Met Ray Liotta last night! What stars have you met?

cj65

cj65

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My twin boys turn 12 today. They are riding thier new Free Agent bmx bikes. Last night, my wife and I took all 5 kids to the Santa Monica Pier. We end up there maybe 4 times a year, it is close enough, and the kids still enjoy the rides. One time we saw the guy that played Michael J. Fox's dad on the tv show, I think it was Family Ties? However, last night, no joking around here folks, my wife spotted him right behind us. She could not remember his name, and all I could think of is the BF avatar. Since he was milling around with a woman, and 2 kids, and me with my wife and 5 kids, all our kids ended up on the same rides. I shamefully admit I was star struck. I was a real doofus. I did not want to spoil his family time, I wanted to give the man respect. We passed by each other 3 to 4 times, and then I finally said, "Good Evening Mr. Liotta." He looked me right in the eyes, smiled and said, "Hello, How are you tonight." I replied, "Fine thanks." He had that look, it must be natural, he gave me full attention for that moment, like it was a movie scene or something. I being slightly Asperger's syndrome myself, wanted to tell him that I see him on BF every night, but I did refrain. He has some grey around the temples, and he reminded me of Tony Curtis back in the 60's. There is a surprising resemblence in real life. He was very polite, even though I was sort of a doofus. I always have enjoyed his characters in movies, which I guess is why I was star struck. Who has a similar story? Were you a doofus like me? I apologize Thomason for stealing your phrase, goofy doofus explained me perfectly.
 
I saw Tony Todd at four in the morning in a Dunkin' Donuts. He was hoping to use the bathroom and left, irritated, when it was locked. I thought I was insane or simply mistaking somebody else for the star of the Candyman films, but no, someone with him -- a driver or bodyguard or maybe just a drinking buddy -- confirmed that it was him.
 
i actually see actor/actress types around my neighborhood and at the restaurant i frequent. i leave them alone, but ive seen jenny mcarthy and natasha henstridge there. they are both quite stunning in person.

ive talked with michael rooker (days of thunder) a couple times on duty. he's a gun nut and very friendly. he approached my partner and i at a starbucks, and ive seen him at the gun range a couple times. he's friendly with some lapd swat guys and i believe gets to shoot with them on ocassion.
 
I spent a summer delivering pizza in downtown Detroit after high school. Delivered BBQ beef sandwiches to Aretha Franklins place almost weekly.

Went to a trade show in New Orleans back in 95 I think. While at the rental car counter my wife says "isn't that Richard Petty?" I looked to my right and sure enough, he was at the register next to me. He turned toward me and I said hello. He just smiled and nodded and went about his business. No entourage. No fans. Just Richard Petty renting a car.

Met Jeff Gordon a few times. It isn't that unusual when you work for DuPont.

Last one was Will Castro from Unique Whips. Seen here:
[youtube]p99W1bP0[/youtube]

He came to the training center I work at. I'm the guy in the booth painting. I don't show up 'til about 5 minutes in.
 
Great story cj65!:thumbup: Ray Liotta's one of my favorite actors.

I've had a few rock stars & pro athletes in my Limo.I had everyone from Black Sabbath in my car once.They wanted to go to a convenience store to get smokes & snacks.Really nice bunch a guys!They tipped very well!:D

I once had Matt Damon in my car.I took him to some huge mansion in south Jersey.He didn't say much.He tipped very poorly I remember.:grumpy:


Whenever I get a celebrity in my car,I make it a point NOT to get star-struck & remain professional.I think they appreciate that.
 
JTR357 said:
Great story cj65!:thumbup: Ray Liotta's one of my favorite actors.

I've had a few rock stars & pro athletes in my Limo.I had everyone from Black Sabbath in my car once.They wanted to go to a convenience store to get smokes & snacks.Really nice bunch a guys!They tipped very well!:D

I once had Matt Damon in my car.I took him to some huge mansion in south Jersey.He didn't say much.He tipped very poorly I remember.:grumpy:


Whenever I get a celebrity in my car,I make it a point NOT to get star-struck & remain professional.I think they appreciate that.
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I tried really hard not to be star struck, but Mr. Liotta caught me looking about 3x before I said hello. Then I felt dumb for making him feel uncomfortable, and thought I should just say hello and get it over with. I am sure there are times stars want to be noticed, and sometimes they may not want to be, but I guess that is the price you pay for success.
 
A few years ago I attended a meeting in NYC. Stayed at the Drake Swiss Hotel. One afternoon in the lounge a few of us were having a few drinks, and we heard this distinct voice ask for another Vodka and Cranberry. Everyone knew it was Cliff Claven, but no one but me knew his real name, John Ratzenberger.

I walked around to the other side of the bar and introduced myself. I mentioned that the Cheers episode where he sold everyone the squeaky shoes was my favorite, and he began telling me a story about how that was the first episode he both wrote and directed.

We had quite a few drinks together that night. Very friendly fellow.
 
Well, cooking in a restaurant in a fairly popular movie town, I've made food for a few (Schwarzenegger, Cuba Gooding Jr, Skeet Ulrich, and a couple of others) but never met them-I wasn't going to go out and introduce myself in a dirty apron:D I did serve Richard Kiel (Jaws in a couple of Bond movies). Stepped on his feet twice:( Felt like a real ass, so I didn't ask for an autograph:o
 
SPXTrader said:
A few years ago I attended a meeting in NYC. Stayed at the Drake Swiss Hotel. One afternoon in the lounge a few of us were having a few drinks, and we heard this distinct voice ask for another Vodka and Cranberry. Everyone knew it was Cliff Claven, but no one but me knew his real name, John Ratzenberger.

I walked around to the other side of the bar and introduced myself. I mentioned that the Cheers episode where he sold everyone the squeaky shoes was my favorite, and he began telling me a story about how that was the first episode he both wrote and directed.

We had quite a few drinks together that night. Very friendly fellow.
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That is way cool. My wife jokingly mentioned to me, "Why did'nt you answer him and say, Well, I am not doing too well Ray, I have this skin disorder....":D I think my wife was trying to shake the goof out of me.:o
 
I ran into (as in collided with) a famous country music singer at the Corvette muesem once. Someone had to tell me who he was then, and danged if I can remember now.
 
I've met John Malkovich several times, he was born and raised in So. Illinois and returns frequently with his wife and kids, and they come to the local Barnes & Noble a lot.

I was actually surprised that after running into him there 2-3 times over the years, the last time he actually remembered my name and came over to my table to say "Hi".

For all the "quirky" characters he plays, he comes across like a fairly normal, but sorta shy every day person.
 
I make it a point to not approach or say anything to celebrities whenever I come across one. I figure everyone is entitled to private time, even if out in the public (to be distinguished from public events where they expect to be approached).

I've come across more sports figures and political figures than entertainers. Probably the most famous was when I was one urinal over from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
 
Let's see, I've met with Bob Hope, Jim Neighbors, Sam Sneed, George Wallace, Roger Maris, and John Glenn.
 
On a street corner on the upper East Side.
Henry Kissenger.

Central Park, Sigourney Weaver.
We spoke, she left, my friend asked if I realized who that was.
I had no clue, thought it was just another pretty gal.
She was very nice and down to earth.

At work Tony Randall,
Little Steven (well, he just ran by my cube and waved)

At MSG
Barry Beck, Phil Esposito Eddie Giacomin and Tie Domi.
All gentlemen.
Domi was the best, not dressed for the game, wandering the halls during intermission.
Hey Domi! He slows down shakes hands with us.
My buddy who is all of 145lbs soaking wet sez
"you aint that big, I can take ya!"
Without missing a beat, Domi replies
"Awwwww man, I got my good suit on!"
Slaps him on the shoulder and walks away laughing.

The best for last...
I had lunch with Mariel Hemmingway.
OK... she was at the table crammed in next to us, might as well have been with us, when they first opened the Hard Rock on 57st.
She was something else up close.
And Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllll.
:sigh:

Never asked for an autograph from any of them.
 
Kiah said:
I ran into (as in collided with) a famous country music singer at the Corvette muesem once. Someone had to tell me who he was then, and danged if I can remember now.
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Too funny!
My wife literally ran into & almost knocked over, Soupy Sales on the way to a job interview.
Crushed his signature carnation too.
Must've been good luck, she got the job.
:D
 
I got to meet country singer Patti Loveless backstage at a concert years ago.

I also ran into former Boston Bruin Lyndon Byers at one of my customers' buildings.

And I had dinner at a chinese restaurant, and Celtic great Jo-Jo White was at the next table. He was real down to earth and friendly.

Oh yeah, I met Big Daddy Don Garlitz at a drag race, too.

Glenn
 
I went to college in Los Angeles ... long, long ago. One of my fellow ROTC students hooked many of us up with jobs as extras for the movie industry, so I got to see quite a few TV and movie stars.

My own favorite story has nothing to do with being an extra.:)

It's midnight at Tommy's on Rampart. For those who don't know, Tommy's is a tiny little place that makes some of the best chili-cheeseburgers on the planet. This particular Tommy's is at the corner, surrounded by a medium-sized parking lot that's just not big enough for the traffic. Running around the outside of the regular businesses on the opposite side of the parking lot is a long wooden bar. This is where everyone stands to eat their sloppy, runny, wonderful Tommyburgers. Late at night, the parking lot is full and so is that wooden bar. Most folks end up parking across the street, trying to find some way across Rampart (not so easy).

I'm there with maybe 3 college friends, trying hard to keep the chili off my pants. A loud sedan comes rumbling down Rampart and turns into the lot across the street. The usual squadcar parked down Rampart takes notice since it's a beautiful, refinished muscle car (a Cuda, if I remember right). A tall man with wide shoulders and cowboy boots steps out. He walks directly to the curb and starts across Rampart. Naturally, one of the policemen pulls out a ticket book and heads for the sidewalk on our side, ready to hand out his usual jaywalking ticket. Most of us are watching to see the new guy get his "Tommy's Tax."

Halfway there, the cop stops and turns around. Heads directly back to the squadcar and starts talking to his mate.

The tall man, untaxed, walks right toward Tommy's. People start backing away, and now we are all creeped out. You have to wait 15 minutes to get a burger; that's just the way it is.

We can't hear him clearly, but he gets his order -- fast. Two Tommyburgers with extra chili; you can tell by the extra mess. And a large Coke. He heads for the rail about 10 feet down from us.

People clear away. Well away. He gets a large safety zone on each side. He leans against the wooden bar and calmly, quickly downs both burgers with that Coke. He gets extra credit for cleanliness and he's gone in 10 minutes, returning exactly the way he came.

It was Clint Eastwood.:D

He didn't talk to any of us, he didn't make a big fuss or stare anybody down, but it was him, alright. It may seem funny to you that nobody walked over to him, nobody said anything to him, nobody asked him for an autograph. Even in the early seventies, everybody knew he was more than just another actor ... and you could tell, just by the way he walked and the way he looked, that he wanted his privacy.

He got it. And we got a memory that has lasted, for me, a lifetime.
 
Met a few, but since this is turning into a "running into" thead, I literally ran smack into Jackie Mason rounding a corner on 6th Ave. in NYC. We both were apparently in quite a hurry & it was quite a shock for us both- we had a good laugh, shook hands & hauled ass to our individual destinations.
Funny celeb thing: The father of a former GF flew in an airliner sitting next to Ernest Hemingway- on 2 seperate occasions. This was way back when air travel was more of a rare thing. Apparently they had good conversations & Hemingway remembered meeting him the 1st time.
 
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