Celebs both well known and obscure that you have more than just met

[storrsroars]

When this thread started, I thought the topic was more like "who's the most famous person on your cellphone" type of thing. But since it's not, I'll add some conversations I've had over the years that I recall being interesting at the time.

I was a seatmate on a shuttle flight with Bob Novak (who, if alive today, would be a superspreader as he coughed the entire flight w/o covering his mouth). We had a long conversation about Scott Peterson and why American news doesn't cover significant world stories but focuses on ratings grabbing garbage.

Also an aisle mate with Nomar, on a flight from Dallas where he reinjured his wrist in 2001. He was the first person I'd actually ever saw with a personal portable DVD player. It was just him and me in the aisle and I didn't bug him much, but I did a double take on boarding, with a look like, "Wait, aren't you supposed to be playing baseball somewhere?" So he told me what was going on, it wasn't public info, and at that time there was no in-flight internet or Twitter, but I have to say I was tempted to use the airphone to call WEEI.

Living in Alexandria, I'd bump into all sorts of people and have brief conversations, James Carville while grocery shopping a couple times (I once asked him who cooks in his house and barely understood a word, but the essence was if it was something with flavor, he cooked it), George Will at a bookstore (we discussed the Mussina to Yankees trade), Louis Rukesyer over G&Ts in the USAir Club (tech stock valuations). I found them all approachable if you didn't come at them like a fanboy.

And when I was involved with the old Internet World conferences, I met dozens of people who went onto become CEOs of major tech companies before they had entourages. Fun times. Wish I'd invested more.

Also, our coffeehouse received a few visits from pols during the 2008 elections, resulting in photo ops with Ed Rendell and hanging out with Dick Durbin for a half hour talking baseball. Rocky Blier, Cyril Wecht, Rep. Tim Murphy, Dave Wannstedt were regulars, Michael Keaton popped in occasionally.

 

[WillB4]

A couple months ago I mentioned having seen Elf in the early 70s at the Ezio Pinza amphitheater in Stamford. Nobody here ever heard of either the band nor the place. So at least you're proof there was a band, lol.

I have their LPs too!!!

 

[UCername]

Mickey Mantle was friends with my dad in the 80’s -90’s. My dad spent a lot of time with him, mostly golfing and the times I did I never once saw him without a drink in his hand. We were at his restaurant in NYC with him when I was in high school and he let me wear one of his World Series rings at dinner for about an hour because he was signing autographs/shaking hands and I was terrified and he just said don’t drop it. When he called our house he would say “this is Mick, where is the a-whole”. Was always genuinely nice to me and always asked if I had any jokes I just heard and he always laughed no matter how stupid and would say something like “I like you kid no matter what your dad thinks of you.“ We have lots of cool things from him and random stuff he would sign thinking it was funny, makes me happy to give them to my kids and tell them how I got them. Met Whitey Ford a few times too through him.

I also met the Archy/Eli Manning though Cooper when he was in working on the sell side in Louisiana and can honestly say are some of the nicest human beings on the planet.

 

[Ewekon]

Rob Lowe a number of times as a college buddy was a producer for his flick Bad Influence and Rob would come by his place a lot. 5 or 6 times in very late 80s before its release when I flew out for work a lot. He had a different girl every time, every one an L.A. 10 and young. All but once arrived with an amount of what appeared to be baby powder; but was not.

Somehow Paul Newman and I had the same "Y" schedule in the early - mid 90s to the point where we had a "hey how are ya" deal going. He was a towny in Westport when younger and could be seen pretty often with JoAnne at the town music shed .. Levitt Pavilion.

 

[superjohn]

Rob Lowe a number of times as a college buddy was a producer for his flick Bad Influence and Rob would come by his place a lot. 5 or 6 times in very late 80s before its release when I flew out for work a lot. He had a different girl every time, every one an L.A. 10 and young. All but once arrived with an amount of what appeared to be baby powder; but was not.

Somehow Paul Newman and I had the same "Y" schedule in the early - mid 90s to the point where we had a "hey how are ya" deal going. He was a towny in Westport when younger and could be seen pretty often with JoAnne at the town music shed .. Levitt Pavilion.

You hung out with Rob Lowe in the 80's, you win.

 

[Stainmaster]

One time, this fairly well-known Jerry Garcia tribute band frontman bought me a beer...in all seriousness, I'm friendly with a couple of statewide elected officials. One of them sent me a personal email after I reached a certain professional milestone this past year. It was pretty cool.

Oh, and Tyler Olander follows me on Instagram.

 

[microfich]

Baseball - 1999. beered up to walk up Roger Clemens at a Tampa watering hole during spring training. It was his first season as a Yankee. I asked him what it felt like playing for NYY after being a BOS. He said the whole archenemy thing was mostly media manufactured. Same night same place I walked up to Paul O'Neill. Asked him about the Final Four, which was imminent. He said, "Well I am an Ohio State grad so, you know."

Football - 1985. NYC restaurant bathroom greet with Harry Carson. Merely introduced myself as I giggled in awe. He was just room-filling, so huge. Said "Enjoy the brunch, it's gigantic here." Yeah, I understood.

Bowling - 1978. Was a pretty good bowler in those days. Bowled in the amateur event that was part of the tour's stop in Windsor Locks. Every amateur was paired up with a pro. Mine: the great Earl Anthony. He was cool and quiet but did say "nice ball" once. Gosh. Up close with a legend. Yes, he beat me pretty good.

Basketball - Can we count the countless moments shared with UConn greats at Final Fours? Best guy to talk with: Boo Willingham.

Hockey - 1987. Season tickets for the Whalers. While guys like Chris Kotsopolous and Ulfie Samuelsson were infamous for their late nights in the city (Hartford was alive then, believe it) I met family man Kevin Dineen at a Farmington restaurant. Our table invited him for a drink and he shared half a beer with us. Once he realized one of my buddies was Irish it was like they were brothers.

Hollywood - 1996. Well, New Haven. Didn't quite meet him but was at a restaurant before a play. Mesmerizing while holding court at a table for twelve was Roddy McDowall. Who doesn't dream of watching a sotted actor telling stories about his stories.

 

[alexd]

Drinking with Mayor Mike Peters at Lord Jim's Pub before civic center games in the 1990's.

Got to know Whalers Sylvain Turgeon, Ron Francis and Torrie Robertson when I worked at Farmington Farms Racket and health club in the 1980's.

Got to know tennis pro Vitas Gerulaitis through a friend in the early 80's. Never did get to go clubbing in NYC with him though. Considering the pics that are out there of him with Cheryl Tiegs and such, that would have been fun.....Met his buddy Bjorn Borg at Vitas' place on the north shore of Long Island.

 

[Scot-e]

Forgot a couple. Met M Jackson twice ( Not as a kid).
Sat on couch with Lou Reed back stage at a Stones show- but he was super messed up.

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

Several lifetimes ago, I used to service Durward Kirby's wife

Should have just stopped writing there...would have been so much more epic!

 

[Huskybass]

In college I played against a D1 guard who was 6-3. I was shocked at how quick his first step was.

What I remember most about Earl was how he used his body and his backside to create angles and spacing. It was a treat to play against him.

I also played 2 on 2 that summer against John Bagley and Mouse McFadden. Bagley was hitting 3's over me like I wasn't even there.

 

[M.S.G.]

What a fun read this thread was!

Shamon Tooles was a close friend of mine in the early 00's. Watched Ben Gordon play in his first NBA playoff game in the suite with him, Denham Brown, and Hilton Armstrong. Hilton was wearing his girlfriend's tube top at the time

Jerome Dyson & Tyler Olander both told me to F myself while I was coaching a game against them in the GHPA. Tyson Wheeler told me I was a .

Talked to Mike Greenberg @ an AAU tournament.

Met a lot of famous and pseudo famous rappers when I worked in music in NYC after college.

Doris Burke and Chris Herren came to speak at the school I worked at on several different occasions.

I coached Jeff Jacobs son in AAU and high school.

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

I sold Andy Katz my couch.

 

[methodology]

Not counting any UConn athletes or coaches.

Met and hung out with James Woods one night at foxwoods. He drives his mother from Florida to Newport every year for the summer and loves to stop at foxwoods while he is up here

Smoked with many musicians including flo rida, Lupe fiasco, method man, phil lesh, david Crosby, among others

A good friend of mine lived/ bartended in LA for a while and Kiefer Sutherland was a regular and they became very good friends. They still talk to this day. He has insane stories about his many times at playboy mansion

Another buddy who quit his job and moved to Miami to pretty much captain and charter yachts for wealthy people has insane stories. He I guess became friends with OJ, post prison, would hang out with him all the time been on his boat which is named "Off the Hook" and even has a photo with OJ holding a butcher/ hunting knife to his throat that says something like this white devil killed my wife. Says OJ is a blast and loves to party but there definitely something off about him (sociopath).

Same person in Miami was in an uber and Richard Branson got in and shared an uber with him. They started talking my friend told him he snuck on to his island in the Caribbean by telling the guard or whoever stopped him he was there to give private tennis lessons. Branson laughed and told him don't ever do that again and then gave him a formal invitation to his island for a few days

 

[Ewekon]

What I remember most about Earl was how he used his body and his backside to create angles and spacing. It was a treat to play against him.

I also played 2 on 2 that summer against John Bagley and Mouse McFadden. Bagley was hitting 3's over me like I wasn't even there.

Then maybe this counts. Played ball in HS and had the privilege of getting absolutely crushed 3 times by the Harding HS team that had Wes Matthew Sr., Our own Mike McKay and Bags. Short, slow and white was apparently not the recipe for success. This was when the schools from the burbs were in the same athletic conference with Harding, Central, Bassick etc. MBIAC.

Thanks to Jimmy Koplick, whom I know well, I did OK on meet n greets. At Toads, spent a good 1/2 hour with John Mayall, Mick Taylor, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie as a re packaged Bluesbreakers. Stones at Toads, Ian Hunter. That era treated me well. Dumb luck 4 sure.

 

[FatElvis]

I was at a swanky underground bar with a woman years ago when George Clooney came in with friends. Of course my date flipped out and wanted to meet him so I went over and very nicely asked him if she could say hello. He actually invited us to join them, which we did. He's as nice as advertised and talked to me about his career, why he was in the city etc. I ran into him in the bathroom later that night and he laughed when I told him to stop following me around like the paparazzi. He apologized and even remembered my name.

Also worked closely on a project with Max Joseph from MTV's Catfish. Flew out and spent an afternoon brainstorming ideas at his place over a beer etc. Also a nice guy.

 

[Kauffmak10]

Met Kobe in lobby of The Plaza in NYC back in late 90’s while Lakers were in town to play Knicks.. (so wish camera phones were a thing back then)

Talked to Brad Stevens on JetBlue flight last summer on way back from summer league. Super nice guy and was sitting in standard seat back in the 20th row. Asked him if he had any ill will towards Kemba for 2011 NCAA title

 

[HooperScooper]

Met Kobe in lobby of The Plaza in NYC back in late 90’s while Lakers were in town to play Knicks.. (so wish camera phones were a thing back then)

Talked to Brad Stevens on JetBlue flight last summer on way back from summer league. Super nice guy and was sitting in standard seat back in the 20th row. Asked him if he had any ill will towards Kemba for 2011 NCAA title

How did he reply to that? Lol

 

[TheChamps990411]

I stood behind Arnold Schwarzenegger in Paris at Au Pied du Cochon (Pigs feet) way back when he was Mr. Universe. He was pissed he had to stand in line "Don''t they know who I am" he said in his accented English and then left with his girlfriend.

I laughed way to hard at this story for some reason. Thats just hilarious to me. How did you know who he was?

 

[White Dwarf]

I skateboard with Tony.Alva on occasion.

 

[jayteeman]

Just out of high school with my 3 best friends and camping on Martha's Vineyard. When we arrived at the Vineyard Haven port authority we noticed Carly Simon with a big white brimmed hat and a throw over white dress on a gorgeous sunny day with a fine breeze, just hanging in the area by herself. One of us just blurted out "hey you're so vain".....and she promptly walked over to us and just started a conversation that last about 20-30 minutes. Really a treat with that voice and striking beauty. She was on the cover of People at the time in 1978. I'll never forget when she bent over to fix her shoe where we all got an unexpected full frontal view. It ended when her hubby showed up and picked her up in a yellow cab....JT of course.

 

[TerryBoyz]

I spent a few summers during high school working at lake compounce in Bristol ct. one late summer Day-ESPN rented out the place and I worked that day. All of the personalities were there and several athletes... was there— Franco Harris, joe theisman a few more but I forget. They even hired Huey Lewis to play.
I had to take a bio break—I head the closest rest room see an urinal next to some older guy.
you guys know the rules.. you keep your head down for the most part but occasionally you look at the person next to you
In this case I make eye Contact (read: eye contact) and nod my head—you know the “what’s up “ motion
Then I say to myself— holy cow.. it’s dickie v!
I go tell my co-workers “I just met dick vitale while taking a whiz!”
Many
Bad
Jokes
All
Day

 

[Drumguy]

I laughed way to hard at this story for some reason. Thats just hilarious to me. How did you know who he was?

we were behind him for about 15 minutes and he complained the whole time! - His arms were the size of my legs (he wore a shirt that showed his biceps and it’s hard to remember that before he was a star and governor that he was popular back then as Mr. Universe - This was 1980. He had a very attractive woman with him as well. His voice also sounded pretty much like it does today.

 

[Drumguy]

I also have to add as a little kid I met most of the N.Y. giants in Fairfield - either at their practices at Fairfield U or at Friendlys. YA tittle, frank Gifford, Sam huff, Fran Tarkington - I was a Minnesota fan for a while after he joined them.

 

[Samoo]

I once had to tell Mia Farrow that there was a terrorist threat against her while she was visiting refugees in Kenya.

 

[Zanzman]

Waited on rob carpenter and Scott Stevens in a friendly s restaurant in the mid 80’s told them the whale was going to kick their butts ( caps won )

 

[pepband99]

Sarah Jessica Parker was a babysitter for my brothers and i. I've never done the math, but I'm guessing she was staying with a host family while acting on Broadway, possibly in Annie.

Anyway, she had bad timing on her last stint - my parents had just taken us to see Superman. While she was sitting, my middle brother (still a knucklehead) decides to "superman" directly through the living room glass coffee table!

It clearly stuck - my Dad went to see her on Broadway maybe 10 years ago, and sent a note backstage. She dashed out to see him post-show, and couldn't have been nicer.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Amber and Boston Rob from Survivor fame have settled down nearby where I live. See them and their family at church and after mass for coffee and donut socials.
Nice folks, blend in nicely.
Some of our friends have kids the same age as theirs and know them a bit better.
Haven't heard a bad word about either one.

 

[bfs3]

The most obscure celebrity I’ve met is the writer of “The Fantastics”. The longest running play on Broadway. I’ve met a lot of celebrities working and living in West Hartford center and growing up in Litchfield. I would also put E from entourage on the list. He has to be a midget legally but he was honestly a really nice guy. He took pictures with anyone who asked and tipped well.

 

[ColchVEGAS]

Here is one for obscure and I am sure if other people go out in Blue Back Square you have met him as well...

My wife and I met after work for happy hour at Vinted in West Hartford. She was still on maternity leave with our son, so she desperately needed to get out of the house. Our waiter mid conversation with us asks if we are Adam Sandler fans then opens the door and yells "Dante!" Sure enough Peter Dante waves and walks from across the street and comes and joins us for 45 min or so.

Really down to earth and nice guy. Chatted about life, sports, and and just general conversational topics. He is a big lacrosse guy and played in college as well as coaches now. Dante went to Conard High School so my wife and him chatted about that since that is where she went as well and be still has family in West Hartford so he is back in that area fairly often. Took a nice picture with him and our one month old son.

While attending UConn I played a ton of pick up basketball, so like many of us I got to play in some games with men's and women's players. I remember playing in one game early on a Saturday morning and got the task of guarding one of the women's players I forget her name. At that time in my life I greatly underestimated the talent of D1 women's players. Let's just say she made me look a fool in the beginning because I was giving her too much room to try and help double down low on Chuck O. Lethal jump shot and sneaky quick. It got the point where my only option was to get physical and just use my strength to muscle her around and throw her off her game. I stripped Chuck O on a double team, that's what you get for bringing the ball down where us little guys are, then took her coast to coast for a layup looking for contact all the way. Should have been an and 1. Ultimately I would say she got the better of me throughout the game unfortunately. That is what I get for playing her soft the first few possessions.