Famous People You Have Met

[MIB41]

Wow. Reading the title of this thread just made me suddenly realize how much of a challenge it would be to actually name all of the famous and perhaps not so famous people I have met in my life and semi-career in the convention business over the past 12 years. Here are a few notable highlights per category but by no means the complete list by a long shot:

Music Business: Foreigner (1984 tour); Aerosmith (at the Toy Tiger in Louisville, several times in the 80's); KISS (Eric Carr in 1986, the original band members during the farewell tour in 2000, and Gene Simmons again in 2004 during a book promotion in Louisville); other hair bands like Cinderella and Poison in the late 80's. Also Rod Stewart but he was a complete d**kweed.

Movie/TV stars: Sylvestor Stallone (short but very cool. Met him during the Demolition Man promotion in Louisville. They demolished a building); Arnold Swartzenegger (promoting fitness in Louisville 1997); Lou Ferrigno (70's Hulk and one of the nicest celebrities I have ever met); Adam West (60's Batman and one of the worst, most pretentious, celebrities I have ever met. I'm glad he was miserable through most of his career - he earned it); Mark Goodard ('Don' from Lost in Space); Marta Kristen ('Judy' from Lost in Space); Tom Welling ('Clark/Superman' Smallville); Julia Adams (scream queen in Creature form the Black Lagoon); and one who deserves to be a star - Sara Karloff (daughter of Boris Karloff. One of the sweetest, most candid, and classy person you could meet. Her father would be proud of the way she has dignified his legacy in film). There also scores of costume actors who have come down the pike including Bob May ('Robot' from Lost in Space); David Prowse (Darth Vador in Star Wars); and Dick Warlock ('Michael Myers' in Halloween 2); and the late, great Ben Chapman who played the 'Creature' in the classic "Creature from the Black Lagoon".

I've also met and made lasting friendships with many behind the scenes artists who work as set designers, makeup artists for film and television, and computer animators from Industrial, Light, & Magic. Good people with loads of talent who often present ideas that directors take the credit for. Remember that the next time your watching your favorite CGI sequence. Chances are very good, much of that was done off the imaginative backs of those people.

[monkey tennis]

Glad to see you back Joe.

[JDeRouen]

Hmm. I've met a lot of wrestlers (Harley Race, Ted DiBiase, most of the Von Erichs, Andre the Giant, Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair) but that was just at wrestling events hanging out in the back trying to get autographs when I was young. Also met Michael Moore, but that was at a book signing. (I did talk to him for quite a while though, and he remembered an e-mail I had sent him.) I also met the late, great Douglas ("Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy") Adams and several other writers.

I've spent a lot of time with Chris de Burgh, of course, riding to and from concerts and eating dinner backstage and such. He's a pretty regular guy, and very generous of his time, which I found to be cool.

There may be more, but that's all I can recall for now.

[Dave Mc]

I've worked with a handful over the years, mostly old-timers that have come to the area and done gigs I worked tech on.

Jamie Farr of MASH fame,
Bill Cosby
Melissa Manchester
Ben Vereen (sp?)
Gregory Hines (RIP) was one of the coolest I've ever worked with. Just a great guy.
Randy Bachman
Ian Hunter
John Hiatt
Joe Cocker
Survivor (not my proudest moment, but a job's a job)

There's probably a few more that I can't think of at the moment- Those are ones I worked with or had some kind of extended conversation with.

When I was a kid, my mother dragged me to numerous Country Music concerts and there was always an autograph line, so I kind of "met" a lot of those old timers, but that's just getting autographs and such- People like Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, etc... Those don't really count though.

[mitchedwards]

They were great, especially Doohan, he really loved his fans.

Doohan was very nice, but at this convention his handlers were not allowing photos etc...

However I have to say George Takie was super nice. He did an appearance at my college and he stuck around for a long time after the show just talking and signing autographs and taking pics.

[kingdom warrior]

Joe Dimaggio
Simon Le Bon
Tony Bennett
Ricky Martin
Melody Anderson (Dale Arden)
John Wesley Shipp(The Flash)
Joyce De Witt (Janet Three's Company)
Joe Torre
Bernie Williams
Neal Adams
Adam West
Burt Ward
Joanna Cameron (Isis)
Dave Stevens(Creator The Rocketeer)
Jennifer Connelly
Robey ( friday the 13th the series)
Howard Chaykin(American Flagg)
Todd McFarlane
President Clinton and Hillary Clinton- Met them at a Fundraiser that I was helping to Cater
Dana Hamm- (Fitness Model)

[misterdroid]

Hirohito, Emporer of Japan...got invited to a tea party at his palace when Dad was a diplomat in Tokyo. I bowed very low, and he bowed even lower which really blew me away.

Mother Teresa, she came to the International school I went to and I got to have a chat with her without another soul in sight. She is tiny.

Johnny Farnham (he kissed my cheek, awww shucks) and the Little River Band at their backstage party.

Cyndi Lauper held my hand, gazed into my eyes and sang a song to me :D

Marcel Marceau, though he didn't have much to say.

Siouxsie Sioux from Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Wow, you win! Although I would take Siouxsie over Hirohito any day!

[megoat]

I once had Easter brunch at Francis Ford Coppola's place in Napa. Pretty funny. George Lucas was there with his family. I didn't do too much star gawking, it was a private deal, it woulda been awkward. It was pretty casual, though. Italian food, of course.....

I've also hung out with David Cross sitting around a pool in Hollywood one night. I was drunk.

[EmergencyIan]

I have seen quite a few famous people in NYC, but I've only met 3 (that I can remember): Michael Jordan, Jackson Browne and James Taylor.


- Ian

[megozilla13]

without counting convention meetings:
Anthony Michael Hall ( lived in the same building as my cousin in manhattan when we were around 10 years old, played handball with him a few times)
Johnny Depp (During his Jump Street days. we both stopped next to each other at a red light in LA. He was on a motorcycle. I asked him for directions without realizing who he was)

[Mikey]

Tiny Tim
Boris Vallejo
James Doohan
John De Lancie
David Carradine
Adam West
Burt Ward
Tracy Lords
Don Marshall
Lee Meriwether
Twiki
and probably a ton more I forgot --- including numerous wrestlers and scream queens

[starsky]

i used to work at a cel phone store and sold many a phone to jerry rice and his wife, jackie. they are both very down to earth people with no attitude. very friendly and approachable.

[Hector]

In boxing- Joe Frazier, Kenny Norton (huge dude!), Sean O'grady, Alexis Arguello, Eder Jofre,Herctor "nacho" Comacho (very arrogant), Vinny Paz, Chuck Wepner (Inspiration for Rocky), Ernie Shavers, Alexis Arguello (Classiest man I ever met, bar none, super respectful), Archie Moore, Carmon Basillio (RIP),Bruce Seldon (Mr. Glass jaw),and Ali

I envy you.

[Hector]

Met George Takie, James Doohan, and Walter Koeneg in a convention. All three were great guys to meet.

They were great, especially Doohan, he really loved his fans.

[Hector]

What a great Story, thank you.
She has just become my favorite Trek actress.

She was also wearing a very hot black top that showed very nice cleavage, and a matching black skirt that hugged her hips ever so tightly, hubba, hubba, hubba, lol.

But it was her wonderful demeanor that blew me away, what a nice lady.