COMMENTS

36 responses to “Open Thread Update: Readers Brushes with Fame”

1. I first saw Bette Midler in the bathroom at the Bottom Line in NYC. We were standing at the mirror together putting on lipstick. I made sure to be New York cool despite my huge fan girl crush! After leaving the bathroom I looked for where she was sitting. Turns out she was sitting BEHIND ME for the whole show! I got up the courage to speak to her and offer her a tissue pack because I noticed that she was blowing her nose in a not so fresh tissue. She called me “sweet.”

   Reply to Andrea Hancock

2. James Brown was at the Apollo Theater and was playing the piano. He invited the kids in the audience to join him onstage. I went onstage and was dancing near him. So exciting!!

   Reply to Janey Brooks

3. In the 90s, I was in NYC with a friend. We were heading to a comedy show for a new comedienne. I saw Chevy Chase near the stage and literally bumped into Paul Simon in the aisle! He’s very short. I apologized.

   Reply to Sabine Prather

4. Just before I moved from Balto. to Boston in August 1964, the Beatles made their first U. S. tour. At 24 I had to see them, hopefully up close and personal. I finagled a press pass from the city’s only black newspaper (for which my ex-husband had worked), and off I went to be part of the Fab 4 press conference. Once inside I inched my way forward to the head table and asked for a Beatle autograph. “Here you are,” Ringo obliged. Couldn’t believe I was standing right next to them!

   Reply to Marilyn Jacobs

5. I worked in a hotel years ago where Carol Burnett stayed while in town for her show. I got to go to her room to make a delivery and she invited me in to chat. She had just gotten out of the shower, was in the hotel robe, and her hair was in a towel. She offered VIP tickets so I could attend her performance. She signed books afterwards and I got her to autograph her book (that I had bought used from the library and she noticed the markings and asked if I’d stolen it.) She was delightful!

   Reply to Kathleen Zwart

6. I live in TN near Bristol Motor Speedway. Rusty Wallace was my favorite driver so numerous times I was able to meet and talk with him at publicity events. He was always charming (and fun to look at)! In the 80s, on a business trip, went to an Atlanta Falcons game. In the vestibule, waiting to meet up with my group after the game, started talking to a guy there waiting also. He invited me to a party later in the evening. I declined and found out later it was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

   Reply to Deb Salyer

7. I met and talked to the singer George Campell when I worked at the TV
   station in San Antonio. Also met the boxer George Frazier at the Centennial Olympic Games as well as the head of the IOC and arranged the luncheon
   meeting for what was then the West German Chanceller Helmut Schmitt
   at the Warwick in Houston. And met the Gray Tigers at a Tennis Match.

   Reply to Uda

8. In Athens, picking up my cat’s meds at UGA vet hospital. I ate lunch at Weaver D’s, the place R.E.M. named Automatic for the People after. I was finishing and a guy sat down who looked recognizable from the music business but I couldn’t place him. He was Mike Mills from R.E.M.! I met celebs before, but was starstruck this time but had to say hi. I said I was a fan and he said thank you and was so nice. Mike, Weaver and me got pix-he also said he was glad my cat was doing better!

   Reply to Paula LaBarbera

9. I was at The Bottom Line, a music club. We were waiting to hear Gil Scott-Heron. All of a sudden, a buzz went through the crowd that Diana Ross was in the audience. I looked around and she was sitting a few tables away from us. I remember her hair looked gorgeous.

   I walked past Julianne Moore sitting in a sidewalk cafe in the West Village. And I saw Fran Lebowitz walking towards me on a sidewalk in Chelsea I said “Hi Fran” and she returned my greeting .

   Reply to Kate Walter

10. My niece got married and had a large reception in a hotel on Long Island New York, and David Crosby with Graham Nash were performing in a venue nearby. They happened to be staying in the hotel where my niece’s reception was unbeknownst to the wedding guests. When we were returning to our hotel room, my husband got on the elevator and there was David Crosby! I also approached him as he ate breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant. It was a thrill to meet him!

    Reply to Robin Shapiro

    1. waiting for the traffic light to change to the walk sign on 75th and Madison…the only other person doing the same thing at that moment in time was Paul McCartney!
       I nearly fainted!
       I tried to get a word like hello out of me but could not…he acknowledged my effort anyway…awkward as it was ..and even reassured me by even saying “It’s all right”!

       Reply to jane geller

11. in the 80’s I was invited to a Liberace concert through work. At the after party I spotted Blythe Danner and could not resist telling her how much I loved the movie 1776. She took my hand and thanked me and told me she loved making the movie and then, while still holding my hand, called her mom over to meet me! We chatted some more and I said I haven’t seen you in anything for awhile and she said she was taking a break to stay home with her kids. So, I met Gwyneth’s mom and grandma!

    Reply to Jennifer Juergens

12. When living in Dallas Texas I was working for a Temp Agency downtown and was assigned to see the President of the Corporation’s Secretary’s desk and take messages. One morning one of their clients, Buddy Hackett, walked in and said he had a meeting with the President. I asked if he would like something to drink and said tea so I made him a cup of tea.

    Reply to Marti K Conroy

13. I was fortunate to take a swim clinic with Olympic Gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, who demonstrated swimming techniques in the pool with us! He was also kind enough to pose for pictures with each of us. Loved his commentary at the current Olympics. Don’t remember the exact year but at least a decade ago at a facility in central Ohio.

    Reply to Laurel Sheppard

14. I work as a Security Supervisor at Rock and brews Casino and Restaurant. Over the years I have body guarded some true Rock & Rollers, like Chuck Wright of Quiet Riot. Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley from KISS. There have been several others as well. Something I will never forget.

    Reply to Kevin Stone

15. Living in NYC you get to meet or see many actors
    I got to see Martin Sheen and Jimmy Smit, met Gerard Butler while in Times Square ( actually bumped into him and he was surprised I recognized him and gracious), Nathan Lane crossing the street on Broadway, Photo op with Supremes Mary Wilson who helped us with our Walk, Mary Tyler Moore, but the best had to be when I met and spoke with my favorite actor Al Pacino- saw him where my mom lived looking for a scene site and he was So gracious!

    Reply to Ivis Sampayo

16. Only in NY, can you go get a manicure and end up sitting next to Jenna Bush, President Bush daughter! Or can you- go to a Bdway play and run into Carmelo Anthony; go to the bathroom at a restaurant and have Mary J. Blige jump in front of you in the line; go to McDonald’s and see Diana Ross there feeding her children; or just walk the streets in Manhattan or Brooklyn and run into Anderson Cooper, Stephanie Mills, Alfre Woodard, Jackie Wilson, Denzel Washington; Spike Lee to name a few.

    Reply to Rolanda Pyle

    1. That’s a lot of famous people! I can’t imagine–living in the hills of Tennessee like I do! We visited New York once and went to a couple of restaurants where we’d heard “stars” hang out but, unfortunately, didn’t see anyone.

       Reply to Deb Salyer

17. Workin many many years ago at Lenox Hill Hospital. NYC. Lots of stars all the time.
    1- had a nice chat with Gargy burghoff aka radar o’Reilly of M*A*S*H. TV show fame. Didn’t know who he was at the time and he liked that fact. When I went back downstairs the pharmacy one of the pharmacists told me after I had to explain being gone for longer than expected.
    2 – comedian HennyvYoungnan steps into center bank elevator.
    It’s crowded but recognized by everyone.
    Told a joke about the ups & life!

    Reply to P J Gammarano

18. While in Seattle in the summer of 1984, we were walking around the city and ran into Angela Lansury and Greg Morris waiting to film a scene from the first episodes of Murder She Wrote. They both looked over at my camera so I could get a decent photo. It was very exciting at the time.

    Reply to Emilie Picard

19. I was walking along Waverly Place in the West Village when I saw a familiar looking woman exit a building and walk towards a waiting car. I realized it was Lady Gaga. I was standing a respectful distance when I called out.“I love you, Lady Gaga.” She looked up and waved back. She got into the car and sat in the front seat next to the driver

    Reply to Kate Walter

20. Was in interpreter at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 where I met and have photo with Dave Schultz who won the wrestling gold medal, and was subsequently murdered by John DuPont (Their story is immortalized in the movie “Foxcatcher”).
    At age 10, I was a couple of airplane seats away from Gary Cooper. As a kid in Cairo Egypt, met Charleton Heston, while he was making the Ten Commandments. Got Bill Russel’s autograph (Basketball ) in 7the grade in Benghazi, Libya when he visited our school.

    Reply to Lea O.

21. A few years ago, we were standing in quite a long line to see a special exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I turned around and Barry Manilow was right behind us ! He was with two big men I assumed were his bodyguards. What struck me was that he didn’t ask for special treatment, but stood in line. like the rest of us!

    Reply to Marj Ruppel

22. When I was 18 some friends of mine were the front band for a Jimi Hendrix concert at Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium in Columbus, Ohio. They managed to get Jimi to come back to their house after the concert. I went over there, walked in, saw Jimi sitting in an armchair while everybody else sat on the floor and stared at him. It was very quiet. I walked over and sat in his lap. He pulled out a pipe and we smoked a bowl together and then I kissed him.

    Reply to Linda Fertal

23. I was filling up at petrol station south of London in the early 70’s when a Range Rover pulled up and out jumped a guy wearing a brown leather bomber jacket, white t shirt and blue denim jeans. I was an art director in advertising at the time and this was what we were all wearing…plus I recognised him…so, thinking I knew him, I said “Hi” while I tried desperately to remember his name. He smiled and said “Hi” back…and then I realised it was Paul McCartney!

    Reply to Simon Pemberton

24. In Fort Worth at the Neil Diamond concert. I was seated right next to the walkway where Mr. Diamond would come in and out of the concert. When Mr. Diamond finished his concert he walked right up across from me and said hello and smiled. The security men rushed him away.
    In Dallas, TX I was at the Michael Jackson concert. The concert was over, everyone was leaving. Mr. Jackson got right next to me. I could feel his sequence from his jacket on my arm, he turned and smiled at me, got in limo

    Reply to NANCY MADRID

25. I was touring executive level of London upscale hotels for my CEO, who needed a large suite for his family, close to restaurants and have an in house private exec level gym. There was a person on a treadmill on the far side we were walking near, when the sales manager had to take a call on her cell. I kept walking to the window to see the view from the treadmills and realized it was Jon Bon Jovi! I tried to act cool asking him if he liked this location in the city. He was so friendly!

    Reply to Kathi Schwan

26. I live in a city where many actors work. They take buses, the subway and sometimes a taxi like everyone else. So, there have been many times I have met an actor I admire and have told them so. George Furth, an actor who also wrote for theatre, was one. I asked him if he had one thing to tell an actor what would it be? He answered, “Have a talent for having talent.” Have a talent for recognizing what you bring to the the table and be confident about it. Dancing with Al Pacino was cool, too.

    Reply to Sue Spiegel

27. Back in 1968, bored with grad school, I took a job writing commercials for a TV station, which in a somewhat convoluted summer, led to meeting /writing about Sammy Davis, Red Auerbach, John Havlicek, Ilie Nastate, a former governor, and many other entertainers. I was never attracted to celebrities or collecting autographs (some regret there); just pure luck. The two people who had an impact? Jim Varney, who got me into acting, and Rudolf Nureyev, who inspired me to dance, even if not talented.

    Reply to Jim

28. When I was about 8 years old, my girlfriend’s mom took us to Hyde Park on the Hudson in New York. This is the site, of course, of the home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. While we were there, we became aware that Eleanor Roosevelt was strolling in the grounds and shaking hands with visitors, including me.

    One time when I was much older, I saw Woody Allen at the ultra-pricey Russian Tea Room in New York City.

    Reply to Elizabeth Winters

29. Between my years as an event coordinator at a major bookstore and my many years of concert and club going (back in the day), I have had several celebrity encounters. At the top of the list was getting to meet on several occasions, my childhood crush, Petula Clark. One of my bookstore events was meeting a certain Mr. Trump back in the 80s.
    More recently, meeting Bruce Springsteen is the only celeb encounter at which I started to cry! I also got to meet (Supreme) Mary Wilson , she wasdelightful!

    Reply to Harry Cohen

30. In the 1990’s after moving to Los Angeles, I got involved with background acting, and met quite a few movie and TV stars, from Tom Cruise (I was in a Few Good Men), to Woody Harrelson (White Men Can’t Jump) to George Clooney (I was on ER), who flirted with me on the set. There were more, but encounter with George was obviously the most fun.

    Another great experience was winning on Supermarket Sweep! So much fun!

    Reply to Deb Dotson

31. I was a tot…maybe 6 years old. My kindergarten class and I went to see a road company production of The Music Man starring Bert Parks at the Mineola Theatre on Long Island. We met Mr. Parks afterward and when he shook my hand (he shook EVERYONE’s hand), I curtsied…and got a kiss on the hand for my troubles. Thus was a lifelong relationship with musical theatre born.

    Reply to Debbie Feldstein

32. While in Washington DC for a meeting several years ago, we headed for dinner at a restaurant recommended by the hotel but it looked crowded. Limo outside soon pulled away and we entered the restaurant. The host told us we were lucky. This table had just been vacated. When I asked who left, we learned it was Tom Cruise and I got to sit in his chair. Was exciting even though we never saw Mr. Cruise!

    Reply to Diane Dillett

    1. When I was an aspiring actress in my 20’s, I took a drama class in Hollywood. We would rehearse at each other’s homes and one night we met at classmate Lisa Niemi’s home. Not only was she soon to be an actress in her own right, but her cute husband was there fixing things around the house: Patrick Swayze, pre-Dirty Dancing. Who knew?

       Reply to Michelle Geil

       1. Many years ago I was on a college trip to Cairo Egypt. We were at a light show at the Great Pyramids of Giza and as I was walking around the area I met and had a conversation with Pearl Bailey. She was very kind . When I asked her for her autograph she said “No dear, I’m not important but the Pyramids are”.