Tell us about your brush (or brushes) with greatness.

[milestogo]

In 1964 The Beatles were in Milwaukee and I saw them drive by. All four Beatles in one car.

In 1999 I met Michelle Obama in front of a grocery store in Chicago. She was collecting signatures for her husband to run for Congress. He lost. It wasn't until years later that I realized who she was.

In 2004 I shook Bill Clinton's hand at a campaign event.

[PikaBlue]

1. My brushes with greatness

are pretty much confined to cat grooming; although I once played Carol Burnett's baby grand piano at her West Side New York apartment.

[EYESORE 9001]

2. I once passed within arm's length of Jackie O

It was standing in line at one of the airports in NYC (some 50-odd years later, my memory is fuzzy as to which one), preparing to board after letting off passengers. It was undeniably her, and I was relieved that others waiting to board didn’t make a scene in her presence. All those around me agreed it was who we thought it was.

[UpInArms]

3. In 1972

I had beers with Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings at the armadillo bar and grill in Austin

[mitch96]

17. Now THATS pretty cool...nt

[brush]

4. Late one night in Berkeley years ago I drove into IHOP's parking lot and baseball great Reggie Jackson...

Last edited Thu May 1, 2025, 09:58 AM - Edit history (1)

was there. I was driving my Jaguar Mk ll, 3.8 sedan, and Reggie being a car guy and I nodded to each other as he checked out the car.

Around the same time my girlfriend and I and another couple at the "Both And" jazz club in San Francisco, jazz great Grover Washington Jr. was playing there and on a break, he joined us as our friends knew him. Nice guy.

Later and more current, '06, I was manning my golf club's booth at Michael Jordan's tournament in Vegas and Julius 'Dr. J' Irving walked pass on the fairway after his ball, and we both nodded to each other.

Shook hands with Barack Obama campaigned in Vegas in '07 at a campaign rally. Tall, smiling and fired up.

I nearly bumped into NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg going into Yankee Stadium for a game in the early 2000s. He was with his security detail.


Football great Jerome Bettis, 'The Bus', was there and is a very good golfer.'

Boarding a flight in the '80s I encounter Jesse Jackson sitting in the first class seats. We nodded to each other as I kept going to my coach seat.

I met 3-Star General Daniel 'Chappie' James, stationed at Davis Monthan AFB, at my AME church in Tucson, Az.

[EverHopeful]

5. Once bumped (literally) into

Robin Williams at McCabe's Guitar Shop.

We were in line for a Van Dyke Parks show and Mr. Williams was heading the other way. It was a tightly crowded area and I kinda' clumsily swerved into him. When I looked up to apologize I think I gasped when I saw who it was.

Don't remember what he said but he somehow made the whole room feel like we were all the best of friends having a laugh together.

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. I once played poker with Roger Ebert at his house in Michigan.

Thoroughly nice man. This was before his cancer.

[milestogo]

9. He used to teach a class in Chicago on how to watch a movie.

I never got in because it was always full. However, I can say I learned a lot about watching movies from watching his half hour television show "Siskel and Ebert". He was a gem.

[greatauntoftriplets]

10. He was a very generous man.

A friend had worked with him at the Sun-Times, which is how I came to be at that game. There were only five or six of us.

[multigraincracker]

7. Shook hands with Wilt Chamberlain

When I was 6 years old. Same year I shook hands with my 3rd cousin, once removed, JC Penny. Also saw the President that year, Ike.

[IA8IT]

8. Every Iowa Caucus Season I met the Best of the Democratic Party and campaign staff.

Caucus haters......Take Off Hosers

[rurallib]

45. I have lots and lots of caucus stories, including a fond memory of Elizabeth Edwards

If I have more time tomorrow I will post some.

[IA8IT]

68. Great! I'll be watching

[catbyte]

11. I saw Charles de Gaulle when I was 12 at Expo 67 in Montreal.

He looked like a giant, and his profile was quite striking.

Then, years later I had coffee with Frank Zappa before a concert. What a weird and wonderful guy he was.

[mitch96]

18. Loved Frank Zappa.. very outspoken even with his peaches en regalia. He left too soon..nt

[Ptah]

12. I met Edgar Bergan near our home on the prairie.

He had come to see a demonstration of steam power by one of our neighbors.

[yellowdogintexas]

16. Loving that old steam engine. Those things were a fixture in Western Kentucky tobacco farming

They were used to steam the tobacco plant beds in February to heat up the ground so the seeds would sprout. The plant bed was covered in cheesecloth to hold in the heat.

I do not think they are used anymore since farmers now get their plants ready to go in the ground so they no longer sprout seeds

They were awesome and beautiful old machines.

[EverHopeful]

13. Is it acceptable to respond twice?

Multugraincracker's response reminded me of a plane ride back from Seattle with the Lakers.

My Dad was a bit oblivious and wandered into the VIP area. I went in to redirect him to our waiting area and a hero of mine, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, standing next to me, said, "Hey, Coop" and handed a bag over my head to Michael Cooper.

Never was I so grateful for my Dad's absent-minded-professor way of going through life.

[PJMcK]

14. I've been fortunate to work with great talents

Last edited Thu May 1, 2025, 12:45 PM - Edit history (1)

While in graduate school, I interned with Leonard Bernstein.

The composers I’ve worked with include Stephen Sondheim, John Kander, John. Corigliano.

Harold Prince, Sam Mendes and Jerry Zaks are among the directors I’ve had the good fortune to work with.

I also worked with the Muppets for several projects.

One thing I’ve learned is that all of them (except the Muppets!) are human beings with all of the quirks we all have. They’re just people with a lot of talent.

[blm]

28. "I don't write for felt." 😒

Heheheh.

[highplainsdem]

32. Seconding that last paragraph. Famous people are just human beings, despite fame and talent, and the only one I ever

encountered who seemed stuck on himself outgrew that, so I haven't hesitated to post about him at times here, because he's also a good liberal.

I occasionally run across interviews with celebrities who are incredibly egotistical, but I'd guess they're a very small minority (though probably a larger share of the celebrities who love doing interviews and talking about themselves).

[yellowdogintexas]

15. "Greatness" levels are subjective, since I think these persons are/were great, but they are well known at least.

Some are just by chance but most are through Democratic events

Al Gore (twice): In 1971 when I worked at Harvard Trust. He was the program speaker at a club meeting I attended (after he was in Congress)

President Clinton when he spoke to a huge crowd in Sundance Square in Ft Worth. I could see him at a distance, at least.

Former Speaker Jim Wright was a member of my church here in Fort Worth and we became very good friends. I will never forget how proud he was of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.

I shook Gov Anne Richards' hand at a Texas Democratic Party State Convention and hugged Cecile when she phonebanked with local Democrats in Fort Worth (2016)

VP Harris at a campaign event when she was running for President in 2020 (did not meet her but was in the room at least!)

Sarah Weddington (the attorney who won the Roe v Wade case) at a Texas Democratic Women state convention

Wendy Davis

Dr Opal Lee

Future Greatness: Jasmine Crockett before she was in Congress (Joy Reid was also there; I got within 6 feet of her but did not meet her)

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood worked on a Habitat Build and we had our pictures made with them. We were also up the street from the "celebrity house" (the one President and Mrs Carter and Garth/Trisha were working on) We spent a lot of time monitoring "Carter sightings"

Gov Andy Beshear, when he was guest speaker at a Democratic event in Kentucky.

[mitch96]

19. My Aunt was in the off broadway scene way back when. She had Rip Torn (men in black)over for dinner one night.

We talked about flying sail planes. Very down to earth guy and so was his
very shy actor/wife Geraldine Page.
I was going to work in NYC and literally crashed into journalist Gene Shalit coming around a blind corner..
Not such a nice guy..
And I cant go without mentioning the Great Rose Bingle.. My 4 grade teacher that spent time with me and helped me understand many things in school.
m

[Nittersing]

21. Sorry about your unfortunate run in with Gene Shalit.

Went to grade school with his son, Peter, who is now an MD caring for the gay community.... though he's probably nearing retirement. Never really met his dad, but they were well known in our small town and I never heard anything negative about him.

[mitch96]

23. He was probably have a bad day and was in a rush. When we collided I was kinda shocked it was GENE SHALIT

who I knew from watching him on the tv machine. He had some choice words and brushed past me in a huff.. No big deal, it's New York and we all have our moments, yes?
and And AND I had a cool story to tell at work...
m

[Omnipresent]

36. Yes, he had a big bushy mustache that was real course...

I’m glad he didn’t scratch you with it. You might have bled to death.

[mitch96]

40. That mustache was undeniably his trademark!!...nt

[Mad_Dem_X]

20. Met Johnny Depp and Jake Gyllenhaal (not at the same time)

Met Johnny at a car show in Philly. I was so in awe of his beauty that I couldn't speak, LOL.

Met Jake after a play he did in NYC. Instead of mentioning how good he was in the play, I said to him, "I loved you in Brokeback Mountain!" He said thank you.

[milestogo]

22. I love both of them.

[bamagal62]

75. I probably would have fainted!😂😂😂

[Bike dude]

24. Nice Tie

While working the recovery for a tornado in rural Birmingham, President Bill Clinton paid a visit. He walked around greeting the volunteers. When he came to me he acknowledged my neck tie, a guy wearing old English golf outfit with knickers, and said - “nice tie.”

[mentalsolstice]

43. Probably a good thing you didn't wear your cigar tie!

Love the Big Dawg!

[AllaN01Bear]

25. met mayor tom bradley of la and lorrene green once also met the original mcgarret of hawaii five o fame

maet jay silver heels from the lone ranger tv series . thats all i can remember.

[snowybirdie]

26. Once years ago

The Lone Ranger's horse, Silver, licked my hand!

[utopian]

27. I compiled a list some time back

These are folks I've hung with, waited on, or otherwise had face time with.

Actors
Peter Lupis (mission impossible)
Kevin Tighe (emergency)
Fess Parker
Billy Barty
Jeff Bridges
Nicholas Cage
Tim Robbins
Adam West
Neil Patrick Harris
Tommy Lee Jones


Musicians
Steve Earle
Todd Rundgren
Todd Snider
Jonathan Richman
John Doe
Robyn Hitchcock
Alejandro Escovedo
Mojo Nixon
Peter Buck
Charlie Puth
Jesse Dayton
Robbie Fulks

Comics
Yakov Smirnov
Flip Wilson
Norm Crosby
Bill Cosby
Dana Carvy
Wanda Sykes


Writers/Artists
Adrienne Rich
Anne Rice
Wendell Berry
Willie Vlautin
Charles Yu
Ursula LeGuin
Neal Adams

Politicians/Activists
Jessie Jackson
Cesar Chavez

Athletes
Jim Bouton
Artis Gilmore
Jamal Mashburn
Hank Aaron
Ralph Samson
Billy Mills

Misc.
Wavy Gravy
Timothy Leary
Jerry Greenfield (Ben & Jerrys)

[Clouds Passing]

48. My Todd Rundgen story

Todd has been a hero of mine for many years. I was in a pet store in a shopping center attached to a high end hotel. Could have been 1979 or 1980. I was about 18. I was squatting down nearly to the floor looking at the kittens. I heard a familiar voice next to me. I looked up and up and up and locked eyes with Todd. I looked at him in a state of shock and said “oh hi” in a frightened voice. I don’t remember what or if he said anything back. He was standing next to a woman with long reddish wavy hair who was wearing a red midcalf coat and matching beanie. I remember them both looking down at me. They were admiring the tarantulas.

[greatauntoftriplets]

53. When I worked in downtown Chicago, I saw Jesse Jackson multiple times.

We both happened to be walking down Michigan Avenue at the same time, and in opposite directions. I hadn't expected him to be as tall as he is.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

29. I once kissed

a poster of Andy Gibb taped to my bedroom wall.

[Mad_Dem_X]

42. I used to kiss

my Rick Springfield poster.

[Midnight Writer]

30. I watched a Stormy Daniels movie.

[peacefreak2.0]

31. I ran into Richie Havens at a coffee shop in Vermont.

He had driven up for a Ben & Jerry concert.
I used to work in a bookstore. Bob Elliott (Bob & Ray) was one of my customers. The bookstore went under in 2008. My phone rang one afternoon and the person said “is this Peacefreak? This is Bob Elliott calling to wish you well. A couple of years later he sent a note to say hello.

[LogDog75]

33. I sold my Senator a bottle of liquor

In my early 20s, I worked in a liquor store and I sold my U.S. Senator, Alan Cranston, a bottle of booze.

Also in the early 70s, I had met my State Senator who was also the president pro tempore (Senate majority leader) and about a week later he sent me a book listing all the legislators, the governor, and statewide elected leaders their bios and telephone numbers. My name was embossed on the cover of the book in gold leaf.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

34. I used to work at Washington National Airport, and so

I saw and/or waited on lots of well-known people.

The two most memorable:

This VERY tall man (I'm all of 5'1.5&quot leaned down and explained he and his wife had been travelling together, now needed to separate for a few flights, then get back together. It was Jay Rockefeller, then Governor of West Virginia. I was quite impressed that he did it all himself, rather than sending some aide to do it for him.

The other was a sweet, little old lady. Helen Hayes. I was thrilled to wait on her, and said something along the lines of, "I suppose you get tired of hearing this, but I admire your work, especially in the movie Airport." She very graciously said, "Thank you, and I don't get tired of hearing it."

[wishstar]

46. My brother met Helen Hayes when he worked on the Barge (Erie) Canal in upstate NY

on a summer job when he was a teen over 50 years ago. She came through the locks on her cruising boat and handed the boys working there a 6 pack of beer to their delight.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

50. Love that story!

I lived my first fourteen years near Utica, NY, and a common summer excursion was to go to one of the locks along the canal and watch the boats.

[jmbar2]

35. I took the train/subway (?) from the airport into NYC in the 1970s

My first time to ride public transit in the US - it was dark, dirty and covered in graffiti. Scary-looking drugged people all around me. I was my early 20s, from Texas, wearing office attire with a small suitcase - obviously not from there.

I saw Jane Curtin of early SNL fame on the same car. She didn't look open to conversation. But I remember noticing that she has a HUGE face. After that, started noticing the same on a lot of actors - seemingly abnormally large faces.

[bamagal62]

72. They call those

Lollipop heads. Casting directors look for them as they show well on screen. Vanna White was chosen because of her lollipop head.

[jmbar2]

73. Interesting.

So I'm not just imagining it. Thanks for the edification - learn something every day on DU.

[Bmoboy]

37. Got a ride from Raymond Berry

One of the greatest receivers for the Baltimore Colts gave me a lift as it started raining on my walk to school.

I didn't recognize him until he pulled into the stadium parking lot across the street from my school.

Many moons ago.

[Xavier Breath]

38. I was at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Carburation Day in 1994.

My company were guess of a suite holder, and the brass had invited employees there for the day. I signed up to go down into the pits and was in the first group to go. The cars were just making their way out of the garages, and it was interesting, seeing all the cars and the buzz of activity. Rick Mears, who won the race a few times, was shaking hands and greeting people. I waited patiently, and after I shook his hand, I turned back around to find myself no more than ten feet away from the one and only Paul Newman.

He was surrounded by people and involved in a conversation so I didn't try to approach. But, as I stood there, no doubt slack-jawed like all the other yokels, he looked in my direction with those piercing baby blues of his.

So, we didn't meet, but I'm still going to count that as a brush.

[rsdsharp]

39. I early 1966 I encountered the reigning American League MVP, Zoilo Versailles, in a barbershop.

We were both getting our haircut before his appearance at the local Elks club that night. The barbers had no idea who he was, but 11 year old me was thrilled to be in the chair next to his.

I literally ran into former Yankee shortstop. and NBC broadcaster after a Blue Jays Royals game he has broadcast. I turned to talk to my wife, didn’t see him, and walked right into him. I was surprised that he was 6’5”.

Ted Williams appeared at the Bob Feller Museum in Van Meter, Iowa. He was recovering from a stroke, and they announced he wouldn’t sign baseballs, only pictures they provided. I wanted him to sign my copy of his book, The Science of Hitting.

I asked his son, John Henry if he thought his father would sign it. He pointed to Williams and Bob Feller who were signing at a table and said, “Ask them. Those two old guys are running this show.” When I got to the table, he said he’d sign it, and I spread it out on the table so it wouldn’t move. He tried to sign a couple of times, and finally said, “I’ll sign if you let go if it, dear.” (I’m a very large man.)

That same day, I got Feller’s autograph. He was not in a good mood because he had run over something in I80 with his Jaguar XJ6, and torn the guts out of it. He limped back to the museum, and it was leaking coolant, oil, and transmission fluid. He was not a happy camper because he had a thousand dollar deductible, but finally said, “Oh well, I’ll just do another card show.”

I’ve also gotten autographs from Rod Carew, Ozzie Smith, Whitey Ford and Andre Dawson.

[LudwigPastorius]

41. I've got tons of people I've met.

A lot of these are a result of working in musical theater pits for years. Some were random, like I was working a bookstore cash register when Stevie Ray bought some things.

I left off most political figures because they're all Republicans, and who gives a shit about them?

Mick Fleetwood
Jon Anderson (Yes)
B.B. King
Stevie Ray Vaughn
John Williams (composer)
Van Cliburn
Mark Cuban
Chuck Mangione
Ramin Djwadi (composer 'Game of Thrones' 'Iron Man' 'Westworld' 'Fallout' etc..)
David Cassidy
Carol Channing
Kristin Chenoweth
Petula Clark
Tony Curtis
Phyllis Diller
Sandy Duncan
Georgia Engel
Michael Feinstein
Janie Fricke
Larry Gatlin
Mitzi Gaynor
Melissa Gilbert
Robert Goulet
Marilu Henner
Shirley Jones
Eartha Kitt
Jerry Lewis
Patti LuPone
Stephanie Mills
Martin Mull
Bob Newhart
John O’Hurley
Donny & Marie Osmand
Bernadette Peters
Mandy Patinkin
Cathy Rigby
Chita Rivera
Joan Rivers
Larry Storch
Marla Maples Trump
Ben Vereen
Michael York

[electric_blue68]

67. Ramin Djwadi! Loved his score for "Person of Interest". John Williams!

[bamagal62]

76. Wow!

That’s quite a list!

[LudwigPastorius]

79. All just in passing, though.

Maybe two or three would even recognize my face if we met again, much less remember my name.
That’s what 35 years of being “show biz adjacent” gets you.

[Emile]

44. I shook Dick Van Dyke's hand when I was 12.

He came home to Danville for a visit and I was lucky enough to meet him.

[Aimee in OKC]

47. Some first-hand... can we count second-hand if they're cool?

As a kid I met Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs at an outdoor music festival (my dad played bluegrass).

My brother's band opened for the Oak Ridge Boys so we got to go backstage.

Future US Senator & Oklahoma governor David Boren was one of my professors when I was a freshman at university.

I slow-danced with the grandson of Gen. George S. Patton, Jr.

At an SF convention I shared an elevator ride with Steven King.

I was working a shift at WorldCon and served as security escort for the US Ambassador to the Netherlands.

I met Howard Dean a few times & still hold respect for him.

Sen. Joe Biden bought my husband a beer during a chat at the Amtrak terminal. "Nice guy" he said.

I was very pleased to meet Molly Ivins in Austin.

[electric_blue68]

65. Nice bunch. Molly Ivins!

Still like Howard Dean. I read that "the scream"; the problem was that the crowd noise was toned down - so his scream appeared outlandish, vs commiserate with the general level of noise.

[electric_blue68]

49. Ooooo, I got a bunch...

Last edited Thu May 1, 2025, 09:46 PM - Edit history (1)

In the same "room"...

Bill Clinton rally that I shlepted to Jersey City to see. Maybe a day or two before the '92 election. So exciting!
Hillary doing a rally for him - ?Garment District.
His first Inauguration. Wonderful!

Both of Obama's Inaugurals! Thrilling! The first was soooo cold! Went w my sister, great fun, and of course, historic.

Ted Kennedy at a rally for McGovern, and McG, himself.

In ?'67 me and a friend running up to Lennon and McCartney's car after they did a show at NBC studios Rock Center.

When Springsteen was still playing theaters. I was outside post show; walked by. He was so close, and talking to someone I felt his breath on my ear.

Was in a Rock class (adult ed), and Patti Smith was one of our guests.

A mini march on Dr King's Day to the big space north and just west of the UN led by Roger McGuin.
I was standing right next to him after we got there, and he was playing his guitar. I was thinking "shouldn't I be more excited?".
____________________________

Meet Ups

Waaaay back. A very nice Roger Daltrey after a radio interview (still had his wonderful long curly hair.
Never managed to meet Pete.

All of U2 (multiple times) at different times: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. All outside of MSG, and by NBC studios for Adam, and The Edge, and Bono again outside Dave Letterman's studio. In general, soooo much fun!

🤔 I feel like I'm missing someone....
Maybe an eta later.

Eta
Jesse Jackson rally; introduced by Steve Van Zandt

But not sure that's who's memory is hiding

[Turbineguy]

51. My Wife and I shook hands with Maxim Vengarov, famed violin player.

[ProfessorGAC]

52. A Few

• I had breakfast with Frank Zappa in Frankfurt, Germany. A couple years before he died.
• The first rock band Jim Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins) was ever in was my band. So, I played a couple dozen gigs with him.
• I (regrettably) sat next to Harry Casey (KC & tge Sunshine Band) on a flight from Atlanta to Chicago. What a tool.
• I hung around with Jim Peterik & Frank Sullivan (Survivor) on many occasions.
• We opened for & hung out with Cheap Trick.
There are others, but that's enough

[Bristlecone]

54. I met and took a picture with John Lewis while shaking his hand in the ATL airport

About 7-8 years ago.

About 25 years ago I said Fuck You to Newt Gingrich in the same ATL airport.

(I’ve only been in that airport ~10 times, pretty good record there imo).

[electric_blue68]

69. Yay, 4 John Lewis. Hahahahahaaa, Newwwt!

[greatauntoftriplets]

55. Forgot this one.

Governor Jim Thompson of Illinois (puke) used to come into a bar/restaurant that I patronized to mingle with the people or something of the sort. He never tipped, although his bodyguards (who sat at a different table) were said to tip well.

Never saw him there once he was no longer the governor.

[Deuxcents]

56. I took time off work to go to a book signing with Molly Ivans. She was and still is my great inspiration 🌺

[BigMin28]

61. She was a treasure

How I miss her.

[CincyDem]

57. 2 famous and an infamous.

In ‘75, Walter Payton did a promotional visit to a Stereo Lab store in Chicago. Lived close by so it cost me nothing to go see him. He brought Gayle Sayres with him…holy chit !!! Had an old Rolodex card with both their autographs but it’s long gone (along with my little collection of Marvel early single digit comic books).

In ‘82, was actually “brushed” by Yasser Arafat in Geneva airport as he walked by, along with a bunch of his armed entourage. That was a weird one.

[surfered]

58. I have 3: (1) While in Little League in Austin, TX, I had my photo taken with Willy Mays.

(2) Robert August (of Endless Summer movie ) borrowed my golf clubs when attending a surf event in my area.

(3) While at Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico, I was photographed for a Boy Scout TV commercial that aired nationwide.

[LoisB]

59. I met Muhammad Ali. His daughter's job was about 3, 4 doors from my bookstore and he

was visiting her.

[milestogo]

62. I lived next door to his home in Chicago.

He had 3 homes and I think he raised his family at this one. I didn't see them except for one weekend when he had a big party. I didn't actually meet him but I kinda spied on the party.

[LoisB]

70. Wow. I probably would have attempted to crash it.

[bamagal62]

60. I have a few.

But, my best was I flew from Atlanta to LA sitting in between the Neville Brothers. I sat between Chucky Neville and one of the others (I can’t remember now which one). Aaron was across the aisle. I basically had my feet on Charles Neville’s saxophone. 😱 I also spent an evening in a bar in Tuscaloosa drinking with Charles Barkley. I remember he ordered us all wings to be delivered from some special wing place to the bar. I will say, he was such a really nice guy. Funny and kind. We had a great time. I also have spent time with George Lindsey, as he was a family friend. Funniest person I think I’ve ever met in my entire life.

[WestMichRad]

63. I had lunch with Melvin Calvin

1961 Nobel Prize winner (along with two others) for discovering the Calvin cycle, the set of chemical reactions whereby in plants and certain bacteria, carbon dioxide is converted to glucose via photosynthesis.

I was greatly impressed.

He and I are both alumni of Michigan Technological University.

[Runningdawg]

64. Greatness? Not exactly But I did flip of Trump from 10ft away. NYC 1980. I met Abbey Hoffmann the same year.

[genxlib]

66. I do Search and Rescue with Fema

It is not uncommon to have celebrities drop in on the major deployments.

At 9-11, I was on a lunch break when a group came by. I was sitting at a table when Olivia newton John sat down next to me and started to chat. The whole table full of fire fighter types was playing it cool. I lasted about a minute before I broke down and started fan boying about how I loved her in Grease. ( as a boy of a certain age I had a huge crush). That broke the ice and the whole table joined in.

A couple of days later I was coming out of a debrief after a long 12 hour shift. The base was really crowded and I didn’t understand why. But I wormed my way through before coming face to face with Al Franken. I spent several minutes talking with about how much I loved his books. After I let him go, I turned around to realize that there was a whole group of celebrities including Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Chevy Chase, Sam Watterston and others. I had found Franken on the perimeter sort of sad and alone who was clearly intimidated and felt out of his league. This was pre-Senator so he really was not super well known.

[Behind the Aegis]

71. Had a few

I met James Garner when I was an extra in a movie, the horrible, Tank, my brother and I were extras. We walked up to him in his car. we introduced ourselves, and by our last name, he knew who we were, and asked if our mom and dad (used their names) were going to be on set. He was a VERY nice man! I also met C. Thomas Howell, Tommy. He was sweet. And, also met Shirley Jones, who was a lovely woman.

Saw Mark Harmon at a bar in SC. Total asshole.

Saw John Waters in NOLA, followed him into a bar. Didn't get to talk to him because he was mobbed.

Met a few gay porn stars at the bar where I worked. All were very nice.

Saw a few "stars" in a movie scene shot out of the bar I mentioned above.

The funniest...I was walking home from shopping in the French Quarter, and saw a waifish woman in a hooddie walk by me. I smiled and said "hello". She smiled back, said "hello. pretty day, isn't it?" I replied, "it is. Have a great day!" She said "you too!" All of the sudden I saw people coming at me, which freaked me out...I thought there was a fire or something. One person stopped me, and said, "What was she like?!" I said, "She was sweet and polite. Why?" Turns out, it was Angelina Jolie!

Two days, later, saw Brad Pitt in the park. Didn't talk to him as he was with his kids. And, same day, Saw Jason Satham in a bar.

Oh New Orleans, how I miss you!

[bamagal62]

74. I forgot I had another.

When I was about 12, we lived in Florida and my sisters and I were gymnasts. Cathy Rigby came to our little town of Vero Beach to do commercials for Florida Grapefruit. They used our gym to practice and my sister was the “stand in” for Cathy as she was exactly her same size. Most of the commercials were done on the beach. She was very gracious. The big perk was that our team got to keep all of the new equipment they used in the commercials/practice for our gym! I also, kind of, got to meet Ludmilla Tourischeva in Miami when the Russian gymnasts did a US tour. She waved and smiled at me! (We were not allowed to get close enough to shake hands.) As a young gymnast, it didn’t get much better than that!

[Biophilic]

77. I sat in the 4th row in a tiny theater watching a live performance by Helen Hayes and Jimmy Stewart in Harvey.

I also saw Queen Elizabeth drive by in 1952? during her visit to the United States. I few years later I stood in almost the same place and got a good viewing of Jack Kennedy during his presidential campaign of 1960. My father, the republican, was very upset about "my choices". I've made the same choices ever since.

[kimbutgar]

78. I was taking the street car to downtown SF and Kamala Harris was standing outside of the station asking for votes

She was running for DA in SF and introducing herself and passing out leaflets. I shook her hand and we spoke briefly about her running for DA she was so beautiful ! She won that election.

[subterranean]

80. I once walked past Japanese baseball legend Sadaharu Oh in a hotel lobby.

[Basso8vb]

81. I lived in LA for several years in the 90s and ran into several celebrities.

However, In 1990 I performed A Lincoln Portrait at a concert in Palm Springs where Lloyd Bridges was the narrator. He was only at the dress rehearsal right before the concert but I approached him as he was reading backstage before the performance and told him it was a such pleasure to get to perform with him.

He looked up from his book with a smile and said "The pleasure's all mine!" and we chatted for a few minutes.

He was truly a kind gentleman.

[milestogo]

83. Lloyd Bridges, Jeff Bridges, Beau Bridges...

Love them all. What a talented family.

[CanonRay]

82. I met Joe Biden in New Hampshire

He was registering for the 2008 primary and we were in the courthouse doing genealogical research.

[Sneederbunk]

84. While in the Beverly Hills,

I saw a dog that must have belonged to a star.

[zanana1]

85. I had coffee with Barack Obama

I was working in his first presidential campaign and we talked about the price of prescription drugs.

[milestogo]

86. I'm pretty sure I was with Barack and Michelle on their first date.

Well, we were in the same theatre watching Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing". Of course I didn't put it together till years later.

[Marthe48]

87. I went to a James Wright Poetry Festival in Martins Ferry Oh

James Wright was a Pulitzer Prize winning American poet, and the festival is held annually. I went by myself the first year I heard about it. There were a number of poets attending who were giving insights about Wright's poetry and voice. It was a totally new experience for me. The festival included lunch for the speakers and attendees. I was one of the last to go through the line. The tables were full, so I was looking for a place to sit. There was a seat left at the table where the poets were sitting and when they saw me looking for a seat, they urged me to take the empty seat. I will never forget how they included me in the conversation, and how I was transported to a realm of possibilities. I felt like I was sitting at the Algonquin Round Table.

I've met other notables, but I think this experience tops the list