CONFESS!!! Who was the first famous person you ever met

[LynneSin]

She played at a local carnival where my father was a volunteer - he took me back stage to meet her.

[Lisa0825]

1. Charlie Sexton - back when "Beat So Lonely" was on the charts.

M friend worked at the hotel he was staying at while playing a beach concert in Galveston. She brought me to his room to meet him and get an autographed photo. He was very nice and quiet. Wasn't partying with the others.

[RiffRandell]

22. I loved that song!

And thought he was so cute. That's funny!

[Xipe Totec]

2. John Young

I saw Chuck Yaeger once, but we weren't introduced, so it don't count.

[Flaxbee]

3. Richard Nixon, and Steve Perry (Journey)

Nixon: My mom and I were driving my aunt and cousin around Orange County (where we lived when I was young) and passed through a golf course for some reason (no one in our family golfed); Nixon and his bodyguard were there. I was really young and don't remember the details.

Steve Perry bought a house about 5 up from ours in San Juan Capistrano; this was the early 70s before Journey was huge.

[Tabasco_Dave]

4. George Harrison

My mom worked for Capital Records, she brought me to work when I was 5 and we met him in the elevator.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. I'm not sure, but I think it was Alger Hiss

Around the same time, I also met John Cage and Barry Goldwater, Jr.

[dana_b]

6. INXs with Michael Hutchence

back in '87 when I was flying. They were in first class and their opening band, PIL, was in coach. I didn't interact with John Lydon (Rotten) - he can be a little intimidating.

[Robb]

89. Heh. I caught that bill in SF. Or Oakland?

Regardless, we all thought ourselves quite clever for having zero interest in INXS.

I'm oddly amused about the notion of Lydon et al grumbling away in coach, however.

[frogmarch]

7. In the 60s, when I was 18

or so and visiting my aunt in NY, we went to the airport to buy me a ticket home to Nebraska, and Tommy and Dickie Smothers were at the airport. Tommy kept smiling at me and giving me winks, and I did this After several minutes he began striding over to my aunt and me, whereupon she grabbed me by the arm and whisked me away. As my aunt and I were leaving the airport in her car, the car behind us kept blinking its headlights. I turned around, and guess who was waving and blowing kisses at me from that car. Tommy Smothers. I didn’t really meet him, but on this thread I hope it can count as if I did.

[barbtries]

79. sounds like he would have been happy to

do more than just meet you!

[frogmarch]

83. I like to think so. :-)

But when I was 18 I was still an innocent young thing, so I wouldn't have known what was going on. I led a very sheltered life, being from Nebraska and all, and my aunt made sure it stayed that way.

[YankeyMCC]

99. Rex Trailer

[cliffordu]

8. Frank Sinatra.

At a casino in Lake Tahoe.

[OriginalGeek]

9. My wife met a few famous people when she worked

in a news stand at the airport.

Carrot Top (very cool guy)
Sean Connery (She still trembles a little when she recounts the story)
David Faustino (Bud Bundy - was funny and pretty cool)
Johnathan Slavin (Hilarious actor from Andy Richter's show among other things...he spent time and wrote her a long autograph.)
James Marsters (Spike from Buffy - was abrupt and kind of rude.)
Dave Attell (Was amazed anyone recognized him and seemed grateful and humble and appreciative)
Tyra Banks (Warm and polite)

off the top of my head. There were more. Oh yeah, she was a minder of sorts for several stars appearing at Megacon - Lou Ferigno was the most famous though. She went and got him some tea.


I have pictures of myself with
Kelly Shaefer (lead singer for Atheist)
Karl Willets (lead singer of Bolt Thrower)
Martin Van Drunen (lead singer of Pestilence, Asphyx, Hail of Bullets and others)
Dirty Dr Dente (Guitars, vocals for Rompeprop)

and I have a met and got pictures with and had a voicemail greeting recorded by George Lowe who you may know as Space Ghost from Space Ghost Coast to Coast. I'm a huge fan and he did not disappoint....I wish I coulda hung out with him a while longer.


Space Ghost was first for me - I don't know who was first for her

[kentauros]

10. Paul Newman

He had just gotten out of the shower and only had a towel on around his waist. I was there in his home (in Westport, Connecticut) with his daughter, Melissa, to meet him. I had no idea who he was, other than her father. We were both about age-6 at the time

He was polite and nice, and then she and I left, off to play, I guess. I only remember meeting him, not the rest of the day...

[RiffRandell]

48. Wow!

That is cool! I loved him.

[kentauros]

58. I know, he was definitely Cool :)

I remember my mother telling us how during the First Grade Open House that they had all the parents sit in the same tiny desk chairs we had to sit at, and how Joanne Woodward was struggling to get into Melissa's, due to being pregnant. My mother thought it was pretty ridiculous of the school to do something like that, and I have to agree.

[RushIsRot]

11. As best I can remember, it was Bobby Kennedy.

I worked at the FBI and entered three photos I had taken in the Department of Justice Art Show. Ethel presented me with my blue ribbon and Bobby was there and shook my hand.

[crunch60]

12. Edson Arantes do Nascimento

Pele, "The King of Football" met him in Brazil in the 60's.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. I met James Garner and C. Thomas Howell, on the set of "Tank."

I even got to be in the background of a scene with C.Thomas and this was after his "Outsiders" role, so he was quite popular.

[RiffRandell]

49. If only I knew you then.

C. Thomas was my teen idol after The Outsiders.

[bluedigger]

14. Technically? Margaret Chase Smith.

She gave me a pair of baby shoes. I don't really remember the encounter.

Margaret Madeline Chase Smith (December 14, 1897 – May 29, 1995) was an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, she served as a U.S Representative (1940-1949) and a U.S. Senator (1949-1973) from Maine.[1] She was the first woman to serve in both houses of the United States Congress, and the first woman to represent Maine in either.[2] A moderate Republican, she is perhaps best remembered for her 1950 speech, "Declaration of Conscience," in which she criticized the tactics of McCarthyism.[3]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Chase_Smith

As a teenager, I met Willie Davenport, a four time Olympian, and Gold medalist in the 60m hurtles in 1968.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Davenport

John L. Cotter unexpectedly visited a site I was working on about 15 years ago. He was a famous archaeologist that worked on Blackwater Draw (the first Clovis site) in the 1930's, and then went on to excavate Jamestown. That was quite a thrill! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_L._Cotter

I guess I've done a pretty good job avoiding the famous, overall.

[denbot]

15. Chuck Norris, and Bruce Lee.

In the mid to late 60's I trained in Kempo Karate under my sensei Dan Guzman. Sensei's Monterey Park, CA school was rated as one of the best in the nation.

We would regularly host other Dojo's for intermural competitions. Ed Parker's (taught Elvis Presly) and Chuck Norris' schools would come over for their usual beat downs. Both Ed and Chuck have refereed my matches. One time during a tournament I met and got an autograph from Bruce Lee (I knew him as Kato from the TV show "The Green Hornet&quot .

I googled around and found a picture of my old sensei Dan Guzman, (front row third from left) and Ed Parker just to his right. I haven't seen Sensei's face in over 40 years..

[IMG][/IMG]

Here is the text with the photo and the URL I found:

Taken in 1964 or 65 at Dan Guzman's "Cleland House Dojo" in east Los Angeles, Calif. Pictured in the front row, extreme left is Richard Nunez, one of the founders of the "Limalama" organization. 3rd from left is Kajukenbo instructor Dan Guzman, right of him is Senior Grand Master Ed Parker, and right of Parker is Kajukenbo instructor Bill Ryusaki.

http://www.wama-club.com/limalama_history.htm

[sakabatou]

16. Michio Kaku

He was at a talk at one of the schools nearby. I can't remember.

[BanTheGOP]

17. Worked in the Entertainment Industry for a spell, so the question is subjective

The question is rather subjective because I've met about a couple hundred people who would be considered "famous" enough to be included here. Most of the meetings were sporadic, and did not have friendships with any of them. Such people include Al Gore, Carol Burnett, Peter Falk, a bunch of sitcom stars, and Kathleen Brown.

So I'll answer the question this way: My favorite meeting was when I was 10. I met Louis Armstrong at his house in the LA area that he stayed for a couple of weeks. My grandmother was a scrub woman and she actually cleaned his house. I remember going there and playing football with his grandsons and nephews. At the time, I wasn't really into music at all, but as I grew older I remember those playdates.

[WCGreen]

18. Carl Stokes, the first African American Mayor of a major American city....

I got to shake his hand at St. Rocco's Italian festival while he was making his first run.

Over the years I have met a lot of people because of my involvement in a newspaper and my being an officer of the Cuyahoga County Demoratic Party.

[GReedDiamond]

19. 1974...Andy Warhol...on my 1st day of Art School...

...at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts...he was signing books at a nearby book store, he signed my sketchbook instead, drew a Campbell's Soup Can, signed and dated it. I took it back to art school and everybody freaked out, cuz I had a signed and dated original Warhol drawing on the first page of my sketchbook.

In 1976, I moved to Los Angeles, and things got weird.

Tim Leary (I worked on an official Dr Tim underground comic, circa 1978-79, Last Gasp).

Leonardo DiCaprio - his first publicity photos were shot at my studio, early 80s, by my girlfriend - but I first met Leo before that, when he was about 4 y.o. (His dad and I worked on the Leary comic book, above.)

Val Kilmer (at a rehearsal at SIR Studios in Hollywood, for The Doors move by Oliver Stone), worked on some costume graphics for the movie.

Danny Elfman of Oingo Boingo - met him, that's about it, but Sluggo of Boingo recorded a sax solo on one of my records, 1982. Also on that record, on grand piano, Don Preston, a member of Zappa's Mothers of Invention.

The Bangles - I met them all when I did four stage backdrops for their first tour, early 80s. The backdrops looked just like their 1st record cover art.

Teeny Duchamp, Marcel Duchamp's widow - I met her, in 1987, at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Arturo Schwarz (Marcel Duchamp's biographer) - I rode in a cab, and had an interesting discussion with him - and, also in the cab, Timothy Phillips (Salvador Dali's assistant) Cambridge MA, November 1999.

Stephen Jay Gould, I met him at the Duchamp symposium at Harvard which he organized with his wife, Rhonda Roland Shearer, where I met Arturo Schwarz, above. I made the official web site for the symposium.

Madonna, worked on costume graphics for her live tours, 1984 and 2001.

The YIPPIE! Pieman, Aron Kay, an old friend from the DC Smoke-In, 1978.

Jack Herer, I used to hang out with Jack in the early to mid 80, at the neighbor's pad, other side of the wall from my art studio in Pasadena, CA.

And more recently, I was The Pieman's "official representative" at Jack's memorial service a couple years ago or so.

Punk rock years:

Darby Crash and Don Bolles of the punk band Germs.

Plus, Top Jimmy, who hung out with my band BA & The Traitors, when we had our first ever rehearsal. The next day he went on Rodney on the ROQ with John Doe and Exene of X (met them too), and spontaneously promoted us. After that, Rodney played our records on his show.

Black Flag and The Minutemen, met them all, and my band played with em, early 1980s.

Ron Jeremy, I was in a band called "Marshall O Boy & The Well Hungarians," Ron introduced us on stage at a live performance, 1999ish-or so.

Others:

John Lazar, the "Z-Man" from "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" - I met him this one and only time, when I rode in a car with him, driven by a mutual friend, to a 25th Anniversary screening of that movie, at a theater in Hollywood, CA, where he was scheduled to be a panel member with others involved in the making of the movie - but, because I was not on the guest list, when they would not admit me, John argued with the theater manager, who ejected all of us, John included. That was pretty fuckin weird.

Speakin' of weird, the guy who drove OJ Simpson around in the Bronco on the infamous "low speed chase" - I met that fucker, too, I forget his name now.

I'm sure there are more...

[RFKHumphreyObama]

20. Roald Dahl

Well I didn't really meet him per se but he came to my school and spoke at a school assembly. He also passed by our classroom and waved at us. He sadly passed away little over than one and a half years later

I've met a variety of Australian politicians -including four Prime Ministers -but they're probably all that well known in America. The first politician I ever met was Andrew Theophanous, a Greek-Australian MP, who was subsequently imprisoned for demanding sex and other favors in exchange for visas. Charming

First major American politician I met was Russ Feingold. I've also met John Dean, of Watergate and political commentator fame

[ArnoldLayne]

21. Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss in Lums Restaurant in Pittsburgh Pa in 1974 without their

makeup on. A waitress told me and a couple of friends who they were. I still have their autographs on a Lums Restaurant napkin to this day in a scrapbook. And got Ace Frehley's autograph, who came in later with the manager, on the back of a High School Hall Pass used to skip school in the afternoon that day to go to the concert at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh Pa.

[RiffRandell]

23. Ramones backstage 1988.

Mainly talked with Dee-Dee.

[geardaddy]

52. "talked" riiiiight.

[RiffRandell]

55. What do you think I did?

Me? Really? Jeez.

[geardaddy]

56. lol

Played tiddly-winks.

[RiffRandell]

57. Yeah, that's a real fun game. n/t

[Inspired]

24. Alice Cooper

When I was 15 I met Alice Cooper. He was in Des Moines, Iowa for a concert. That was such a thrill!

[dogknob]

25. The Dalai Lama

This woman who had some pull and a crush on me got me a gig working at the VIP reception for his speech at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House several years ago. There was a small reception in the mezzanine boxes where people like Sharon Stone got to spend a few minutes with him before his speech.

All of the staff received a memo upon showing up for work; under no circumstances were we to attempt to communicate with or even make eye contact with His Holiness.

We had a pretty chill gig, tray passing drinks and h'ors d'oeuvres. Becuase the mezzanine level had no kitchen, we were staging everything on the back stairwell. While we were waiting, Ms. Stone had some sort of wardrobe malfunction and I donated some of my large collection of safety pins to one of her handmaidens.

The Dalai Lama arrived while she was fixing her dress in one of the boxes. She ended up missing the whole thing. The aftermath was a show all by itself.

We weren't allowed on the floor during the actual reception, so about a dozen of us were crammed together on the back stairs, waiting for him to leave, presumably exiting the way he came in.

Suddenly the doors flew open and a stream of Buddhist monks and Secret Service agents made for the stairs. I was just inside the door, wedged between a giant hotbox and a table with trays of smoked salmon canapes. The Dalai Lama came in, stopped about a foot from me, and proceeded to gawk at all the food.

One of the irritated SS asked "Would you like something to eat, your Holiness?," at which point he bent low over the salmon and began waving his hand over it. He then straightened up, turned to me, looked me directly in the eye and said...

"Goood Smell!"

...followed by some loud laughing.

That was the night I became a San Francisco catering legend.

[avebury]

26. Here is my list:

Maria Von Trapp - at the gift shop associated with their lodge in Stowe, VT
Margaret Chase Smith - we took her to lunch and she gave us a personal tour of her home and library
Jane Goodall - ran into her at Herrod's in London
Idina Menzal - London
Former Maine Senator/Sec. of Defense - William Cohen
Gerry Spence - book signing
Pro Wrestler - Booker T (I sent next to him on a San Juan to Houston flight) - he is a really nice guyl, his wife was due with twins soon after the flight and he even showed me a picture of his dog

[handmade34]

86. I spent an afternoon at Maria Von Trapp's house

back in 1980... I remember she served apples and cheese and Johannes showed me his loom... we went sledding for a bit in the afternoon and it was all very delightful!!

Wow... would love to meet Jane Goodall!! (and her chimpanzees)

[HopeHoops]

27. Phil Collins.

[rug]

28. John Lennon.

I worked as a clerk on the maternity ward at New York Hospital when his son was born.

[DLine]

30. Three way tie for me...

Allan Jackson - Country music star

Michael Imperioli - Played Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos

Steve Schirripa - Played Bobby "Bacala" on The Sopranos

[Rambis]

31. The Everly Brothers

&feature=related

[Wait Wut]

32. Muhammad Ali

I was tested for Autism at 8. If an adult spoke to me, I'd cry. If they touched me, I'd fall on the floor screaming for my sister. That said...that summer...

My father owned an ad agency in Chicago. He was doing a mall promotion in Hyde Park where there was this little Greek restaurant. We went in to talk to the owner for some reason or another. There, sitting at a booth, was Muhammad Ali. My dad loved boxing, so I knew he was and loved him just as much as most other 8 year old American children. But, I was still terrified of adults.

The owner of the restaurant brought us over to introduce us. He invited us to sit with him, but the booth was packed. So...he picked me up and put me in his lap. I remember the size and warmth of his hands on my tiny waist. But, more importantly, I remember being completely calm. I remember him whispering in my ear, but don't remember what he was saying. I do remember giggling. The whole time we were there (probably 15-20 minutes), he barely paid attention to all the adults at that booth. Instead, he talked to me, and 8 year old terrified little girl. I just don't recall one single word. Just his voice. Calming, peaceful, gentle.

I have loved that man ever since. There will never be another like him.

[benld74]

45. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee - I too met Muhammmad Ali,,,,,

Chicago, downtown on a street corner, while visiting my aunt and uncle. Crowd of people around this guy giving autographs. My uncle asked me, if I knew who that was. Being in Chicago I said, Billy Williams. He told me it was Muhammad Ali. I said, Who?

I was 10 or 11 at the time. So that would have been 66 or 67. My sister gave me an envelope in her purse to get the autograph on. I still have it.

[Wait Wut]

46. HA! He'd love that!

My dad told me Ali loved Chicago and the Greek restaurant I met him at was supposedly one of his favorites.

I never got an autograph, though. My dad said he believed asking for autographs was harrassment.

[baldguy]

33. The guy who hosted the morning kid's show lived behind us when I was a kid.

It was startling to find out that "Mr. Dave" was an adult when he wasn't on the TV.

[Myrina]

34. Murray Langston

"The Unknown Comic" ... stayed at a hotel I was working at in the early 80's. Hilariously funny guy in person, and his manager was ... well, let's just say that was a fun night.


[IMG][/IMG]

[LynneSin]

35. Are you sure it was him? Maybe it was an imposter with a bag on his head

Just saying....

[Myrina]

37. LOL

... oh, it was ... he was performing at the comedy club next to the hotel. And you can't fake THAT voice.

I'll have to dig thru my old photos, hopefully I still have the autographed one he gave me (him naked except for 2 well-placed paper bags) ... he wrote "You can jump in the sack with me anytime"

[hifiguy]

36. Hubert H. Humphrey

I met him at a county fair in a small town in Minnesota when I was about 14. He shook my hand and took the time to speak to me (as though I were an adult) for a few minutes. What a lovely man he was.

[geardaddy]

42. His granddaughter was born the same day as me in the same hospital

My mom was roommates with his DIL and she has a photo the Vice President and her in her housecoat.

[livetohike]

38. George Reeves

He came to an amusement park in Pittsburgh (Kennywood Park) in 1957 - I was five years old. I badgered my Dad to take me . Superman shook hands with everyone - I guess he signed autographs, too but I don't remember that.

[Bertha Venation]

39. Penny Marshall

It was after a pre-release screening of "The Natural." I met her in the parking lot. Like a goof, I asked for her autograph, but she didn't mind. The only paper I had was my checkbook so she signed the back of a check. She said "what am I endoasin' heah?" Then she asked "what did you think of the score?" I thought but did not say, "it was 3-2, they won." Then I realized she was talking about the music. Duh.

[arbusto_baboso]

40. Pat Riley, Lakers player and coach.

He was a player back when I met him in the early 70s. Playing behind Jerry West and Gail Goodrich (and subsequently not getting much court time). I was a small boy and got his autograph at a local furniture store opening. Still have the autographed pic.

[WilliamPitt]

41. Dom DeLuise

And he was dressed in the same outfit he wore in The Cannonball Run.

[geardaddy]

43. Loretta Long

When she was doing an album promotion. I was 5.

[CottonBear]

44. George Takei!

In the late 1970s, he was speaking at a CARTA (Chattanooga Area Mass Transit Authority) conference in Chattanoogs, TN. He was very involved with mass transit issues in CA. I think he was on some sort of municipal and/or state board or commission at the time. Anyway, I was a very young teenaged girl and a Star Trek fan. My mom drove me and my two best friends downtown to the CARTA offices. We went to the main office and asked where he would be speaking and if he would be available to meet with us. The secretary told us to wait in the reception area. A few minutes later he came out and greeted us! We spoke briefly and he posed for pictures with us. He was very, very nice and super polite and kind. We were so goofy and nerdy! I have no idea whatever happened to the photos.

I also once met William Shatner who is exactly as you see him on TV and commercials!

I've met Don McClean (the musician/singer), John Doe (singer/guitarist with X), Danny Ongais (Indy Car, F1 and sports car racer) and Davy Jones (RIP) of the Monkees. Davy was performing (as himself) in the stage production of the Real Live Brady Bunch. He was SO CUTE and TINY!

I've also met all of the rem guys. They're from my town. Pete Buck has moved away, but the other members still have homes here. Mike Mills is really cool and friendly. Bill Berry is a rather reclusive gentleman farmer who lives out in the country. Michael Stipe is very nice. Many years ago, I used to work with his sister, Lynda, who is also a great singer with a unique voice. My boyfriend has sung on stage with rem!

I recently had lunch with Jim Hightower (the liberal Texas political pundit) at a railroad/mass transit conference. He is a real gentleman and so very smart. I'm a huge fan of his!

[PassingFair]

47. Sammy Davis, Jr.

Last edited Fri Mar 23, 2012, 01:37 PM - Edit history (1)

I was 8 years old, in London on vacation, and I remember meeting Sammy Davis, Jr.
at the Palladium Theatre.



He was in a play called "Golden Boy".

I somehow was taken backstage after the show, where I met Mr. Davis, Jr.

I remember that he told me that "We Yanks have to stay together...."

There is a picture SOMEWHERE.....

[oneshooter]

50. Not very many.

Major General Charles W. Sweeney

Lt. Col. Kermit Beahan

Met both in 1998 at a air show.

Brig. Gen. Paul W. Tibbets

Col. Thomas Wilson Ferebee

Met them at a airshow in 1998

I believe that all have passed now. RIP

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[auburngrad82]

51. Probably Richard Petty

I met a lot of Nascar and Arca drivers back in the day.

[geardaddy]

53. I heard Deng Xiao-ping speak live once in Beijing from Tian-an Men.

Last edited Fri Mar 23, 2012, 03:23 PM - Edit history (1)

Though, I was well out of sight from him.

[RebelOne]

54. Quite a few.

But the ones I can think of offhand are Anthony Quinn, Mel Torme, Fl. Governor Bob Graham, the entire Baltimore Orioles baseball team. There have been many more, but I can't recall them. I lived in Miami most of my life and would see them all the time.

[RedEarth]

59. I used to own a limousine service and met all kinds of people

Elvis...three times...a great guy, funny, but Colonel Parker was a jerk
Bob Hope...funny, nice man
Steve Allen...funny, seemed real smart
Van Morrison...he and I went out to eat at a small Chinese resturant before his concert
Bette Midler..funny, friendly, she asked me to zip up her dress in the middle of a concert...went out to eat with her group after the concert
Barry Manilow...very friendly...super nice guy...he always made a point of asking if he could do anything for us(dinner, drinks, etc)
Don McClean...super nice guy...didn't want to ride in the limo, so we walked from his hotel to the concert hall...about three blocks...he carried his guitar on the way over
Boz Scaggs.. nice guy...made sure we helped ourselves to the huge buffet dinner before the concert
Cher...two or three times...real nice..her sister was always with her
Yes...great group, real friendly really into health food
Chicago..nice guys
Three Dog Night...real nice
B J Thomas...good guy...but the concert promoters still owe me money...lol
Moody Blues..great guys
Jefferson Airplane...real friendly
Jerry Garcia...partied with them after a concert
Carole King...real friendly and real funny
Anne Murray...real friendly, went to a movie with her and some of her group
...many more I can't think of now

[geardaddy]

64. Anyone that you didn't think was nice or that was outright nasty?

[RedEarth]

69. I would guess there were, but none really stand out other

than Colonel Parker(manager of Elvis). He was extremely difficult to work with. Each time they were here, Colonel Parker would come into town two or three days before the concert and we would go over everything possible thing he could think of...and more. I know he was concerned about the nuts who might hurt Elvis, but he was almost over the top.

Most of the people we drove were here to have fun and put on a good show. Managers of the groups were normally the ones who could be difficult, but if you knew what you were doing(or at least pretended to), everything went fine.

[geardaddy]

72. Cool.

Thanks for sharing that interesting history!

[Xithras]

60. Depends on what you consider "famous"

If we're talking big movie stars, that would probably be Christoper Lloyd, who I met while they were filming Back To The Future 2 outside of Sonora California.

If we're just talking about generally significant people, I knew Julio Gallo from my birth until his death in 1993, and attended his memorial service. Julio Gallo was the co-founder of Gallo wines, the worlds largest winemaker. My grandfather met him in the 1950's, the two attended the same church, and were friends for decades. He was a pretty normal & friendly guy, and I didn't really realize that he was the billionaire owner of a multi-billion dollar winery until I was a teenager. I knew that he was much richer than my family was, but he didn't really flaunt his wealth and I didn't realize HOW MUCH richer.

[ohiosmith]

61. The first who was famous when I met him was Timothy Leary. He was also the most interesting.

Prior to that I met several people would would become famous musicians or actors. Since then I have met a number of famous people primarily entertainers.

[GeorgeGist]

62. Ann Arbor circa 1971

[PassingFair]

102. Who IS that?

He looks familiar....

[DFW]

63. The FIRST??

Wow, my dad used to take me over to the Capitol when I was a kid, and we used to hang around the Senate Press Gallery. Before I had any idea who they were, I used to hang with Senators John F. Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, Lyndon Johnson, Jacob Javits, Everett Dirksen, Frank Church. I couldn't even tell you which one I met first. Who remembers stuff like that when you were 6? I remember Dirksen best because he always tried to put on such a show. He was called the "Wizard of Ooze."

In L.A., I met Groucho Marx. I was 8 and he was already ancient. He told me to get lost! LOL

Met LOTS of famous people since. Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, HRC, Gore, Bob Reich, Gerry Ford, Fritz Mondale, even Salvador Dali in 1968 in Barcelona, etc etc. Still remain friends with Howard Dean, Gabby Giffords, Stan Lee, Raymond Chrétien and Helen Thomas. When I was in my teens, my band used to hang with bands we backed up, which included the Youngbloods, Canned Heat (one of the first line-ups), Junior Wells, and I let Johnny Winter buy a guitar off of me at a festival in France because he fell in love with it.

[LynneSin]

66. First politician for me that was federal level would probably be Rep George Gekas

He was back in my old district. He was a doddering old fool back then too. He stopped by to campaign at a local carnival (same one where I met Lynn Anderson but a decade later) to campaign and by then I was really getting into Politics thanks to Jimmy Carter. When he stopped by the stand where I was working I had a serious question to ask him about politics but instead of answering me he gave me his business card and said it was also good for one free ice cream cone in New Zealand.

I was so happy to see him get booted out of office even if it did take another 20+ years.

I've also met Gov Ed Rendell, Bob Casey Sr. and Jr, Arlen Specter (back when he was a republican), Rep Joe Sestak, Peter Kostmyer, Allyson Schwartz. And in Delaware pretty much met every major democrat here along with republican Mike Castle (who is probably one of the few decent republicans in the country) - Democrats include Joe Biden, Beau Biden, Tom Carper, Chris Coons, Jack Markell, John Carney, Ruth Ann Minner and a whole slew of other statewide democratic candidates.

[DFW]

67. I never met Castle, but also heard he was a decent guy

No wonder he lost his primary!

[LynneSin]

70. Delaware is a closed primaries and we have some serious mouthbreathers in Slower Delaware

I mean it's good for us - Chris Coons has been an A1+ senator but Castle shouldn't have lost that way.

[LWolf]

65. These two:

[freshwest]

68. Jim Morrison. And two guys who were in Hollywood movies but forgot their names, so doesn't count.

We were in therapy together, LOL!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

71. Jerry Brown, when he was Attorney General of CA, several years ago...

I have a picture someplace, but no time to find it now...

[Moondog]

73. The first, you say. Then that would be Sen "Sam" Ervin (D), NC.

Shortly after the Watergate hearings. I was a student in law school at the time (not in NC), along with a guy who had family connections to him. We both were in a constitutional law discussion seminar, consisting of eight or nine students as I recall. Sen Ervin was gracious enough to "guest host" the seminar one week for the entire two plus hours. A truly amazing man. I was awestruck. Thinking back, I still am.

[Codeine]

74. I've played very nerdy boardgames with one of the singers

from Three Dog Night. Quite an atypical fellow for a wealthy musician.

[Broken_Hero]

75. Dale Ellis, when he was with the Sonics

he was in my hometown for a basketball camp, and he came through my check out stand, got him to autograph a paper bag for me.

[MiddleFingerMom]

76. Probably 1974, I'm at the Munich Olympic Stadium indoor bicycle track for a concert.

.
.
.
RIGHT before the show, I go out to the deserted concourse (where all the food vendors are) and
go to the bratwurst stand, finding this wild-eyed, wild-haired American guy standing at the counter
with three topless bratwurst Kaiser rolls lined up on his inner forearm. He's squirting mustard all
over them. He puts the tops back on, looks me dead (haha) in the eye, says, "These things are
GREAT!!!" and wanders off down the hallway.
.
Not being a fan, I didn't realize WHO it was until I saw him on stage with the rest of The Grateful
Dead. Yep... Jerry.
.
To compound my comedy of errors, I had done the wrong drugs (red wine and hash) and was sound
asleep within 5 minutes of the start of the first space jam.
.
.
.
The COOLEST famous person I ever met was Lalo Guerrero. I was doing some clerical (or maybe
production) work for my show at the radio station on a lazy Sunday in 2001 (just me and the busy
DJ in the station) when the doorbell rang. Old guy in white chinos and a white T-shirt. "I'm the
musician"" he said.
.
The program director had fucked up and made an appointment to interview him on the wrong
date. From his appearance, I'm thinking "accordion player in a wedding band". We had been
talking for about 10 minutes when it slowly dawned on me that I was talking with an actual
living legend.
.
He was about as nice and as unpretentious as a human being can be.
.
.
.
No headphones with me today, but I figure how can I miss with THIS title:
.

.
.
.

[barbtries]

77. i used to work in hollywood,

so there have been quite a few. i think the first may have been Carroll O'Connor, who played Archie on "All in the Family"

[applegrove]

78. I had a friend in public school whose mother was friends with Margaret Trudeau. I saw her a few

times. She really, really was gorgeous and an attentive mom. But she could also be a ham.

[IDemo]

81. Met in person - Desi Arnaz Jr.

Spoke with on the phone - Steve Miller and Bruce Willis.

[LibDemAlways]

82. Jimmy Carter at a book signing. He told me my baby daughter was beautiful. n/t

[handmade34]

84. the last was Michelle Obama

probably not the first but loved Tantoo Cardinal... I prepared food at a cafe in Vermont and she would come in and loved my Dal!!

and I worked at the schools where Luis Guzman's kids attended... he came in often to see them

[onehandle]

85. Fran Tarkenton.

My Real Estate Mom sold him a house and I played kickball with his kids as my mom and dad drank beers with him in his new back yard.

[kwassa]

87. I met them before they were ever remotely famous. Then fame happened.

all at the Rhode Island School of Design.

3/4 of the Talking Heads. My classmates.

Film director Gus Van Sant. Also a classmate. He supposedly taught David Byrne the guitar.

Chris Van Allsburg, a graduate student in sculpture, then he wrote Jumanji and many other famous children's books.

Mary Boone, who became the most famous art dealer in New York by age 28.

Dale Chihuly, pre-eminent glass artist, was teaching at the school at the time, before he became really hit big.

[Bombero1956]

88. mostly sports stars

from hockey, Terry O'Reilly, Cam Neeley. From basketball Charles Barkley, John Stockton, James Worthy and Manute Bol. Lots of Nascar drivers including Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty. I've worked with rock bands Like Motley Crue and Ill Niño. In fact I had to drive drummer Dave Chavarri to the hospital the night of their show because he was passing a kidney stone. I also worked with Sully Erna and Godsmack.

[stevedeshazer]

90. I so totally love Lynn Anderson. What a voice!

My first was Grandpa Jones. I still have his autograph!

[progressoid]

91. John McCain!

Seriously, I did meet him back in the 90's.

But probably the first famous person would be James Burke. Ate dinner with him (and about 15 others). Really nice guy.

[OxQQme]

92. Steve McQueen

I was heavily involved with motorcycles and racing them back in the mid 60's. Service manager in a large dealership in No. Hollywood. A mile from Universal Studios.
Bob Hope, Barbara Eden and her hubby, Michael Ansara were riders/customers.
The coolest though was a camping weekend with my riding buds up in the Mojave desert when a limo and attendant truck/trailer combo pulled up into 'our' canyon in the foothills we were camped in. His retinue parked about 1/2 mile from us, opened the back door of the trailer and unloaded several motorcycles, raised up one side door on supports, set up a BBQ and 'The Steve' got out of the limo along with some of his riding buds. They got into their riding duds while the crew prepared the bikes, then rode up to our camp and hung with us for a while asking for directions to cool hill climbs and scary trails to ride.

[WolverineDG]

93. Tom Landry

My dad was selling his boat & his dad was interested in buying it. Coach Landry happened to be visiting his parents at the time, so he came along with his dad. Can't remember what all was said but my brothers & I stood in the backyard gaping at the coach of *our* team. We had bragging rights at school for weeks.

Other famous people I met while growing up: Kika de la Garza & Senator Lloyd Bentsen

[emilyg]

94. Dr. Salk

[meti57b]

95. Stanley Kubrick

[madamesilverspurs]

96. Noel Harrison.

He came into the shop where I was working in So Cal in the '60s.

In 1955, Jay Silverheels (aka Tonto) visited the children's hospital while I was a patient there. Unfortunately, I was asleep at the time, and awoke to find a signed picture on my bed. I was soooo pissed that they didn't wake me up to meet him!

[AsahinaKimi]

97. mine..

Jackie Chan


Michelle Yeoh

[Bluzmann57]

98. Two nearly back to back

George McGovern because my parents busted their butts for him in 1972 and shortly thereafter, Stan Mikita. My uncle had season tickets for the Blackhawks so he was able to introduce me to Mikita. Both were thrilling men to meet for a 14 year old boy. And both men were genuine down to earth people.

[chromotone]

100. Joel McCrea

In was during the late 1950s/early 1960s. My parents and I went to "Jungle Land" in Thousand Oaks, CA. We were on our way back to Long Beach when we stopped at a restaurant for lunch. My parents began began talking excitedly then told me, "There's Joel McCrea in that booth over there." I didn't know who "Joel McCrea" was but must of thought he was someone important by the way they were talking.

My parents gave me a piece of paper and a pen as said, "Go over there and get his autograph!" So I got up and walked over and asked for his autograph. I still didn't know who he was!

We had that autograph for years, but I don't know what happened to it.

[Amaril]

101. Vince Gil

back when he was with Pure Prarie League.

[woofless]

103. Harold "Doc" Edgerton, pioneer in high speed strobe photography

among other things. Dad was a foreman in a small company that made transformers (before the explosion of solid state circuitry) and for some reason Doc Edgerton was consulting and befriended my dad. Doc gave us a collection of photos of atomic detonations. Wish I hadn't lost that!

[Kingofalldems]

104. Pick Temple

[greatauntoftriplets]

105. Mr. Cub himself...Ernie Banks.

[rustydog]

106. Beau Bridges-Dick Van Dyke

[CTyankee]

107. Elizabeth Taylor.

It was at an aftershow party at the NYC apartment of a friend whose boyfiriend was appearing in Richard Burton's Hamlet on Broadway. Taylor and Burton arrived. I was so excited. I met her but not him (I forget why) but when I actually saw him I thought he looked like a lout. He wasn't at all the handsome man I thought he was. She was tinier than I thought she was, but she was very pretty. I was 8 months pregnant with my second child and pretty big. It was in interesting evening.

[rurallib]

108. Gene Autry and Champion.

My dad had backstage passes somehow.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

109. Robert Duval in Tioga Texas

Later waited on Danny Masterson (Hyde from That 70s Show)

[Danmel]

110. pistol pete maravitch

When i was 8.