Ever meet a celebrity?

[WingedSerpent]

Looking at a few pictures in the What do B-filmers look like thread I know that some have.  So if you've ever meet one, tell us the story here. (Pictures are welcome, but not nesseccary)

For me it was Gilbert Godfry.  He did a show and was selling/autograghing CDs and T-Shirts afterword so I got a chance to say hi.

Different night/same comedy club Judah Friedlander (of 30 Rock) was performing. Some friends and I were sitting close enough to the front that he talked to our table.

[Jack]

The bass player for Blue Oyster Cult gave me a high-five after a concert one night.  Along with everyone else who was standing close enough to the stage.   

I think that's about it though.

[Flick James]

I've met quite a few over the years. Living near Hollywood and being involved in the entertainment world a bit myself had something to do with it.

Dennis Hopper: Met him in the late 80’s at a book signing for a photography book he published.

Jeff Goldbloom and Geena Davis: This was also in the late 80’s when they were a couple. I sat right next to them at a Tom Waits show at the Wiltern Theatre around 1988 or so. They are both very tall.

Edgar Winter: early 90’s. My band was recording at a studio right on Hollywood Blvd., and he popped in to pick up some rough mixes of some stuff he was mastering there. He listened to one of our takes and complimented my singing. He was probably just being nice but that was still sweet.

Warren Zevon: Interesting meeting. Century City. I was in line right next to him waiting to see The Last Temptation of Christ. This was on opening night in L.A., with loads of church groups protesting the film and, of course, Hollywood artists counter-protesting. It was sheer chaos and I got to talking to him about what a zoo it was and how much controversy sells tickets.

Miles Davis: The drummer’s father of a band I was in in the late 80’s was Mark Warren, the co-director of Laugh-In. So our drummer grew up surrounded by celebrities. Miles Davis was a family friend and bought him his first drum set when he was a boy. So we got to go back stage after a Hollywood Bowl show and meet him.

More recently, I have met and talked to Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson on a few occasions, including playing poker with him at a fundraiser. I’ve also met 2-time Cy Young winner Brandon Webb twice.

[FatFreddysCat]

I've met more than a few over the years, mostly musicians... just off the top of my head...

Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and Bobby Gustafson of Overkill
The ALIVE III lineup of KISS (Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Bruce Kulick, and Eric Singer)
Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
Ace Frehley and Peter Criss (prior to the KISS reunion)
Jerry Only and Doyle (Misfits)
Joey, Johnny, C.J. and Marky Ramone
Gary Cherone and Pat Badger of Extreme
Igor and Max Cavalera of Sepultura
John and Mark Gallagher and Joe Hasselvander of Raven

I'm sure there are more but I'm insufficiently caffeinated right now... all of them were really nice except for Ace Frehley, who was a major douche...

Actor-wise I've met Adam "Batman" West twice and also Richard Hatch, aka Captain Apollo of "Battlestar Galactica" fame. 

[bob]

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper



he was in town for a local wrestling event so I forked over the extra case to get an autograph, my picture taken with and see a childhood hero  

The Iron Sheik



he was in town to promote the show where I met Piper, got his autograph too for no cost  

[FatFreddysCat]

Me with Eric Singer of KISS at the 1996 NY/NJ KISS Expo:


Me again, with a bad mullet, shaking hands with Peter Criss at the 1994 Expo:

[HappyGilmore]

Depends on your 'definition' of "celebrity", but these are the few encounters I've had, from 'smallest' celebrity to the 'biggest:

I've got pictures, but have to dig em up.  I've moved in the time since I met most of them.  Some are digitally taken on friends cameras, others are on actual pictures.

The Blue Meanie: The Blue Meanie is a professional wrestler, having competed nationally with both ECW and the WWE.  He lives here locally in the Philadelphia area and wrestles mostly locally.  I met him at a local bar one night, had a few beers with him.  Nice guy.  My friend took a picture and uploaded it to Facebook.

Kidd Chris- A 'shock jock' radio dj.  I first heard him when he was in San Antonio, as he sent material into the Howard Stern program and eventually became friends with Stern.  Chris ended up here in Philly, and replaced the departing Opie and Anthony afternoon drive show.  He eventually took over mornings, then got fired after a caller sent in a song parody that the station felt was 'racist', and he had a 'going away' party at a small bar here.  He played in a band, and after the set ended up getting some shots where I was standing and I had a full conversation with the guy.  He went to Portland, got fired, and I believe now works in Atlanta.  Still appears on Stern from time to time.

Mary Carey- A porn star, most notable for running for Governor of California in 2003 and appearing on VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" and "Sober House" programs.  She made an appearance here at a strip club, but I met her at the Kidd Chris party as she dated one of the guys on the show.

Cheri Oteri- She is an alumnus of Saturday Night Live, having been on the show for about 6 years from 1995-2001.  Also appeared in the first Scary Movie, Liar Liar, commercials and numerous sitcoms.  My mother's older sister married a man who happened to be Cheri's cousin.  Both grew up locally in the town Upper Darby, PA.  They had a New Year's Party shortly after Cheri got on SNL and since New York and Philly are relatively close, she stopped down for a few days and went to this party.  I was a teen then, and was shocked, as I'd only seen her on tv with Will Ferrell and such.  Funny thing is, I happened to see her again a few years ago.  Her grandmother passed away, and I knew her grandma too.

"Weird Al" Yankovic: I saw him in concert on June 25, 2010 in Glenside, PA, just north of Philly or so.  It's a big town for Al, and he usually does two shows there per tour.  Normally, after his shows, he does a small, informal, 'meet and greet' with fans.  His fans "Tour Chase" and go to mostly every show, no matter what state.  Not me, as I can't afford it.  It's not guaranteed, however, he'll do one.  Some nights, he has a long drive to the next show or is working on other projects or interviews, so chooses to get some rest or whatnot.  On this particular night, it wasn't certain.  But, some friends I had at the show knew he had no tour date the next day or no projects.  So, we hung by his bus, and got to meet each member of his band (who've been with him since 1982.)  So, after about 45 minutes or so had passed, my buddy wanted to go home, as it was pushing 11:00 at night and we had at least an hour ride back home.  At that moment, Al's drummer said "Al's coming out in five minutes to sign some autographs, but isn't doing it too long."  We happened to be near the front of the group.  All I had was a ticket stub and an unused ticket we had bought, but due to circumstances, went unused.  So, Al comes out, and was just a nice guy.  Took pictures and videos, signed some stuff.  Even commented on my t-shirt.  Next time he comes around, I'm going.  Best concert I've been to.  He actually puts on a close to three hour event.  You get your money's worth.

[Mr. DS]

Just about no one really.  

[Raffine]

A few years ago I actually spent a lot of time with Gunnar Hansen, the original Leatherface from TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. He was starring in SHUDDER (2008), a horror movie that was being filmed largely in and around my farm house. I spent hours hanging out with Gunnar (who is a soft-spoken, very intellectual Icelander!) and even drove him around our little town on trips to the grocery store.

Edwin Neal - also from the original TCM - was around too, but he was sorta creepy...

[jimmybob]

Miles Davis: The drummer’s father of a band I was in in the late 80’s was Mark Warren, the co-director of Laugh-In. So our drummer grew up surrounded by celebrities. Miles Davis was a family friend and bought him his first drum set when he was a boy. So we got to go back stage after a Hollywood Bowl show and meet him.

Miles Davis is one of my all time favourite musicians and I have to ask for more to this story! 

[HappyGilmore]

A few years ago I actually spent a lot of time with Gunnar Hansen, the original Leatherface from TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. He was starring in SHUDDER (2008), a horror movie that was being filmed largely in and around my farm house. I spent hours hanging out with Gunnar (who is a soft-spoken, very intellectual Icelander!) and even drove him around our little town on trips to the grocery store.

Edwin Neal - also from the original TCM - was around too, but he was sorta creepy...

You mean, the creepy Hitchiker is really creepy?  Ha.

One thing I like about Edwin...he played Lord Zedd on the old Power Rangers I grew up watching.  That's how I knew of him for years before seeing him in TCM.

[RCMerchant]

I was in rehab with Verne (Mini-Me) Troyer.
That was in-I dunno-2007?
We played Ping-Pong-he had to stand on the box that was used to store the basketballs in.
That was in the Jim Gilmore Jr. Recovery Services in Kalamazoo. I was there for-2 weeks.

OH! I breifly sat next to Billy Idol ina bar on Long Island! It was in 1984? !985? He came in-he was smashed,he left.

[Allhallowsday]

I shook hands with PAUL KANTNER, JOEL GREY, STEVE SAX and met GEORGE HAMILTON, and close proximity with BILLY JOEL (I touched his shoulder with four enormous bodyguards I had inadvertently slipped through... I am six feet tall, and BILLY he be not so big, but these guys were GINORMOUS!!!  I said "You're great, Mr. JOEL", and he looked at me semi-startled and stammered :"Thank you!"  Bet them bodyguards got their asses waxed.   )  I could have met FRANK GORSHIN, but, alas misread the situation and decided to leave him be (right in front of the theater he was appearing in in Goodnight Gracie) I sort-of met a couple of times SHAUN CASSIDY at about the bottom of his skid.  We spoke, I was the boss in Doubleday that night...  a long time ago.  I also knew a few minor celebs, so minor you'd remember their records or crappy commercials, but even I can't remember their names!!!   

Did I mention CHRISSIE HYNDE shrugged at me???!!! 

[claws]

I met Lynn Lowry at a convention on her DVD signing tour (I Drink Your Blood) through Germany. First thing I said to her was "How's the apple?" because Lynn was eating an apple. She said fine and we talked briefly. Very nice person but I felt bad for her because nobody came to her booth to buy a signed copy of her DVDs.

I met (saw) Lou Ferrigno and his entourage on a beach in Italy near Livorno in the late 80s. My sister spotted him first and asked me if that was the 'Hulk'. He walked right by us but we only exchanged a friendly nod.

Met director Patrick Read Johnson online. He was in the aint-it-cool-news-chat back in 2001 promoting his flick When Good Ghouls Go Bad. A few people were giving him s**t, mocking his work which was not very cool.
I ended up chatting with him in private and he told me a few behind the scenes stories from when he was making Angus (1995).

[Mofo Rising]

I met Lynn Lowry at a convention on her DVD signing tour (I Drink Your Blood) through Germany. First thing I said to her was "How's the apple?" because Lynn was eating an apple. She said fine and we talked briefly. Very nice person but I felt bad for her because nobody came to her booth to buy a signed copy of her DVDs.

Lynn Lowry is cute as a button.

This is pushing the bounds of "celebrity", but one of the few comics creators I talked to at a Phoenix Comic-Con was Matt Wagner. He had a booth and I stopped to compliment him on his most recent "Grendel" series, in which I thought he was doing amazing work. Then I watched a panel he hosted about the covers to his most recent work. Afterwards he saw me and asked for directions back to the main floor.

The convention hall was very small, and at that point I had said pretty much everything I could say to Matt Wagner. Unfortunately, for the next few hours every time I would turn a corner I would see Matt Wagner. I saw him, he saw me, and we would both immediately turn away to avoid anymore awkward conversations. So for most of the rest of that day I was constantly saying "Oh crap, it's Matt Wagner."

His comics are great, though, check them out.