Famous People You Have Met

[AlexLah]

I guess nobody here can back up their claims.....

[pampal]

oh yeah - one of my ex boyfriends met Henry Rollins in a bookstore, and got a signed card for me and Henry made a joke about getting my number. I wish I was the one who had met him.

Henry Rollins is Gay, so unless you are a man, he wouldn't be interested.

[Zpete]

I guess nobody here can back up their claims.....

I put in a post, waaaaaaay back.

Famous people in my life.....

My MUM and DAD.

Lotsa pix if ya wan' 'em.

Phoooey, Alex.

[tattoodrob]

just my tuppence worth.......lots of minorish uk celebrities as worked at gyms for over 10 years,so football players,rugby players,athletes,models,tv actors etc.also did some security at ginger spices(gerri halliwel from spice girls) mansion.it was a new yrs eve party so many celebs...biggest international one being george michael i suppose but lots of uk celebs/models...katie price,des o connor blah blah blah.lots of nice cars too.what do i win haha.

to be honest they are all mostly normal down to earth people but just have an unusual job in that they get seen by many when they are workin...but also some can be miserable <deleted> that are too special to converse with general public.

cant understand some people who worship these sort or who are star struck.....they are no more special than you or me are although in some way there are advantages but also some big disadvantages to being recognised.

[tattoodrob]

I know a guy who met Billy Idol in Patpong after his concert some ten years ago. Behaved like bull in a China Shop and the BKK Post reported later that he also left not much usable furniture in the Oriental after he checked out....

im sure not many thai people there would know who he was ...just think hes another drunk farang on the rampage......by saying bull in a china shop i presume you mean he was buying like crazy at the market there

[Jingthing]

I met:

Harvey Milk

Allen Ginsberg

Abbie Hoffman

Jerry Ruben

the Egg Lady (John Waters films)

Divine (John Waters films)

John Waters

Meatloaf

John Malkovitch

George Wallace

Eartha Kitt

Oh, I just thought of another one.

Franklin Kameny, one of the most important fathers of the American gay civil rights movement and cofounder of the Mattachine Society, coiner of the phrase Gay is Good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_E._Kameny

Oh, and also, Jack Anderson of Watergate journalism fame.

Edited January 5, 2008 by Jingthing

[kat]

I met Chris Frantz from the Talking Heads back in the 80s when I worked in a record shop in Manhattan. I talked to him for about 2 hours and sold him more than $200 in tapes because he was going on a cruise. He was the NICEST, most unassuming guy, and I had no idea who he was and recommended his own music to him "Speaking in Tongues" and he kind of smiled a slightly embarrassed smile, because I obviously had no idea who I was talking to, until he handed over his credit card with his name on it; and then all hel_l broke loose. The BEST guy.

Prince Albert of Monaco came to a party at my all female dorm in college and lined up for beer out of the keg. We carded him.

Andy Warhol used to go to the corner of W.57th and hand out free issues of Interview magazine, back when it was new. Everyone would call out to him by his first name, like he was everyone's friend. He loved the attention, like a little kid.

I worked in the same newsroom as Dan Rather - another great and genuinely good guy.

Was out on a shoot with Danny Goldberg (journalist and regular on Fox News) back when I was a journalism intern in college - he teased me about being a liberal and about my scholarship at a fancy college. A real pain in the backside he was. *(This was at another broadcast news program, WAY before Fox Crap).

I was at a party with Maria Shriver back then too, and she kept staring at me for some reason. She is very pretty. I should have approached her because she seemed very down to earth.

I'm from New York so I've seen tons of famous models, actors etc. walking down the street, and have stories from friends who may have run into them as waiters, bartenders, hotel staff etc. I saw Christy Turlington walking down the street headed my way, and I kind of stared, and she gave me the snottiest attitude.

oh yeah - one of my ex boyfriends met Henry Rollins in a bookstore, and got a signed card for me and Henry made a joke about getting my number. I wish I was the one who had met him.

Can we stay on topic here please. The key word is FAMOUS!

Well, those people are famous, to those who know them. Would you prefer if I said Mickey Mouse? I met him too, btw, on the boardwalk of Coney Island; he was smoking a cigarette.

I guess nobody here can back up their claims.....

Funny this is, I also met Ishmael from the Bueno Vista Music Club on my flight back from Cuba. Had my friend take the picture, and 2 weeks later, no picture, because of some problem with the camera. Oh well, that's the way it goes ..... Don't really care if people believe or not, because it doesn't mean that much to me.

oh yeah - one of my ex boyfriends met Henry Rollins in a bookstore, and got a signed card for me and Henry made a joke about getting my number. I wish I was the one who had met him.

Henry Rollins is Gay, so unless you are a man, he wouldn't be interested.

Actually, he's straight. He is a gay rights and social justice activist, and is obviously secure enough in his masculinity not to care what HOMOPHOBES have to say about his defending gay rights. He is from Washington, D.C., and I know people who know him, and he's into women, and the feeling is mutual.

[Old Croc]

Wondered when you were going to come back at this one Kat.

[Patsycat]

She certainly was on a roll yesterday!!!

[Naam]

one night i met Ccoonnddaalleezzaa Rice who lectured me on international politics till my wife woke me up and said "stop grinding your teeth and don't use dirty words, i would like to sleep!"

then i went to have a shower to rinse off the cold sweat covering my body.

[jazzbo]

John Lennon -- in Central Park near The Dakota, New York City, 1979.

[kat]

Wondered when you were going to come back at this one Kat.

She certainly was on a roll yesterday!!!

one night i met Ccoonnddaalleezzaa Rice who lectured me on international politics till my wife woke me up and said "stop grinding your teeth and don't use dirty words, i would like to sleep!"

then i went to have a shower to rinse off the cold sweat covering my body.

Happy New Year, you guys. I clink my glass to yours in wishing you more fun and fulfillment to come

[alexth]

Hmmm....I meet Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in a club in Prague, Czech Republic. I also meet there Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Vin Diesel, Wesley Snipes (a real jerk) and Robert DeNiro.

Meet Nicole Kidman and Jude Law in Romania while they were shooting Cold Mountain.

In Thailand, got to hang out with the guys from Linkin Park after the concert has ended at Impact Arena on a small after party. Also in Thailand, meet Leonardo DiCaprio and Denzel Washington. Meet Jean-Claude Van Damme about 3 weeks ago at a party, wasn't impressed with the guy at all, a full clown. I could add Tata Young (her father, Tim, is a great man) and a few DJs like Paul Van Dyke, Armin Van Buuren, Charles Feelgood or Jhonny Fiasco that I also meet in Thailand.

[alexth]

Forgot the local celebrities, Aed Karabao (at Tawandang for his b'day party, great dude and very modest), Sek Loso and Ter (Peter Corp Dyrendal), a really nice, easygoing guy.

[keekwai]

Hmmm....I meet Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in a club in Prague, Czech Republic. I also meet there Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Vin Diesel, Wesley Snipes (a real jerk) and Robert DeNiro.

Meet Nicole Kidman and Jude Law in Romania while they were shooting Cold Mountain.

In Thailand, got to hang out with the guys from Linkin Park after the concert has ended at Impact Arena on a small after party. Also in Thailand, meet Leonardo DiCaprio and Denzel Washington. Meet Jean-Claude Van Damme about 3 weeks ago at a party, wasn't impressed with the guy at all, a full clown. I could add Tata Young (her father, Tim, is a great man) and a few DJs like Paul Van Dyke, Armin Van Buuren, Charles Feelgood or Jhonny Fiasco that I also meet in Thailand.

What !! ??? .. you haven't met the Pope as well yet? .. you must be slowing down.

[alexth]

Hmmm....I meet Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in a club in Prague, Czech Republic. I also meet there Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Vin Diesel, Wesley Snipes (a real jerk) and Robert DeNiro.

Meet Nicole Kidman and Jude Law in Romania while they were shooting Cold Mountain.

In Thailand, got to hang out with the guys from Linkin Park after the concert has ended at Impact Arena on a small after party. Also in Thailand, meet Leonardo DiCaprio and Denzel Washington. Meet Jean-Claude Van Damme about 3 weeks ago at a party, wasn't impressed with the guy at all, a full clown. I could add Tata Young (her father, Tim, is a great man) and a few DJs like Paul Van Dyke, Armin Van Buuren, Charles Feelgood or Jhonny Fiasco that I also meet in Thailand.

What !! ??? .. you haven't met the Pope as well yet? .. you must be slowing down.

I was planning to, but I'm not a religious guy

[dawsonuk]

Hi Guys

Ive met, Jools Holland, Ian Dury, The Stranglers, Chris Botti, Kenny G Kiri te Kanawa, Lesley Garrett, Margaret Thatcher, Robbie Coltrane, Michel Adam, Rick Wakeman, Bob Geldof, Tata Young.

Dawson

[rott]

Careful how you introduce yourself to Thai's, door-sonn means small nob in Thai.

Only trying to help.

[geriatrickid]

- Kurt Cobain said hi to me and asked me to hold his beer while he blew his nose. (small venue, 100 people, before he hit it big, and no he had a cold, it wasn't coke.) Saw David Grohl as he passed by and he made a joke about Kurt coughing up a lung. Sort of hyper but one very happy guy with an infectious smile.

- Joey Ramone in NYC, he walked in with his g/f to catch the show. Very quiet and had a soda water.

- David Bowie. Heathrow airport as he was being escorted out by a Virgin air rep. He was small and sickly looking. People were politely keeping their distance. He looked exhausted but was saying thank you and smiling to people. Totally unexpected.

- Former Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau. Lived around the corner from him when I was going to school and would see him alot on the stairs going up from the park. He was so small. Very polite guy that would always greet you with a smile and a hello or ask how classes had gone that day. No police bodyguard ever.

- Donatella Versace in Miami. She had a face like over stretched wrinkled parchment that's dyed brown. Looked like a nasty woman.

As for the insistence to provide photos, I'm glad people don't have pics. It's an incredibly obnoxious intrusion to shove oneself on anyone and demand a photo. I feel for those "celebrities" that have to deal with that crap.

[bulmercke]

- Kurt Cobain said hi to me and asked me to hold his beer while he blew his nose. (small venue, 100 people, before he hit it big, and no he had a cold, it wasn't coke.) Saw David Grohl as he passed by and he made a joke about Kurt coughing up a lung. Sort of hyper but one very happy guy with an infectious smile.

- Joey Ramone in NYC, he walked in with his g/f to catch the show. Very quiet and had a soda water.

- David Bowie. Heathrow airport as he was being escorted out by a Virgin air rep. He was small and sickly looking. People were politely keeping their distance. He looked exhausted but was saying thank you and smiling to people. Totally unexpected.

- Former Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau. Lived around the corner from him when I was going to school and would see him alot on the stairs going up from the park. He was so small. Very polite guy that would always greet you with a smile and a hello or ask how classes had gone that day. No police bodyguard ever.

- Donatella Versace in Miami. She had a face like over stretched wrinkled parchment that's dyed brown. Looked like a nasty woman.

As for the insistence to provide photos, I'm glad people don't have pics. It's an incredibly obnoxious intrusion to shove oneself on anyone and demand a photo. I feel for those "celebrities" that have to deal with that crap.

I think you'll find that most celebrities court and encourage publicity - except when they feel they don't look their best for the camera(s).

Edited February 5, 2008 by bulmercke

[kat]

- Donatella Versace in Miami. She had a face like over stretched wrinkled parchment that's dyed brown. Looked like a nasty woman.

That has been my impression of her as well, and what I've heard from someone in Miami who knows people who have partied with her.

[girlx]

let's see... i met james brown when i was a kid, he grew up in the town i lived in. i saw sean connery on the street, also john leguizamo, dennis quaid, and parker posey. i met adam west from batman and 'kit' the car at a toy show in miami. i met ron jeremy at some sex themed party in san francisco. i waited on john waters and al from "home improvement"- also saw the kid from that show. my mom took classes from chuck norris. i am sure there is someone i am forgetting. oh yeah robert smith! my favorite star... and george clinton, both of whom i met in record stores. and crispin glover! who i love but was a prick in real life.

Edited February 5, 2008 by girlx

[JetsetBkk]

- Donatella Versace in Miami. She had a face like over stretched wrinkled parchment that's dyed brown. Looked like a nasty woman.

That has been my impression of her as well, and what I've heard from someone in Miami who knows people who have partied with her.

As Joan Rivers said - her face looks like something you'd hang on a door in Africa.

[cafes]

I am a good friend of actor Kevin Bacon. We used to be at the same school. We still email each other and he visits Thailand from time. When he comes over I take him to @#$@#$@#$ for a drink. He's good fun. Robert De Niro and Michael Douglas and Steve Seagal once joined us at @#$@#$@#$ sorry guys, can't tell the name of the joint..... their privacy comes first.

[JetsetBkk]

sorry guys, can't tell the name of the joint..... their privacy comes first.

[xbusman]

Having sold entertainer and executive coaches for twenty years, way too many to list.

However, some really special people that were a joy to get to know:

Ray Charles, just a fine human being.

Ernest Evans (Chubby Checker) only can be described as a "sweet and gentle heart"

Clint Eastwood

Ella Fitzgerald, not only a fine person but gawd amighty what a voice.

In the real people category

Johnny Cash, real people.

Loretta Lynne, real people

Mr Matsushita (founder Panasonic), real people

Bill and Gloria Gaither, just outstanding humans. You might not recognize those names but they are the King and Queen of Gospel music. Bill was a math teacher fifty years ago who wrote poetry. In the summers, he would go to Nashville and try to sell his poems as lyrics. Finally talked an unknown gospel singer to record one called "He Touched Me" and launched the career of Elvis Presley.

Oddly enough, as I look at that list, it seems that I really enjoyed people with a strong gospel background. I will have to contemplate that on a chicken/egg basis. Wonder if their background in gospel made them fine people or because they were good folk they had a tendency to gravitate to gospel.

On a whole, I found newly famous people to be simply intolerable. Old timers like Rose Marie Clooney were charming but "difficult". Politicians were lower than scum with no discernable redeeming qualities (all parties inclusive). Independent businessmen like Gus Spanos, Jack Kemp, H. Ross Perot were very solid, very strong, and brutal (you will find the same bend to Thaksin) but on their good side they were very fun, very generous. Sort of normal times 10. Corporate bureaucrats at the top of ladder were simply insufferable. Lee Iaccoca, Michael Eisner, Jack Welch and like ilk, were simply miserable. The characteristics required to get there did not include anything we would describe as "good". Same in politics actually but politicians still have to present a human face, even if they dont mean it. Corporate CEOs are under no such obligation. An interesting comparison, Sam Walton (founded Walmart) was a superb human being, just a fine compassionate man in all regards. Jack Shewmake (first or second president of Walmart) was a complete and utter beast with no redeeming value. The difference between the founder and the corporate animal. Of course Sam Walton needed a Jack Shewmake to build Walmart into what it is. Even Ray Charles needed a nasty strong arm (Joe Adams) to drive the success.

Fame is not all its cracked up to be. We sold a few coaches to Michael Landon back in the day. He was doing the series "Touched by an Angel" at the time and his TV persona was almost religious. In the real world he was a chain smoking foul mouthed self promoter of the highest grade. Having dinner with him was simply an ordeal. People would crowd over the table and knock glasses over and push and pull, he would smile beatifically and sign whatever they wanted, warm kind words, sincere interest, just a glow of goodness. The second we would get a break it would be F this, F that and two cigarettes lit up. Lucky to get a single bite out of any meal while in public. It sucked.

More fine people, I mean really really fine people. Richard and Linda Petty, Nascar. Milton Friedman, the economist, the ultra nerd you had to love.

I never met Doris Duke but I was very good friends with her personal assistant for over twenty years. Doris was a difficult woman but pretty stout on what was right and wrong. I guess that is easier when you are born with a silver spoon. A lot of the silver spooners were fun but clueless. I dont know that any of them were ever particularly famous.

Obviously I am reminiscing along and losing sight of the topic of this thread. If I remember more good ones I will post them but they were few and far between.

[toptuan]

Fascinating read, Xbusman. Hope you got a few autographed pictures in your memorabilia as well! Your succinct personal insights remind me of a family story about one of America's favorite comediennes from a bygone era....

My aunt happened to take the same cross-country commercial flight as Lucille Ball back in the late 60's, in the first class cabin. By the end of the flight, Ball's abusive treatment of the flight attendants resulted in my aunt, the flight attendants and every first class passenger to become totally repulsed at the bitchiness and arrogance of this popular Hollywood & TV actress (as my aunt tells the story). Sadly, never enjoyed those black and white reruns quite as much after hearing that gossip from an eyewitness of her character. Also, had more sympathy for Desi Arnaz, the estranged spouse.

Edited February 8, 2008 by toptuan

[meatgrowler]

like i said famous people i have met ,and where ?

i've met so many shirley bassey was an old freind of my family ,as a kid my mother lived next door to her ,met her at the talk of the town in london ,my father worked as a resident trumpet player there ,on meeting her he mentioned this ,and to his suprise she remembered the whole family ,we went to lunch with her and she remembered all the old child hood memories they had together ,very down to earth lady ,not forgotten her roots , tony christie ,tom jones ,and as a kid washed reg varneys rolls every sunday for 50 pence. who have you met and where

Met JOHN LESLIE,the shamed tv presenter{abi titmuss}in the Q BAR in samui over chrimbo,i yanked his gay looking trousers down whilst he looked the other way,i then blamed my mate!...funny as <deleted>....

[xbusman]

Actually, in that job, the only signatures I ever wanted were on a contract to buy. My boss, the owner and founder of the company, was a complete and utter fawner. Pictures and photos to the point of obsession. It was always uncomfortable and unpleasant for both the customer (celebrity) and me who was focused on getting something accomplished in the extremely tight time frames in their schedule.

I did get one or two, from people I was completely and entirely impressed with.

The first was a fella named Ray Dolby. Dont think off the cuff I have ever met someone I liked more. Ray came to visit and asked incredibly sharp and intelligent questions. Besides being the smartest man I ever met, he had a warm and gentle sense of humor and was a great leader. I, for the life of me, could not figure out who he was or what he did. I asked my careful probing questions because it was always a difficult time in the process. It was that way because one day you would get a call from Rachman Abdul Assiz (fourth? Saudi son in royal family, head of defense) and the next day Johnny Ferraro (producer of American Gladiators) and if you did not recognize them immediately you could offend them off the charts. So you probe gently if you have no idea <deleted> this guy does that he can afford a 1M plus toy. Helps to keep the Amway dream builders at bay. So Ray finally looks at me and says.... DOLBY, I am Ray DOLBY..... From there on, I pestered him with all sorts of questions and forgot busses. What a great and fascinating story, from in my opinion a great and fascinating man.

Another signature collected from his celebrity print is my old buddy John Daly, the golfer. John and I had some fun, I really liked him. From a very rural Arkansas family, he reached some pretty high notes in the golfing world before success and the bottle broke his back. We have lost touch since I have moved to Thailand but he was a good friend and good guy.

Another signature is from Karsten, founder of Ping golf clubs. He was a fun guy who lit up a room when he came in. Looked a bit like Santa Claus.

The last is someone who would never remember me. Mrs Barbara Bush, wife of Bush Senior and mother to our current president. What can you say about a political figure who was assigned the name "mom" by the secret service. She is truly a mother we would all like to have. Compassionate, gentle, kind, and never a bad word about anybody. Dedicated to improving reading and many social objectives, not because they were political capital but because she truly cared.

Oh yeah, one more signature. Forgot, writing helps me remember. Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendys. Really liked him, he was charming and kind. First time I met him he was wearing pastel shorts, some goofy t-shirt and a straw hat I would rather be killed than put on. For him, it worked. My company built a coach for him when he was starting the first Wendys to use in going forth and selling franchises. We were building coaches for a new company called MacDonalds at the time. He sold start up shares to a few of our hourly employees, this would have been before my time, back in the 70s, for the huge sum of $5000 each. I think about four of our workers bought in, all retired extremely wealthy. Got him to sign his book for me.

Not too many signatures. I only wanted two signatures really, one on the contract, the other on a check.

[apetley]

Years ago I was in a Macdonalds on my way home from a late night gig in London.

Some posh bird sat at the same table as me as it was the only one with a spare seat.

Some guy bought her a takeaway and they both left.

Out in the car park when I left another guy asked me what the lady had talked to me about.

Turned out he was a scribbler following Princess Di.