Have Any Celebrity Encounter Stories?

I was at a taping of "Everyone Hates Chris" and I couldn't believe how rude and plain mean Chris Rock was to everyone, including kids! It really changed my opinion of him

I met David Caruso at PF Changs in Miami.Was there having lunch with a friend and I noticed a guy walking past my table with a baeball cap and flower shirt.Realized it was CSI Miami himself so I yelled, "Dave"!He came over and spent close to 15 minutes chatting with us.Real nice and down to earth.

Marvin Bush offered me a line of coke at Omar Bin Laden's 40th at the Citadel in Cairo. Henry Kissinger, same party, a beautiful engaging man who can recite in order the entire pharaonic linneage of the XXth dynasty of the new Kingdom. When I asked how he manages to keep that reptilianly healthy glow of timeless antiquity he told me the Antichrist is a personal friend who gives him special booster shots to live longer ...  Happy days

All decades ago.  I met Bonnie Raitt backstage before a small concert appearance (because at the time I was fooling around with the local WEA rep). She was of course totally down-to-earth and funny.

Many years ago in LA, shopping a bit on a Rodeo Drive side-street (this was back in the days when this was no big deal, and it was fun to for example shop at Fred Segal on Melrose and the prices were semi-affordable and it wasn't like some giant "scene"). So I leave this boutique and turn down a sunny near-deserted sidewalk. There's a guy ahead with his back turned, trying to get this young girl loitering further away to stop window-shopping and catch up with him. JUST as I start to pass by, he turns around and runs right into me, which was kinda weird cuz we were like the only 2 there on the sidewalk and I'm not small.  The guy was Ryan O'Neal and I realized that the young girl dragging behind was Tatum; it was pretty surreal.

Even further back when I was VERY young I happened to be around a press conference in Washington DC where Richard Chamberlain was speaking about something. I didn't meet him but was around very close to him for a bit - mesmerized - and OMG he was at the height of his looks, and I think, to this day, probably hands-down the most beautiful man that I've ever seen in person, just unbelievable.  At that time I was also around Robert and Teddy Kennedy quite a bit, which I have to stop and remind myself of every once in a while; little did I know then what all they were getting up to, just as well!

At a Music Conference in Honk Kong  (circa 1996) I handed Debbie Harry a CD of my boy band's rendition of " Atomic" ( went to Number 1 here in The Netherlands).

Does selling records to Moby count?

I met Entourage's Debi Mazur last April in West Hollywood. She was with her daughter and picking up her dog at a Vet Clinic on Santa Monica Blvd. She was very sweet and gracious but guarded. I assume it was because she had her little girl with her. I was thrilled. I've always loved her!

not sure if he's considered a celebrity, but i'll never forget the last time i met david sedaris, at his reading in stamford, ct. he was gracious and polite and i was completely in shock. i told him that i was normally very well spoken but i was really starstruck, which seemed to genuinely surprise him. best part? he signed my book ' for samira, we dig each other'. and he gave me his pen. i adore him.

I was at a Chicago Bulls-Cleveland Cavs game a loong time ago and rushed to get an autograph from LeBron James and he had about 10 security people behind him, enough for his ego. My dad did get to meet June Allyson in an elevator in TX while he was on a business trip (this was about '99) she was the nicest person, she was in town for an autograph show. My mother's shaken hands w/ the Reagans and the Jimmy Carters and I think one of my grandma's sisters dated Mel Torme (I'll have to confirm that).

Michael choux,  As a gay teenage lad, my afterschool job for two years was as delivery-boy for Hollywood's long-gone Lee Drugs located at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.  On several occasions, their regular delivery client Raymond Burr requested that I drive my provided Chevy Corvair to his house in the Hills and deliver a stapled brown bag from our pharmacy department.  I knew there was Dewars and prescriptions.  The first time he met me in an unbelted bathrobe.  The subsequent times with nothing to spare.  I never entered the premises.  He never said much and always generously tipped me five dollars.  I lost the assignment when I mentioned the situation to the owner, Mr. Levine.  For the curious, a hirsute bear, squat where it mattered.  Forgive this indiscretion if posting this is that.

Sofia Vergara is one of the nicest, wittiest, most down to earth individuals that I have ever met.  David Fumero ("OLTL") is a sweetheart.  Patty Duke and Susan Sullivan are great!  The same goes for Gena Rowlands and Lily Tomlin.  Rupert Everett is great - sorry naysayers (also attested to by the patrons of Hy Vong in Miami and an office staff of over 30 individuals), Emilio Estefan is nice (she's NOT!).  Raul de Molina (El Gordo on Univision), Catherine Denueve and her daughter Chiara, Bianca Jagger, Tab Hunter, Franco Zefferelli, Janice Dickinson - both back in the day and the recent past, were all very nice and down to earth.   Enrique Iglesias, Robbie Rosa, Jon Secada and Faye Dunaway (surprise!) were all nice.  The worst is Elizabeth Hurley - Mega Bitch, puts the "C" in ****, with Jon Voight, Bruce Webber, Cristian de la Fuente, Gael Garcia Bernal (pretentious pseudo intellectual) and Eduardo Verastegui (Sorry, Kathie Lee) all vying for a close second place.  Best, Jeff R

A couple years ago, I used to work as a popcorn shoveler at NYC's Film Forum. It was a pretty sweet gig. Made a bunch of friends and saw a bunch of pretentious (some more than others) flicks for free. At the time, the theater was showing that movie about the fashion designer, Valentino (a subject I did not happen to give any types of shit about, which placed me in a minority around there), which meant that the theater was packed for the following 3-4 weeks with New York's fashion/celebrity elite.

One night early in the run, the theater was especially stuffed, but the concessions line was strangely slow. Either way, an attractive college-aged blonde was ordering a popcorn. As she salted her snack, I found an opportunity to chat her up. Things were actually going quite abnormally well for me until of all people, pre-Oscar-shenanigans James Franco swooped in and happened to be her date. To make matters worse, my co-worker, who relished in opportunities to chip at my ego and say ridiculous things word-vomited, "Hey, don't he look gay to you?", in reference to my recently shaving and what I like to believe is my strikingly-handsome appearance. Franco, not one to ruffle feathers, replied, "Looks fine to me."

The guy's a real sport. Sorry for trying to steal your girl, J. Then again, I don't know of any girls trying to run away with an actor working at my speed in comparison to appearing on "General Hospital" whenever he feels like it.

Was at Dean & Deluca searching for a jam my wife asked for and bewildered by the selection. There was an older lady going through the jars as if she knew what she was doing. I begged her pardon and showed her my wife's note. She kindly told me that the brand I wanted wasn't likely there, but there was another similar one that might be equally good. I realized that the lady was Lauren Bacall.

I met Benecio Del Toro (twice) he was my former idol. Now, that he's the father of Kim Stewart's child, I have moved on to Michael Musto. Anyways,the first time was at the Che premiere, he had this "can we get this overwith look" on the red carpet. He didn't stay for the movie, went straight to afterparty. The second time was at Dan Tana's in West Hollywood. He was walking out with Edward James Olmos, and I said, "Hi Benecio, I love you, your my idol." and he said, "I know." And walked away......this one.

The first time I ever realized I was attracted to men was when, as a child (I was around 10) I met the comedian Shelley Berman in Atlantic City in the 60s. I had just seen his show in the pier's theater, and I saw him coming out of the stage door to go wander the boardwalk. He was wearing white shorts and a wife beater, was very tan. I told him I liked his show. He smiled down at me and I noticed how hairy his chest and arms were, and felt, suddenly, like I'd been struck by lightning. Sigh. Thank you, Mr. Berman.

not sure if he's considered a celebrity, but i'll never forget the last time i met david sedaris, at his reading in stamford, ct. he was gracious and polite and i was completely in shock. i told him that i was normally very well spoken but i was really starstruck, which seemed to genuinely surprise him. best part? he signed my book ' for samira, we dig each other'. and he gave me his pen. i adore him.

I peed next to Stephen Sondheim in the men's room in the Shubert in Boston during the Pacific Overtures tryout.  JFK Jr. sat next to me on the nearly empty Boston Shuttle in 1980.  He was leaving Brown for a semester to campaign for Teddy.  He was wearing a heavy wool sweater, and when he reached up to stuff his bag in the overhead compartment, he exposed his trim waist and the top of his tighty whities.  I nearly fainted.  He let me borrow his Newsweek magazine, but otherwise we didn't speak.  When we deplaned, we both headed for the men's room (is there a recurring theme here?)  Feeling awkward, I slipped into a stall leaving him to pee in peace.

I met Valerie Harper on Bleecker and West 3rd. Was dark, an empty street, but I was so thrilled to see Rhoda that I said hello and she shook my hand and asked me my name. We chatted for about a minute about Rhoda and MTM.

I met Shia LaBeouf outside of Letterman, and I was really wary since he has a rep for being kind of a jerk. There was kind of a big crowd, but he stayed outside before taping the show and took photos and signed autographs for everyone. The place was crawling with autograph hounds (those who sell the autographs and aren't really fans) and after a while he was like "That's enough guys." The best part is that someone started pushing me from behind and he yelled at them to get off of me. :) He also took two photos with me because the same person behind me had his hand in my face in the first one.

Matt Dillon comes in to my ice cream store often. Last week he came in, wasted, and knocked over three stacks of cups. 

I also saw Ryan Gosling walking his dog and I told him his dog was cute, he ignored me. :(

I met Tammy Faye Baker backstage at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.  She was the sweetest thing, stopping to chat and pose for pictures.  She was a tiny lady - I am 5'6" and towered over her. And yes, she had on her signature makeup and eyeliner.

In 1990, I was working as an IT consultant for Paramount (not as glam as it sounds) after business hours, in what was the Gulf/Western bldg (now the Trump whatchamacallit) and in the basement was a screening room...as the elevator doors opened (it went down instead of up)  in walks Sue Simmons, Liz Smith and Elaine Stritch...drunk!  I thought they'd clam up once they saw me, but nooo, they ragged on everyone (girlie party!) who was at the screening (HILARIOUS! And I kept my poker face).

It was the best "fly on the wall" moment ever!

Golly, I've got a whole book of them. It's my theater memoir COLLISION: when reality and illusion collide.

Really some interesting stuff. Got a impressive review from Publishers Weekly PW Select.

 I saw Tom Brokaw in the washroom at a theatre back in the 80's , he was in the urinal beside me - I snuck a peek - nice...um, microphone he had! He looked over and smiled at me....I said I was a big fan! (I could have said I'd be your biggest fan if....) but I didn't.

I met Jon Voight at a benefit we had both attended. Just as we were leaving, I stopped him for a picture. Maybe it was the sugary sweet voice I used but he said, "Of course, Darling." and smiled big. It was then that I decided despite our political differences, I will always love him. I had never even seen any of his movies, I was just so excited to meet an Academy Award winner!

Not many.  But one memorable encounter was after a concert at the Greek in L.A.  I was invited backstage and, at one point, a woman in an artist's smock and jeans wearing horn-rimmed glasses came over to me at the buffet table.  "This stuff any good?"  I looked over and it was Bette Midler, the star of the show!  "I don't know, I think so," I said, and then, instead of striking up a conversation, I ran away like a little girl.  I idolized her.  Back in the day, I was in a bathhouse and someone opened their door to come out into the hall.  The queen in back of me yelled, "OMIGAWD it's TAB HUNTER."  Slam went the door.  This was around his Polyester years. 

I was working at the Pat Field boutique and Anne Hathaway introduced herself to ME. Later, I was on the street, leaning on a trash can changing out of my heels into flats and she noticed me and said "Hello there!" Very sweet. And peaches & cream complexion. 

At the Chiller Theatre convention in Parsippany NJ, October 2010, I was on the autograph line for Patty Duke.  It was the slowest moving line I'd ever been on.  I was wondering what the holdup could possibly be.  When I got to the front, I found out.  Patty treated every one of her fans like dear old friends.  She spent so much time with me, talked to me about Anne Bancroft and Arthur Penn, told me a great Oscar night story involving Angela Lansbury, posed for pictures, etc.  She was the greatest!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albu...

When I was in high school, my friend David took me to see Debbie Reynolds when she was appearing in Irene on Broadway. His folks, well connected, managed to get us a pass backstage to meet her and she gave us a tour of the stage. She was so beautiful and delightful that I will never ever forget it.  And she introduced us to her daughter, Carrie, who suddenly showed up!

Rode in an elevator with Jackie Kennedy Onasis and she was gracious and smiled.

Met Maya Angelou at an airport once and we both ended up singing the praises of Boston Market. She was lovely.

I was walking down 10th street minding my own business when I looked up and saw Anjelica Houston coming towards me.  Normally I never even acknowledge a celebrity (out of respect for their privacy) but this time (maybe it was the heat, maybe i was just so surprised to see her) I said out loud to the nobody i was walking with "OH MY GOD IT'S ANJELICA HOUSTON"  I was instantly mortified and she just laughed and we both went about our days. 

I've been on a flight w/ Ivana Trump twice. Once I was with my mother so I was in 1st, just across the aisle from the former Mrs. Donald trump and the second time, by myself in coach. I could tell a really long story about the first flight which might not be of any interest to anyone since it's mostly comprised of an inside joke between my mother and I so instead, I'll talk about the second.

After I got to baggage claim, I noticed Ivana and some other woman had gotten into a shouting match over whose Louis Vuitton luggage was going around. Ivanka was with her Italian boyfriend at the time who basically instructed her to go sit on a bench while he handled it. As she was going to sit down, she noticed me and said I looked familiar to her. When I mentioned it wasn't our first time on a flight together, she said she remembered my mother. If you knew the story of our first flight, you'd know why. Anyway, I ended up sitting next to her as her boyfriend sorted out the luggage situation. I think she remembered me because if I recall correctly, it was no more than a year or so between flights but she probably wouldn't know as the second flight was four years ago. Still, I'll never forget that she didn't forget me. I may hate her ex, but I definitely like her.

I met Cher twice...she actually WANTED to chat! Found her to everything she protrays...REAL!!! Love that bitch!!

I once saw Kitty Carlisle Hart get hit on by a bum in an elevator. She was an aloof, but polite, rebuffer.

I am glad to hear Julianne Moore is nice!! That made my day.

Dick Cavett showed up at a health club where I was lifeguarding. It was evening, and he went to the outdoor pool and took off his swim trunks because he said he preferred skinny dipping.

Annabella  Sciorra was nice.

I got to meet Geraldine Page backstage after Agnes of God.  I was so flabbergasted, I forgot half of what I wanted to say.  She was very gracious.