actually, this is fun!

[electricland]

Inspired by a comment I made in lawgeekgurl's journal, I hereby decree Wednesday, February 9th to be Marginal Brushes with Fame Day. Had an insignificant encounter with a celebrity? Sold a chocolate bar to Britney Spears and been wondering who you could tell? Your mother went to kindergarten with Elizabeth Taylor but you thought nobody would care? Well, I care! Boast about your brushes with fame, here or in your own journal! The more marginal, insignificant and meaningless, the better! (Official Celebrity Appearances probably don't count, which is why I won't count getting Lauren Bacall's autograph at the stage door... although that was cool.)

I'll get the party started:

I interviewed Neil Gaiman for a magazine. I still cringe at the recollection, because I did a truly horrible job.

My grandfather worked for Leonard Cohen's family's garment factory and used to hang out with him in the lunchroom when he (Leonard) was working there in the summer.

One of my cousins ran around naked (OK, at the age of 3) in front of Prince Andrew.

Comments

[metawidget]

My great grandmother was Kate "Mrs. A" Aitken, definitive Canadian homemaker, radio host, newspaper columnist and cookbook authoress (back when "authoress" was probably more accepted).

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Cool! Hey, didn't they just reprint her book? or one of her books?

[monkeycommando.livejournal.com]

Although "professional" these were pretty marginal

-Phone interview with Mariah Carey, also, chick from the Cardigans, also Todd McFarlane
-In person with:
Mila Kunis (Jackie, that '70s show)--when she was 15!!!
Robbie Williams (hi-larious!)
Aqua, minus the chick (leni)

Unprofessional
Quiet beer with Pinhead from Hellraiser. (after celebrity appearance)
In same room with Asia Argento (chick from Vin Diesel's XXX)
Phone call with Keith Giffen (accidental, and probably the biggest personal thrill).

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Didn't Gary once pretend to be Pinhead from Hellraiser? Or am I (a) totally making that up or (b) transposing the recollection from someone else?

and, er, will I lose geek cred if I ask who Keith Giffen is and why it was a thrill?

and are we seeing you for Alias tonight?

I would answer this one...

[claris.livejournal.com]

...but I don't know if you have enough bandwidth.

Pick a story, I'll retell it fer ya. *g*

Re: I would answer this one...

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Actually I was thinking I'd have to limit you or give you some kind of VIP Pass. ;)

OK, I pick... George Clooney? Or didja ever meet Russell Crowe?

[elissa-carey.livejournal.com]

Official Celebrity Appearances probably don't count
Shucks. There goes my one encounter with Neil Gaiman. :) Although he did post one of my questions to his blog, and I once got to ask him a question or two during an "official" chat at an online convention.

Let's see:
1.) I'm acquainted with Drew Curtis (Fark.com), who is apparently a good acquaintance of Wil Wheaton's.
2.) A long time ago, when there was some celebrity golfing happening in Houston (TX), my mother dragged me along and I saw Bob Hope there. (OK, that one shouldn't count, but...)
3.) When my husband was singing, along with a Barbershop Quartet choir (SPEBSQSA), at an event commemorating the attack on Pearl Harbor, he saw Bob Hope come on stage in front of their choir. He also met the last surviving member of the Andrews Sisters later.
4.) I once sang on the radio (horribly, of course) in an effort to "audition" as a back-up singer for Andy Taylor (then former, now current, member of Duran Duran). I got to talk to him... sort of.
5.) 2-3 years ago, I sat not far away from John Rhys-Davies at the Origins Awards. He was enthused to be there, let me tell you. (I mean that sarcastically. He clapped with all the joy of someone bored out of his mind.)

Can't think of any other incidents off the top of my head, but I can add them later if I think of them.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Hey, those are cool!

And fine marginal encounters most of them are too!

[fairoriana.livejournal.com]

I formally met celebrity Bobby McFerrin when he was conducting an orchestra rehearsal I watched. He was really nice.

The next day, I met a barefooted black man in dreads walking down the street, looking mellow.

He remembered me, and my name, from the previous day.

Very much a highlight!

[electricland.livejournal.com]

hee! that's awesome!

[wanderingaengus.livejournal.com]

I had lunch with Richard Powers (and about a half dozen other people).

[wanderingaengus.livejournal.com]

I've also shaken hands with three Nobel prize winners.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

cool! I've met only one (although there is a funny story associated with him, involving my dad, as such stories tend to).

[keyef.livejournal.com]

So if meeting them outside a theatre after seeing them in a play doesn't count, there goes Hugh Jackman (The Boy From Oz, Whoopi Goldberg (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), and Mel B (Spice girl) (Rent.

None of the others are me personally..

My dad is a dermatologist and he saw Shania Twain in his office. However, she used her real name (Eileen Lange) so he had no idea who she was until later.

Also, when he was doing his residency in New York, he treated Son of Sam's cell mate. Apparently, Sam was completely out of it, staring at a television screen.

He also plays hockey with some former NHLers and has treated a few current NHLers in his office. (Perhaps not exciting to non-hockey fans, but I think that it is really cool.)

My great grandfather worked for William Notman (the photographer).

Oh, and my mom met Oprah Winfrey at Disney World.




Who ran around naked and when was this opportunity had?

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Those totally count!

I forget which cousin it was. Not one you've met -- but he or she (see, I can't even remember what sex) would be about 6-8 years younger than me. One of my second cousins anyway.

and this would've been about, oh, 20 years ago now.

how it came about: one of my mother's cousins used to be the principal of Lakefield when Prince A. went there (they farmed the princes out all over the colonies for some reason) and some time later he came to stay at their cottage (which is 3 up from our cottage, and you've probably passed it). All the cousins were invited to meet him but me, because they didn't know I was back from Kenya. NOT THAT I'M BITTER. Ahem.

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

Interesting that this should come up. I'm doing a literature review of research on celebrity worship. (;

I never really got too excited over meeting "famous people", because I guess fame is really relative, anyway. But back to the topic at hand... when I worked as an arts presenter, I met up with Andy Richter and Michael Moore, and almost got Mark Hamill to come and speak. In my research, I met up with a handful of folks who, when put together, have been on all of the various incarnations of Star Trek. I also have two books that were inscribed and given to me by the author as gifts.

I also sat next to Paul Giamatti in the makeup trailer during shooting for American Splendor... though I didn't know who he was, and was about to make some comment about how dedicated he must've been to have let them cut his hair into a circa-1983 'do just for a non-paying extra role, when the makeup lady attacked me with a lipstick brush...

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Cool!

Did the makeup lady sense you were about to put your foot in your mouth, or was this coincidental?

[raithen.livejournal.com]

ya know, I can think of nothing for this, though my sister recently worked with Sir Ian Mackellan, and he liked her singing.... But me and celebrity? don't tend to run in the same circles :D.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

hey, that counts! relatives totally count!

and if you think of something for yourself, you can always come back.

[fairoriana.livejournal.com]

Oh, I also had lunch with Peter Schikele. With about 2000 other people...

[electricland.livejournal.com]

that counts too!

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

I've made food for Ice T, Gene Siskel, Chris O'Donnell, and Black Jack McDowell. Although the last two shouldn't count since I didn't know who the hell they were until afterwards.

I also made food for and later hung out with Seka. She's a very nice lady.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

actually I don't know who Black Jack McDowell and Seka are *hangs head in shame* (explain!)

How did this come about? Do you have a secret catering life I don't know about?

[rolypolypony.livejournal.com]

Well, aside from the usual meeting an author at a signing event, I've never met anyone (well, I did meet 3 day eventer David O'Connor but that may only be exciting to me!)

My husband went to summer camp w/ Michael Pitt (he's an acot - he was in Hedwig and the Amazing Inch, and Murder by Numbers among others. )

And his friend's dad was roommate in college w/ James Earl Jones!!

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Those are all cool, but I think the last is definitely the most marginal and thus the coolest!

[pretentiousgit.livejournal.com]

I once sold a roll of film to the old guy from Air Farce.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

hee! excellent!

[lilactime.livejournal.com]

I used to work in Kensington market, so I have a few:

- sold metal rock-god leg armour to Alice Cooper
- was chastised by Bruce Cockburn for political comments made
- stood in line for soup behind Jane Sibery
- hung out in the same Halifax crowd with Sarah McLachlan before she scammed that solo recording contract that was actually meant for the whole band
- ran up to the drummer of the Spoons, mistaking him for Gowan
- yelled at Prince at a bar for stealing my table and was intimidated by his security guards
- drank beer with Tim Curry and Carole Pope in a gay bar
- walked past one of the chicks from Bananarama in a bar
- had Cevin Key of Skinny Puppy stay at my house
- had lots of not so famous goth bands stay at my house
- met Ian Astbury of the Cult as he was coming out of a restaurant in Halifax
- ate dinner cooked by KD Lang (she was friends with my boss)
- spent an entire film festival within 20 feet of Lorraine Segato
- stayed in same Vancouver hotel as Toronto Maple Leafs, had friend we were visiting yell mean things at Tie Domi

None of these were particularly life-changing, with the possible exception of meeting Tim Curry, because I was a big fan. Hanging out with KD was always pretty cool, though.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Wow! Impressive! Just goes to show it's not necessary to live in LA to have these encounters.

Er, metal rock-god leg armour? ...what?

And what did KD Lang cook?

oooh oooh oooh!

[raithen.livejournal.com]

just thought of one: sat 4 tables over from Rex Murphy in the lounge of the Hotel Vancouver last June. J, C and I all geeked out, but didn't dare go over -- he looked all private and thinky....

Re: oooh oooh oooh!

[lostvoice.livejournal.com]

When I went to Ireland two years ago, I sat across the aisle from Rex. I was agog. My mother thought it was cute. Her CBC raised baby was excited that she was watching Rex Murphy snore across the aisle on an airplane!

[texaslawchick.livejournal.com]

Lessee..

Spent New Years with President Chamorra of Nicaragua.

Spent a long conversation at our college reunion with Senator Fulbright. Later on talked at length with Senator Lugar.

Had dinner with Roger Bannister.

Separate New Years with Peter Horton.

The Crown Prince of the UAE came to dinner once.

Went to a birthday party with Joss Whedon in attendance.

Went to Wes Anderson's highschool. I don't know him but a lot of people I know know him.

Good friends with the Art Guys.

there are a lot more that I can't think of.

[lawgeekgurl.livejournal.com]

I ran into Lugar once going into a movie theater. He was seeing "Universal Solider." heh.

[emjayne.livejournal.com]

I sat three rows from Patch Adams at a dress rehearsal for a Children's Hospital thing. Got up and bugged him for 3 minutes. His hair was blue and braided at the time, and I think there was a rubber fish in his labcoat pocket.

Anna Paquin and I got free promo baseball caps on the same day at Little Bear (pet shop, 2 minutes from my place!).

Youppi recognized me at a baseball game a couple of years ago. One of the Hospital's mascot-guys was in the orange suit. Scared the pee outta me to have Youppi hiss out my name!

My friend Sioban's mother once met Patrick Stewart in an airport in Ireland.

When Planet Hollywood had its opening parade, I was on the receiving end of a classic Bruce Willis smirk.

And the list goes on...

I'm loving the responses you're getting for this post!

[electricland.livejournal.com]

This post is crazy! I'm loving it too!

...I think the Youppi encounter is definitely one of the more bizarre ones here...

[brisingamen.livejournal.com]

Once interviewed William Gibson, and we discussed architecture and the public/private ownership of space (which I thought was pretty damn cool, though my friends complained I didn't ask him about cyberpunk ... sigh. He wanted to discuss the architecture/space stuff, dammit).

Have met most British sf writers somewhere along the way, and interviewed one or two of them, and have known Neil Gaiman since way before he was famous (he's an old, old friend of PK's) ... he once mistook me for a suitcase. It's a long story.

Have met Sir Christopher Frayling, head of the Arts Council, and presenter of nifty tv programmes (it means a lot to me, trust me).

Er ... my great grandfather knew Edward VIII ... really, truly ... and was in Buckingham Palace on the day of the abdication. And my great grandmother entertained Queen Mary to tea once.

I once saw Douglas Adams lurking in my local W.H. Smith's, which was interesting as he was too tall to lurk, and he was allegedly holed up in a hotel somewhere, finishing a novel ... apparently this was happening in Folkestone. He saw me looking too, and smiled at me because I wasn't making a fuss.

I have seen Alan Rickman in the street ... this close. And my London railway station is heavily frequented by actors who live in Kent, most of whom no one has ever heard of, but both PK and I have sat opposite Tom 'Dr Who' Baker on the train at various times. He mutters to himself a lot.

Will that do?

a story to tell, methinks...

[raithen.livejournal.com]

he once mistook me for a suitcase. It's a long story

ahem. and you leave us hanging like that??!!

a couple more...

[electricland.livejournal.com]

my own marginal brushes with celebrity are pretty darn limited. Compared to some of you, I'm a total piker! But:

- met the CBC's Jian Gomeshi when he was shooting an episode of Play in the Swimming (he was very taken with my (married) friend)

- there's a bust of my great-great grandfather in the lobby of the Royal Ontario Museum

- walked past Paul Gross on Front Street when he was shooting an episode of Due South (which totally doesn't count, but I'm putting it in anyway)

- worked one summer with Jake Richler a.k.a. Jacob Two-Two (OK, I was an intern and he was an editor, but there you have it) - he's also a friend of some other cousins

- went to school with Naida Cole (classical musician), David Cronenberg's daughter Cassie, and Courtney Babcock (Olympic long-distance runner)

I love his show

[lostvoice.livejournal.com]

and I loved Fruvous...

but Jian is a letch. And icky, icky letch.

[llnaughty.livejournal.com]

jim creegan (of barenaked ladies fame) frequents the farmer's market in my town, and though i had seen him several times, i finally screwed up the courage to say hi to him. i had my daughter in tow and told him she was a big fan (she's 3, and she actually is a fan, she can sing million dollars, another postcard, various other songs), and he asked her what her favorite song was, but she was shy and didn't answer, so i said "maybe katie" and he sang a few bars of it to her. after he left, she was all excited, too bad she was to shy to show it before.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Aw! I think that's definitely the cutest celebrity-encounter story I've heard!

[llnaughty.livejournal.com]

also, saw james marsters and pierce brosnan (on different days) at the 3rd street promenade in santa monica. didn't interact with either of them.

oh, and jason lee at the grove in los angeles.

Hee. the Grove.

[claris.livejournal.com]

I used to tell people that you just need to sit in one place, & eventually, someone famous will walk by. That's my advice after two years working there. *grin*

[erbie.livejournal.com]

Stood in line at the coffeehouse with Dylan McDermott and Peter Horton (different days)

Ran into Steve and Tyler from BNL standing outside their tour bus when I went back to my car to get something.

Sold pantyhose/socks to:
Sally Field
Mariel Hemingway
"Vera" from the show Alice
Paula Poundstone
Patricia Wettig and Ken Olin
(I'm sure I missed some. Celebrities came in there all the time. I narrowly missed meeting Roseanne and Michelle Pfeiffer there.)

Went backstage at a Hothouse Flowers concert and was in the same room, eating from the buffet as the band.

Waited on at a dim sum bar:
John Larroquette (really good tipper!)
Olivia Hussey
Rain Pryor
Donovan Leitch (agent/manager is a jerk)
James Caan (he caught one of the busboys picking a zit in the restroom and had a hissy fit.)
Anjelica Huston
Denise Crosby

Saw Whoopi Goldberg going to the movies at the mall where the dim sum bar was.

Spoke with with they came in to the same dim sum bar:
Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner

While waiting out all night for concert tickets, Sean Penn walked by to return some videos. He walked back by on the way out and I saw him and Madonna in a beat up old orange truck driving away.

Met at a political rally, got pics with and autographs:
Joss Whedon
Allyson Hannigan
Alexis Denisoff
J. August Richards
Tom Lenk
Danny Strong
Nathan Fillion
Amy Acker
Adam Busch
Amber Benson

Felice Schacter was my best friend's roommate for several years.

My ex knew Julian Sands and introduced me to him. He said "Nice to meet you" while shaking my clammy hand. I said "thank you". My ex laughed at me and openly mocked me.

Saw Jimmy Creegan riding his bike in town.

Waited in line at the pharmacy with Greg Grunberg.

In high school, they filmed Simon and Simon at my school, and we all got to meet Gerald McRaney and the other guy, I forget his name.

A friend was staying with us, and his cousin was the best friend and personal roadie of Aly Campbell from UB40. They were in town, so we got great concert tix, went backstage, met the band, went on their tour bus back to the hotel and hung out in the room of one of the horn players. Aly Campbell sang to me as we were waiting in line for the bathroom. I spent the night at the hotel, sleeping on an armchair.

My cousin works on the Fox lot, so once I got to go to see them filming NYPD Blue. Kim Delaney stopped and talked to us. Stephen Bochco said hi in the hall. Bill Clarke bought me lunch. One of the kids from Real World Hawaii was working there and he came into my cousin's office to talk to her while I was sitting there.

When I was in college, we had a Gulf War (I) protest and I met Ron Kovic. He spent the night in the administration building with us. Woody Harrelson brought us bags and bags of food.

I'm almost positive I knew John Leguizamo in college. He was there the same time I was, and we had similar majors, so it's not out of the realm of possibility. He looks SO familiar.

I know all the Young Dubliners. I know, you've probably never heard of them.

I also met Charlie Roberts, an Irish actor. He was my cousin's father in law. Her (ex) mother in law is a famous singer in Ireland, Anne something, but I can't remember her last name.

Waited outside a radio station and met Dave Wakeling from the Beat.

Saw Jason Lee all over a pregnant girl and her belly at the Grove in LA.

Sat on Love and Rockets' guitar cases at a concert.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some. It's pretty easy to run into celebrities, growing up where I did.

[erbie.livejournal.com]

See? I knew I'd forget at least one!

Chris O'Donnell was filming Batman and Robin, and he was taking a class at UCLA Extension, where I worked at the time. He had to take a makeup test, and I had to give it to him. Man, those eyes! Bluest I've ever seen in my life!

[fairoriana.livejournal.com]

Yes, but he's hardly a celebrity -- even B-list.

[scapersuse.livejournal.com]

Well, besides the has-been celeb (Corey Haim living in my old building) and local celeb (Liz West spottings at Whole Foods numerous times) that you know about, there are a few others that come to mind:

I stood in line at a movie in front of Cynthia Dale.

I was on an escalator behind Nicholas Campbell (he stunk like ciggie smoke).

Stood next to James Cromwell at the airport (and exchanged a few words) while waiting for my luggage when I came back from Burbank last year.

Said hi to Gorden Pinsent when I passed him at an outdoor cafe in Yorkville.

There might even be a couple more but I can't think of them at the moment. :)

[electricland.livejournal.com]

hee! that's a good list!