Who is the most famous person you have met?

[KILO NOVEMBER]

One night while working at the pipe shop I mentioned in another thread, Tommy Smothers walked in an bought some smallish Don Diego cigars. The brothers were appearing at a venue call The Cellar Door a few blocks west. I was a big fan, but too reserved to gush. So, I just started grinning while I rang up his purchase. Noticing this, Tommy started grinning too. I thanked him and gave him his change and out the door he went.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Rudolf Wanderone, the real “Minnesota Fats”. Not the most skilled but certainly the most flamboyant.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Politicians, musicians, and old-time-radio actors mostly. My favorite political interview was with Ross Perot, who spent a good part of the session complaining that our high school band played his theme song, "Crazy For You," in the wrong key.

 

[EngProf]

Since I'm from Nashville, I have met several of the classic country-music stars over the years - Minnie Pearl, Marty Robbins, Bill Monroe, etc. It's part of the semi-official Nashville social order to not make a big deal of it, while talking to them.
Beyond that, I had a good couple of hours of conversation with author Hunter Thompson.
He was here at Vanderbilt making a presentation, and had some time to kill after that was over, before his flight.
I stayed behind his escorts and struck up a conversation with him, starting with whether he might want to go shooting with us the next day if he could stay over. He was famous for being a fan of the .44 Magnum.
He couldn't stay, but was pleased to get the invitation.
We talked guns. shooting, politics, etc. (Shooting was the common interest that got things going.)
One specific thing I remember telling him was that he almost got me kicked off an airplane.
I was reading "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" while the other passengers were getting aboard the plane. I happened to be sitting right at the front directly in front of the stewardess/flight-attendant. I put the book down, and was politely paying attention to what she was saying. Right in her "Number of Exits " speech I had a vivid flashback from something hilarious I had just read in Thompson's book.
So, I burst out laughing right in the midst of her serious life-or-death speech.
She gave me a hard look, but did not kick me off the plane.
If that happened today, I would have been taken off and sent directly to Homeland Security for questioning.
As for the Thompson encounter, since was "Off-duty" and not being "Hunter Thompson, Gonzo Journalist" he was funny, polite, and a pleasant conversationalist. He thought my airplane "adventure" was funny. He didn't say so, but I think his Gonzo-side would have been pleased if his book had gotten me kicked off the plane.

 

[Frunobulax]

Neil Armstrong. The only person I've ever been that nervous around. I was so starstruck I barely eked out a, "Hi, sir."

 

[tonyb]

This morning‘s sad news of the passing of Daniel J. Evans, a former Washington state governor and U.S. senator, reminded me of bumping into him at the Lowe’s store on Rainier Avenue. That was, geez, 20(?) years ago. His senate tenure was by appointment, to fill the seat vacated by the death of Henry M. Jackson in 1983. Evans declined to run for the seat in 1988, citing his frustration at the political atmosphere in D.C. “Governor Dan” was 98.

My occupation, after Dan Evans stepped away from public life, had me in regular contact with local elected officials. People who once took my call didn’t know my name when I was no longer in a position to do them any good (or harm). This wasn’t universally true, but it did remind me of Harry Truman’s observation on dealing with the run of politicians: “You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.”

I’m guessing Dan Evans would have concurred.

 

[tonyb]

Dizzy Gillespie. Ilie Nastase. Harold Reynolds. Herb Score. Howard Dean.

 

[Preppy Climber]

Here is a photo of me with one of the most famous people I've met. He made my day.

 

[Zombie_61]

Having lived in the Los Angeles area of southern California my whole life and currently creeping up on my 64th birthday, I've seen quite a few "celebrities" out and about living their civilian lives and doing whatever they were doing on any given day, but "met" takes the encounter to a different level. I'd have to say the most famous person I've "met" (i.e. actually spoke with, exchanged a handshake, introduced myself, and so on) was Vincent Price. This was about a year before he died and he was visibly frail, but was very personable, chatty, TALL, and charismatic, making me feel as though, in a crowded movie theater lobby, I was the only person he wanted to speak with. VERY nice encounter, and, fortunately, his companion/handler/bodyguard didn't interfere. A very pleasant memory for me.

 

[Preppy Climber]

Having lived in the Los Angeles area of southern California my whole life and currently creeping up on my 64th birthday, I've seen quite a few "celebrities" out and about living their civilian lives and doing whatever they were doing on any given day, but "met" takes the encounter to a different level. I'd have to say the most famous person I've "met" (i.e. actually spoke with, exchanged a handshake, introduced myself, and so on) was Vincent Price. This was about a year before he died and he was visibly frail, but was very personable, chatty, TALL, and charismatic, making me feel as though, in a crowded movie theater lobby, I was the only person he wanted to speak with. VERY nice encounter, and, fortunately, his companion/handler/bodyguard didn't interfere. A very pleasant memory for me.

@Zombie_61 That is a wonderful story about meeting Vincent Price! Thank you so much for sharing!

 

[Edward]

Interesting question. I suspect it probably depends who is famous to whom....

Off the top of my head... Many years ago I used to bump into Rick the drummer from Ash fairly regularly, as well as Imelda May, back in the early days of her solo band when a friend was her bass player. I met David Tennant I think after he was Doctor Who the first time, and Peter Capaldi before he was the Doctor. Honour Blackman I stage doored in the West End when she was in Cabaret in 2007 - and Shelia Hancock in 2006 (same production, she proceeded Blackman in the same role). The first Sally in that production was Anna Maxwell Martin, who was lovely at the stage door (Loungers might have seen her in Line of Duty some years later.) Spotted Ewan McGregor on the tube one night. Eddie / Susie Izzard, lovely human being. Richie Ramone, Clem Burke.


Beverly Guitar Watkins was one of a number of folks I met at the Rhythm Riot weekender over the years - she was a sweetie. At the signing table, she was like your nana - then on stage she played like a demon. Guitar behind her head, the works. Dave Vainian and Captain Sensible of the Damned - both lovely fellows, so very different. Dave and I have talked tailoring - he's the only man I've ever known who dresses down to go on stage. He's a hell of a sharp dresser, usually 1930s cuts on his own time.

Anthony Stewart Head (best known as Giles in Buffy I think) a few times at various Rocky Horror events over the years, alongside many other names from RH world - Richard O'Brien himself, Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick, Nell Campbell (as in both RHPS and Nell's club in NYC), Patricia Quinn, Susan Sarandon among others.

Dominic Cooper (Mama Mia, Preacher) inadvertently crashed my 40th birthday party back in the day.

Patrick Stewart, David Mitchell, Gemma Wheelan (WE stage doors); Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick (Broadway, 2004 - I was lucky enough to see the original production of the Producers there when they both returned to the production for a bit). Martin Freeman I saw out on the street one day and nodded; here in London you do often see folks like that out and about, or in the audience at something you're also at, though unless they're there to be seen on a press night or whatever, I wouldn't feel right giving more than a nod when eye contact is accidentally made and you both know you've recognised them. More than that seems unfair when they're off-duty.

Bumped into Michael Gambon on the street one night - we almost walked into each other, excused ourselves, smiled and walked on.

A fair few others who would be a big deal to me, but maybe not known to others on here. I've been lucky, though a lot of it has been the privilege of being London based, and willing to go to stage doors. It's always interesting meeting people on real life and seeing how they are. I've most most of them very pleasant as a rule, at least those who do bother to come out at the stage door. Long as you have a bit of respect and treat them as a human being...

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I haven't met a ton of famous people and I guess that scope could be narrower by what you feel constitutes fame:

Politicians:
Jon Plumer
Joan Ballweg
Mark Pocan
Fred Clark
Glenn Grothman

Singers:
Clint Black
All the current members of Exile (they're all very nice by the way)
Janie Frickie
T. G. Sheppard

Actors:
Kevin Sorbo
Rob Sharkey - The Shark Farmer

 

[galopede]

I once partnered Gene Pitney in a game of pool doubles. I broke, the other pair took their shot then Gene cleared the table! He explained to me later that other entertainers are keen on golf but he prefer the comfort of pool indoors!

I also had a go on Jimi Hendrix's guitar while he was chatting to me. Couldn't play it as it was strung left handed...

Gareth

 

[AtomicEraTom]

Politicians, musicians, and old-time-radio actors mostly. My favorite political interview was with Ross Perot, who spent a good part of the session complaining that our high school band played his theme song, "Crazy For You," in the wrong key.

I would have liked to have met Ross Perot. I would imagine that would be a very interesting encounter!

 

[Turnip]

I once met Günter Netzer at a casino soccer tournament.

 

[Edward]

Met Glen Matlock twice last year - a truly underrated musician. His Sex PIstols legacy has been rather overshadowed by the Sid Vicious mythology (in reality Glen was central to the writing, one of several reasons things turned to chaos and the band crumbled within a year or so of him quitting), but a significant player in the industry who's worked and recorded with a number of big names including the likes of Iggy Pop. He was *almost* in The Clash (Strummer, Jones & Matlock - now there would have been an interesting creative team), but his departure from the Pistols didn't quite line up in time. He's currently splitting his time between fronting his own band, and playing bass (and writing) as an official, working member of Blondie, both live and in the studio. Lovely guy, too.