Who knows someone famous?

[Remudamom]

Our pastor mentioned this in his sermon and it's too fun to pass up.

Who do you know that's famous? I know Gothic Girl has someone famous in her family.

My parents knew Bear Bryant. This is only cool if you're a Southerner or a huge football fan. Although he did not come to our wedding he did send a gift.

I know Sela Ward. (the actress in Sisters) We were sorority sisters. She was a senior when I was a freshman. I remember sitting on her bed and watching her get ready for a date with the U of A quarterback. She was majoring in business. She was one of my heroes, mainly because she was just as pretty inside as out. I imagine she still is.

My sister is cool. She has met/or knows a lot of entertainers. Harrison Ford,
Rick Springfield, Huey Lewis. She knows Kenny Rogers, he left her a wild message once. And she was a roady for Van Halen. She's full of stories.

Who do you know or have met?

[OnTheBrink]

My son's father is a comic, so I met a few comedians when he was doing clubs. His daughter (my son's half sister) was in Spawn and 13 Going on 30.

When I was 11, I met Patrick Duffy. They were filming Dallas in front of our subdivision. Um, let's see...I met Shelly Winters while on the Queen Mary. They were filming a movie and I can NOT remember which one it was. This was in the late 70's, early 80's. I also met Chad Everett and if memory serves, it was at the same time.

My parents met Ricardo Montalban while in Hawaii. I have a snapshot of him signing an autograph for my dad to give me. He signed it, "Michelle, go to bed on time! Ricardo Montalban" My dad told him I insisted on staying up to watch Fantasy Island when everyone else had gone to bed! LOL

A good friend from high school's father was a part time actor on shows like MASH, Alice and some others. His name was Ted Gehring. I think he's passed away now. And, I lived behind the girl who married Steven Johnson (Patch on Days of Our Lives). She was 3 years ahead of me in high school. He drove a black BMW, so I always knew when he was there! I was told I could come over and meet him any time, but I was always too embarrassed. She and I weren't really friends (she was always nice and gracious, though) so I felt goofy knocking on the door and saying, "hey, can I meet your fiance?"

I saw Danny DeVito driving through town once. I thought, "hey, that man looks like Danny DeVito!" Sure enough, in the paper the next day was an article about how he was in town for something or other.

Oh, and a guy I went to high school with (and was good friends with at the time) became a g*y p*rn movie maker, how's that for noteriety! :rolleyes:

OH, and I almost forgot! I met the actual astronaut the Million Dollar Man was based on. My dad works for NASA, so I've met a few other astronauts, too, but embarrassingly, I can't remember which ones other than that one.

[Sandra in NC]

My husband used to work with him at Compute! Magazine in the 80's. Now Card is a very popular sci-fi writer.

[dangermom]

I've met Sarah McLachlan! She was very nice to me.

My brother has a (Russian) friend he's stayed with who lives next door to Vladimir Putin's stepmother. How's that? :rolleyes:

Oh, Sandra, my MIL used to know Orson Scott Card when he was a wee tot!

[amy g.]

KD Lang bought me breakfast.

[Jill, OK]

One of the guys who ended up in the R&B group 'Color Me Badd' liked me.

He gave me some jewelry, and my mom made me give it back, lol. Possibly because she thought it was too much, possibly because I really just liked him as a friend; he was quite a bit overweight, and I think he figured that was why, because years later, I saw him at a club (before he was famous), and he was thin and cute, and he took great pains to call my name and make sure I remembered him. ("Remember? I used to be real fat?")

Needless to say...I think it all turned out for the best. ;o)

[Lisa in Jax]

We know three semi-famous people.

1.Dh used to do legal work for Fay Vincent, the former commissioner of baseball. He and his wife, Christina, came to dinner at our house a couple of years ago.
2.The actor who played the Viet Nam vet who told Forrest to go onstage in the Washington Monument scene in "Forrest Gump" dated my college roommate. He spent a lot of time at our apartment at Old Dominion University.
3.David Brown, the former host of Marketplace on NPR, is a friend of ours. He went to law school with DH.

Lisa

[Crissy]

We count a number of professional athletes and coaches among our good friends (one of my favorite NFL players just stopped by this afternoon). Another of our favorite people in this world is a stage and TV actor and director. We spent part of our honeymoon with him and his wife at their home.

Those with whom we've had dinner, or simply shook hands, exchanged names and chatted for a few minutes include astronauts (Neil Armstrong, Bonny Dunbar) and a former NASA flight director (Gene Krantz); politicians (John McCain, Washington Governor, Chris Gregoire); golfers (Fred Couples, David Eger, Curtis Strange, John Daly).

Gosh, we have photographed so many great events at which we've had the opportunity to meet some amazing people. I wish I could remember them all.

[Mom2legomaniacs]

Wow, Sela Ward! I really like her acting. She seems like she would be a neat person too!

I don't know anybody famous nor have I had a brush with anyone, that I can recall. My mom knows the guys from Montgomery Gentry, the country group. She manages a super Lowe's in Lexington, KY and they shop from her a lot and have become friendly with her. I think she might have met a famous driver for the Lowe's car in track racing too but I can't recall the name.

Oh wait, I know Howard Carpenter! He and my MIL are tight. He is the father of John Carpenter the film maker (I haven't been in town at the same time that John has yet). But Howard is quite well-known in certain circles with music. And he has worked with tons of big names in the past: Johnny Cash, for ex. I saw his albums with pictures of those he backed with music. Quite amazing!

[lynn]

Well, does Larry the Cable Guy count? I went to highschool with him.:D

[Chris in VA]

I was a suite mate freshman year with the girl who married a guy from Night Ranger (the band).
Gee, that's kinda pathetic, huh? lol

Dh has a letter from Jonathan Demme. His dad went to our church (dh was a priest there) and Jonathan gave dh a copy of a movie he made, "My Cousin Bobby." It was about his cousin (obviously) who was a Catholic priest. Good movie.

I saw Neil Sedaka at the airport when I was a teen. He was already old by then.

Oh--My husband invited Robert Ballard (discoverer of The Titanic wreckage) to SMU, and my son got to meet him. We asked him how it went, and he said, "well, what do you think, when you get to meet your hero?"

That's about it--other than Bishops from Africa and stuff like that.

[Barb F. PA in AZ]

Went to High School with Steve Conrad (wrote The Pursuit of Happyness, the Weatherman, and Wrestling Ernest Hemingway) and dated his older brother for a year or so. I secretly had a huge crush on Steve, however, and so did my best friend. He was into sports and was actually pretty quiet. He and his friends used to annoy old people in the mall (there were plenty of them in S. Fl.) Not known for being fabulous in Writing or English at the time. It's so funny to sit there and watch him talk on the special features section of the DVD and think, "hey, I remember that happening!"

I don't know Bruce Springsteen, but a family we were really close to back in FL are cousins. They get to go back stage and stuff. Bruce looks like a Frevola, especially when he was younger.

You know you're getting old when you've lived long enough to see someone random on TV and say, "hey, I went to school with him/her!" Really impresses the kids :D

Barb

[Lorna in the boonies]

Not that this is very exciting, but it's all I've got to contribute!

I used to babysit for the man who played the admiral's aide on Magnum, PI (he was my next door neighbor).

My dad flew Pappy Boyington (the Marine the series "Baa, Baa Black Sheep" was based on) into town for the Marine Corps ball when I was a little girl, and I got his autograph. For years, I thought that was really cool. Then I learned that Pappy Boyington had a reputation as a drunken sot who went around pushing his autograph on people!

Buzz Aldrin came and spoke to my class when I was in 1st grade (I'm dating myself). My teacher knew him.

I think that's it. Los Lonely Boys are hometown boys and I know people who know them, but I don't know them myself. Same with Colby Donaldson (from Survivor) -- seems everybody I know, knows him. Oh, and my dh knows Pierce Holt (retired NFL player).

[Barb F. PA in AZ]

KD Lang bought me breakfast.

Um, hello? Do we have a story to go along with that little tidbit?

Barb

[Call Me Cordelia]

My husband's best friend all through high school and best man at our wedding is Julie Hagerty's (Airplane) brother.

William Petersen (CSI) bought me oj one night at a bar in Chicago. That same night I met Laurie Metcalf (Roseanne) and John Malkovich.

My daughter's soccer coach is really good friends with David Pollock (Bengals).

Umm...I'm on the same chat board as Pioneer Woman!!

[Barb F. PA in AZ]

I think that's it. Los Lonely Boys are hometown boys and I know people who know them, but I don't know them myself.

Saw a documentary about a custom guitar made for one of these guys. They seem so genuine and all about family. Is that true? They really impressed me.

Barb

[Call Me Cordelia]

Oh...wait, one more!! My husband went to prep school with William Hurt. His pictures in his yearbook and everything!

[Beth in Central TX]

I went to high school with Shaquille O'Neill. He transferred in as a freshman or sophomore when I was a senior.

[Doran]

I've seen a handful. But, KNOW and famous? No one really. I acted with a guy named Terrence Mann who has had some sensational roles on Broadway (Les Mis, Cats, etc.). He's also been on a couple of t.v. programs here and there. Once upon a time, I did some special Red Cross projects with Terry Labonte and the Petty boys (Richard and Kyle) of Nascar fame.

My husband has built furniture for the Cheney's and the former governor of MD, so he "knows" them...but not really. And, he went to school with Boomer Esiason (NFL Football Announcer and former player for the Bengals.)

I've sold farm produce to Julieanne Moore.

And, I'm distantly related to Thomas Jefferson.

But, that's about the best I can do. :-)

[Miss Peregrine]

Don't know anyone famous but I did dance next to Corey Feldman at Disneyland back when Videopolis was open :D

[Mom2boys]

I used to work with Elvis' step brother. Of course, that was long after Elvis had passed away. So maybe this doesn't really count as knowing a celebrity...

[lynn]

Buck Johnson, former NBA player lives across the street from us and has a son in my sons class.

I also met F Lee Bailey when I worked at a health and wellness center is Palm Beach.

[Lorna in the boonies]

Saw a documentary about a custom guitar made for one of these guys. They seem so genuine and all about family. Is that true?

They sure seem to be. They've done several free concerts here and have done quite a few benefits for different people in need. Also, it seems like there's something about one of the body shops here in town -- they own it, or they partially own it, or something, and are always doing something there for the benefit of somebody -- but I can't think of the details right now.

One time when they won some award (this shows how much attention I pay to things like this) I parked next to a proud relative at Wal-Mart the next day. She had "Congratulations LLB! Your Auntie _____ loves you!" written all over her car. It was cute.

[Johanna]

I babysat for Richard Carpenters kids when i was about 15 yo. His mother-in-law (well it was really his aunt, kinda.....because....he married a first or second cousin...something like that???) lived two doors down from me. I watched them when he and his family were in town for a wedding. His children were beautiful, he was really nice and he paid really really good! I didnt know him from adam as being famous, but ooooh boy,,,,my mom sure did!:D

[King Alfred Academy]

Don't know anyone famous but I did dance next to Corey Feldman at Disneyland back when Videopolis was open :D
No Way! Corey Feldman! I had pictures of the "Coreys" (Haim) all over my room when I was a teenie bopper!

I use to work in Christian music in Nashville so I got to meet a lot of the artists. In fact, it was my job to host the artists in a suite full of food during the Christian Book Association convention.

We also attended a church where a lot of Christian artists go...Steven Curtis Chapman, the DC Talk guys, Jars of Clay...

Still keeping my eyes peeled for Nicole Kidman and her hubby.

Oh, and Abraham Lincoln's son saved my (I forget how many "greats") grandma from drowning.

[Caroline]

I knew Edward Norton (actor in American History X and Fight club) in high school. We took acting classes together. I had this big crush on him and used to attend his baseball games. Don't let the media fool you. He was the first base coach, not a player. However, he is a brilliant man.

James Rouse, who was Edward's grandfather, and a city designer, builder, and philanthropist, went to my church growing up. (If you have ever been to Fanuiel Hall in Boston, the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Columbia, MD, or the Waterfront in VA Beach, he designed all of those. Well, the Faneuil Hall remodel, not the original.)

A good friend of mine from grad school (she threw my first baby shower) is astronaut Sandy Magnus, and she is going to the space station this summer for a few months.

Jesse Jackson spoke at my high school; and, as part of the SGA, I got to have breakfast with him.

Caroline

[Rebecca in GA]

They sure seem to be. They've done several free concerts here and have done quite a few benefits for different people in need.

LLB is one of my favorite bands! Nice to know they are as genuine as they seem.:) My dog is named after JoJo.

I don't know anyone famous, but I met a good many pro athletes when I was writing sports. (My least favorite was David Justice, if you care.) I also covered Chris Hanson (New England Patriots) and Keith Brooking (Atlanta Falcons) when they were in high school.

DH met and talked to Paul McCartney, which was really cool. I don't think they keep in touch now. :D

[Mrs. Readsalot]

While in college I dated someone that played highschool football with John Elway. They were pretty good friends. I spent one summer with my boyfriend at his parents home in California. We went to several parties that John Elways was also attending. The things I most remember about the parties is everyone is very curious about my Maryland accent.
I met Barbara Bush at an officers' wives dinner in Hawaii. It was went Millie was going to have puppies. She found out that I bred dogs and had several questions for me. I told her some on my favorite puppy whelping hints. When the book came out about Millies pups I was thrilled to see she had used at least one of the ideas.

[Ria]

My dad is a classmate of John McCain (USNA 1958). I've met him. I had a long talk with Julie Nixon Eisenhower and David Eisenhower at a Navy function. Dh and I are friends w/ Bob Amos (bluegrass singer). I've met Tom Clancy, too.

Ria

[Amy in Orlando]

I've just got a bunch of "almosts."

I competed against Mary Lou Retton when she was an up can coming gymnast. I went to ankle rehab with the same trainer as Willie Stargell (Pirates baseball player). I attended the same high school as Lisa Schue (Leaving Las Vegas) She graduated the year before I went to that school. I did inhereit her gymastics team warmup suit though lol.

When I was newly pregnant with my first, I was "escorted" by secret service agents from the side of some building (where I thought I was safe to throw up because I wasn't going to make it anywhere else) - they were diverting some motorcade. The agents were very nice and one of them gave me a stick of gum.

When I had the three older boys in a giant stroller, I smashed right into Shaquille O'Neal. Ooops. He was very nice about it and even showed me the entrance for "regular" people.

[Amy in MD]

My niece was the personal assistant for Mary-Louise Parker. She really admired how hard she worked. My niece worked super hard too.

I have a feeling my dh is going to be famous someday(not in any field that would lead him to this)... but I am his biggest fan!
Amy

[Crissy]

When I had the three older boys in a giant stroller, I smashed right into Shaquille O'Neal. Ooops. He was very nice about it and even showed me the entrance for "regular" people.

Did he just point the way, or did he at least open the "regular people's" door for you? ;)

[LaMere Academy]

Um, hello? Do we have a story to go along with that little tidbit?

Barb

That's what I was thinking!
Elaborate please!!!:D

[LaMere Academy]

I knew Edward Norton (actor in American History X and Fight club) in high school. We took acting classes together. I had this big crush on him and used to attend his baseball games. Don't let the media fool you. He was the first base coach, not a player. However, he is a brilliant man.





Caroline
NO WAY!!! I have a major movie star crush on him!!

[battlemaiden]

You mean other than the LOST Baby...LOL. I'm such a loser.

I hung out with San Antonio's David Robinson when he was at the Naval Academy.

I've met Mia Hamm. Can't say I "know" her.

There are the artists from my reggae groupie days. Some Marleys.

I've met the least popular Charlie's Angel. LOL. What was her name? Kate something? I had to google-- Kate Jackson. She lived down the street from my cool aunt in Pensacola FL.

Of course I've cycled through some famous people while waitressing at a nice place in Winter Park, FL. But I don't really think they count.

But my favorite famous person was my uncle. He was an actual WWII Ace and the replica of his plane with his name is hanging in the Air and Space Museum at Dulles. We called him Uncle Red because he had striking red hair. They even have a model plane for sale that has his name on the side. I think it was a Hellcat something. He taught me how to wind surf when he was in his seventies. :)

[CleoQc]

I've met most of the (secondary) actors in Star wars - original trilogy. And many even knew me by name!
Anthony Daniels (C3PO)
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) whose wife is one of those who convinced me to homeschool! In fact I still have her on my AIM account!
Angus MacInnes (Gold leader) who paid me a few too many glasses of wine at Dragon Con....
David Prowse (Darth Vader)
and Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett)

[Amy in Orlando]

Did he just point the way, or did he at least open the "regular people's" door for you? ;)

He walked me all the way through the arena. I think the top of my head came up to the bottom of his rib cage lol.

[Rich with Kids]

I danced with Troy Aikman at a honky tonk before I knew who he was. He told me he was a Cowboy and I kinda snorted, looked around and said, "Who isn't?"

[Mom2legomaniacs]

OH MY!!!! Troy Aikman! Man, I always kidded around with dh that Troy was my man!

[Mama Lynx]

(The dorms had two rooms, connected by a bathroom. So you had a roommate, and suitemates.) My suitemate was Paige Davis (Trading Spaces). She is exactly like you see her on TV, 24/7. I still have two sweaters that I sort of forgot to return to her.


I've met several musicians/rock stars. And I once breakfasted in the same room with Omar Torrijos.

[Mama Lynx]

I danced with Troy Aikman at a honky tonk before I knew who he was. He told me he was a Cowboy and I kinda snorted, looked around and said, "Who isn't?"





ROFL.

I used to work at a Victoria's Secret in Dallas, and he came into our store. I didn't win the race to wait on him, though.

[Rich with Kids]

OH MY!!!! Troy Aikman! Man, I always kidded around with dh that Troy was my man!

Well, it was right after he came to Dallas. I just didn't keep up with sports. I wasn't expecting a football player. He was nice enough not to laugh at me, but I didn't get a second dance. http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/ashamed001.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)

[CleoQc]

I was about 18, flying from L.A. to Toronto.
Since my dad was the captain aboard, I got seated in first class. During the flight, a small 'commotion'. Everyone was asking the guy next to me for an autograph. Hmm. Ok.. We'd been chatting for at least an hour, and I didn't know he was supposed to be famous.
Turns out he was an actor in a big TV show. But I never really watched TV. I didn't even know of his show! He told me he had been on Carson's show that week. Carson who? I had no clue! (was it Jimmy Carson? I'm not even sure! LOL)

Anyway, he liked that I didn't know of his fame, I guess, cause he asked me for my phone number. Wanted to take me out for dinner, etc.. I turned him down.

Still to this day, I have no clue who he may be.

[Jennifer]

My mother used to babysit Kiefer Sutherland. Does that count?
Jennifer

[HSMom2One]

I met several famous people when I was really young, mostly music entertainers, President Gerald Ford, and Christian singer, Roby Duke...but the very best one I can share is this: I know the man who invented SCRATCH-N-SNIFF!! :p

[JennW in SoCal]

I'm married to someone famous! Well, he is somewhat famous but only within the circle of die hard comic book geeks. He's got a wikipedia entry, had artwork featured on a postal stamp (the DC Superhero series that was issued 2 summers ago.)

Does that count?

Abbey's dh is far cooler because he was on Colbert!

[Jill, OK]

...some of the cast of Band of Brothers. They were the USO entertainment during the time he spent deployed for the war.

Funny thing; he hadn't even seen the series, and I was at home, watching it, lol. So...he was under-impressed.

[Audrey]

I used to work for IRS Records as an assistant to Miles Copeland, the founder of the co. and brother to Stewart Copeland, the drummer of The Police. This was after The Police broke up.

I met a lot of artists that way. I did meet Stewart many times -- each time more firmly squelching any crush I'd ever had on him. I also met Sting, who was just as I'd expected he'd be. I met Henry Rollins once then (I think he was still with Black Flag) -- he was very cool. I met all of the Go-Gos except Belinda Carlisle.

Hands down, the nicest person I'd ever met while working there was Ian Copeland, who was just a marvelously fun and lively person, but very compassionate at the same time. When I heard he'd passed away a couple of years ago, I really cried. He was the best of the bunch by far.

[Rich with Kids]

My mother used to babysit Kiefer Sutherland. Does that count?
Jennifer
I "know" Jennifer from the board. Hey Jen, any way they might bring back Alias?

[Rich with Kids]

I know the grandma on Friday Night Lights. She and my mom are good friends. I grew up with her son.

[Elaine]

I knew Edward Norton (actor in American History X and Fight club) in high school. We took acting classes together. I had this big crush on him and used to attend his baseball games. Don't let the media fool you. He was the first base coach, not a player. However, he is a brilliant man.

James Rouse, who was Edward's grandfather, and a city designer, builder, and philanthropist, went to my church growing up. (If you have ever been to Fanuiel Hall in Boston, the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Columbia, MD, or the Waterfront in VA Beach, he designed all of those. Well, the Faneuil Hall remodel, not the original.)

A good friend of mine from grad school (she threw my first baby shower) is astronaut Sandy Magnus, and she is going to the space station this summer for a few months.

Jesse Jackson spoke at my high school; and, as part of the SGA, I got to have breakfast with him.

Caroline


We love Edward Norton! Is he really just a normal guy? He seems like he is.

[Tonia]

My dh used to work on "the hill" in Ottawa - he's met Jack Layton (head of the NDP party) and Paul Martin (former Prime Minister of Canada). He's also met Phil Driscoll (Christian singer).

My bil met the guy who played Col. Klink on Hogan's Heroes. He's actually kinda famous himself - he's a radio announcer out of Quebec City (with the CBC).

I've met Carmen (Christian singer) - my brother got to be a body guard for him at his concert (one of his own body guards was out sick) and almost met Ray Boltz (I worked at one of his concerts). I also met the astronaut Christa McAuliff's husband. I worked as a custodian (when I was in college) at the courthouse where he works in NH.

[Elaine]

I had lunch with Bruce Springsteen. I was underwhelmed because all he wanted to talk about was politics! :mad:

He still has a to die for tush, politics aside.;)


I met Bryant Gumbel. Meh.

[Holly IN]

I went to school with a man that played Hoss Cartwright in the "Bonaza" show that is called something else. I knew him then but not now of course. I think the show was made in the 1999 era. I do not even remember the title.


I met the US Olympic swimmer back the 80's who is called Jeff something. I am bad with memories...<sighing here>
Holly

[ThelmaLou]

My husband played for the Philadelphia Eagles for 5 years. So he knew Randall Cunningham, Reggie White, coach Buddy Ryan, and all the others that came and went during that time.

Before that he played for Texas A&M. One of his coaches was R.C. Slocum. R.C. called our house to talk to my husband a couple of years ago and I answered the phone--how exciting! My husband golfed with R.C. a while back, and found out that R.C. and former president Bush are good friends. R.C. even vacationed with the extended Bush family in Kinnebunkport, inlcuding the current President Bush. I said maybe R.C. can get us a White House tour. Ha! Anyhow, my husband's dad also played for Texas A&M, and he was coached by Bear Bryant.

When folks find out my husband played for the Eagles, I'll frequently get people who ask his name...and they know who he is! That's pretty fun. He's 9 years older than me, and I didn't even meet him until his professional football career was over. So I just get to hear about it and see photos and films. Pretty neat stuff. I get to listen to him catch up on the phone with old teammates. It's mainly interesting because he's my husband, though. Other than that, I have zero interest in football. My boys think it's great that their dad played in college and professionally, even though he doesn't like to draw attention to it. But mostly they just know he's the best dad ever!:)

[AudreyTN]

My DH played little league (on the same team) with one of the Lowe brothers... Chad? I'll have to ask him.

I met Kevin Bacon at Holiday Inn when I was pregnant with dd.

My step father played football for Ohio State. Does that count? :)

[Karenciavo]

I went to high school with Bob DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots, we were burnouts together, he quit high school. I also went to high school with relief pitcher Bob Macdonald, he was not a burnout. :D

My son takes bass lessons from Rick Criniti, the former keyboardist of Cinderella. My husband's cousin is Jennifer Cella, vocalist for Trans-Siberian Orchestra, she changed her name from our last name which is Ciavolella.

I also met Cliff Galbraith, the guy who created the "asaurus" tees in the 80's (remember Shopasaurus :rolleyes:) He went to art school with my dh.

[EKS]

I went to school with Jakob Dylan (Bob Dylan's son and member of the band The Wallflowers)

I also went to school with Rita Moreno's daughter. She was a good friend.

Tom Sellek was my neighbor (before Magnum). His stepson was in my 1st grade class. He answered the door when we were trick-or-treating one year and he was *so* cute! Sam Elliott (Lifeguard) also lived at the end of our street.

My parents were good friends with Linus Pauling. They also knew Richard Feynmann. And my father was friends with Jack Schmidt the astronaut.

My husband was friends with Danny Bonaduce. He also met Bill Cosby and Magic Johnson. His neighbors were the Captain and Tenille.

[Janna]

My very good friend, whom I have been close with since Jr. High is the 2nd cousin of John Mellencamp. It's uncanny the resemblance my friend's dad has with him. Fwiw, she says he's a jerk to family and she has no respect for him.

Also, my grandfather was in WW 2, in the same brigade or troop or whatever it would be called :o with Eddie Albert (from Green Acres). Apparently, per my mom (it's her dad), they were very good friends.

I was in an elevator once with Bob Uecker. I was staying at the same hotel apparently. He was quite arrogant. But I thought it was cool because "Mr. Belvedere" was one of my favorite shows at the time, LOL.

[*anj*]

My son takes bass lessons from Rick Criniti, the former keyboardist of Cinderella.
Is her any relation to the Philadelphia Criniti's of Italian restaurant fame?

(We looooove that place!!)

[KristineIN]

I'm not sure if this counts or not, my dh refinished a floor in Jeremy Camp's house. He grew up in this area and his dad is the pastor at a church here, I used to attend a Bible study with his mom before he became famous. My also worked with his uncle Kevin and once dh was doing a job with Kevin & our van broke down, dh's truck broke down at the same time so Kevin got us the Camps van that Jeremy had first bought his parents and we loaned it for a few days. It had a ton of DVD movies in it. Anyway, that's the closest I know a famous person and he's really only famous in the Christian industry.

Kristine

[Crissy]

I was in an elevator once with Bob Uecker. I was staying at the same hotel apparently. He was quite arrogant.

It is surprising how arrogant a famous person can be, isn't it? I spent an entire afternoon with Reggie Jackson and, OMG! What a JERK!

[Tarheel Heather]

To hang out with Aerosmith before they were famous.

My dad has been two movies:
The Hunley- he was an extra http://imdb.com/title/tt0162897/fullcredits#cast

The Tempest he is the surgeon listed in the credits http://imdb.com/title/tt0178928/fullcredits#cast. Got to become a member of SAG So that was really neat. He got hang out with cast and crew of both of those.

My dd used to use Byron Dinkens as a jungle gym at my sons basketball and baseball practice. He played in the NBA.

My son played baseball with Randy Moss's son. He came to one practice and said 'hi' to the kids and stayed a good distance from all of us parents. One of the players on the NFL team here coached basket ball and we saw him weekly if there wasn't a game.

Mostly just athlete's.

[*anj*]

I don't know anyone whose name you'd recognize.

One of my best friends from high school (http://www.talentbytes.com/MarkSullivan/) used to sing with the Grammy Award winning male vocal ensemble Chanticleer. His wife is an opera singer (http://www.margueritekrull.com/index.html) and I've met her too.

My mom went to high school with this woman: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0369521/

Oh, and back in the early 60's when Stevie Wonder was performing as "Little Stevie Wonder" my parents went to see him perform at a club in Boston. When the show was over, his people wanted to get him out as quickly as possible, so they randomly chose my parents to give him a ride to his hotel. No one would suspect that he'd be riding in some little used car, and they managed to avoid the throngs.

[Doran]

I went to college with Michael Jordan. He and my brother lived in the same dorm and played "pick-up" b'ball on their dorm court rather often.

Okay - that's pitiful, but I'm feeling really lame here because MOST of the people being named are people whose names I don't even know. I live under a rock...have I told you?

Doran

[Plaid Dad]

I attended college with Donna Tartt and Bret Easton Ellis. The Shah of Iran's daughter was there at the same time, but I didn't know her. Oh, and I went to high school with Mariah Carey. I think that's about the extent of my brushes with celebrity greatness. ;)

[RegularMom]

Jaqueline Kennedy O'Nassis, for about 3 years, back when I was a kid. I used to run into her taking walks in the woods when I was playing or walking there myself. She was always very nice, and always by herself. My sister helped take care of her horses.

My mom once ran into Richard Nixon in a shopping mall. He was surrounded by Secret Service agents, but when she called out to him: "Mr. Nixon, you were my father's favorite!" he brushed the agents aside and gave her his autograph.

Other than that, we're pretty close friends with the Gallup brothers, of the Gallup Poll. My mom worked for them for years, starting when she was still a teenager. My sister and I went to work with her as infants. My cradle sat on George's desk, and my sister's cradle sat on Alec's desk, and we were the "kids of the office" for years. We'd run in and out of there all summer long, sometimes helping stuff and stamp envelopes, sometimes playing hide and seek in the filing rooms. Sometimes just kickin' back in George's big leather chair, pretending we ran the place. Alec and my mother were such close friends that everyone thought they'd get married for sure. But they never did. He still asks her from time to time, though. But she always says no.

Hmmm....the only other thing I can think of is that I went to middle school with the actor Peter Dinklage. But I wasn't close friends with him or anything. Just sat in a few classes together and worked on a couple of group projects with him.

That's all I can think of.

[gardenschooler]

My mother claims that Al Pacino stopped her on the street and told her *I* was the most beautiful baby he'd ever seen. And Walter Kronkite patted me on the head once when I was a toddler. Then we moved out of NYC and that was the end of my brushes with fame!

Dh is always calling me and telling me, "Guess who I just met?!?" and I have no idea who they are.

[*anj*]

Oh, and I almost forgot that I took a couple of theatre classes with Calista Flockhart. When Ally McBeal first started I couldn't figure out for the life of me how I knew that name and why she looked so familiar. Then I read that she'd gone to my college, and it all came back to me.

[HeatherH]

I went to acting camp in the summer of 1986 (?) with Amy Redford - Robert Redford's daughter. I can't remember if he came to our final performance - I think not.

John Cougar Mellencamp is my - um - I think 3rd cousin, but I never met him. His dad is my great-uncle's cousin. What does that make us?

[Jenny in Atl]

As a kid I got to meet a number of "stars" through my dad's work in advertising, I even worked on a Scott Paper comercial in NYC. Most are folks who would be TV/B grade actors like, Sally Struthers & Dick Sargent (CCF), May Quastil (sp?) Scott Tissue, but others were young yet to be discovered actors like, F Murry Abraham (Listerine), and Dustin Hoffman (not sure what the commercial was for. I also went to Jr. High with Matt Dillion (The Hommicks in Larchmont, NY), and got to meet a number of musicall folks in my high school years, but I don't think I could say I knew them, (Clash, Police, Billy Idol, Elvis Costello, B 52's, REM, Swimming Pool Q's, Ru Paul, lot's of local Atl. musical folks from the 80's.

Ow, Michael Stipe puked on my shoes once :eek:
That's all I can remember :cool:

[HeatherH]

My very good friend, whom I have been close with since Jr. High is the 2nd cousin of John Mellencamp. It's uncanny the resemblance my friend's dad has with him. Fwiw, she says he's a jerk to family and she has no respect for him.

OK, I just read this! This is funny - see my previous post. And yes, I've heard the same about his personality. . . there's sort of a competition in Seymour, IN over who has the biggest tombstone. . . .

[Suzannah]

DH has worked on Capital Hill now for ten years for various House and Senate offices and has met many people of note including politicians, reporters and various other news-makers.

My mom went to high school in Maryland with Coach "Tubby" Smith and someone who was on the Lawrence Welk show...Aldrich sisters? My grandmother knew Al Gore's mother and grandmother and him when he was little. And my mom was the first woman in the state of Indiana to earn her private detective's license. That has to count for something.

When I worked at Mount Vernon I saw several famous people including Barry Bostwick, Joe Montana and Robin Leach (who spoke to me). I also saw Ted and John Kennedy Jr. with John's then fiance and Sonny and Mary Bono. This was within a few months of their respective deaths.

My brother was best friends in kindergarten with Matt Grondin, son of Jack Grondin, the drummer from 38 Special.

[GothicGyrl]

Who do you know that's famous? I know Gothic Girl has someone famous in her family.

I've got several famous: Bing Crosby, Denise Crosby(Tasha Yar), and (gack) HER--Brittney Spears (who, incidentally, is my daughter's namesake--only I did not know it at the time. Basically, they are cousins).

And from my blog:
Six weird things about me. I've got way more than six, so this is my opportunity to brag:

1. One weird thing is that I grew up around the Circus. Both my grandparents (in Heaven now), worked for and trained with Ringling Brother's Barnum and Bailey Circus. I inherited my grandmother's clown collection which includes, among other things, a 6 figure Emmett Kelly Painting Collection (that's 6 figures each painting), a Calliope Magazine collection that dates back to the 60's (this was the only clown magazine around. Very extensive and quite informative); and part of both grandparent's ashes are in Clown shaped liquor decanters.

2. Because of number 1, at 3.5 years old, I participated in someone's wedding--the smallest man in the world (at the time) Mishu---DURING a circus performance. *I* was the tallest one there and I was the flower girl.

3. Speaking of the circus, I grew up with Mark-Gebel Williams, Gunther's son. I would go play in the tiger cage with him all the time.

4. I've met thousands of celebrity's due to living in Vegas and my grandmother's connections with the circus. For example:

A. I've also had the priviledge of being a flower girl at Randy "Macho Man" Savage's wedding to Miss Elizabeth (not the one on tv, a private ceremony) AND had him, her and Hulk Hogan at my 10th birthday party.

B. I was babysat once, by Wayne Newton. My mother was an OB nurse in a Vegas hospital and she was delivering his first wife's child, he sat in the Father's room playing with me.

C. I've met Sha Na Na and got to Bow-wow with Bowser on stage. I was 5 at the time.

D. I met Red Fox and got to ride in his "Red Sled".

E. I "taught" Charo how to cootchie-cootchie. My dad knew her and at 4, I told her she was doing it all wrong, and showed her how to do it.

F. I "played" Golf (during a Celebrity Golf tourney my grandmother was hired to clown for) with Animal from Hill Street Blues.

G. I got a piggy back ride from Greg Morris (The black guy from the old Mission Impossible)

H. I've got pictures of me kissing Kip Winger (from the 80's hair band, Winger). Granted I was in high school at the time, but my mom dared me to kiss him for HER, so I asked him and he obliged, while my friend took the picture. It was only a kiss on the cheek, but yeah, I was in heaven. (http://electricbarbarella.homeschooljournal.net/2007/01/28/i-told-you-i-kissed-kip-winger/)

I. I've met nearly every wrestler known in the business from the 80's until now. I was such a fan, that I, at one time, took off a sock I was wearing and swiped Barry Windham's bloody forehead with it. I actually kept that sock until about 7 years ago.

J. This last one I am most proud of above all else. My grandfather was an olympic swimmer and stunt double. He used to stunt for Johnny Weismiller on the Tarzan shows. There is only one episode where you can see him clearly--it is an early episode where Weismiller is jumping off a cliff--diving into the water--that's my grandfather. I believe this scene is in the opening credits of the show now. Just as well, I've got pictures of my grandmother dancing with Max Baer (Jed Clampett's son) when both were in the military.

~~~~~I grew up watching a Saturday Morning tv show called "Creature Feature". Dr. Paul Bearer was your host. "Uncle" Pauli was also a family friend :). And yes, he did look like that in real life.

I think this now thorougly explains my weirdness. I am a complete and total freak and I love it. :)~~

You asked for it and you got it. That's about all I can think of..at least without sounding too braggish..

[Suzannah]

Gothic Girl--that is quite a list of...umm...information. I come from a clown family too, though not the "big top" variety. Those are the creme de la creme of clowns. My mom and step dad took a clowning class when I came home for the summer and saw how much fun they were having I took the class too. I haven't done anything with it in several years but my parents have done lots of special events and some Christian clowning.

I have a bunch of Calliope magazines too and I would bet that you and I are probably the only ones on the board that have actually seen one. :)

Bump a nose!

[GothicGyrl]

Bump a Nose!! ;) It's funny, I have the Ringling Clown College and museum right down the road from me and only ONE person there has actually heard of the magazine!! I was shocked. My grandmother's clown troupe has made the cover more than once, so I might be keeping those copies, but all others I'm trying to donate.

I've clowned before but I found that I just couldn't breathe very well in the makeup. It was clausterphobic and I'm not usually like that.

[Mama Lynx]

It is surprising how arrogant a famous person can be, isn't it? I spent an entire afternoon with Reggie Jackson and, OMG! What a JERK!

I've been lucky. I've met very few jerks. But I was once in a line in front of Joe Elliot (Def Leppard), and he hadn't had his coffee yet. I wish I had had the presence of mind at the time to step out of line and bring the man some coffee, as a not-so-subtle hint that yes, in fact the whole room did know that he was cranky.

[Jann in TX]

I carried Troy Aikman's books in college (OU) after he broke his leg--we were on the same CART (campus area bus) route and had the same stop. He had not 'filled out' yet--and I was a newly wed.

Also while at OU (University of Oklahoma) I took a speach class, section 'J' for Jann right?--It ended up being section 'J' for JOCK...there were 2 girls (including myself) in a class of first string football players (well one golf player too). My partners that summer were Eric Mitchell (became a good friend) and Dante Williams. I imagine we looked quite unusual walking across campus to the library for our research 'dates'...again I was married...

Chris Tomlin (Christian music artist) was one of the worship leaders at our church in Wimberley (he ran our college ministry).

I met Carmen (Christian artist) when he was first starting out--and his concerts were free--and had about 50 people attending.

Half of my church (when I lived in Illinois) were extra's in the movie Ground Hog Day...I had a sick (chronically ill) baby at home so I did not get to audition... but it is fun to watch the movie because I have friends in almost every scene!

I made Walt Disney's cousin's wedding cake... well the bride's mother was his cousin--and her maiden name was Disney!

As far as politics go...I went to high school with Rick Dearborn--the Vice Secretary of Energy (or what ever his title is this year). I told him to 'sit down and shut up' when he was harassing a substitute teacher to tears...I was thinking out loud---but the WHOLE class heard me....and the class was very quiet after my comment too. (A few years later he did thank me for putting him in his place...). He was our class president--and he was a good one too (nearly 800 students in our graduating class). He graduated from OU the same time I did too--but I did not know him in college.

[swimnactmom]

(we started home schooling before we knew that was going to happen though)

[dirty ethel rackham]

My old mother's helper used to train with the skater, Evan Lysacak. I got to see him perform at a local ice show, long before he was famous. This little girl told me that Evan was sooo good, he was going to the Olympics. She was right. Several years later, my son and I bumped into him at another ice rink, after my son had taken a nasty spill on the ice as was bleeding all over the place. He didn't remember me:(

My mom had a funny one. When she was pregnant with my sister and had 3 boys under 4, she went to pick up Grandma at O'Hare airport. A man bumped into her while running for his plane and knocked her over. All she could think of was that the man had a terribly ill-fitting suit. Someone in his entourage went back to my mom and told her the "Senator John Kennedy sends his apologies!" To think my mom's only impression of him was that he had a terrible tailor, LOL!

[WTMindy]

I've got several famous: Bing Crosby, Denise Crosby(Tasha Yar), and (gack) HER--Brittney Spears (who, incidentally, is my daughter's namesake--only I did not know it at the time. Basically, they are cousins).

And from my blog:
Six weird things about me. I've got way more than six, so this is my opportunity to brag:

1. One weird thing is that I grew up around the Circus. Both my grandparents (in Heaven now), worked for and trained with Ringling Brother's Barnum and Bailey Circus. I inherited my grandmother's clown collection which includes, among other things, a 6 figure Emmett Kelly Painting Collection (that's 6 figures each painting), a Calliope Magazine collection that dates back to the 60's (this was the only clown magazine around. Very extensive and quite informative); and part of both grandparent's ashes are in Clown shaped liquor decanters.

2. Because of number 1, at 3.5 years old, I participated in someone's wedding--the smallest man in the world (at the time) Mishu---DURING a circus performance. *I* was the tallest one there and I was the flower girl.

3. Speaking of the circus, I grew up with Mark-Gebel Williams, Gunther's son. I would go play in the tiger cage with him all the time.

4. I've met thousands of celebrity's due to living in Vegas and my grandmother's connections with the circus. For example:

A. I've also had the priviledge of being a flower girl at Randy "Macho Man" Savage's wedding to Miss Elizabeth (not the one on tv, a private ceremony) AND had him, her and Hulk Hogan at my 10th birthday party.

B. I was babysat once, by Wayne Newton. My mother was an OB nurse in a Vegas hospital and she was delivering his first wife's child, he sat in the Father's room playing with me.

C. I've met Sha Na Na and got to Bow-wow with Bowser on stage. I was 5 at the time.

D. I met Red Fox and got to ride in his "Red Sled".

E. I "taught" Charo how to cootchie-cootchie. My dad knew her and at 4, I told her she was doing it all wrong, and showed her how to do it.

F. I "played" Golf (during a Celebrity Golf tourney my grandmother was hired to clown for) with Animal from Hill Street Blues.

G. I got a piggy back ride from Greg Morris (The black guy from the old Mission Impossible)

H. I've got pictures of me kissing Kip Winger (from the 80's hair band, Winger). Granted I was in high school at the time, but my mom dared me to kiss him for HER, so I asked him and he obliged, while my friend took the picture. It was only a kiss on the cheek, but yeah, I was in heaven. (http://electricbarbarella.homeschooljournal.net/2007/01/28/i-told-you-i-kissed-kip-winger/)

I. I've met nearly every wrestler known in the business from the 80's until now. I was such a fan, that I, at one time, took off a sock I was wearing and swiped Barry Windham's bloody forehead with it. I actually kept that sock until about 7 years ago.

J. This last one I am most proud of above all else. My grandfather was an olympic swimmer and stunt double. He used to stunt for Johnny Weismiller on the Tarzan shows. There is only one episode where you can see him clearly--it is an early episode where Weismiller is jumping off a cliff--diving into the water--that's my grandfather. I believe this scene is in the opening credits of the show now. Just as well, I've got pictures of my grandmother dancing with Max Baer (Jed Clampett's son) when both were in the military.

~~~~~I grew up watching a Saturday Morning tv show called "Creature Feature". Dr. Paul Bearer was your host. "Uncle" Pauli was also a family friend :). And yes, he did look like that in real life.

I think this now thorougly explains my weirdness. I am a complete and total freak and I love it. :)~~

You asked for it and you got it. That's about all I can think of..at least without sounding too braggish..

And another piece of the puzzle falls into place!!!
(One of my favorite Seinfeld quotes. Elaine says it on the Festivus episode. :-)

[Karenciavo]

Is her any relation to the Philadelphia Criniti's of Italian restaurant fame?

(We looooove that place!!)

You know, I never put the two together, we love Criniti's too. I guess because Rick seems so down on his luck, poor guy :( I'll have to ask my husband.

[Mamagistra]

Country singers Clay Walker and Mark Chestnutt both went to my high school, though not at the same time.

I've met a couple o' rock musicians (Pete Shelley and Robyn Hitchcock), fine art photographer Keith Carter, and Olympian Carl Lewis. And I once saw Alex Trebek at TGI Fridays.

Oh. yay-uh. :cool: *snort*

[Karenciavo]

When folks find out my husband played for the Eagles, I'll frequently get people who ask his name...and they know who he is! :)

Do tell, we have die hard Eagles fans in this house. :D Dh and I used to go to the Eagles Fly for Leukemia Dinner every year back in the late eighties/early nineties, were you there?

[Crissy]

It is surprising how arrogant a famous person can be, isn't it? I spent an entire afternoon with Reggie Jackson and, OMG! What a JERK!
I've been lucky. I've met very few jerks. But I was once in a line in front of Joe Elliot (Def Leppard), and he hadn't had his coffee yet. I wish I had had the presence of mind at the time to step out of line and bring the man some coffee, as a not-so-subtle hint that yes, in fact the whole room did know that he was cranky.

Oh, gosh. I should have said that differently. Of all the celebrities I've met and/or know personally, very few of them are arrogant. But when they are, ooooh, boy!

That's too funny about the coffee.

BTW, I remember you mentioning Paige Davis before, and every time I see her on TV, I think of you.

[Karenciavo]

One of my kids is famous (we started home schooling before we knew that was going to happen though)

Who is your child? You can tell us. :D

[imeverywoman]

that industry.

The novelty soon wears off. We were just out to dinner with one of our friends who happens to be a news anchor. People gawk, stare, whisper, etc. I cannot imagine being the celeb.

Fun thread!

[Laura Corin]

The Queen came to visit the new Catholic cathedral in my home town when I was a kid - odd when you come to think that it's not even her faith.

I was on my way to Cantonese class at the British Embassy in Hong Kong but was denied entry to the building and had to wait behind a rope until Tony and Cherie came out. It made me understand that those people you see on the news might not actually be waiting to see that celebrity - instead they might just be trapped on the rope line.

Laura

[Ferdie]

This was many, many moons ago, so you young'uns may not recognize these names, but.....

I played basketball in college in Southern California so I met many athletes. The most exciting : Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem, David Thompson, Magic Johnson, and Julius Irving. My roommates and I used to party with Marcus Allen.

On the weekends we hung out in Westwood and evey now and then we would see a celeb like William Shatner, Richard Pryor, Andy Williams, Bee Arthur, the guy who used to host Family Fued and Tom Seleck. It was such a thrill.

Also, I was an extra in a Jerry Lewis film, "Slapstick of Another Kind". I didn't get to meet them, but they had a latex face (I guess that the doubles wore) of Jewis Lewis and Madeline Kahn in the costume area. I would have loved to meet Madeline Kahn.

After college I worked for an accounting firm and one of the child actors from Family Affair worked there.

[Cricket]

I went to high school with David Bromstad, a designer with a show on HGTV. I've never watched his show and I didn't realize I went to high school with him until an old friend pointed it out. :) He was two years behind me. I remember his older sister more than him.

I had dinner with RC Sproul Jr. and Joel Belz, the editor of World magazine, at my parents' house. My dad invited them to speak at a weekend conference on developing a Christian worldview. He remembers getting a lot of phone calls from people wanting to know if it was some kind of video conference or if they were really coming to a tiny little town in the middle of Minnesota. It was a great night of conversation. I was a sophomore in college at the time.

My friend and I were on a plane with James Cromwell. This was pre-Babe. We didn't know he was on the plane until after we landed. He was in first class. I made my friend go up to him. We knew him as the one Eliza Jane Wilder wanted to marry on Little House on the Prairie. When another lady overheard my friend talking to him, she pointed at him and said, "I thought you were somebody!" James Cromwell said sweetly and patiently, "Well, everybody is somebody." lol

I was an extra in the first Mighty Ducks movie but you can't see me in any scenes. Emilio Estevez is incredibly short. He stood on a box for much of the scene we were in. And he was only there a short time. The stand-in did most of the work. I remember thinking that movie making was very, very boring. It's a lot of waiting around.

My cousin is a theater actor in New York. He's been in shows with Julie Andrews and a few TV actors who do theater sometimes.

[mom42terrificgirls]

I know kenny rogers sister; does that count?

[Karenciavo]

My friend and I were on a plane with James Cromwell. This was pre-Babe. We didn't know he was on the plane until after we landed. He was in first class. I made my friend go up to him. We knew him as the one Eliza Jane Wilder wanted to marry on Little House on the Prairie.

He was also Archie Bunker's friend Stretch Cunningham.

[Natalieclare]

the man who created Pajama Sam and drew Putt Putt and Freddie Fish, and designed Backyard Basketball, Backyard Football and Backyard Baseball (Humongus Entertainment computer games popular in the 90's) was one of my dearest high school friends. I still have his first ever hand made children's book made especially for moi!

[Luanne]

[quote=Crissy;58500]We count a number of professional athletes and coaches among our good friends (one of my favorite NFL players just stopped by this afternoon).

Which football player was this? I'm just curious since my daughter and I watch NFL football all the time.

[Cricket]

I forgot. I worked with a man at my grandfather's ministry who used to live in New York. His neighbor was Mario Puzo (author of The Godfather). He told me the only book of Puzo's he could recommend to me was Puzo's autobiography. I guess this guy is mentioned frequently in there. He also owned a nightclub in New York that was frequented by celebrities. He knew Bing Crosby, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, lots of 40s stars. I had to ask him all about Cary Grant. This guy said Cary Grant was such a gentleman. He said he was in real life just like he was in the movies. I was happy to hear that!

[Crissy]

[quote=Crissy;58500]We count a number of professional athletes and coaches among our good friends (one of my favorite NFL players just stopped by this afternoon).

Which football player was this? I'm just curious since my daughter and I watch NFL football all the time.


It was our friend Bobby (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Engram).

[Mama Bear]

:D

I saw Adam Arkin at the airport once. We were on the same flight, but I was busy with the hubby and kids. Actually, now that I think about it, there were often celebs on those flights -- Ontario, CA to Seattle and back again. I wondered then if they didn't fly out of that airport to avoid the crush at LAX.

You know all those black, cello-shaped cello cases? Our family was good friends with the family that designed and made them. (Weird story there.) If you look closely at them, you'll see a big raised "W" on the backside of the cases, for the family's last name.

I have a six degrees thing going on through our church with Bill Gates. ;)

[OnTheBrink]

I forgot one: I know Steve Camp. I met him through a friend from church. The friend had a party and Steve was there. He comes to our church a few times a year, to visit my friend and his family.

[Crissy]

Ack! How could I forget one of my favorite celebrities:

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/eafalbum/BallysSeaGalMindycopy.jpg

That's WTMindy in the center, wearing her Sunday best. :D

[Jean in Newcastle]

I wasn't born yet, but Corrie Ten Boom stayed with my parents for a few nights once. My eldest sister was a baby and instead of crawling, she would "walk" on all fours (hands and feet on the floor). Corrie Ten Boom was a life-long "old maid" and told my mother very emphatically that she thought my sister was possessed by a demon! My sister still doesn't like to read or talk about Corrie Ten Boom!

I met Bill Nye the Science Guy once on the street. He looked familiar to me (but I couldn't place him) so I just acted friendly and stopped and chatted for about five minutes until all of a sudden it hit me who he was and that I really didn't know him! All this time he had just played along. He just laughed when he saw me start to stammer and blush and said he'd enjoyed talking to me. He was really kind.

[Volty]

My uncles are Joe, Vince, and Dom DiMaggio.

Also I've taken a ride in a General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard (can't say the General Lee since they went through 3-5 cars per episode).

[Kendra]

I grew up with Audra McDonald (http://imdb.com/name/nm0567653/). When I went to see her after she won her first Tony Award, we were backstage at Lincoln Center and she said, "Oh! You are expecting another baby! I wish I was married and having children." Um, ok. The grass is greener, eh? She'll be in A Raisin in the Sun on tv next week.

Also performed with Sharon Leal (http://imdb.com/name/nm0495095/). Actually, she dated my ex-boyfriend after me :D

My husband's best friend growing up is Steve Martin's nephew, so we spent some time around him early on in our marriage. When my dh was a kid, he and his buddy went to spend the weekend with Steve during the era when he was dating Bernadette Peters, and she kissed my dh on the cheek. Pretty cute-- I think he was 12 at the time. Anyway, we have a lot of respect for him and his work ethic. He's a gracious man.

[Colleen]

I can't say I "know" anyone famous...I'm not even sure who qualifies for that label, given that many of the "famous" people mentioned in this thread are completely unfamiliar to me.:p

Most of my brushes with fame have been just that ~ incidental. Things like rubbing elbows with actor John Corbett (of the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding and tv show "Northern Exposure") at the bar he used to own in Seattle. Or bumping into Nicholas Cage at a bar in New Orleans. Or hanging with Seattle Sonics at a bar post-game. (Do you sense a theme here?:rolleyes:)

My college roommate's family are well-connected with the Clintons, so I've been around them. I did some temp work at the firm handling the Jimi Hendrix estate and his dad, Al, would come by each week. Very sad affair, that estate case, btw.

Beyond that it's mostly a lot of various and sundry run-ins, most of which took place either when I went to college with ueber rich kids at Tulane or when I temped at Microsoft while my best friend worked for the Sonics.

[Soph the vet]

I met Sara Lee, the baked goods queen. My mother bought a used Jaguar from her about 14 years ago in Connecticut. Sat with her in the DMV going over the title.
Used to see Paul Newman quite often at horse shows when I was a kid. I competed against his daughter, Clea.
In evangelical circles, I've met with a few "famous" authors including Don Richardson (Peace Child).:)

[Call Me Cordelia]

I can't believe it! I left out my most important one! I sat in front of Ann B. Davis in church one Sunday when I was, like, ten!! Don't know Ann? THE BRADY BUNCH!! She was Alice!!!!

This whole thread is making me feel really out of it, 'cause I don't know most of the famous people!!

Back to stick my head in the sand!!

[JFS in IL]

created the special effect in Star Wars when they go into hyperspace and all the stars zoom at the viewer. Ok, that is a stretch :cool:

I actually met or gaped at several famous folk when I was in college at UCLA and later worked at AMPAS (Oscar place). Alan Alda, Telly Savalas, Gregory Peck, Tippi Hendren, Anthony Perkins (scary! he tried to ask my friend out for a date and she was creeped out - he was so much older AND after all he was the Psycho guy !!!) screenwriter Morrie Ryskind (he SAID Groucho Marx was out side in a car but he wouldn't come in - darn it!) and probably others I have forgotten. this was, after all, 20 years ago (!!!!!!!!).
At San Francisco State U., early 80's, some actor from a sci=fi series came to speak at the school. He handed out cards that said "David Prowse IS Darth Vader!" and I got shoved into him during autograph time.

My dad went deep sea fishing with Zeppo Marx once...and John Wayne almost got my dad fired.

My mom met Ronald Reagan when he was a tv personaility. We have home movie footage of my grandma barreling past Secret Service men to shake John Kennedy's hand.

AND - one of my great-great somethings on my dad's side was Charles Ogle - the first film Frankenstein monster in 1910! :eek:

[ThelmaLou]

Do tell, we have die hard Eagles fans in this house. :D Dh and I used to go to the Eagles Fly for Leukemia Dinner every year back in the late eighties/early nineties, were you there?

His name is Matt Darwin #78. He played from 86-90. No, I wasn't there. I didn't even graduate from high school until 1990. We have a 9 year age difference. I didn't even meet him until 1992, after his pro career was over. I guess he was waiting for me to grow up. Ha!

[Jennifer]

I "know" Jennifer from the board. Hey Jen, any way they might bring back Alias?

I hope so. I'm looking for a series again-traveling around the world making movies, earning Oscar nominations and what not is just so tiring. I'd rather work on my stunts and kickboxing, stay home with the dh (did I mention he was yummy?) and baby, and look utterly fabulous every day. :D:D:D:D

Jennifer

[Liberty]

I once had dinner with poet Allen Ginsburg. I've also met members of the
80's bands The Alarm and Rhythm Corp, and I've gotten autographs from several former Tiger baseball players (Kirk Gibson, Alan Trammel, Lou Whitaker, and hall-of-famer Al Kaline, plus others).

Also, when my Mom was young Billy Graham came to sing (not speak--he was in a men's quartet) at her church. And when he was running for president, Richard Nixon came to her place of work and she shook his hand.

Here's an interesting one: my uncle served in WWII and was in Paris immediately after the war. He and his men were ordered to guard some boxes out on the sidewalk. They got curious and he opened one of the boxes. Inside was the Mona Lisa.

[Staci in MO]

My dh's job brought him into contact with a lot of professional athletes, and we became acquainted with a few. I think my husband was a little rattled the first time he met Jack Buck (the voice of the Cardinals). Even though Mr. Buck was always extremely polite, I don't think my husband ever saw him as a regular guy (he only met him a couple of times, though).

Before I knew my husband, my best friend in college and I followed Joe Buck (now a Fox Sports announcer) around the St. Louis Galleria. He was with his then fiancee (now wife), so I don't think he noticed us. We did have sense enough to follow at a distance.

Barbara Mandrell's mother is from my hometown. Although I stood in line for her autograph in Nashville once, I never "met" her. I know lots of her relatives, though.

A funny celebrity story. One day I was at work and one of my co-workers came in bursting with excitement. He had passed Wayne Gretsky on I-170 coming into work. It was during the short period of time when Gretsky played for the St. Louis Blues. This man had grown up playing ice hockey, and Gretsky was his idol. He kept on repeating, "He just glanced over and looked right at me! LOL.

[Ferdie]

WTMindy, nice abs. You rock!!! Makes me want to go do some sit-ups.

You know, I when I was growing up I had a pair of white Go-Go boots and I loved them. I have no idea how you guys cheer in them though. LOL!

[Peek a Boo]

the only "famous" person I KNOW is our local mayor, lol. I'm an alternate on the Parks and Rec board- can I be famous?? I was interviewed thrice for homeschooling on the local PBS station in Syracuse....I've been in the newspaper a couple times....ROTFLOL!

as for who I've *met*--
I have a pic w/ Bush when he was Governor --at some rally in San Antonio.

OH-- and I sold gas to David Robinson when I lived in San Antonio --It was after dark and I wouldn't turn the gas pump on. I made him come in a prepay. Had no idea who he was, just that he was TALL, lol.

I also got George Strait's autograph at the same place -- sold him a gold shamrock for muscular dystrophy :D
I don't really recall any other meetings of famous people.

dh as a pilot has flown Noah Wile [Dr Carter on ER] and Pierce Brosnan.

they also flew Howard Dean [as head of the DNC]: apparently Dean walked up to the pilots, clapped them on the shoulder and said light heartedly "We got some good Demecrats here, right?!!" Both dh and his co-pilot are staunch conservatives. They looked at each other and said "well, we know a few...."


....and Hillary: from Upstate NY when Bill had his heart problems. Dh thought the Secret Service guys were cool. "Just like on the movies" lol. he said he never got into LaGuardia airport that fast any other time :cool:

he runs into a lot of famous people at the airports. Harrison Ford, John Travolta [both pilots], Benjamin Netenyahu, Tim Russert,..and several others i don't remember.

[nancypants]

Well the closest thing to actually knowing someone famous... we have a family friend who works for Pixar so we've gotten to tour the facility. We met the "real Nemo." He lived in a tank in the hallway. LOL And we got to see the storyboards for the Cars movie several years before it came out. I also heard first hand about the "Tour guide Barbie" scene in Toy Story II long before it came out too and was told that my voice was what he always thought of whenever he was drawing a certain character in the movie.

Other than famous people I've met... that's the only one I really know. And you wouldn't recognize his name! LOL

[Ellie]

Cathy Duffy slept at my house many years ago when she was speaking at a convention in San Jose, California. And I used to be freinds with Mary Schofield (long story on the "used to be"). Gregg Harris and Little Bear have both been to my house.

And that's my claim to fame :-)

[Gwen in TX]

I met Steven Curtis Chapman (in Beijing, China, we were worshipping at the same church - he was there to pick up adopted daughter, we were touring). That's it for me --

But..

I just "inherited" my dh's old palm pilot - he moved up in the electronic world. I was erasing names in his contacts list, and came across Ravi Zacharius, Elizabeth Elliot, Phil Keaggy, Norman Geisler - home numbers, cell numbers, emails, etc!

My dad drove Elizabeth Taylor around, when she was married to Senator John Warner. She wrote him lovely thank you notes. Dad worked for a shipbuilder which contracted for Navy jobs (subs and carriers) and Warner was chair of the Senate committee which oversaw that work ??

[Mekanamom]

LOL, you'll love this RM. A few years back I was at the Western States Horse Expo and ran into Clinton Anderson. We chatted a bit about his show, and horses (of course!), and he shook my hand. My oldest dd was with me and he was just super. She said in her little voice "I've seen you on TV!" and he thought it was great that she was a regular viewer.

Along those lines, I also met chatted a bit with Gawani Pony Boy at the same Horse Expo (he's very very nice too). And very handsome! Yeah, I could've spent a little more time talking with him! (lol!)

I attended high school with the younger brother of one of the band members in Smashmouth. I was friends with friends of the younger brother... did have lunch at their house once or twice.

I also met a bunch of famous people while I lived in Hawaii and worked at Borders there... doesn't really count as knowing them.

My grandfather was the guy who knew all the famous people. He used to spend time with James Michener. And I think also Marlon Brando.

[Mom2jnb]

My Dad had listed the creator of VeggieTales house....I think my Dad helped sell it but I can't remember at this time.

When I was young we were on a small plane with the group Peter, Paul and Mary.

About 12 years ago in the Vancouver, B.C. Airport we met Brian Denehey.

I met Joey McIntyre from New Kids about 3 times.

Don't know them though....

Alison

[RebeccaC]

Well Speaker Dennis Hastert taught me how to lobby. He heard about my boys through a mutual friend and helped CAN (Cure Autism Now) get legislation through congress. He introduced me to key players on the hill.

The founder of CAN was a producer for Harrison Ford. Through CAN I met either in person or through the phone many top scientist who were doing research in the field of Autism. At fund raisers I went the very wealthy and famous in the Chicago area and to this day remain under impressed.

Rene Roso gave me an invite to her house to join a private prayer meeting for CAN. Being in Il with preschool boys I did not go. She had a real heart for kids on the spectrum and held monthly prayer meetings for them and CAN.

Dh's step brother is a producer and works for Eric La Salle.

Dh's older brother tho is a close personal friend of the Dalia Lama. He wrote a book called, In Search of the Medicine Buddha and when the Dalia Lama read it he asked to meet David. He spends several weeks a year now with the Dalia Lama. Here is a link to his web site, http://www.floracopeia.com/crow.php David is married to a well known in Italian actress.

Dh's step father is a world renown physicist and a Rabi who lives in Jerusalem. As a boy of 3 he was hidden by Cori Ten Booms group but lost his parents in the camps.

Dh's grandmother was the sister of Mel Gibson's grandfather. Dh's father knew Mel's dad when they were younger. So my dh is Mel Gibson's second cousin and my kids are his kids third cousins. I think thats the way it goes any way.

I won a scholarship to go to college in Israel at Hebrew U in the 80s. It was a bridge the gap between Christians and Jews and bring more tourism and and students to Israel. Part of that scholarship was to have my picture taken with prominent Israeli politicians. One of whom later became prime minister.

For those of you who the Christian group Phillips, Dean, and Craig I went to college with Dean and my dad knew Phillips' dad. I also was in the same youth network with the author/speaker Tommy Tenny although he was a couple of years older than me but we had mutual friends. My parents and grandparents knew and worked with his parents and grandparents.

I could post more but will leave it at that. Fun Thread.

[momo4]

Don't know anyone famous but I did dance next to Corey Feldman at Disneyland back when Videopolis was open :D


I remember Videopolis! Lots of fun. This is where I have met famous people. We always had summer passes so went a lot and met Tom Hanks, Ralph M ???(Karate Kid) and saw Michael Jackson. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

[JudoMom]

Wow, Sela Ward! I really like her acting. She seems like she would be a neat person too!

I don't know anybody famous nor have I had a brush with anyone, that I can recall. My mom knows the guys from Montgomery Gentry, the country group. She manages a super Lowe's in Lexington, KY and they shop from her a lot and have become friendly with her. I think she might have met a famous driver for the Lowe's car in track racing too but I can't recall the name.

Oh wait, I know Howard Carpenter! He and my MIL are tight. He is the father of John Carpenter the film maker (I haven't been in town at the same time that John has yet). But Howard is quite well-known in certain circles with music. And he has worked with tons of big names in the past: Johnny Cash, for ex. I saw his albums with pictures of those he backed with music. Quite amazing!

:D

[Heather in the Kootenays]

I discussed the price of organic food with her in a Health Food store once.

[*anj*]

I discussed the price of organic food with her in a Health Food store once.
With whom? Sela Ward?

[Heather in the Kootenays]

No, KD Lang - did I get it in the wrong place?

[*anj*]

No, KD Lang - did I get it in the wrong place?
Yeah, it showed up under a post that mentioned Sela Ward. Are you reading the board in hybrid?

[Rebecca in GA]

His neighbors were the Captain and Tenille.

My dad went to Auburn with Toni Tenille.

[Miss Peregrine]

Don't know anyone famous but I did dance next to Corey Feldman at Disneyland back when Videopolis was open :D


I remember Videopolis! Lots of fun. This is where I have met famous people. We always had summer passes so went a lot and met Tom Hanks, Ralph M ???(Karate Kid) and saw Michael Jackson. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I *loved* it, too :D I was bummed when it closed.

[Testimony]

because of where I lived there are many famous people from my area.

I dated once only a guy named Bill Bellumy in college. I saw him years ago as an MTV VJ on MTV. He was in some FOX TV show.

He is someone that I actually interacted with.

The most recent people that I know is I know the Jonas Brothers father because he use to be the pastor of Wyckoff Assembly of God in New Jersey. I know their father because I was in charge of my church's children's church program. I would borrow some materials from Pastor Jonas' church.

I know a few other people, but they are not popular anymore. Like I said, I know a few people because of where I lived and grew up.

Blessings,
Karen
www.homeschoolblogger.com/testimony

[Tracey in TX]

*DH played golf with President Bush (current), and met Former Bush and Gov. Jeb Bush. Bummer of a day for me to sleep in!!
*Met Tyra Banks enroute to Italy last year.
*Partied w/ Cheap Trick
*Boys take soccer lessons from Guiness Book of World's Record holder
*Know a few pro athletes in our neighborhood
*Carly Patterson, Olympic Gold Medalist (gymnastics)
*DB and SIL are close to Aiden Quinn's mom
*Aiden Quinn's dad was my English professor
*friend flies private jet for Mark Cuban
*another friend flew for Eagles (band) and Bon Jovi

*a good friend is being considered for her own show on Food Network--let you know if that happens :)

[KristineIN]

Oh I should add, he's only famous in the homeschool world, but dh had Dr. Jay Wile as a professor and we know him personally. He's even sent us stuff before.

Kristine

[*anj*]

Oh yeah, there's someone on this board who went to grad school with Jay Wile.

[Colleen in NS]

I know someone who is "famous" here - Marcia Somerville and her family of the TOG fame! LOL I knew the Somerville family in the mid 80s when we went to the same church for a few years - same small group and all that. I was shocked a few years ago when I read about TOG on these boards and saw her name and realized it was the same family I'd known years ago when they had just two or three children.

I'm also remotely related to someone from the band, Steely Dan. And recently found out my kids are indirectly related to William Bradford. :)

I'll post more if I think of any.

[Colleen in NS]

My mother used to babysit Kiefer Sutherland. Does that count?
Jennifer

By any chance did your mother live in Nova Scotia?? I think he is from here.

[Lorna in the boonies]

The most recent people that I know is I know the Jonas Brothers father because he use to be the pastor of Wyckoff Assembly of God in New Jersey. I know their father because I was in charge of my church's children's church program. I would borrow some materials from Pastor Jonas' church.

Thanks for that bit of trivia. My oldest sometimes thinks that being an A/G PK is the worst fate anyone could have in life (most of the time, she's just fine with it -- but you know how teenage girls can be!). You just upped the cool factor for her!;)

(She's been one since birth. It's all she knows and didn't see it as a bad thing until recently -- and even then, it's mostly due to the remarks that other people make!)

[Colleen]

WTMindy, nice abs. You rock!!! Makes me want to go do some sit-ups. You know, I when I was growing up I had a pair of white Go-Go boots and I loved them. I have no idea how you guys cheer in them though. LOL!

You do realize that's not WTMindy, right? Crissy was posting in jest.;)

[Crissy]

You do realize that's not WTMindy, right? Crissy was posting in jest.;)

That is her head, though. :D

[Colleen in NS]

1. One weird thing is that I grew up around the Circus. Both my grandparents (in Heaven now), worked for and trained with Ringling Brother's Barnum and Bailey Circus. I inherited my grandmother's clown collection which includes, among other things, a 6 figure Emmett Kelly Painting Collection (that's 6 figures each painting), a Calliope Magazine collection that dates back to the 60's (this was the only clown magazine around. Very extensive and quite informative); and part of both grandparent's ashes are in Clown shaped liquor decanters.

Hey, my grandfather was a HUGE fan of the Ringling Brother's Barnum and Bailey Circus, and used to follow them everywhere!!!! Probably in the 60s and 70s. There's no way to find out now, but I'll betcha he knew your grandparents?? He also always had his "Circus Room" in his house - an entire room stuffed to the brim with paraphernalia.

I once went to Baraboo Wisconsin to visit some friends for a few weeks, and went to the Circus World Museum. I also met some of the "Flying Wallendas" who were friends of my friend.

[GothicGyrl]

There's no way to find out now, but I'll betcha he knew your grandparents??

It's possible, if he ever came to Florida. They only worked the Florida circuit and even then, spent most of their time training new joeys. There were only a few occassions they made the ring.

[Tuffteacher]

My father knows a lot of famous golfers but I have only met a few famous people. The Osmond family came into the dive shop I was working in on Maui and renter snorkeling gear. Then I was cashier at a hardware store in Denver when the housekeeper from the Brady Bunch came in and shopped.

[Colleen in NS]

I also met the astronaut Christa McAuliff's husband. I worked as a custodian (when I was in college) at the courthouse where he works in NH.

A high school friend of mine, who had just transferred from NH, had Christa McAuliff for a teacher just before the Challenger accident. I'll never forget his face when news of the accident spread through school.

[LNC]

We went to Disney World on a Make a Wish trip with our profoundly handicapped then 12yos and our other 3 children a couple years ago. We saw Erik Estrada and his family being MOBBED everywhere they went. It was horrible and ridiculous.

We went into the back entrance for the Mickey 3d show together with the Estradas, bc of our wheelchair and their privacy issues and we were seated together early in the front. They chatted nicely with us about our son, our adopted african-american son, and make-a-wish buttons/ trip. They were super nice to our kids. We didn't let on that we knew who they were, and we hoped it was a nice reprieve for them!

[Dana in OR]

~~~~~I grew up watching a Saturday Morning tv show called "Creature Feature". Dr. Paul Bearer was your host. "Uncle" Pauli was also a family friend :). And yes, he did look like that in real life.



I grew up watching Creature Feature too! Saturdays were a hoot. Dr. Paul Bearer was soooo corny but a great (g)host! :D

[Colleen in NS]

This is way too fun reading all these replies.

- My mother used to babysit the children of someone who played for the Boston Celtics - only I can't remember his name!! Bill or something that begins with a B I think.

- My cousins' cousin is the mayor of Quincy Massachusetts. Last year when my Nana died, he arranged a police escort for all of us in the funeral lineup from the church to the cemetery. That was nice.

- I once got a personal postcard from Amy Carter when her father was the U.S. president.

- I met Margaret Becker, a Christian musician, backstage at a concert, because I was with a mutual friend of ours. I LOVED her. I've also met Twila Paris and Steven Curtis Chapman. Bob Ayala, Melody Green, Bob Fitts, but I don't expect many here would recognize those names. But maybe. :)

- My mother knows some of the Von Trapp family.

- An former religious leader of mine had a conversation with Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

- I saw Natalie MacMaster a few weeks ago at the airport. Please, someone, tell me you know who she is! She's an awesome Celtic dancer and fiddle player from Eastern Canada - I know she has toured in the States!!!!!

- My niece was a stunt double in a Tom Selleck movie series, Stone Cold.

[GothicGyrl]

I grew up watching Creature Feature too! Saturdays were a hoot. Dr. Paul Bearer was soooo corny but a great (g)host! :D
I loved his show and every chance I got to ride in his hearse. He really did look like that in person (his hair was as greasy and he had a fake eye and the scar--an accident when he was younger).. I do so love Creature Feature. :)

[JennW in SoCal]

I not only know who Natalie MacMaster is, I took some workshops she taught at a fiddle camp a few summers ago -- even chatted with her in line at the cafeteria. She is such a nice person, and sooooo talented!

[Just Me]

1. My dad once did some work for Gunther Gabel-Williams - of the Ringling Bros. Circus.

2. My grandfather was good friends with Grace Kelly's brother, and ate dinner with her family often.

3. My fil went to high-school with Charles Bronson (although his last name at the time was Bronzinski).

4. My uncle is an artist, and worked for Hanna-Barbera. He drew the backgrounds for the Fantastic Four cartoons, and you can see his name in the credits.

5. I have a good friend who ate lunch with Mike Huckabee in an airport recently.

6. My daughter was on America's Funniest Home vidoes as a finalist (does she count? :)) and we met Tom Bergeron.

That's it - my pitiful list! :o

[PinkInTheBlue]

I only "talk" on one other online group and it's a group of mommies. One of them I talk to quite a bit was once one of the best known porn stars in the industry. LOL! Of course I'm uninformed because I had to be told who she was and what they meant back when she joined. :) She's great though and seems to be a great mommy.

Oh and I've eaten and spent time with Phil Keoghan (host of TV show Amazing Race), Bob Proctor (author, speaker, and in the movie The Secret), and Bill Phillips (fitness expert and author of Body For Life).

Wow, huh? LOL That's about it for me.

[Colleen in NS]

Hey, my grandfather was a HUGE fan of the Ringling Brother's Barnum and Bailey Circus, and used to follow them everywhere!!!! Probably in the 60s and 70s. There's no way to find out now, but I'll betcha he knew your grandparents?? He also always had his "Circus Room" in his house - an entire room stuffed to the brim with paraphernalia.

I once went to Baraboo Wisconsin to visit some friends for a few weeks, and went to the Circus World Museum. I also met some of the "Flying Wallendas" who were friends of my friend.

Yep, I'm sure he's been to Florida to follow the circus. Come to think of it, that would be the Bradenton/Sarasota area, right? How cool, I'll bet they've met! You never know what connections you'll find here. I found out a few weeks ago that Amy in NH and I are extremely distantly related by marriage through William Bradford.

[GothicGyrl]

1. My dad once did some work for Gunther Gabel-Williams - of the Ringling Bros. Circus.

*I* certainly don't consider this pitiful. ;)

[GothicGyrl]

Yep, I'm sure he's been to Florida to follow the circus. Come to think of it, that would be the Bradenton/Sarasota area, right? How cool, I'll bet they've met! You never know what connections you'll find here. I found out a few weeks ago that Amy in NH and I are extremely distantly related by marriage through William Bradford.
Actually, it would be the St. Pete area--BayFront Arena mostly. Gram only did the college in Sarasota a few times, mainly private shows for investors and such.

They retired from performing when I was in middle school and went to private clown troup functions. ;)

[Audrey]

My mother looked very, very much like Grace Kelly. People did double takes a lot, especially after GK passed away.

[Colleen in NS]

I not only know who Natalie MacMaster is, I took some workshops she taught at a fiddle camp a few summers ago -- even chatted with her in line at the cafeteria. She is such a nice person, and sooooo talented!

Dh and I went to a workshop she did around here a few years ago, too. People in NS are so proud of her, and she is a really nice person. I stood behind her in line at the airport, didn't know it was her, admired her babies for awhile and was about to comment to her about her babies, when I looked at her eyes and realized who she was. By then, she was going up to the ticket counter so I didn't get a chance. But it's neat because she didn't have this huge entourage following her. Just her family strolling through the airport.

[Mad Charity]

I worked at Opryland Hotel in the late 80's so I have waited on a lot of country music stars. My favorite was Grandpa Jones from Hee Haw. He and his wife were sitting through what looked like a most miserable dinner with two guys in suits. Grandpa asked me for a glass of wine about twenty minutes into the meal. I started going down the whole wine shpeel and he stopped me and said, "Darlin' just bring me anything. It all does the same thing." I said, "Amen, Grandpa." They were darling.
I am having trouble recalling many right now but I can remember Mary Chapin Carpenter, she was nice. My husband waited on Neil Sedaka.

[StaceyinLA]

the country singer, Chris LeDoux (he had a duet with Garth Brooks, and played the rodeo circuit - he died a few years ago). He is my husband's 1/2 uncle. My father-in-law didn't even know about him until about 10 years ago when he finally found and met his real dad (his real dad left him and his mom when he was a baby). Anyway, it turned out he had a 1/2 sister and a 1/2 brother (Chris). They got together here when he came down for concerts and we had dinner with him and one of his sons that played in his band. He was a really great guy.

I went to LSU with Shaq when he was playing college basketball there. It was always quite impressive to walk down the halls near him; he is HUGE!!! I never talked to him or anything, other than just a hello or something in passing.

My niece's husband is good friends with Matthew McConaughey. In fact, he spends a lot of time in a town near our house. He gets massages and stuff at one of the local massage places, and does fireworks with the guys at our country club. I haven't met him and don't really care to. The ladies who've done his massages and stuff have said he is really cocky (I'm not surprised).

DD#3 had her pic taken with Johnny Knoxville when they were filming the Dukes of Hazzard movie near our house. We walked right beside Jessica Simpson in the mall too around the same time (she was in the movie too). Neither of those was too impressive to me, and the movie was HORRID!! Niece had her pic with Willie Nelson and the other little guy that starred in the movie (Sean Williams Scott I think). They basically stood on their porch in Clinton and watched all of the jumps and stunts with the car for the movie (it was right at the courthouse a block from their house).

I think that's the best I have to offer, not that I'm overly impressed with the rich and famous!

[Mekanamom]

She was born in Zacatecas, Mexico and was there during the raids. The family had moved their valuables into a secret compartment inside the couch, and when the raiders came, they sat my grandmother, who was a young girl, on top of it. (Their deception went undiscovered.)

But the raiders stole all the local livestock.

And my grandmother marched herself straight to their camp to demand her pony back! Pancho Villa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancho_Villa) himself spoke with her and said "We do not steal little girls' ponies" and gave it back.

Then her father nearly killed her when she got home with her pony.

[elegantlion]

What and interesting read! I have met several christian bands. A long time ago I worked in the airport gift shop, saw several celebrities that way.

I went to high school with a former pro baseball player, Andy Ashby. Another classmate was a Blue Angel pilot.

My MIL is famous is some circles. She was in nursing administration and is currently writing murder mystery novels. She's just Nana to us.

My ds10 has a friend that has been has been a in national commercial and sings, I'm sure he'll be famous some day.

[CynthiaOK]

I know Barak Obama's 2nd cousin :-). She's a fellow homeschooler here - but not famous yet! LOL!

[strider]

I have met plenty of big name authors.

I also had an aunt who was a Christian rock groupie. She finagled meetings with all kinds of Christian rock singers. Actually her pushy, kind of embarrassing behavior made me decided NEVER to think of or treat famous people as any different than anyone else. That decision served me well when I worked in publishing.

Two authors who are really, really nice people are Francine Rivers and Jan Karon. Neither of them ever treated me (a peon at the time) with anything but friendliness and respect. I cannot claim to "know" either one. I dealt with Jan Karon over the phone a few times--she was lovely to me, and also to the others on our staff. We all liked her.

I did meet Francine Rivers--she is the one and only famous person that I gushed over. I didn't know she was due in our office that day, so when I recognized her I fell completely apart. Her editor, my friend, just about died laughing--she had never seen me lose my cool so thoroughly. I felt pretty silly about it, but Francine was really nice. I had a couple opportunities to hear her speak to groups as well as chat with her personally during that visit, and I came away with the highest respect for her character, spirituality, and work. She was also well-liked by all.

[Antonia]

I just live vicariously through her (sigh).

[DollyM]

I've read every single post and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now my turn and my pitiful list.

My paternal grandfather's brother was married to Lilly Langtry - she was a vaudevillian star of the stage and rumored paramour to the Prince of Wales. That's my most direct line to the truly famous. And many of you may have never heard of her LOL.

My daughter corresponded with Valerie Tripp who authored many of the American Girls books for kids. She came to a homeschool function I organized and taught the kids about writing children's books. I also organized homeschool events and met Jim Weiss (story tapes) and the couple who publish "How Great Thou Art" art curriculum.

In her capacity as a dancer my DD has met MANY famous ballet folks, a list that would soon get boring for many of you. LOL

Okay, now on the the Kevin Bacon connections (somebody who knew somebody who once stood next to me LOL)

My grandmother played as a child with the Gish Sisters. Lillian was a silent movie star.

My mother's childhood friend was Meg Randall - 1940's B-movie actress.

I hung out one afternoon in the garage of a neighbor - playing with his granddaughter. I was pretty little 5 or 6yr and she was about 12 or 13. She grew up to be Candace Bergan and her uncle was ... obviously ... Edgar Bergan's brother. Her uncle was known as "Bergie" in the neighborhood and was a beloved figure among the neighbor kids.

My "much older than me" sister was married to the drummer of the Deltones (1960s rock band) - Dick Dale and the Deltones - Dick Dale is STILL "king of the surf guitars!"

In that capacity, my sister once made spagetti dinner for Jackie DeShannon (sang, "What the World Needs Now ... Is Love Sweet Love ...") I was at dinner that night, about 7 years old.

I went to high school with Danny Gans - Vegas headliner singer and impressionist.

Once in the late 70's I went to a party in LA with Iggy Pop. I cannot elaborate.

My sister went to highschool with Olivia who married the Beatle George Harrison.

Shout outs to fellow WTMers:

I rented an apartment once - the tenant immediately prior to me was Buzz Aldrin (whoohooo Lorna in the Boonies) I used to think it was cool that feet that had been on the moon had also been in my tub LOL.

Whoohooo Caroline - you must have grown up in Howard County. I did not but I've lived here past 28 years.

JFS - Sounds like we were at UCLA at the same era. Coincidentally, my sister met Groucho Marx on the beach on vacation in Panama City Florida in 1952.

RegularMom - I don't know the Gallups, but you reminded me that I do the folks behine "Mason Dixon Polling" from my days in the local chapter of Republican Women. And I've met many politicians, including shaking hands with Geo Bush, Dan Quayle and a long conversation once with Alan Keyes.

Finally - the BEST (for this board) I've saved for last: I am friends thru church with SWB's sister in law. Their names are both SUSAN so my friend goes by "Suzie" so as to avoid confusion. They apparently married brothers! SWB's son once sat next to my DD in a Sunday School class but she didn't know who he was. LOL.

Okay, I think that's about it except for sitting next to Johnny Carson once at at tennis tournament and riding in the same elevator with Bert Convey. Okay. That's it. Definitely it.

Edit to shout out to Antonia - hey hey on the ballet dancer connections thru our DD's. Whoohoo.

[*anj*]

Since people are mentioning all kinds of Christian singers, I remembered something. I used to belong to a religious group that was founded by John Michael Talbot. I have visited his monastery in Arkansas a couple of times for group gatherings, and also promoted a concert that featured himself, his brother Terry, and Barry McGuire (of Eve of Destruction fame.) I have met and been around JMT quite a few times, and I met Barry and Terry twice. Once I was flying home from Arkansas and JMT and his wife were taking the same flight, so we sat and talked. A man walked up because he recognized JMT and introduced himself as Oren Paris, Twila's dad, so I met him.

Oh, and when Barry McGuire saw how interested my (then 3yo) son was in the guitar, he gave him an autographed copy of a children's music concert that Barry had taped.
Barry is a really, really nice man, and an incredible performer.

[melissel]

I only "talk" on one other online group and it's a group of mommies. One of them I talk to quite a bit was once one of the best known porn stars in the industry. LOL! Of course I'm uninformed because I had to be told who she was and what they meant back when she joined. :) She's great though and seems to be a great mommy.

Hey, I've heard about her! She's one whose husband passed away unexpectedly while she was PG, and she had an unassisted homebirth with her second, right? I can't remember her name, though, LOL!

She was born in Zacatecas, Mexico and was there during the raids. The family had moved their valuables into a secret compartment inside the couch, and when the raiders came, they sat my grandmother, who was a young girl, on top of it. (Their deception went undiscovered.)

But the raiders stole all the local livestock.

And my grandmother marched herself straight to their camp to demand her pony back! Pancho Villa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancho_Villa) himself spoke with her and said "We do not steal little girls' ponies" and gave it back.

Then her father nearly killed her when she got home with her pony.

OK, now THAT is a cool story.

My own connections are very minor. I hung out with 80s movie actor (turned p*rn actor) Scotty Schwartz (The Toy, Kidco, A Christmas Story) in high school. I was dating a friend of his. When I was working in New York, I was at several of the same parties as Willem Dafoe. And our office was next to one of the hippest gyms in Manhattan, so I've been within 10 feet of Madonna, Brooke Shields, Kevin Bacon, and Kyra Sedgwick. I also gave Elizabeth Berkley directions on how to get downtown one night. She's about 9 feet tall!

My husband told Dustin Hoffman to get the heck out of his way at the door to his gym one day, because Hoffman was holding the door, blocking it while talking to Amy Irving, who was sitting at the curb in a limo. DH didn't see his face, and finally said something like, "Hey! Would you mind getting the heck out of the way?" And Hoffman turned and said, very apologetically, "Oh, I'm so sorry, sir!" and held the door open for my DH. DH was like, "Dude! Dustin Hoffman just called me "sir"!!!!!"

[allearia]

The preschool my son used to go to had several children of famous people, including an actor, a former newscaster, and a children's book author. There may have been more but I never recognized them until someone mentioned it to me.

[Karenciavo]

Once in the late 70's I went to a party in LA with Iggy Pop. I cannot elaborate.

http://www.smileygenerator.us/community/searchsmiley/y/surprised-yikes.gif

[orangeblossom]

Two of my best friends growing up are in 'the business' so I've met a few people through them. One of them was married to Dustin Nguyen from 21 Jump Street and I met the cast a few times. We also had them over for dinner often, and Dustin would tend to bring friends who happened to be in town, so we never knew who we'd end up with at our dinner table. I've visited a few movie sets with the other friend, and saw, but never met some of the stars.

The most famous person I knew was Johnny Depp...before he was somebody.

My dh met John Travolta without me once. He started chatting with my dh in a hotel lobby in Seattle.

[Colleen in NS]

A man walked up because he recognized JMT and introduced himself as Oren Paris, Twila's dad, so I met him.

I met Oren one time, too! Same time I met Twila!

[Janet in WA]

Ted Turner and Jane Fonda (they were our neighbors in New Mexico -- owned the neighboring ranch).

The late Steve Fossett -- just declared "deceased" unfortunately.

Dh has met many other famous people -- a perk of his job. Ross Perot, Lee Greenwood, John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Yogi Berra, etc.

[Gamom3]

dh has met...Diane Lane and Christopher Lambert. We both met Diane's mother and she took us through Diane's house that was on her property. We both have met a few Atlanta Falcons(do they count as being famous??)..I actually had lunch with all of them..like they noticed me 7months pg at the time!:D

[Tutor]

I'm married to someone famous! Well, he is somewhat famous but only within the circle of die hard comic book geeks. He's got a wikipedia entry, had artwork featured on a postal stamp (the DC Superhero series that was issued 2 summers ago.)

Does that count?


Totally counts, and my ds (age 7) will be so excited. He bought a sheet of those stamps (they are still in his treasure box, I think) 'cause he loves super heroes.

[LadyNancy]

I don't know anyone famous, but I met Adam West (1960's Batman) when I was 15 years old. I was at some kind of fair and Adam West was there. I stood in line with a young neighborhood boy so he could get his autograph. When we got to the table, Adam West stood up and kissed me! Boy was I surprised!

[Susan Wise Bauer]

I'm still feeling kind of lousy and this has been a GREAT thread to read.

I don't know any actor/movie types. In fact, this is a pretty pathetic list, but here it is...

1. One of the lead singers of D.C. Talk was my freshman drama partner in college. (Not a good experience, by the way)

2. I've met the lead singer of Jars of Clay a couple of times (he's a childhood friend of a good friend of mine)

3. Talked to Miss Manners at the last ALA conference. She's WONDERFULLY charming.

4. Had dinner with Sebastian Junger (author of The Perfect Storm) and Michael Lewis (Liar's Poker and a handful of other NYTimes best-sellers).

And...er...that's kind of it. The writing life isn't really all that glamorous. :(

SWB

[*anj*]

Oh, and how could I forget??????

I met Susan Wise Bauer at a homeschool convention in NJ!!! :D

[WTMindy]

Ack! How could I forget one of my favorite celebrities:

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/eafalbum/BallysSeaGalMindycopy.jpg

That's WTMindy in the center, wearing her Sunday best. :D

I was hoping someone would mention my little stint with the "gals"! LOLOLOL!!!!!!

[WTMindy]

You do realize that's not WTMindy, right? Crissy was posting in jest.;)

Shhhhhhhhhhh!!!! I kinda liked having those abs for just one brief moment. :D

[Tutor]

I worked "inside the beltway" for awhile, so I've met a few politico-types:

Letitia Baldridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letitia_Baldrige)
Secretary Lloyd Bensten (http://www.ustreas.gov/education/history/secretaries/lmbentsen.shtml)
Tim Russert

I also received a very nice note from President and Mrs. Regan when I was a kid. I had asked for an autographed photo of both of them and received the standard Pres. photo. I wrote and told them that was not what I had requested (how snotty was that?!) and in return received a photo signed by both of them plus a note written by the President and signed by both of them.

My dh has met more famous people than I have.

He interviewed Sam Donaldson for a news article. (He was supposed to speak with Mr. Donaldson's press agent, but Mr. Donaldson got so upset about the topic my dh was calling about... he was about the millionth reporter to call... that he got on the phone himself to give my dh a piece of his mind. The interview ended on nice terms, though.)

My dh was also in a service frat with Carson Kressley in college and went to high school with Dylan Bruno (from Numb3ers) and Jay Lender (co-creator of Spongebob Squarepants and son of the "Lender's Bagels" guy). Small schools so everyone "knew" everyone, but they were just acquaintances.

He also has a friend from his master's degree program who is an actor, as is his wife, and they still chat regularly. I'm not sure why but because they are friends I don't feel right saying who without dh's blessing, and he's in class right now, so I can't ask him.

It must be genetic for my dh 'cause my FIL has a knack for meeting famous people. He's actually writing his autobiography because he has had such an interesting life and met such fascinating people. (Plus it keeps him out of my MIL's hair. LOL)

[OnTheBrink]

I can't believe I left this one out. When I was a senior in high school, I met Lani O'Grady (Mary, on Eight is Enough). She was in the band room bathroom and I walked in to change out of my uniform. She was very friendly and chatty. Turns out she babysat my friend Michael, who's father was the actor I mentioned in my earlier post. She came to see him play the drums in the band!

She was so down to earth and nice to talk to. I was very very sad to hear of her drug problems and her death.

My dad once told me about the time he had to fly from NY to LA in first class with Jackay Harry in the same section. My father NEVER uses foul language but he did say she was a royal **tch. Very demanding of the flight attendants, loud, and very discourteous. He also had the pleasure of sitting next to Harry Anderson from LA to NY and said he was very nice and they discussed aerospace the entire flight! LOL

[LG Gone Wild]

He is a name in martial arts.

Don't laugh, but I went to junior high with Strom Junior (his dad was the oldest senator and possibly longest serving one). Um, I shook George H. Bush's hand when I was a kid. A school mate of mine was in a movie.

Gee, that's it.

[Miz Booshay]

This would be so fun to page down and see all the names.
I think it is just too hard to try to look thru all of these entries.

I'm sorry.
But, it's times like these...that I really, really miss the old boards.

[LG Gone Wild]

My dad actually got to chauffer her a couple of times. I met her once.

[Laurel T.]

How Fun...

My husband is a chef (with brief tv and print appearances) so he has met alot of famous people--some of the crew from Friends, Jerry Lewis, George Bush, the man who married Anna Nicole Smith (?). He met Mark Lemke and some really famous boxer (I think it was Evander Hollifield) and he used to cook for a professional basketball team after some of their games.

I met Arnold, Pres. Reagan, Barbara Bush...did some legal work for an individual involved with the Anna Nicole Smith inheritance situation. Oh and who is that guy from Full House--the cool uncle?

This is like a trip down memory lane and my memory is not serving me very well right now.

Laurel T.

[Crissy]

3. Talked to Miss Manners at the last ALA conference. She's WONDERFULLY charming.

SWB

I should hope so! :D

[ChrisN in NY]

I went to college with Siobhan Fallon (who was on Saturday Night Live for awhile and was the bus driver in Forrest Gump).

I went to high school with Diana Georger (who is a Broadway actress).


ChrisN
who hasn't posted in a while, but I'm not tired nor do I have much work to do since we've taken this week off school.
and who's thinking you all most likely have *no clue* who these people are :)

[HappyGrace]

I waited on the Baldwin brothers' (Billy, Steven, Alan) mother. The manager knew who she was and told us. She was very gracious. (I think she is now deceased.)

Dh was in Muscle and Fitness magazine in a MetRx (fitness drink) ad when MetRx very first came out (1994) and they did before/after contests for the "average person" to enter; the prize was being in the ad plus a supply of MetRx. He still drinks MetRx today and considers it a good product.

When I was a baby, ZsaZsa Gabor (now there's an old timer!) was in JCPenney's, I think it was, because either she or her sister Ava had a line of wigs they were selling there and they were there promoting them. She told my mom I was one of the most gorgeous babies she had ever seen and I was sure to grow up to be stunning! My mom said she had on an amazing and very large necklace with diamonds, etc.

On the circus topic, my cousin as a young child had his picture in the paper with Emmett Kelly because he (and his two brothers) had just lost their father.

Jake the Snake Roberts (wrestler) asked me out in a bar once (a lifetime ago, pre-salvation by Christ's grace.)-I said no.

Just this past May we were in NYC (dd8, my mom and I) in American Girl Place for lunch and there were callbacks that day for the Kit, American Girl movie coming out. We met Abby Breslin (star of the movie and others that I haven't seen such as Little Miss Sunshine.) At first there weren't many other people around and dd got to talk to her for quite awhile, got her autograph, and we took their picture together. She was very pretty in person, but more than that, she was both personable and very humble.

And last but not least, I was on Romper Room when I was little, and also a Goodwill commercial (my grandmother had a high position in Goodwill and got both spots.)

This thread has to take the prize for one of the most fun ever! (It is WAAAAAY past my bedtime and I will pay for this tomorrow! Well worth it!)

[Lorna]

I was taught French by Annie Lennox's aunty :)
A friend of mine's dad crashed into Paul McCartney's car in his embarrassing orange Volvo.
My sister kissed Ewan McGregor on holiday in Crieff, Scotland.
My friend has a nude drawing of Sean Connery at the top of their stairs (he was an art student at Edinburgh College of Art when Sean was a model)

That's all the silly ones I can remember right now

[FlockOfSillies]

Went to elementary school with Wil Wheaton (Star Trek TNG, Stand by Me, etc.), met Pat Sajak and Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune (boy, they had to wear a lot of pancake makeup for the cameras!), met a few political types over the last few years... and since it's 2 a.m. I'm forgetting the rest of mine, if there are any.

My high school is used for a lot of TV/movie locations. They shot Heathers there when I was a student. We've had a few students who later went on to showbiz careers. I think the most famous were the Smothers Brothers.

When I was a kid, my mom and brother met the guys from C.H.i.P.s. They were filming on location at our local Kmart. Erik Estrada stayed in his trailer :cool:, but Larry Wilcox gave my brother an autograph.

My dad has fixed the air conditioners of several celebrities, LOL. Alex Trebek and Parker Stevenson come to mind.

A couple of years ago, a friend of mine worked briefly as the piano teacher for Madonna's dd.

That's all I can remember.

[Gwen in TX]

Oh, and how could I forget??????

I met Susan Wise Bauer at a homeschool convention in NJ!!! :D

He was there getting a PhD while she was studying for her MDiv.
We were in Women of Westminster (WOW) together, although, to be honest, we didn't "know" each other. When we did meet (later, at a speech in Fort Worth), we realized the other one looked familiar, probably from those days.

[Colleen in NS]

My dad actually got to chauffer her a couple of times. I met her once.

Mother Teresa?? Now I'm really in awe. I would have loved to have met her.

[Colleen in NS]

1. One of the lead singers of D.C. Talk was my freshman drama partner in college. (Not a good experience, by the way)

2. I've met the lead singer of Jars of Clay a couple of times (he's a childhood friend of a good friend of mine)

A good friend of ours here went to college (Liberty??) with one of the guys in one of these bands, and I can't remember which band or which guy!

This thread seems to have a lot of what I think is called six degrees of separation.

Very cool thread.

[rockermom]

I once got to jam at a local pub with The Impressions. My best friend was in the band Humble Pie for a while.

[Karenciavo]

dh has met...Diane Lane


4. Had dinner with Sebastian Junger (author of The Perfect Storm)

I forgot to mention that my dad worked on a location shoot for The Perfect Storm that lasted for months. Of course my dad met everyone involved, he worked closely with Mary Elizabeth Mastrontonio when she was piloting her swordfish boat in the film, and he bossed Wolfgang Peterson around because he was setting up the boats wrong for swordfishing, oy :o

[Remudamom]

I remembered this from my whacky sister. For a while she worked for Disney as a pyrotechnician, which means she blows things up. She would do the fireworks show over Cinderella's castle and she also ran the Indiana Jones set in Orlando at Disney.

She confronted Michael Eisner about his smoking in one of "her" theatres once, when he asked if she knew who he was (she did) she replied she didn't care who he was, he wasn't going to smoke in her theatre. She did not get fired.

She told Huey Lewis to stop double dipping at a backstage party.

[Karenciavo]

She confronted Michael Eisner about his smoking in one of "her" theatres once, when he asked if she knew who he was (she did) she replied she didn't care who he was, he wasn't going to smoke in her theatre. She did not get fired.

She told Huey Lewis to stop double dipping at a backstage party.

Your sister and my father sound like two peas in a pod. :)

[Jan in SC]

I don't have anything very exciting, but...

I went to a school of the arts where Sam Waterston (Law & Order) was a guest teacher. He was very nice.

My husband went to high school with Stephen Davis of the Carolina Panthers, and his family is good friends with the team owner.

I have some friends that I see regularly on tv in commercials and on some shows, in small parts, but they aren't "known."

I was adopted and I used to dream that my "real mom" was famous - especially when I was upset with my parents (which I DO consider to be my real parents), but I spoke with her recently and, while nice enough, not famous! (My dream was a little dashed.)

[Sunny]

Well, I don't think I KNOW anyone famous, as in a personal aquaintance. However, I grew up in an affluent area of So. Ca, and there are many famous people there.
James Caan would drive down the street on our way to elementary school in his big Rolls.

I worked at Disneyland for 5 years during college. During that time, I can't even count all the famous people I was introduced to. I got to be a tour guide one night when they had a special star night. I was assignned to a kid from one of those evening shows I didn't watch, so I can't even remember his name! A head turner though. They were an average family, with a star of a kid.

Michael Jackson came for the big launch of his 3 D movie, and we had to clear out Space Mountain for him to ride his own car. He doesn't like to get near any regular people!
Most of the time, the stars attempted to come to Disney incognito so they didn't bring attention to themselves, but among us cast members, news spread pretty fast. But, again, I didn't really get to know any of these people.

I saw Kurt Russell at the ice skating rink where he was watching his son practice hockey. He looked like a mess, sweats, ruffled hair, face hair growth of several days... He wasn't hanging out with the rest of the parents, he was looking down form the top side, where we were just walking by.

We went to a water slide park this summer, and the wife of that black basketball player on the Lakers with the wild colored hair was there with her boys. They live nearby, and get all the neighbors mad because they use a helicopter to land on the beach where it is not allowed. She had his name tatooed on her back side and stuff about him on her arms. We were in line next to her and her kids for several rides. Interesting family.... (Rodney somebody maybe? ) See, I'm SO bad with names!

Unfortunately, I've never considered any of these people special, so I never bothered to remember the names of most of the people I was introduced to, or helped get onto a ride or simply noticed or was told who so and so was. I'm terrible with names and stars just don't strike me. Sorry.

[Dawn]

Umm...I'm on the same chat board as Pioneer Woman!!

LOL!

Love PW!

[Dawn]

The guy who invented the Jacuzzi married into my hubbys family (never seen him...LOL).

Hubby went to hs with Megan Dodds, the girl who played one of the stepsisters in Ever After.

I don't "know" anyone famous, but have met some...

When I worked in Westwood when I was 18 I met Darrell Strawberry and the older brother on Wonder Years (can't remember his name).

I met the blonde kid who played the little brother on Growing Pains when I was 15 and worked at Baskin Robbins. LOL He was probably 9 and went on and on about how much he liked the bubble gum ice cream! :p

I spoke with Benny Hinn! :rolleyes: Not voluntarily though. LOL

Fernando Ortega chastised me for forgetting to call my mom when I got to a Campus Crusade Christmas Conference and Bill Bright himself announced in the main meeting that a Dawn _________ needs to call her mom! :o LOL

Can't remember anyone else....

[CLHCO]

Author of "Doomsday Book". Okay, I don't "know" her. I went to her house once while hanging out with her daughter who was a childhood friend of one of my college pals. She was very nice and lives in a modest home with her physics professor husband who was a colleague of my father-in-law.

I had a good friend once who went to high school with Terry Farrell from Star Trek, Deep Space Nine and Becker. She was a Star Trek fan at the time but couldn't ever get into the Deep Space Nine character because she knew the actress and it was odd to her.

[CLHCO]

Oh, and my sister called me a year or so ago to say that Willy Nelson was buying her a beer. :D She is an flight attendant and was staying in a hotel. He came in where she was eating alone and invited her over, buying her a beer and chatting. She said he looked stoned out and old.

I worked once at a resort where Val Kilmer stayed. I only got a glimpse of him but others who talked or worked with him directly said he was obviously out of it from drugs or something as well. Sometimes meeting people in real life is a way to shatter some of the celebrity worship. They are people and some of them are very nice, some are jerks and far too many spend much of their time in a stupor.

[rockermom]

Oh yeah, when I worked in accounting at a fancy hotel I was training a new Night Auditor and I answered the front desk phone. It was Jeff Foxworthy and he wanted a wake-up call. :rolleyes:

My friend works for DirecTV in cust svc and she got a call from a customer and she asked for the name on the account and the response was "THE George Lucas" (something like 26 receivers on the account). I know she doesn't actually know him, but I always thought it was interesting.

[PariSarah]

. . . has been on Oprah. Does that count? Oh, and he was Time Magazine's America's Leading Theologian for that big thing they did in 2000, I think it was.

And Lauren Winner's husband is my son's Sunday School teacher.

*sigh*

That's the closest to fame I'm ever going to get. At least until Chef Isaac opens up his world-famous restaurant in Paris. :D

[GothicGyrl]

She confronted Michael Eisner about his smoking in one of "her" theatres once, when he asked if she knew who he was (she did) she replied she didn't care who he was, he wasn't going to smoke in her theatre. She did not get fired.

Your sister is my new idol, mainly because I would get fired. I've told off a few "do you know who I am"'s in my day and my pat answer always was "yes, and?" It's one thing to be a celebrity/famous/important.. it's totally another to wear it like some sort of stinkin' badge of honor. I WILL call you on the carpet if you start doing that.

[rockermom]

I almost forgot, my nephew's ps teacher was married to Tom Wopat (Dukes of Hazard) thanks to a big shotgun:eek:!

[Cindyg]

My father in law broke Michael Landon's leg when they were on opposing teams in a high school football game. So he says.

My dad had dinner with Hootie and the Blow Fish back when they were famous and everyone knew who they were. Except my dad. He had absolutely no idea who they were. Oh, and he knows Pele (soccer star).

My husband has met gobs of famous people: Ronald Reagan, both George Bushes, Dick Cheney, Dick Armey, Ron Paul, John McCain, Rick Perry, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Jack Valenti, John Fund and Steve Moore from the Wall Street Journal, Fred Barnes from Fox News, Jack Kemp, William Bennett, Dan Quail, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, Newt Gingrich, Ben Stein, Steve Forbes, Will Smith, Bo Derek twice, and Don Henley (the guy who sang Hotel California). He once had lunch with five members of the House of Lords, and they discussed homeschooling!

[mcconnellboys]

Well, I've been thinking about this.... I have lots of "famous" dead people in my family tree..... a cousin who's an astronaut.... I used to have lunch with governors and their minions on a regular basis for work.... but I don't think I know any movie stars, LOL, and that's what really counts, isn't it?

Regena

[leslie]

I have actually met Susan three or four times at our home school convention. She remembered my name and said hi to me and even helped me choose a couple of books! She is very nice and very real.

[Jill W.]

Dh, especially, knows all kinds of people. He knew Saul Bellow pretty well, and appraised his private library for him when he (Mr. Bellow) was preparing to move from Chicago to Vermont. He knows Roger Ebert. He knew Bill Veeck (former owner of the White Sox).

We sold an antique spinning wheel that used to sit in front of our fireplace to Amy Madigan and Ed Harris.

We know many people that are famous in their academic or political fields and are often interviewed on Discovery Channel documentaries or news analysis shows. Egyptologists, paleontologists, foreign policy guys, etc. I used to correspond regularly with former CNN and ABC anchor Aaron Brown.

Our bookstore has been used in film and television because it's so "quaint and picturesque." Our shop is to be seen, very fleetingly, in a scene in the film "Love Jones," for example.

And back when I was a young lass, I knew many major league baseball players, some of whom are now Hall of Famers, like Carlton Fisk. But my favorite was my high school coach, Al Pilarcik, who had played for the Orioles during his MLB career.

[Frontier Mom]

I went to high school with Chris Hammond, former Braves pitcher. My ds asked if I was nice to him and I told him I would have been a lot nicer if I would have known he was going to make the big bucks!! LOL

I rode horses with Bear Bryant's granddaughter in college. Roll Tide!! He would come down as a grandpa, not the legendary coach. Great man. He died that same year, my freshman year in college. He gave me an autographed poster I had framed and hangs in my den.

Mike Minter, former NFL player, came to our church. Rudy from the movie is speaking at our church next month.

We also had Greg Russell from Hilton Head Island to our church to promote his movie. He hung out with us for a while.

Kate Jackson's sister was my high school English teacher and they looked exactly the same.

My distant cousin was Lyndon Johnson. My grandmother used to go to their house every summer for a visit.

[Denise in NE]

Okay - here is my (yawn....) list:

I waited on Debra Winger when she was in town filming "Terms of Endearment"

I went to elementary school with Carrie Duncan - sister of actress Sandi Duncan

In high school I took classes with -and laughed a lot at - Craig Anton, who plays the dad on Disney Channel's "Phil of the Future".

I went to a different high school (senior year) with this guy whose brother played the pilot in "The Twilight Zone Movie" - He spoke in one of my classes about his experiences in Hollywood. Not positive.

And, of course, I met SWB in Kansas City in 2003 :)

And...

My husband currently plays in a band with John Thompson, Christian songwriter who wrote "El Shaddai" and "Sanctuary"

Denise in NE

[LizzyBee]

Who do you know or have met?

I met and got a wet willy from Al Denson.

Back when dh was racing, he met Paul Newman.

I met SWB at the 2006 HEAV convention and she autographed my WTM book.

Our family is friends with Dan Breeding and his family. He's not exactly famous but he is an animal trainer who has appeared on numerous TV shows. He was on Regis and Kelly last week with Peter Gross and he hit Kelly on the butt with his alligator's tail. When dh told me about it, I just laughed and said, "How many people can say they know someone who hit Kelly Rippa on the butt with his alligator's tail?!" Dan used to train chimps and other animals that were in movies, but he found himself in an ethical dilemma with animals being trained to act like people, so he stopped doing that. Here is his website: http://www.creaturesofcreation.org/aboutus_principals.php

[tmkclscroggins]

My husband's great uncle is George Jones! I haven't met any other famous people but he's met a ton of country singers.


m

[Oak Knoll Mom]

I knew Edward Norton (actor in American History X and Fight club) in high school.

So did you also know Colleen (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/member.php?u=613)? She went to high school with him too.



Jesse Jackson spoke at my high school; and, as part of the SGA, I got to have breakfast with him.



I taught Jesse Jackson's great nephew. He was a feisty little boy who had a very short temper. Once, when he was mad at me, he said, "I'm going to call my Uncle Jesse on you!" I replied, "Great! I'd love to meet him." He didn't try that again.

[TengoFive]

I'm just now seeing this and read every single one. It's fascinating to see the connections!
I've met very few famous people myself, but my brother is constantly meeting famous people. Let's see.
He played on Kevin Costner's cd, so he met him. He met Dolly Parton when she was rehearsing in a studio next to the one he was rehearsing in. He played with Lee Roy Parnell, so I've met him. He's playing with BlackHawk now, so I should meet them soon. Um, I stood next to one of the designers from Trading Spaces in TJ Maxx a few years ago. Oh, Jimmy Carter read my kids a book last summer. You could see my sons hair in the Washington Post LOL, but that was all you could see of him.
I went to the Grand Ole Opry last year and met Little Jimmy Dickens, Porter Wagoner, Whispering Bill, etc. I didn't know who most of them were, but my brother did his best to explain to me how important they were.
As you can tell, all of my brushes with fame have been through my brother, except for the Jimmy Carter one.

[inquirer]

Kimberly Williams Paisley and David Schwimmer. I also took a class with Nancy Pelosi's daughter, Alexandra (does that count).

My brother who wrote for the same schools newspaper got to meet Charleton Heston and Cindy Crawford (two of our famous alumni).

[Cindy in AR]

I have met Steven Curtis Chapman and got to eat lunch with his brother Herbie. On a family note, unfortunetly my great uncle, John Birkhead, suggested the idea of the humanist manifesto to John Milton and hung out with his in the early 1930's. My husband use to live on property owned by John Paul Jones and his 5th Greatgrandfather so something like that lived a mile from Patrick Henry and guarded him during the Rev. War.

[nancypants]

The closest I come is knowing a storyboard guy at Pixar. :D

[Liza Q]

I went to school with Cynthia Nixon. However, I still can't bring myself to watch Sex and the City :glare:

I have *seen* several famous people in the city but I usually just keep walking - I hate to bother them, kwim?

[JESSICAinMD]

I met the Steve Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter) briefly. I met Wayne Newton and his wife. Wayne held my oldest daughter (when she was still an infant) during a boxing match when we were stationed in Korea. He did a performance later that night.

I met George Bush when he was campaigning for his son.

[clwcain]

As a child I received an award in a competition from Lindy Boggs.

In High School
I had lunch with:
Margaret Thatcher, Colin Powell, Paul Tsongas

Provided Security for:
David Copperfield, Gerald McRaney, Delta Burke, James Browne

Met casually/socially:
Anne Rice, Harry Connick, Jr., Harry Connick, Sr., Wilson Goode, Bruce Marks, Arlen Spector, John Street, Ed Rendell, Frank Rizzo, Trent Reznor, David Vitter, Mary Landrieu
I'll have to think about college and post-college...

[Geo]

I went to highschool with Janice Dickinson, ex-supermodel and producer of "Janice Dickinson"s Modeling Agency" on the Oxygen channel. She was my sister's best friend.
From what I can tell, she hasn't changed much. A little skinnier, and harsher. She never liked me, either.:glare:

Geo

[Pencil Pusher]

You all do!!!! (Just wait....) ;) :lol:

[Jami]

You all do!!!! (Just wait....) ;) :lol:

:lol:

That's what dh keeps promising me too. ;) Though he's *known* in some VERY small circles online within his niche.

I evidently went to the same college as Jenna Fischer (Plays Pam on The Office) but she's 3 or so years ahead of me, and I have no memory of meeting her. But my path didn't cross that of many theater majors, other than playing pit for one musical production.

[TXMomof4]

I was in a dance troupe with Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks singer) in Jr. High. Her family had a local band, the Maines Brothers. It was really kind of funny...she got a scholarship to Boston College (I think) to study music. The local news was interviewing her and asked about her goals in studying music. She said "I just know I'm not going to grow up to be some chick singer in a country band!" ROFLMAO!!!

[Jumping In Puddles]

I had lunch with Bruce Springsteen. I was underwhelmed because all he wanted to talk about was politics! :mad:

He still has a to die for tush, politics aside.;)




I AM SO JEALOUS! So very, very jealous... how did you get to have lunch with him? When was this? I love Bruce. :D and I'm jealous. He can talk politics with me (or pretty much anything he wants to talk about) ANY DAY!

[charlotteb]

My dh "claims" that he is a distant cousin of Marilyn Monroe. But I've never seen any evidence to back this up :) Plus, she died before he was born, so we never met her.

[Parabola]

I was in the front row at a Van Halen concert and David Lee Roth said several questionable things to me, does that count?? LOL.

I've met one of the singers from Mushroomhead, he signed my ticket and shook my hand.

And either Brewer or Shipley signed my ticket and shook my hand when they opened for Shooting Star.

And that is as close as I've ever gotten to fame......



And clwcain, whoever you are :), Trent Reznor is a musical genius, how awesome that you've met him.

[Kathleen in VA]

I've read them all - whew! What an impressive list. I do not *know* anyone really famous but I've had some brushes here and there.

Here is my list (in chronological order so as not to offend any of the celebs who visit this board):

I met Pat Boone at the Officer's Swimming pool at SAC Hdqtrs in Omaha, NB. He was getting a tour or something and came out of the men's side of the bathhouse surrounded by guards and was wearing a white suit and white shoes - no joke.

I was coming out of a dry cleaner in Arlington, VA as a very tall, handsome sort of guy was coming in. He smiled widely and just said "Hi, there!" After I was in the parking lot, I realized it was Anson Williams (Potsy from Happy Days). I waited for him to come out, got his autograph and had a nice conversation with him. He spent the whole time asking me about *my* life. Totally down to earth and nice. (He was picking up some dry cleaning for his in-laws).

I worked for a lawyer who was friends with Sen. John Warner and I once had to work on a campaign mailing for him. I worked overtime several nights in a row and Sen. Warner sent me a letter thanking me for my help.

I lived in a tiny, run-down brick apartment building in Falls Church, VA and my across-the-hall neighbor's radiator went on the blink. She called the maintenance guy and he showed up with his daughter and Joe Jacoby - one of the "Hogs" from the Superbowl winning Redskins team (he was dating the daughter at the time). I was introduced and I managed to say, "Hi." Didn't think about asking for his autograph until a few days later.

I will share this one just because I find it humorous. I was given tickets to the Kennedy Center to see the National Symphony Orchestra when I was in my early twenties. I went with my then boyfriend and our seats were in the stratosphere facing the opposite side of the concert hall (not the stage). After straining to turn my head and watch the orchestra I finally gave up and just decided to sit back and scan all the other members of the audience.

At the beginning of one piece an older gentlemen with stark white hair and a younger nondescript man entered on the box level. They did not sit down but stood near the railing - neither one removing his coat. The white-haired guy began to motion with the instruments and conduct the piece the orchestra was playing as if to instruct the younger guy. All I could think was, "Yeah, yeah, we get it. You know the piece inside out. Sit down already. You're making an idiot out of yourself." I almost pointed him out to my companion but didn't want to interrupt his listening experience.

At the end of the piece, the orchestra received a lot of applause with the conductor bowing and pointing to the orchestra and all that usual conductor stuff. Then he waved his arm out into the hall and pointed to the guy I had been so disgusted with who then also took a bow. The audience erupted in thunderous applause and then rose quickly to their feet. (sorry for the cliches - I'm too tired to think of another way to say it). It turned out to be Leonard Bernstein. I'm glad I kept my mouth shut.

I met Andrew Pudewa and Ken Ham at the HEAV convention last year. Both are very gracious and kind.

I met Jeannie Chancey (Passionate Housewives) at a retreat in Luray, VA back in the 90's. She is a very nice person with a servant heart.

And, I know Howard Phillips (former presidential nominee for the Constitution Party), his son and dil, Doug and Beall Phillips, (Vision Forum), as well as his other son Brad Phillips because they used to be members of my church in Woodbridge, VA. Doug and Brad had lunch one Sunday afternoon with dh and me before either one was married - dh and I were "ministering" to the singles community - LOL. If you ever listen to Doug's message about marriage, the pastor with the thick New Jersey accent he mentions is my pastor :).

[wagnfun]

Tiffany, the red headed singer from the 80's and I share an ex boyfriend. Does that count?

Also, my friends daughter is the youngest daughter in the movie "Click"....

[Jean in Newcastle]

My dh met Graham Kerr (The Galloping Gourmet, The Gathering Place cooking shows) this morning at his work! He got two autographed copies of his books to bring home to me - what a guy! Now I've got to start cooking!

[Tracey in TX]

Danestress' reply has me thinking: Who do you know that is famous? (sports, music, art, politics, industry,science, etc)
I really believe in the Six Degrees of Separation. We all know someone who knows someone... (Maybe one of you is secretly famous and hasn't shared this yet :))

[Kristine out of lurking]

Steve Harwell of Smashmouth was a few years behind me all through K-12. His brother was in several of my classes. His big sister Michelle was always threatening to kick my a$$. I was terrified of her.

[Once]

My husband and I went to high school with Mike Weir. He was a naturally good golfer back then too. We like to see his name in the newspaper when he wins. But alas he probably would not remember us.

[Lisa in Jax]

Dh and I know a former NPR Marketplace host (David Brown) pretty well. He had a carrel directly behind dh in law school, so we knew him pretty well. He is a genuinely NICE, intelligent, interesting guy.

Dh used to do legal work for a former commissioner of baseball (Fay Vincent), who's also a very nice person. He and his wife came to dinner at our house once.

In college, I was a theater geek. I worked on plays with a man who later had a small speaking part in "Forrest Gump." My friend played the long-haired VietNam activist behind Tom Hanks on the podium at the Washington Monument. He's the one who pushed Forrest up on the stage to speak.

A college friend was briefly famous a few years ago when her life partner died in a vicious dog attack outside her apartment.

[Mom to Aly]

My ex dh (d not standing for dear) is the biggest jerk in the entire world, and I put up with him for 16 years--I think that should win me major awards and I should be recognized internationally!! :) :) :)

[Mama Lynx]

I've mentioned this in similar questions in the past, but my suitemate in college was Paige Davis. We lost contact during a time when she was wrapping up a stage show, and I was moving, at the same time.

[Cathy in IL]

One of my closest friends is married to a top NBA trainer. He trained Jordan, Pippin, and many others.

[RegularMom]

George and Alec Gallup, founders of the Gallup Poll (or was it their father who started it?), are old family friends. In fact, Alec has proposed marriage to my mother more than once. (She keeps saying no because she doesn't want to ruin their friendship.)

And, for a few years as a kid, I lived down the road from Jacqueline Kennedy O'Nassis.

[Crissy]

My husband has been a sports photographer for 31 years. As a result, we count a number of professional athletes, coaches and announcers among our good friends.

[Sharon in SC]

......but my suitemate in college was Paige Davis.

How cook is that? I love her!

[tonya in sc]

The band eleventyseven are personal friends. Wavorly are coming to visit in the fall. We also know the band Chasen. The guitarist, Silver, has a girlfriend. She is our hairdresser.

[Faithr]

Okay, let me think.

My dh and I went to law school with Martin O'Malley who is gov of MD now.

My godfather's son was the inspiration for the movie Good Morning, Vietnam (Robin Williams played the guy).

My mother met JFK at a White House function.

Dh works with an economics consultant from MIT who has Yo Yo Ma over to his house every Passover. How's that for attenuated!

I met Jackson Browne very briefly once back when I was 16.

Eddie Albert (the guy from Green Acres) bumped into me at a cocktail party one time and said 'excuse me' to me!

My sister rode in a limo with George Hamilton to some presidential inaugaral ball and she said he was really funny and charming! And he danced with her once too and he was a really good dancer.

My brother in law lost 50 dollars to Johnny Carson at poker game somewhere (Las Vegas??? Reno?)

Once when dh and I were walking down a street in Malibu (or some place like that, dh was in LA on business and I came along for the ride) I saw Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid getting out a car. This was back when they were married.

George Bush Sr waved at me once from his limo!

And last but not least, my great great grandfather was Samuel Gompers (my mother's side) and my paternal grandfather was friends with Dorothy Day the founder of the Catholic Worker movement. Those facts I find really cool!

[Titus.Two.Five]

My husband is on speaking terms with Mike Huckabee, they have talked on the phone (my hubby used to own a *huge* drilling business down on the Arkansas/Missouri/Oklahoma area), he has had lunch with Obama (no we will not vote for him :001_huh:)...not really 'famous' but anyway...you'll also soon see the name George Bialecki on television, he is a 'green builder' and has been chosen to represent the USA over in Beijing for the Future House project...that is my hubby's business partner.

When I was in my early 20's I was a waitress in a VERY small town. I waited on and sat/talked to Ted Nugent every year when he came up for deer hunting, even went to parties he was at with my friends. ack! lol

[nukeswife]

Not really a big deal but my Dh's cousin (on his mother's side) are cousins of Kevin Sorbo, the guy that played Hercules on TV. They call him Cousin Herc LOL

[Diana in OR]

20 years ago, I met John Elefante (from Petra and former lead singer of Kansas). 2 friends and I got to meet him and he showed us his studio. A mutual friend arranged the meeting for us.

My dad played drums in a band in the 1960s in Bakersfield, which was quite the happening place on the music scene at the time. He knew Buck Owens (from Hee Haw). I don't know what happened, but the family story is that Mr. Owens did something to mess up my dad's musical career. My mom never had anything nice to say about him.

My great uncle, who was also a musician was good friends with Tex Ritter (John Ritter's dad) and his family.

Because of dh and my political dealings, we know several people that know influential members of Congress, the President and other high level politicians and government officials.

[Jami]

Can I do a "I know someone who knows someone"?

Our former church's former youth pastor's wife (still following?) is very close friends with Kate DiCamillo. And their son asked her for a story about a mouse with very large ears...and Despereauxwas born.

[milovaný]

I have a good friend in Colorado whose dad was James Irwin, the astronaut.

My husband's sister's husband's sister -- or cousin? (lol) -- was married to Lorenzo Lamas.

My cousin was in a band called Idle Eyes in Canada and the opened for Tears for Fear and Bryan Adams back in the late '80s.

Nothing TOO amazing; the first one surprised me when I discovered this. I was over at her house for the first time -- our kids playing together -- and she was talking about something related and the way she said it I finally realized she was saying James Irwin was her *dad* and I was floored. Thought that was pretty cool.

[Brindee]

I met Jonathan Winters in Palm Springs. My friend and I went into an icecream shop and saw him and were arguing whether it was him or not. He said, "Whoever says it is is right." Then he bought our icecream and gave us an autograph! I always thought he was a funny guy!

My 8th grade class went to the taping a gameshow. They had Jamie Farr (from MASH) and what's his name--the guy that played Radar O'Reilly (also from MASH).


Extreme Home Makeover came to town and I was able to be a "Blue Shirt" (volunteer). I was able to talk with and get this picture with Tanya. It was November, and freezing cold (literally), but Blue Shirts HAVE to wear the shirt on the outside, so we had to pull it over our coats. We all looked fat! ;)

[Tarheel Heather]

My dad was in two movies, is a member of the SAG. Not that there is much he can do with SAG in NC, although he can vote if he feels like it.

[LauraGB]

My grandfather and his brother swore they knew John Dillinger and Al Capone. He even had a few stories about each. Around here, though, I think everyone's grandfather (of the families who've lived here for generations) claims to have known those two.;)

[Leslie in TN]

Well, dh is a southern gospel singer and was with one of the "big name" groups, so we've got many friends in that circle.

He has also worked with Elvis' former bandmates, Lisa Marie Presley, Eric Clapton, Dolly Parton, and has sung for the King of Thailand. Oh yeah, he also went horseback riding at Kirstie Alley's ranch once.

Does that count? :001_smile:

[lynn]

I know Larry the Cable guy. I went to high school with him.

[elegantlion]

My Mother-in-law is somewhat famous in the nursing field. She was president of a national nursing sorority and wrote textbooks for nursing schools. She is now retired and writes murder mystery novels. There is a very old picture of dh and ds on her website when we were at one of her book signings.

One of our neatest I met someone famous stories was when we were in Hilton Head Island. Dh and I were wandering through this very expensive menswear store. They had a model of an old AJ Foyt race car. I had just bought dh the same car. We commented on that to the owner and he said, "That my car." very smugly. Then he said, as our jaws dropped, "Yes, I own the original, it sits in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway museum." It was Bob Bowes. Dh got his autograph and we put with the car. It held a lot of memories because his dad had been such a Bob Bowes and AJ Foyt fan.