thought it was hilarious. wonderful family

jenny mccarthy- was at an event that she mced- a little ditzy and bitchy

also my bff is a writer for snl and 30 rock (she’s emmy nominated this year!) and dated j1mmy f@llon for a while, so i sometimes have insider information into the hollywood scene- which can be fun.

Jessica
Jessica
16 years ago

I’ve had the chance to talk with 3/4 of Canadian rock band Sloan over the years. Greg Proops was on my flight to LA last year (and I actually ran into him before the flight in the airport convenience store, babbled something about how funny he was on Whose Line… I had been at the airport at that point for over 12 hours and had a couple of beers at lunch…). And my big highlight is that while we were in LA we went to Acme Comedy Theatre, and got to meet Wil Wheaton after the show. The best thing about it was we emailed him to see if he was doing a show while we would be in LA, and he replied right quick.

Mama Ritchie
16 years ago

I sold a crystal figurine to Steve Guttenberg while working at Chris and Aurelia’s Hallmark in Plymouth, Michigan. I kept the carbon from his credit card slip with his signature. This fact alone tips off the date of this magical star crossing – the late 80s.

After getting married, we moved to Marin County, CA and my star sighting increased dramatically. Carlos Santana stood behind my husband at the coffee stand at the earthy, high-end market. We saw Steve Perry of Journey in the frozen foods section of the Safeway on Thanksgiving. I stood next to Beck at the salad bar of yet another supermarket. Huey Lewis dropped off his kid at the restaurant we religiously frequented for Saturday brunch. George Lucas with his kids at the Chevys Fresh Mex. And my husband, backing out of our driveway in San Anselmo, narrowly missed hitting Sean Penn in his black BMW. My brother came to visit and we spent the better part of two days trying to find Sean with the intention of getting into a fender bender, which would result in a fistfight between Sean and my brother, ensuring the best celebrity run-in story in all of history. Though the fender bender/fistfight never occurred, we did spot him in his Beamer and we followed him for about 20 minutes until we got bored and went to get Chinese chicken salads.

The best San Fran sighting, though, was during Fleet Week. We drove to the Marina and parked on the street, waiting for Riley’s nemisis, the Blue Angels, to fly overhead. We noticed people turning their heads in our direction. We of course thought they were looking as us and all of our hotness. Turns out they were looking at the guy standing next to our car. They weren’t reacting in awe, though. They were laughing at this guy. Why?

Because it was Kato Kaelin.

My big miss was back in college. I was supposed to go to my cousin’s wedding in Chicago. I spent the week before recovering from a big drug-filled night at the U2 Zoo TV concert. I decided to stay home so my band (I was the singer) could play at a fraternity party and I could make 50 bucks. Turns out U2 was playing Chicago that weekend and were staying at the same hotel as my family – the Ritz. My brother saw Bono – walked right up to him and said, “Bono, how you doing?” extending his hand. Bono shook his hand, sized up my sister for potential fan sex, talked to them for five minutes, then left. They also met Larry Mullins and my fave The Edge. Bono was way short and had grossly dyed black hair. But he was still hot, according to sister.

My celeb sighting since moving to Seattle? Ken Schram – at the Safeway. Multiple sightings. Not so exciting, since he’s the biggest douchebag in the city.

Emily
16 years ago

Oh! I can participate in this one! Thanks to the Army (mark this down in the history books, because I will rarely if ever again use that phrase sincerely), I’ve met and interviewed Gary Sinise, Colin Quinn and Toby Keith (twice), and I’ve met (and followed around, in a reporter-like manner) Dave Attell, along with several other fairly unknown famous-ish people. Apart from that, there’s the thing with the Spin Doctor, which I believed I already shared with you. Oh, and Joan Baez kissed me on the cheek after a concert of hers. There are others, but I am already feeling a bit like a celebrity whore, so I’ll stop.

Of course, if Bob Dylan or Johnny Depp stop by, all the others will be inconsequential.

Barb
Barb
16 years ago

I sat by Lady Bird Johnson (former first lady–recently deceased) at an outdoor play near Abilene, Texas. I was pretty young, but grandmother was quite impressed :) And I am groupie of a band from Austin–the Derailers–so I try to brush against their fame as often as I can. Going to see them tomorrow night!!!

Sara
16 years ago

Martin and Charlie Sheen filmed a movie in the town I grew up in and the house they rented backed onto my friends backyard. We used to swim in her pool and watch Martin and Charlie eat dinner in the backyard. We met Tim DeKay (Jonesey from Carnivale) at Disneyland and saw Malcolm McDowell at LAX.

Brenda
Brenda
16 years ago

I was flying over to Germany to join my military husband and was helplessly lost in the Atlanta airport and saw Whitney Houston. This was pre-crack Whitney. Well, at least she didn’t look like crack Whitney at that point-1988. She had a short, stocky guy with her who would stand up and try to look tough every time someone dared walk up to speak to her. No one could hand anything directly to her, either. It had to go through Bruno. I declined to go through Bruno to obtain an autograph.

My Buddy Mimi
16 years ago

My husband was in Bellevue on business on Mon/Tue this week, and he ran into Conan O’Brian.

Erin
Erin
16 years ago

I live in DC so most of my “celebrity” sightings are of the political sort. However, I did once see Bradley Whitford and Mary Louise Parker film a scene for the West Wing right outside my office. I see Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, and other marginally famous Senators in the restaurant in my building quite often. Other than that, my best sighting was during the Clinton years when I was in CVS with Janet Reno. We were like the only two customers in there and we got to the register at exactly the same time. I let her go first. She bought Hawaiian Punch and napkins. Who drinks Hawaiian Punch anymore?

Leslie
Leslie
16 years ago

I’m a theatre fiend and have met a lot of big-name actors at various stage doors hanging out for autographs: Peter O’Toole, Albert Finney, Alec Guiness, Glenn Close, Jack Lemmon, Ralph Fiennes, Anthony Hopkins. They’re generally nice and some are pleasantly surprising — Vanessa Redgrave patiently discussed her play in French with a foreign student — while some are really disappointing — my affection for Bogie-Bacall movies took a nosedive after meeting her.

I’ve been lucky enough to (phone) interview some interesting people like Chita Rivera, John Amos, Ruby Dee, and Rita Rudner.

Very random sightings include Madeline Kahn (on a NYC bus), Gerald Ford, Shannon Tweed, Margot Kidder (post-crazy), Charles Nelson Reilly, Ed McMahon, Bill Cobbs, and Anne Meara.

Once I awkwardly shared the longest elevator ride ever with Bill Nye. He could tell I recognized him, but I couldn’t think of anything to say. I finally commented something about “Wouldn’t Superman kill Lois Lane when he grabbed her during a freefall?” And he said, without missing a beat: “Well, he has to be very careful.”

The only time I’ve been absolutely struck dumb by a celebrity encounter is when I was unexpectedly buying a theatre ticket next to Morgan Freeman. Sadly, we weren’t seeing the same show, but I couldn’t do anything but stare anyway. Easy Reader! Fast Black! “Red” Redding!

alina
16 years ago

I used to work with a guy who did some independent films with Crispin Glover, and he would come in to see him all the time. He’s a lot like his characters…quiet and sweet, and a little strange. Very nice guy.

Oh and when I was living in Provo, Utah, I ran into Steve Young a few times. Also a nice guy. He was very sweet to my brother when he gushed to him about how great a football player he thought he was.

Keaton
Keaton
16 years ago

I too worked in a movie theater, and Lord, it was awful. I have been complaining about it ever since, and yet my friends keep getting jobs at them. Clearly, I need new friends.

Anyway, while I was working there, I sold a ticket to John Elway, who paid with a $100 bill. I was hoping he would pay with a credit card, as we were required by company policy to ask for ID each time a customer did that. Alas. I also had a brush-in with a local radio personality, with whom I play-argued about giving him a free drink. Yeah, real exciting, I know.

Kate
Kate
16 years ago

My best friend and I were vacationing in London and we went to see a play called ‘Real Classy Affair’ in the West End. It starred Joseph Fiennes. He had just made ‘Elizabeth’ and was about to do ‘Shakespeare in Love,’ but neither had come out in the US yet. We knew who he was because we were big fans of Ralph’s, and also because we’d seen Joseph in ‘Stealing Beauty.’ We met him after the play and he was very shy and sweet, and also even better looking in person. He signed our playbooks for us.

Speaking of ‘Shakespeare in Love,’ I saw Tom Stoppard standing outside the same theatre that same night. He wrote the screenplay, so I’m assuming he and Joseph Fiennes were meeting up…?

I also saw Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson at the DFW airport once. He was walking around, smiling benevolently and nodding at everyone who seemed to recognize him.

I also met Michael Moore at a book-signing and had my picture taken with him. This was many years before he was Public Enemy No. 1; it was back during his ‘TV Nation’ days.

Dana
Dana
16 years ago

In 1994 Sammy from “Days of Our Life” had a friend who lived a few floors above me freshman year in college. She came to visit her friend the weekend of my birthday and, as a gift, a few floormates of mine ran upstairs and begged her to come down to our floor and visit. All I remember is that she was nice and thin in person, two traits her character on TV wasn’t. The camera really does add 10 pounds. I felt bad instantly for reading tabloids and agreeing that she was too pudgy for Austin’s love.

I was once at Eugene’s in NY at the very same time that Jay-Z was. Imagine that!

While walking to dinner one night in NY I saw a bunch of papparazi standing in front of some building. I crossed and tried to get a better look. It was Scarlet Johanson.

I was in Fuddruckers on a Saturday night with my parents, and I realized that Queen Latifah was about 6 people ahead of me in line. NO ONE who frequents Fuddruckers on a Saturday night knows who Queen Latifah is, so, sadly, I was the only one who realized the magnitude of the situation. I tried to tell my dad who she was, and, as she walked out with her order he yelled to her, “See ya, Queeny Laqueefa.” She smiled. I died.

And, sadly, that’s about it.

robin j.
16 years ago

Keanu Reeves! Haha, I think this might have during the same time period you saw him at the movie theater. I saw him a couple days in a row and he remembered my name and hugged me (a lot) and tried to get my friend to persuade me to go to his trailer with him. I was righteously indignant (I was 15! he was.. old!) and didn’t.

I have many, I love this game, but Keanu Reeves trying to, uh, spend quality time with me is always my trump card.

Jenny J.
16 years ago

I met Eddie Izzard on Sunday!

pic and less than glamorous account here:

http://www.zestyenterprise.com

Ooh! I also met Ben Harper and several of the Innocent Criminals after a tiny venue show in Barcelona. Those silly Spaniards didn’t know him well enough to stalk him. My friends and I got to hang out with them for quite awhile after the show. We were even invited onto the bus, on it’s way to Madrid, and if we were different sorts of girls, we may have gone. One never knows what happens on a rock and roll bus, however.

Mika
Mika
16 years ago

We ran into Mariano Rivera (Yankees reliever) on a beach in Panama (he’s Panamanian, and so is my husband). Being from Boston, of course we are Red Sox fans but we were still pretty excited to chat with him for a few minutes. He was very nice and surrounded by adoring kids — he is a big hero in Panama.

Christina
16 years ago

Hmm, some of these posts will make seem lame…

I have been in close proximity (though I wish I wasn’t) to:
Carrot Top (in a Fort Wayne IN hotel lobby)
Some rap dude who was doing a concert with Lil Kim that I had the horrible displeasure to attend – rap is all about screaming and yelling and noise and OMG why did I go… I think it was the guy who screamed who let the dog’s out? I do not know but seriously going that concert turned me off ever listening to that kind of music EVER again! (also in Fort Wayne at the mall – I was walking into Banana Republic while he walked by with a gaggle of teenagers swarming him…)

And, Bjork walked by me with her very cute little girl while I was eating at a downtown Seattle restaurant this past May.

I’ve also met some Olympic swimmers who were big names back in the day when I swam competitively – Matt Biondi, Pablo Morales and Carrie Steinseifer. I also knew the dude who went to the Olympics in stole a marble lion during the Seoul Olympics – Troy Dalbey. He was double gold medal winner and there was almost an international incident because he did this!

That’s it I think… Not very exciting I must say.

angela
16 years ago

I saw Eriq La Salle and Joely Fisher at a cancer fundraiser thingie. I saw Quentin Tarantino drunk off his ass at the Arclight, which is funny because every one of my friends that has run into him has also said that he was drunk off his ass at the time. Uhm. That’s all I can remember right now.

Kim
Kim
16 years ago

Since living in Seattle I’ve seen no celebrities. In New York I saw Bette Midler and Kevin Bacon…actually Kevin Bacon on a fairly regular basis as he used to go with his kids to the sports complex where I skated. I’ve also played soccer with Julia Stiles.

Kizz
16 years ago

Stockard Channing once screamed bloody murder at me for not having her name displayed properly on her car to take her home. My (former) company had guilted her into doing a benefit and she was kind of pissy the whole night. All the car services had my name in the window so there wouldn’t be mix ups and I’d kindly asked all the talent to just see me (right by the exit door) on their way out and I’d hand them a voucher and put them in a car. It was a NY Theatre crowd, they’re usually pretty low maintenance. A colleague came scuttling in from the street and whispered in my ear, “Stockard Channing is out in the sidewalk screaming, “Who the fuck is [Kizz] and why does she have all these fucking cars out here! Where is my fucking car!” I went out and sorted her out but she never spoke to me. I can say, though, that I made Stockard Channing scream my name.

That company was good for a lot of those kinds of stories actually. I had to wait outside a bathroom for Savion Glover to finish peeing so I could make sure he didn’t wander off rather than get his ass on stage. I had to clean up an injured trombone player when Boyd Gaines rode a bicycle off a platform and onto the poor guy. I had a lovely conversation with Bebe Neuwirth who is just awesome. I arranged a lot of stuff for Chita Rivera but didn’t spend much time with her.

Oh, and I went to college with Jesse L. Martin so I’ve had a lot of sightings/conversations/hugs with him but they were mostly pre-fame.

bookworm
bookworm
16 years ago

Some 20 years ago I rode in an elevator in Florida with Dyan Cannon. I didn’t realize who it was until after I got off the elevator.

Mandee
16 years ago

I’m convinced there are famous people everywhere if you’re paying attention. And depending on your definition of famous.

On a trip to LA, I saw some stars from Young and the Restless having a children’s birthday party at Jerry’s Deli, Ed McMahon and Wolfgang Puck at Spago (he asked me if I put lemon on my schnitzel) and Matthew Perry in Santa Monica.

While living in DC, I hung out with Ethel Kennedy (nicest woman ever) at a reception for Hank Aaron, sidled up to a buffet table a the same time as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and sat next to Janet Reno in a tiny Mexican restaurant on the Hill.

The day I arrived in Dublin for my study abroad program, I saw Beck walking down the street with some super model type. Later, in Prague, after my friend complained she had never seen any famous people and thought for sure she was missing the chance after hanging out with me and our other friend who always spots celebs, we ran smack into Gerard Depardieu filming some crazy movie.

You just have to keep your eyes open if you’re interested.

Victoria
16 years ago

Patricia Corn..um… hang on (checking imdb) Heaton.

Is the best I can do.

Jess
16 years ago

I grew up in North Carolina, which is not exactly celebrity central. But I did see a fair amount of college basketball stars, some of whom turned into reasonable NBA players. I used to see Grant Hill and Christian Laettner downtown sometimes, and Eric Montross used to come into my mother’s store (he had to duck to get in the doorway). And when I was at UNC volleyball camp at age 15 or so, we walked onto the court in the Dean Dome one day to find Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison playing one-on-one. I think the entire group of three hundred adolescent girls shrieked simultaneously. It was probably the fastest exit Carter and Jamison had ever made from that court.

Deb
Deb
16 years ago

Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton filmed part of the movie Bandits on our street. The police closed the street off and we had to show ID for several days to get to our house. They filmed in a garage a few houses up and we got to watch the scenes get set up. Wow is that boring!

It was very fun to watch the movie when it was released and see the different parts they filmed on our street (even a car chase, which was VERY fun to watch filming).

J
J
16 years ago

I had a nice converstation with John Waters while he was grocery shopping.

Denise V.
Denise V.
16 years ago

How about Orville Redenbacher! You know–the popcorn guy! That was my big sighting until 2006 when I saw Hank Williams Jr. walk right by me in Nashville, TN in front of the Hilton. I adore him and it would have been a great opportunity to get a pic/autograph, whatever, except that I had SEVERE food poisoning and was facing a five hr drive home in that condition. Yeah, I ended up in the hospital back home for three days, so HWJr was the bone that fate tossed my way for that god awful trip.

Pete
Pete
16 years ago

Saw Richard Burton in SF holding the most girly little dog once. Bill Clinton gave a speech at our company in 1991.
Loved your visual
“like a pile of metal shavings being exposed to a magnet.” I am going to have to steal that one.

Elaine
Elaine
16 years ago

I was in a San Francisco restaurant a couple of years ago, and Steven Wright (comedian) was sitting in the booth behind me. I stood behind Joseph Campanella (actor) in a line at DisneyWorld. I saw Suzanne Somers (incredibly tiny tiny woman) in a hotel lobby once. That’s it.

ShannonJ
ShannonJ
16 years ago

Ooh – I like this topic although I can never come up with all the names (even though there aren’t that many). I’ve seen a bunch at stage doors, in plays, at the US Open (tennis), stuff like that. But here are ones I’ve met: Bonnie Raitt, Hunter Thompson, Bela Fleck (and the Flecktones), Bill Monroe, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Buddy Guy. Probably a few more I can’t think of.

So, Keanu Reeves & Lori Petty? Together, as in “Point Break”?

Denise
16 years ago

Another Tim Allen sighting here. While walking through Disneyland on its 50th anniversary media day (when it was closed to the public), my husband and I passed by Tim. We exclaimed, “Is that old man Tim Allen?!” And it was an exclamation of horror, not delighted surprise.

While in Las Vegas this summer, I practically ran down Howie Mandel as our paths crossed in a row of slot machines. I was totally clueless (despite the fact that there were gigantic posters with his face plastered all over the casino- duh); my husband- who has a knack for celeb spotting- figured it out, though.

Becky
Becky
16 years ago

Oh I LOVE this one!

I saw Keanu in person too, he was filming ‘Chain Reaction’ at the capital buidling in my town. I was all “Keaaaaaaannnnnnnu!” even though he was havign a very bad hairstyle at that time. And then I saw that Morgan Freeman was not 3 feet from me! I didn’t squeal at him though.

I saw Al Sharpton once walking on the square in Madison WI. I watched Morris Day (The Time) buy noodles at Leeann Chins in Minneapolis. And I followed Nicolas Cage around outside a Menards in Chicago.

Really all of these people were smaller than you would think. And I am 5’2.

Joanne
16 years ago

I’ll tell you my favorite/least favorite celebrity sighting. I used to live in NYC so we saw people all the time but you have to pretend like it’s no big deal. My friend Debbie and I went to a Halloween party at this girl’s loft in midtown. She was an assistant director on Law & Order. So we didn’t wear costumes, but a lot of people did. We were both talking to this cute boy and in comes Angie Harmon, in kind of a Vegas Showgirl type outfit? It was basically three strategically placed sequins over a pinkish-toned bodysuit. She had on an enormous headdress and was just – oh my God – just gorgeous. She’s hugely tall and her legs were ridiculous in that costume. My friend and I totally froze up until she left – I mean, nobody could keep their eyes off her.

Ha and this week my husband and I went to the Indiana State Fair (God help us) and we saw this girl *freaking* out over this white haired guy. She was getting a picture taken and crying and freaking. My husband said to me, “who is that guy, Kenny Rogers?” and I said “yeah, maybe Bubba Rogers, his cousin”, because it looked *nothing* like Kenny Rogers. Nothing! Then we totally read later that Kenny Rogers was playing the State Fair that night. Old Boy has had some *work* done.

manda
16 years ago

I was once in the Denver airport. I was going through security and I saw Johnny Reznik from the Goo Goo Dolls. The only paper I had was a barf bag I had taken off the previous flight to use as a bookmark. He did autograph the barf bag for me. CLASSY!
My mother worked in a movie theatre when she was young and to this day, she cannot eat popcorn. She hates the smell of it.

Dawn
16 years ago

Once in a shopping mall we passed by the guy who used to be in the D.O.C. commercials back in the 80s. My mom and brother recognized him immediately, but I didn’t even notice because I was blinded by the 47 gallons of cologne he was wearing.

Leah
16 years ago

Ooh, and Amy Sedaris at BlogHer! She was standing around looking lonely, so we went over and chatted with her, and tried to explain the whole blog thing. Then we made her call our friend to leave a message on his phone.

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