Wierd Place to Meet a Famous Person for You?

[Raptorman]

Oshkosh Air Show. Wow. were to start. 1976. The airshow is about to start, it starts every day at 4PM. So they kick everyone out of the warbirds area because most of these guys are going up and people would just be in the way. Trust me, you don't want to get by the propeller of a WW2 fighter. Anyway, this guy in an orange jumpsuit is getting out of a P-47 Thunderbolt. Since it's so close to the line we ask him if we can jump up and take a picture of the cockpit. He says it's not his plane he was just looking at the cockpit. Says he has a P-51 Mustang parked down the row. We talk with this guy about airplanes for about 30 minutes. After which he says he as to go. About 40 minutes later we see him out front with some dignitaries and the announcer introduced "And ladies and gentlemen, in the orange jumpsuit, Cliff Robertson" For those that don't know who he is, I suggest the movie "PT109" from the 1960s.

 

[RamsAndEwe]

I'm a big Cliff Roberson fan Raptorman. two Twilight Zones, Charlie, Brainstorm, and Three Days of the Condor are among my favorites.


Got several stories, but the weirdest would be Lou Diamond Philips. It was the early 90's on a Saturday. I had a few lab experiments that I had to check on in the Biology Dept of University of Texas at Arlington. The Biology Dept was practically deserted. I went for a coke. Walking up, I saw this guy in a denim jacket insert his money, in one of two coke machines, select, then groan as the coke machine cheated him out of his money. I began to laugh hard. Lou Diamond Phillips turned to me and said, "I'm glad you think it's funny" Still guffawing, I replied-

" Oh, I do! It's funny on several levels, You were hilarious in Young Guns. The look on your face is priceless. And, I know you're the victim of a demonic, psychology experiment. " I explained that the Psychology dept used this pair of coke machines in an experiment where... "One Coke machine is reliable while the other acts like a slot machine. The Psychology dept wants to see if the Coke Slot Machine is addictive, because you never know what your going to get. Sometimes it gives you nothing, other times...", I then inserted 50 cents and selected Orange Drink, out popped a Coke, Root Beer, and a Sprite, along with a $1.50 in change. "JACKPOT!" And we both fell over laughing. Lou told me graduated from UTA in the 80's. He was visiting his old haunts on a slow Saturday. We jibber jabbered for 20 minutes and played several rounds of Soft Drink Slot.

 

[fearsomefour]

As a freshman in high school met John Travolta at a motel coffee shop a friend worked at. This was before Pulp Fiction and his career relaunch. My sister was a dancer so was very excited to meet him. I went along as sort of a “nothing else to do”. My friend called to tell my sister he was down there. Friendly guy.
Ran into Jim Mora and Nick Buoniconti waiting for an elevator at the Peppermill Casino in Reno. They were in town for some fundraiser. I was wearing a rams jacket and Mora asked what I thought of the upcoming year for the Rams. When they walked up I didn’t recognize either of them but when he spoke I recognized his voice. We chatted a few about football. Both very nice guys. Some guys walking by started yelling “Playoffs?!!” Over and over. He just said, “Never gets old guys.”
Chris Rock at the Silver Legacy Casino. He was strolling through the gaming floor with a blond that was smoking hot. A 10/10. She caught my eye. Wow. I glance at the guy she is with and he is the little skinny dude. Wearing what is pretty obviously a wig of dread locks. I just stared at them for a few seconds. He sort of quickly put his finger to lips like “shhhh”. So I went back to my business. When they left a few minutes later they walked past he gave me a smile and nod, I nodded back. That was it.
Casinos and a Hotel.
Not really strange places at all.
Meeting Richard Nixon and Elvira at a truck stop truck wash outside Barstow.....that would be a strange place.

 

[fearsomefour]

Also Bill Walton and Luke Walton walking on the beach in San Diego.
Luke was a teenager then and I was a few years older. As we approached each other I said something inane like “Great day isn’t it Mr Walton?” He gave some Bill Walton hippy answer. Luke looked sort of embarrassed/irritated.

 

[Farr Be It]

Also Bill Walton and Luke Walton walking on the beach in San Diego.
Luke was a teenager then and I was a few years older. As we approached each other I said something inane like “Great day isn’t it Mr Walton?” He gave some Bill Walton hippy answer. Luke looked sort of embarrassed/irritated.

Ha! This makes more sense than the guy who saw him in Cotati.

Bill Walton grew up in San Diego. My Aunt Maureen (still alive) is actually his God-mother. She was friends with his parents.

 

[fearsomefour]

Ha! This makes more sense than the guy who saw him in Cotati.

Bill Walton grew up in San Diego. My Aunt Maureen (still alive) is actually his God-mother. She was friends with his parents.

I think I was at the beach in Mission Beach.
Anyway, he was hard to miss at 7 feet tall.

 

[Ramlock]

Paul Newman in the underground terminal shuttle at Hartsfield Atlanta airport.

 

[Farr Be It]

Another fun story, I told here a couple years back.

My buddy Jim married the Niners team doctors daughter back in the early ‘90s.

I was waiting in line to get into the reception venue and turned to find then-coach George Siefert and his wife waiting behind me. (Behind him was the late Dwight Clark.)

Being the loyal Ram fan I am, and full-on smart-ass, I turned to Seifert and dead-pan whispered, “They let Ram fans in here, don’t they?”

To his credit, Seifert didn’t miss a beat, “Ah, they let anybody in here.”

We all got a good laugh, and didn’t talk the rest of the night. But it was a fun little jab.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Many, ... most of whom were met from work. During my college years I worked at the Studio City, Universal City & Toluca Lake post offices, later I worked as a supervisor for Amtrak on their dining cars, and later yet went on to own a Location Motion Picture Catering Company.

My first 'celeb' nearly knocked me off the crowded front steps to the White House during the summer of 1965. It was Hubert Humphrey wearing full make-up and apparently coming from a televised interview. I was 12 years old at the time and he grabbed me to make sure I didn't fall. My family was beginning one of those White House tours, we travelled 40 states and several Canadian Provinces that summer.

Like @RamFan503, I also met Claude Akins, several times, as he had a post office box at the Toluca Lake post office. He was always friendly.
John Wayne's son Patrick also had a P.O.Box at T.L., although he was a bit of a dick. I once push started his bright red Porsche which had stalled in our parking lot.
Camille Hagen is/was a model/actress I spoke with frequently, and who was married to Herve Villechaize. Believe it or not, that little prick used to beat her up ... and the bruises were noticeable.
Probably my worst ever celeb dealings were with Sandra Dee & Jonathon Winters, the first of whom was an absolutely, incredibly 'privileged' bitch on wheels, the second was an outrageous racist who had no problem publicly & loudly espousing his beliefs, while trying unsuccessfully to mask it with humor.
In Toluca Lake, celebrities are everywhere, Patty's restaurant on Riverside Dr. was/is a place to be seen.
At the Studio City Post Office I got to meet Ernest Borgnine, who happened to be a major league stamp collector, so our meetings were frequent. He was one of the friendliest celebs I ever met. I even got to flirt a little with actress Season Hubley.
I met Neil Young, Angelica Huston, Carrie Fisher and Bonnie Bodelia all on separate trains when working for Amtrak. Carrie Fisher had been partying pretty heavily and was traveling with a pretty large group, including Paul Simon's son. Bonnie Bodelia was on her way to film 'Speechless', much of which was shot at the beautiful Las Vegas, New Mexico train station.

Of course, this is only a fraction of those met later when catering motion pictures, but i've touched on that in other threads and will spare you here.

 

[Dodgersrf]

ticked next to Will Ferrell at a Kings game between periods a few years back, and about 8 years ago I gave Kate Beckinsale a fist bump on the 405 on my bike. She was in the back of a town car and I saw her, offered my fist and she replied in kind.

Most celebrities I met was either for work or my fathers work, but I do have a number of stories.

Loved to hear them

 

[FaulkSF]

My friend and I met a few while working the Skins game a number of years ago in So Cal. I used to work with some of the management of the golf course and they invited myself +1 to work with the ABC film crew over Thanksgiving weekend.

The lineup was great with Jesper, Monty, the Shark, and Tiger. When they contacted the ball, it sounds like a rocket ship taking off in person. Jesper and his caddy were really cool and chatted with us about swing strategies while warming up at the driving range. Think I was most disappointed in Shark. He normally is said to be charitable to children's cancer research. Some kids lined up outside his trailer fence area to get autographs after he won the tournament. Greg stepped out from his trailer and said nah, and shut the door. He does give to charity, but would have been cool if he made some kids' day by signing some memorabilia.

We ate with the commentators and film crew including the Ryder Cup captain Curtis Strange who was a grump. Mike Tirico from MNF. Good dude was talking with us about gifts his kids wanted for Christmas.

While we were working, we ran into Carson Daly from MTV. He was with his dad so he really wasn't interested in talking with a camera crew. My buddy also saw Nicholas Lea (Agent Krychek from X-Files that was still big at that time) on the golf course. He tried to bum a cigarette from my friend, who doesn't smoke (maybe he thought my buddy was Cigarette Smoking Man). Guess he wanted someone to notice who he was and that he was attending.

 

[Farr Be It]

Back in the day when the movie, "Space Jam" first came out, ('96?) my then 5 -year old son and I would watch the movie DAILY, mostly due to his insistence. Bugs Bunny, Michael Jordan. You get the drill. We practically had the movie memorized.

Well, at the time, of course, Jordan and the Bulls were in the middle of the second of their 3-peat championships. Things were good for him.

Also, my ex's cousin was married to a Tyrone Bradley, who played with Rod Higgins on the '83 Fresno State NIT championship team.

Every year for years they put on a kids clinic at Fresno State, and Michael Jordan -because of his friendship with Higgins, would come, as the "big ticket draw" to the camp.

Well this particular year, my son Michael was juuust a bit too young to be a camper, but my cousin-in-law was nice enough to give him a waver. So we drove down to Fresno. Ty told me, "John, bring your golf clubs," so I did, and we drove down the day before the camp.

As we pulled up, his wife tells me, "Oh, you just missed them."
"Missed who?" I asked.
"Ty, Michael and Rod headed out to the course a half-hour ago. They were going to see if you wanted to join their foursome."

As the week wore on, though I did get to hang out with some of the guys, including Mitch Richmond. Got to watch a press conference with Jordan, literally 3 days after they won the championship.

But the funniest part was the final night. The players, some pros, some Fresno State guys, all play a Globetrotter-like game at the College arena in a game opened up to the public. Ty let Michael and I sit right on the court behind the players bench, while all of the kids from the camp had to sit in the nose -bleed seats.

well, Jordan put on a show. Running and gunning. dunking, outside shots. The crowd loved it! After a bit, though, Jordan got tired, and came over to the bench...and sat right in front of us! I looked at my son Michael, with mouth agape, pointed and whispered, "THAT"S MICHAEL JORDAN!!"

My son looks at Jordan...looks back at me, and spoke from his heart, "Dad, can I go sit with my friends now?"

"Sure son. Let's go find your friends..."

 

[Selassie I]

Since this thread asked for Weird Place Meetings...

Apparently I used to have an identical schedule to Patrick Ewing. The 1st time that i ran into him at this gas station, I just gave him a polite head nod. Then... it became obvious after multiple meetings in this same gas station that we shared a schedule. That's when it became kinda funny and we both started speaking to each other and even looking for each other each time. We became very friendly.

That was during the time that he served as an assistant basketball coach here in Orlando.

 

[Farr Be It]

Since this thread asked for Weird Place Meetings...

Apparently I used to have an identical schedule to Patrick Ewing. The 1st time that i ran into him at this gas station, I just gave him a polite head nod. Then... it became obvious after multiple meetings in this same gas station that we shared a schedule. That's when it became kinda funny and we both started speaking to each other and even looking for each other each time. We became very friendly.

That was during the time that he served as an assistant basketball coach here in Orlando.

Oh sure, @Selassie I first it’s “chance” meetings at the gas station. Next it’s dinner with Patrick, then who knows, maybe Midnight basketball sessions, or fishing with Sapp. ( a story that belongs here. The open seas with Warren Sapp, is fairly strange, no?)

Seriously, though. That story with Ewing is pretty funny.

 

[LesBaker]

I've met a couple of famous people, and seen a couple in public.

As far as funny/weird places to meet a famous person it was in a place back home in Cleveland.

You guys know the Browns have the Dawg Pound. It was named for the defensive backfield of Hanford Dixon (top dawg was his nickname) and Frank Minnifield. They were excellent cover guys.

I was in a restaurant with my girlfriend and turned from talking to her (we were at the counter to get a table) to step up to the counter as Dixon was turning and stepping away from the counter. We walked directly into each other and literally hit face to face and nearly stumbled down. As we were both apologizing and chuckling I realized it was him and it made me laugh even harder.

I know most of you won't know Bingo Smith, real name Bobby but the nickname Bingo was because of his shooting ability. He played for the Cavaliers and was part of the Miracle of Richfield. Google it because it was cool.

At the time NBA players like most other pro athletes got paid good money, but far from millions like they get today. Anyway he was a shooter for sure. Great range. He lived across the street from a playground where several of us would play basketball. He came out to play a couple of times and it was a real thrill to play basketball with a guy who played in the NBA.

 

[bluecoconuts]

Loved to hear them

I met a certain celebrity who I wont name on a public forum when I was first back from deployment and went straight from the airport to a meeting that my father was in when said celebrity was in attendance. They had lunch at the meeting and since my father gave them the heads up I was allowed to sit in the meeting and they had steak for everyone since it was my first meal back. Really a bang up job by everyone around, the chef came out, thanked me for my service and gave me my steak before the waiter served everyone else.

This was unacceptable to said celebrity who said something along the lines of "I don't care what he does, he's a nobody and I should have been served first."... Her PR person freaked out and after our meal basically begged me not to go public with what happened, which I told her I didn't really care. Her client lost the opportunity from her statement so I figured that was probably punishment enough.

Plus the steak was fucking amazing.

Doing Security I met a bunch of KPOP bands, super weird dudes all of them, and their stalkers are even worse. They would pay thousands of dollars to get their exact itineraries and would follow them around and just giggle. They had no fear in terms of police or anything though, one tried to climb up and over me, it was nuts.

Padme's a giant bitch if anyone is wondering. Doing a PSD for her and she was super shitty to everyone. Was told that's the norm.

Neil DeGrasse Tyson is a bit of an asshole too, his agent is even worse. He requested a security detail for his hotel, and I volunteered since I figured I could talk some physics with him as I have before. Did that, which was really nice and he was a pleasure to talk to in that regard. He was confused on why I was doing security work on the side as if it was beneath me, but whatever. However, he and his agent were really snarky to the other security guards, and when he left his room early (for no reason) and went to the wrong location, he had to walk along the outside of the hotel to the back where his car was. I followed along on the camera as the other security guards came out to escort him, but he got to his far first. Then his agent called and flipped out about how he could have been mobbed.

Nah lady, I was watching, nobody even knew who the hell he is. Science isn't that main stream.

Justin Bieber was surprisingly nice even if his permanent security detail were huge dicks. He asked to do something and was told he couldn't, he was cool with it but his security tried to just force their way in anyway. Not sure if that was something he told them to do or not, but he seemed a little embarrassed. Especially when myself and my partner drew on them because while we were assigned to his detail that didn't mean it overrode our primary duty at the time, which included protecting the assets his security detail were threatening.

Met various LA Kings at different functions and events, both current and retired players, all were really fun, talked lots of Vegas with them.

My buddy also turned down Jennifer Lawrence when she was hitting on him right when she was rebounding hard from a relationship because he didn't know she was flirting. He regrets that one pretty hard.

 

[fearsomefour]

I met a certain celebrity who I wont name on a public forum when I was first back from deployment and went straight from the airport to a meeting that my father was in when said celebrity was in attendance. They had lunch at the meeting and since my father gave them the heads up I was allowed to sit in the meeting and they had steak for everyone since it was my first meal back. Really a bang up job by everyone around, the chef came out, thanked me for my service and gave me my steak before the waiter served everyone else.

This was unacceptable to said celebrity who said something along the lines of "I don't care what he does, he's a nobody and I should have been served first."... Her PR person freaked out and after our meal basically begged me not to go public with what happened, which I told her I didn't really care. Her client lost the opportunity from her statement so I figured that was probably punishment enough.

Plus the steak was freaking amazing.

Doing Security I met a bunch of KPOP bands, super weird dudes all of them, and their stalkers are even worse. They would pay thousands of dollars to get their exact itineraries and would follow them around and just giggle. They had no fear in terms of police or anything though, one tried to climb up and over me, it was nuts.

Padme's a giant bitch if anyone is wondering. Doing a PSD for her and she was super crappy to everyone. Was told that's the norm.

Neil DeGrasse Tyson is a bit of an icehole too, his agent is even worse. He requested a security detail for his hotel, and I volunteered since I figured I could talk some physics with him as I have before. Did that, which was really nice and he was a pleasure to talk to in that regard. He was confused on why I was doing security work on the side as if it was beneath me, but whatever. However, he and his agent were really snarky to the other security guards, and when he left his room early (for no reason) and went to the wrong location, he had to walk along the outside of the hotel to the back where his car was. I followed along on the camera as the other security guards came out to escort him, but he got to his far first. Then his agent called and flipped out about how he could have been mobbed.

Nah lady, I was watching, nobody even knew who the hell he is. Science isn't that main stream.

Justin Bieber was surprisingly nice even if his permanent security detail were huge dicks. He asked to do something and was told he couldn't, he was cool with it but his security tried to just force their way in anyway. Not sure if that was something he told them to do or not, but he seemed a little embarrassed. Especially when myself and my partner drew on them because while we were assigned to his detail that didn't mean it overrode our primary duty at the time, which included protecting the assets his security detail were threatening.

Met various LA Kings at different functions and events, both current and retired players, all were really fun, talked lots of Vegas with them.

My buddy also turned down Jennifer Lawrence when she was hitting on him right when she was rebounding hard from a relationship because he didn't know she was flirting. He regrets that one pretty hard.

Awesome stories.
Even from a far the K-pop thing is weird.
A buddy of min did security work after he got back from multiple deployments.
Has some interesting/funny stories too.
It cracks me up Tyson wanted a security detail....um.....for what?
He worked at Jon Stewart’s show for a bit.
Getting guest in and out of the building etc. said Stewart was very friendly. If there was down time, which there often was, he made sure the security guys had access to catering so they could eat etc. He’d go out of his to say hello to them pretty much every day, ask if they needed anything, ask how the family was etc. Very down to earth guy.
He did security for Michael Moorer for a short bit and said he was paranoid and endlessly whined and questioned everything.
The celeb that behaved that way upon your return is shameful. It is amazing how people behave sometimes. Someone going through life with that sense of entitlement has to be a miserable person no matter the money, attention etc.

 

[Riverumbbq]

My buddy also turned down Jennifer Lawrence when she was hitting on him right when she was rebounding hard from a relationship because he didn't know she was flirting. He regrets that one pretty hard.

alm:

 

[Farr Be It]

I met a certain celebrity who I wont name on a public forum when I was first back from deployment and went straight from the airport to a meeting that my father was in when said celebrity was in attendance. They had lunch at the meeting and since my father gave them the heads up I was allowed to sit in the meeting and they had steak for everyone since it was my first meal back. Really a bang up job by everyone around, the chef came out, thanked me for my service and gave me my steak before the waiter served everyone else.

This was unacceptable to said celebrity who said something along the lines of "I don't care what he does, he's a nobody and I should have been served first."... Her PR person freaked out and after our meal basically begged me not to go public with what happened, which I told her I didn't really care. Her client lost the opportunity from her statement so I figured that was probably punishment enough.

Giventhe later details on Tyson, etc. why did this "celebrity" deserve special protection from being outed for their entitlement? Just curious. I respect your answer, either way.

Neil DeGrasse Tyson is a bit of an icehole too, his agent is even worse

He's one of those guys that doesn't disguise the arrogance, and self-importance in his public persona. Not a shock. Interesting his take on your "moonlighting" job. He's the King of Don'tgetit.

The celeb that behaved that way upon your return is shameful. It is amazing how people behave sometimes. Someone going through life with that sense of entitlement has to be a miserable person no matter the money, attention etc.

Exactly. Celebrities are human. They choose to either humble themselves, and stay grounded or allow the adulation to get to them, and spin out into full-on narcissism.

 

[Farr Be It]

Really a bang up job by everyone around, the chef came out, thanked me for my service and gave me my steak before the waiter served everyone else.

This was unacceptable to said celebrity who said something along the lines of "I don't care what he does, he's a nobody and I should have been served first."...

At least all the important people at your event knew who should go first. Some celebrities treat the military well. Even big heroes like the Honor Guard. Case in point, this was the '85 NFL Touchdown Club Awards Night in D.C. hosted by Burt Reynolds and Dom Delouise. Burt and Dom were cool dudes to us, and took this fun photo with a bunch of us Color Guard guys before the event.

To their credit, they did not act like "big stars", but shook our hands and were gracious. It was fun, Dan Marino, Eric Dickerson, Don Shula were some of the NFL players I remember seeing backstage briefly. I couldn't get to Dickerson to shake his hand. It was the awards presentation after the '84 season, I believe.

We just did the anthem and marched off, could'nt see the awards event, bummer.

But I did get to stay for the '87 NBA all-star game a couple years later up in Seattle. That was a pretty cool event to work, as well. I remember standing next to Bill Lambier, looking up at him. Up close, he looked like a 17-year old pimple-faced kid! Magic, and Kareem were just up ahead of me, as well, but we were there to do a job, it was not a time to interact with the players.