s/o autographs -- Celebrity run-ins

[AJL]

There are a ton of celebrities who come to Austin and I've run into several (in a few cases, quite literally). Have you had any chance celebrity run-ins? Any favorites? Anyone who left you going "meh" afterwards?

[msmerymac]

A LOT because I used to work at a very well-known movie theater in Hollywood that celebrities would frequent. One regular guest was Quentin Tarantino. He and Eli Roth were the ONLY people there at 10 PM on a Thursday night to see the last showing of a really bad horror movie (shocker). He used to sign autographs in the bar, too. Anyway, I got to introduce the movie to just the two of them.

I also spoke to Philip Seymour Hoffman in the hallway and got his autograph when he was there for a special screening of Capote. It was after his oscar nomination but before he won the oscar and I told him my favorite movie was Magnolia, in which he is part of the ensemble cast.

Lots of others. John Malkovich. Paris Hilton. Johnny Depp (there were a LOT of middle-aged women trying to track him down). Elijah Wood. Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale. Mick Jagger. Paul McCartney. Richard Simmons. Christopher Walken. This was almost 20 years ago now, so I can't really remember all of them! Many were there for screenings put on by AFI or Variety or for premieres. We did the premiere of the 40 year old Virgin and I remember all the posters with Steve Carrell's face lining the hall!

[Jalapeñomel]

This is such a ridiculous flex, but I have celebrities that live in my town. Of course, I live in the smallest condo in the smallest portion of my town, so it's certainly not because I have millions of dollars floating around.  I think part of it is because the paparazzi leave them alone around here, and they can do things that us plebs enjoy doing without being bothered for pics or whatever. 



I also have an embarrasing story about Jeff Goldblum hitting on my in LA and he would.not. take no for an answer. It was creepy AF. 

[tacokick]

I’ve run into Edward Norton a lot out and about. John Waters too.

I’ve met a lot and had conversations with many actors and directors at the Maryland film festival because it is (was?) held in a very small theater so everyone would have to wait in lines/lobby together.

I’ve met and talked with food celebrities a lot. Giada De Laurentiis made and served me a pizza. I had drinks with Martha Stewart.

ETA I ran into Sam Waterston walking his Norfolk terrier on the Upper West Side years ago and true to form saw his dog first (it came over and was sniffing me) and was petting it and then looked up and it was him. He was very nice!

[wanderingback]

I actually have literally never run in to a celebrity…or I’m just completely oblivious lol.

However, my partner works with celebrities so I’ve been around them then, at our house, at events, at parties they invite us to, etc. Never encountered any drama or any thoughts, but I know he has stories and "feelings" about certain people since he knows them and has had positive and negative experiences.

[meanie]

I grew up in an area that some celebrities lived in so we would see people in town, but no one I really cared about as a teenager. Ron Howard was the person I saw most frequently just out with his kids, the general consensus was that he was a normal nice guy.

One of my best friends in middle school's dad was a director and would get us tickets for concerts and let us watch movies he got to review before they came out. I guess he would count but he was just my friends dad, so not cool.

I've met some athletes but other than being amazed at how tall they were or whatever it did nothing for me.

I can't really think of anyone I would fangirl over in person, however when I was 13ish I would have died if I met Taylor Hanson hahaha

Ooh I just remembered that H met and played poker (or something similar) with David Ortiz at Foxwoods. He said Ortiz was super duper nice. My H has met way more people than I have because his step mom works at an artist colony and people come there for creative retreat type stays.

[bears]

May 1, 2023 9:56:03 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

I actually have literally never run in to a celebrity…or I’m just completely oblivious lol.

I'm kind of here. I saw Kevin Bacon with his son, but I had no idea it was Kevin Bacon. My friends were very excited about the sighting, but I only remember him because he was with his son who was dressed very distinctively (10 year old punk).

I did see Manute Bol at the airport. I didn't recognize him, per se, but I described him to MH who was able to tell me exactly who I had spotted. He very much looked like an NBA player and was surrounded by others in a way that made you think he was important.

[lessel]

My most recent was Jeff Foxworthy in Home Depot and that just felt perfect.

[erbear]

I have met and chatted with Joe Biden a number of times (I'm from Delaware -- he lives down the street from my MIL and used to show up to all the things when he was a Senator. I once puked on his shoes at a lunch in high school). He is super friendly and kind.

[mrsslocombe]

H & I met working for a film company so we used to see people a lot in the office and at premieres. I used to work on shows with various D-list celebrities. And now we live in a neighborhood where a lot of them live. Plus in NYC you do randomly have lunch next to Matthew Broderick or see Christine Baranski at the opera.

Other than in a work setting I've never actually talked to any of them.

My favorite random spotting was Daniel Craig in Whole Foods.

[msmerymac]

May 1, 2023 10:23:43 GMT -5 erbear said:

I have met and chatted with Joe Biden a number of times (I'm from Delaware -- he lives down the street from my MIL and used to show up to all the things when he was a Senator. I once puked on his shoes at a lunch in high school). He is super friendly and kind.

I DO feel that everyone from Delaware has met Joe Biden, lol. 

[rupertpenny]

I see famous people around fairly often. Alec Baldwin, in particular, is everywhere and I sat next to Maggie Gyllenhaal on the subway recently.

The only time I've talked to anyone was when a friend and I were seated next to Ajay Naidu (Office Space) and Heather Burns (Miss Rhode Island in Miss Congeniality) at a very small restaurant. They were both great.

[bears]

May 1, 2023 10:29:50 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

May 1, 2023 10:23:43 GMT -5 erbear said:

I have met and chatted with Joe Biden a number of times (I'm from Delaware -- he lives down the street from my MIL and used to show up to all the things when he was a Senator. I once puked on his shoes at a lunch in high school). He is super friendly and kind.

I DO feel that everyone from Delaware has met Joe Biden, lol. 

I firmly believe that everyone in Delaware knows each other.

[wildrice]

I could have sworn I saw Bernie Sanders waiting to cross the street when I was driving several years ago, but it's possible it was some other similar looking old man. I remember thinking to myself at the time "that guy looks just like Bernie!" and then remembering after that he actually WAS in town for a campaign thing, so it not impossible that it would be him. However, he was on his own so I am not sure - wouldn't he travel with security? I want to say it was pre-2016 election.

Anyway, I'm particularly bad at recognizing people in general so it's entirely possible I've seen others but haven't realized it.

[rupertpenny]

May 1, 2023 10:24:37 GMT -5 mrsslocombe said:

My favorite random spotting was Daniel Craig in Whole Foods.

Which Whole Foods? Gowanus?

This reminds me (for some reason) that I once saw Matthew Rhys and his kid at the Red Hook public pool. 

[mrsslocombe]

May 1, 2023 10:34:47 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

May 1, 2023 10:24:37 GMT -5 mrsslocombe said:

My favorite random spotting was Daniel Craig in Whole Foods.

Which Whole Foods? Gowanus?

This reminds me (for some reason) that I once saw Matthew Rhys and his kid at the Red Hook public pool. 

No, Chelsea.

I saw Kerri Russell last week talking to some people on a stoop on Willow St, but I have yet to see Matthew Rhys. 

[circa1978]

I was a journalist for the first part of my career so I've met or interviewed many famous people, but most were politicians (Obama was obviously my favorite; I never met Biden) or other authors/journalists (Bob Woodward was an amazing high point and I was particularly geeky about David Sedaris), because I never worked an entertainment beat. Other than athletes, I also oddly met two of the Munchkins from the Wizard of Oz; one I interviewed (and he was very unpleasant) and the other I met as a child. In my day-to-day life, I'm pretty oblivious and not very interested in famous people so I am unlikely to spot someone at the airport or whatever.

[InBetweenDays]

I ran into Sting once in college and he jokingly asked me if I was there for a wet t-shirt contest.

I also worked at a bike shop at a popular vacation spot one summer in college and rented bikes to Summer Sanders, Chad Lowe, and Body by Jake. All were very friendly.

[devonpow]

I had a long conversation with Rob Lowe but didn’t realize who he was until after. I’m not great with faces lol

I recorded a Christmas album with Kenny Loggins in the 80s - my random trivia fact. I was part of the small background choir. I spent 2-3 days in the recording studio with him.

DS1 is casual friends with one of Heidi klum’s kids.

I grew up in a part of California that has a decent number of celebrities so I’ve seen a lot out and about/went to school with celebrity kids etcp

[sweetchix]

I once saw Drew Carey at our local mall. It took a couple takes to realize it was really him. He looked different than he did on his show.

[devonpow]

Oh! Last week I was in CVS and there was a group of older women there getting their Covid boosters. I was chatting with them and one was Tenley Albright - first woman to win gold for the US in figure skating. So I’ll add that to my “brush with fame” list lol

[erbear]

May 1, 2023 10:33:24 GMT -5 bears said:

May 1, 2023 10:29:50 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

I DO feel that everyone from Delaware has met Joe Biden, lol. 

I firmly believe that everyone in Delaware knows each other.

This is facts.

[erbear]

I met a fair number of pretty famous athletes in college, mostly while bartending at the Walter Camp dinner. Ricky Williams then proceeded to find me in a bar and buy me drinks all night while my football friends wondered how the hell I was friends with Ricky Williams

[bittybomb]

About 20 years ago my husband and I met Molly Shannon in a bar in downtown NYC.  We were with another couple and Molly chatted a bit with the other wife and me.  We loved her.

[sugarbear1]

I have told this story before, but I met Dave Matthews at Universal Studios, summer of 95. We made out. He invited me to "check out his tour bus." I ran away.

I have also been on stage with the Beastie Boys (Mannheim, Germany, summer of 98).

I met Kevin Costner in a bar in Seattle and James Taylor bought me a drink in a bar in Augusta, Georgia.

I had coffee adjacent to Lily Tomlin in Florence, Italy. We chatted briefly. She was as lovely as you'd imagine.

Oh, and I met Natalie Merchant when I fangirled in the hotel lobby the morning after a 10,000 Maniacs concert. She was... not gracious.

ETA, I've met several Olympians (mainly rowing, but some sailing) which is only cool if you're a rower. LOL.

[mysteriouswife]

I mentioned in the autograph post we know a few on a first name basis. Not to the point I can call them up and ask them to hang.

I literally ran into Avril Lavigne once. She was with a small group. They were chatting and she and I bumped into one another. We both apologized and moved on. It wasn’t until she was behind me that it clicked.

My all time favorite interaction was Busta. He and I were grabbing food in the MIA airport. He knocked over the napkin stand. I helped him clean it up like the good person that I am. I had no clue who it was since we were both wearing mask. When he said thanks and started chatting I knew. I was in fan girl mode. I quickly ran back to my SIL who was waiting with our luggage. We both went back to our 20 year old selves. I also FaceTimed with H who was not as impressed.

I was born in Nashville proper. It wasn’t (and still isn’t) uncommon to met older country music stars. My neighbor is BFF’s with Taylor Swift’s mom. There is someone across from me who is the child of another country star. The home was one built by them in the 80’s. The backside of my neighborhood is a few lower known artist. One kind of popular pop artist has a home here. she uses it when she is here for work. I have met a few of them at local events. my daughter went to school with a grandchild of an icon in country music. for their 5th grade graduation the school snuck them
in from the back and had dividers up. I was highly annoyed they couldn't have normal family time. people were taking pictures and not focused on their own kid. Like Mel. I live in a very modest home that we paid $250k for. So I’m not baller.

[pandora89]

The TV show Suits was often filmed on the same street our old condo was on and they used our lobby for some of the scenes so we were see cast there. The production actually threw a street BBQ for the everyone on our street as a thank you once they were done filming. A lot of the cast was there too.

DH and I were recently out to dinner and were seated near one of the Toronto Maple Leafs recently. A few weeks ago, we were driving home from an appointment and an uber cut us off last minute and then stopped right infront of us a one lane wide road to pick someone up. It was another Toronto Maple Leafs player lol

[mysteriouswife]

One more I thought about. DD went to daycare from 6 weeks until 2 with Johnny Cash and June Carter’s grandson. The mom was not very nice. The dad was pleasant and seemed chill. Not sure who was the child of June and Johnny.

[Deleted]

I’ve met several WWE wrestlers because they would frequent the gym I use to belong to whenever they were in town.

Several years ago I took my girls to NYC for a day trip to do the whole American Girl thing. We went to Serendipity for dinner and while we were outside waiting for a table, a woman started talking to my girls asking them about their dolls. She looked familiar but I couldn’t figure out why. We ended up sitting at the table next to her and she turned out to be Rosie O’Donnell.

[starburst604]

Me and my friends randomly hung out with Lil Jon all day at a pool in Vegas. Then went to dinner with him and his friends after. I had to jump on a red eye home so I didn't stay long for the dinner. He was cool, and Lil', as his name suggests. In a group picture with him at the pool, Ron Jeremy is randomly in the background. Twice following that, me and some of those friends were in Mexico and LJ was in town performing at clubs. We joke that we're his unintentional groupies. 

ETA: me and H we were in a bar in San Franciso a few years back and he recognized Mark Sanchez. When he walked by him on the way back from the men's room, H introduced himself and he hung out with us a for a while. Also a nice guy.  I've actually met a handful of athletes including Derek Jeter, but I feel like while they're famous, athletes aren't quite "celebrities?". 

I also sat next to Bobby Brown and his daughter (not the one with Whitney) at a Janet Jackson concert. He was high AF.