Know or met someone famous?

Okay, Tony S. knew Nixon and crunchymom met Elizabeth from that lame show who else knows, knew or met someone famous. Any interesting stories or tidbits? I met Joe Namath and I shook the VP George Bush's hand.

I could go on all night with this one, here are a few:

Don Mattingly, Mickey Rivers, Joe Torre, Derek Jeter, A-Rod, Jorge Posada, El Duque, Chris Chambliss, Graig Nettles, Matt Morris, Joe Girardi, Albert Pujols, JD Drew, Craig Biggio, Bucky Dent, Phil Rizzuto, Mark Simoneau, Jevon Kearse, AJ Feeley, Jeff Garcia, Mario Lemeiux, Bruce Driver, Randy Velischek, Ralph Sampson, Cher, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Little Steven, Tom Keifer, Slash, Sebastian Bach, Adrian Vandenberg.

I'm sure I will think of more later.

calico696 said on May 13, 2008 8:11 pm | Link

Ooops, forgot that I graduated high school with Alla Abdelnaby.

calico696 said on May 13, 2008 8:12 pm | Link

I partied with Jesse Ventura when he was running for governor in Minnesota! My best friend's husband was one of his campaign guys... I don't remember his job title. We had a great time. Jesse is awesome in person. I lived in Brooklyn Park when he was the mayor, too.

SusieQ said on May 13, 2008 8:14 pm | Link

Was at a Bar in Florida with Razor Ruddock first guy to knock down Mike Tyson and had dinner with Jack Cafferty. There are some other people I met, but actually hung out with these guys.

Matt said on May 13, 2008 8:21 pm | Link

Calico, I'm a huge Bon Jovi fan - would love to hear how you met Jon and Richie? I'm so jealous! And how did you meet so many celebrities in general?

Ashford & Simpson, Madonna, Joe Frazier, Sylvester Stallone, and let's not forget . . . Carlos Santana ~:O)

Calico - I must say your list is outstanding! Tell us more, tell us more!

Ronald Reagan and Neil Diamond.

Christine said on May 13, 2008 8:51 pm | Link

froggy says,was rubbing elbows with Franky Avalon a while back,and people say I look a lot like Paul Neumans gardeners brother,,,calico,just for fun,,,,when did you hit your head???love ya,,,,,,.....,froggy

,froggy said on May 13, 2008 9:03 pm | Link

I'd be dangerous if I met someone really famous.

I passed Johnny Whitaker (Family Affair and Sigmund and the Seamonsters, for you youngsters) on the street when I was about 11. I screamed so loud, he rushed away quickly.

When I met Frank Perdue, I started blubbering and could only get out, "I really love your chicken."

Matthew Broderick walked in front of me and I made a kind of a "blurgh" sound when he looked at me.

I'm basically one of the ones they don't look forward to meeting in public.

2cutedoggies said on May 13, 2008 9:03 pm | Link

Lisa, an old BF of mine was friends with the Bon Jovi Band, spent many a night backstage. Used to be in several bands myself in my younger days. I forgot to mention Motley Crue.

As for the athletes, I'm a huge sports fan. Ex husband's cousin is Matt Morris. Been to many events, you might say I have friends in "low" places. LOL!

Met up with the Yankees in 2004 in Cleveland in a hotel bar, fun night. Long story short, bumped into them there and ended up picking up their tab. When Jeter was ready to leave he said to the waitress, "I'll take the tab", the waitress said, "It's already been taken care of Sir". He said "by who"? She said "the couple you have been hanging out with all night". His jaw hit his chest, said it was the nicest thing anyone had ever done. I told him it didn't come without a price, I was going to the game the next day and they owed me a win. He said he would tell the guys, they did win. He is a CLASS ACT!

calico696 said on May 13, 2008 9:05 pm | Link

2cutedoggies. why don't you stay home and stop harassing celebrities.

froggy, you are too funny, you crack me up :)

calico696 said on May 13, 2008 9:08 pm | Link

And I thought Dolly was the wild one. Calico must be a hot number. Bet she could write a Heide Fliess type memoir.

I met Alice Cooper. i think thats the only person i actually met, like spoke to, took a pic with...etc...oh I met the guys from Miami Ink..i dont know if anyone watches that show but my boyfriend and i were in Miami and we went to Ami and chris' bar Love Hate, without even knowing it was their bar and we ended up partying with the whole cast.

No way Calico - you met Sebastian Bach?? COOL!

KAT said on May 13, 2008 9:14 pm | Link

Eddie Rickenbacker. He was my friend and a pen pal for many years.

wow calico you might have to share some of these stories saturday night!

i've never met anyone famous unless you want to count bill evans, peter steele or boyd tinsley. those were all just book or album signings though.

Bryan said on May 13, 2008 9:18 pm | Link

KAT, yeah, Sebastian (we always called him Bas) and his wife Maria, they are still together and live in NJ. My ex husband and I were actually married by the same minister as Sebastian and Maria. Guess it wasn't as good of luck for us...LOL!

Bryan, many stories to tell :)

calico696 said on May 13, 2008 9:22 pm | Link

Summer's in college I worked security at a local club. One night the owner told me to keep people from bothering some guy and his girlfriend all night. I did such a good a job that at the end of the night he asked me if I was interested in working security for him and that they needed crowd control for a video he was shooting in that club's parking lot that weekend. I told him no thanks, but I said to him by the way who are you? He said he was Jon Bon Jovi and they were shooting the video to his first hit song "Runaway". My kids hate when I tell that story!

tigerfan said on May 13, 2008 9:46 pm | Link

Calico - Journey Mill Inn? (HunkaBunka Ballroom)the band was there or at Simko's Pub almost every weekend early on.

tigerfan said on May 13, 2008 9:48 pm | Link

She might not be well known but I consider her to be famous. Erica Steinberg Exec Produced Kill Bill and works on all Quentin Tarantino's projects. I've stayed at her home in Studio City. She took us to some awesome parties thrown by her producer friends, some directors, and lots of actors who I did not know. Later she told me I was drinking with Jason Bateman -- I thought he looked familiar. The 3 leads from Desperate Housewives (not Nicole Sheridan -- the other 3 leads -- her I would have known from Knots Landing). A few people from ER, and some other shows. It was all lost on me. But it was an awesome party, fabulous food, live music, tons of booze, and Bateman was a nice guy.

I sat next to Frank Perdue on a flight to Florida about a million years ago. He made polite chit chat.

I got into a tussle with James Earl Jones over the last seat in first class. He won but I harassed him about it. He sent the attendant back to find me in coach to let me know he was enjoying his champagne. I told her to tell him I said to go fu(k himself. She did! She said he laughed

Bill Murray in an airport -- no words were exchanged. I was speechless.

I met Hamtaro Ham-Ham. He moved in with me and is my constant companion.

Dolly said on May 13, 2008 10:02 pm | Link

Went snorkling with Jose Canseco in Hawaii. Week after the '89 World Series. Hung out all night with him and his wife at the time who I think was Ms. Miami - that was fun.

tigerfan said on May 13, 2008 10:06 pm | Link

Anybody ever hear of the rock group Blackfoot? I was the nanny for the drummer Jackson Spires and his wife Suzanne (she was an Olympic skier).Also met Bill Anderson (country singer) and I went to grade school with Lance Holcolm, he did a movie called "Venom" in the early 80's as well as alot of B horror movies in the 80's and 90's. and almost forgot, Meatloaf, met him personnally at the Nook in Nov of 89, had a drink with him at the bar and everything. Very cool dude.

hometown gal said on May 13, 2008 10:13 pm | Link

MTV did one of those houses of the famous on Sebastian Bach on account of the Kiss memorabilia he has. The location was given as "northern NJ" but I immediately recognized the development since I had been looking for a house right in that area at the time I bought my current place in H'town. I don't know the exact street address, but I could well have been neighbors of Sebastian if I was a bit quicker. The two houses on the market there at the time were bought up by the time I was ready to make an offer two days later. Oh, well.

I had also heard Bruce Driver being in the area. A friend of mine that was working for the company we share an office with was talking hockey one day. He couldn't remember the name, but said he knew an ex-Devil from the church where he plays the organ. His clue to me was he was a defenseman that played for both the Devils and the Rangers. I did have to think a minute but he thought I was pretty good for coming up with "Bruce Driver".

I've met a whole lot of hip hop artists when I was working in NYC for a music company. Plus the head of the company I just mentioned owns a laundromat in Newark that does contract dry cleaning for big name hip hop artists - Jay-Z started using them and seems to be introducing them to all the business in that area.

Met Al Roker on the street going into the subway one time. Any number of hockey players at arena's - my Bryan Trottier and Billy Smith while I was wearing a Flyers jersey story is somewhere here on another thread. Worked for the family of the Ukraine Hockey Federation as well. Parents saw Raymond Burr while he was buying his island.

Helped setup phone connections and PC cables for people that eventually got caught in the Iran-Contra sting. That was after the 3rd party German sales rep for the company I was working for got stopped at the airport and arrested for "diverting spare parts" against US trade law.

Met Oz and NZ prime ministers of the late 70's while the US assistant ambassador was inviting about every American within the whole South Pacific if he could find them all. (which is why kids came along for "picnics") Went to school with what eventually becomes the Prime Minister of Fiji for a short period. Passed on meeting with the Prime Minister of Iceland - it was an *accident* I swear, they should put better signs on her door. King of Tonga who anyone who takes the palace tour and he's not out of the country gets to meet. Was one of the school kids lining the streets when QEII passed by - have close up pictures of her somewhere...

I think that about covers it for me.

GC said on May 13, 2008 10:22 pm | Link

Hometown Gal -

Saw Blackfoot concert at Lehigh U in the early 80's. I know who they are. God forbid I even know who Adrian Vandenberg is that Calico mentioned. ;-)

Just looking back, Phil Rizzuto is on Calico's list - met both his son and grandson several times at Morris County Chamber of Commerce. They run a promotional business that brought them there a couple of times. Didn't know it until I met them, but apparently they own the Basking Ridge Country Club as one of their properties.

GC said on May 13, 2008 10:29 pm | Link

Hometown Gal - is that Suzie Chapstick from the cheesy 80's commercials!?

CrunchyMom said on May 13, 2008 11:03 pm | Link

Marie Osmond, Cousin Brucie, Jim Breuer (SNL and stand up), Roseanne Barr, Rhonda Shear, Judy Landers, (of the Landers sisters), a few of the Pittsburgh Pirates back in the 80's, Dave Barry, Arj Barker, went to school with a Miss New Jersey, dated Meg Ryan's cousin and I'll throw in the Clooney impersonator for good luck.

INeedMoreCowBell said on May 13, 2008 11:19 pm | Link

I was an extra on the movie " HITCH " and met will smith & kevin James

cmj said on May 14, 2008 12:17 am | Link

Lee E Miller - author, speaker, teacher, etc.

His latest book - http://www.amazon.com/UP-Influence-P...g/dp/0978835506

Dear, close friend :)

When I lived in NY I saw Sophia Loren and when ever I went to California I hung out with Ricky Nelson and his band and I got to go to Saturday Night Live when he rehhearsed for the show. My cousin was his manager. He was a very nice guy.

That is so cool Calico - if you ever talk to "bas" in the near future you can tell him that he still has a huge fan who still listens to Skid Row who thinks he has an amazing voice!

I shook Ozzy's hand, sort of, when I was front row at a concert. That was cool!!

KAT said on May 14, 2008 8:15 am | Link

KAT, I haven't seen or talked to him in many years. If I ever do bump into him, I'll try to convince him to come to a happy hour...LOL!

calico696 said on May 14, 2008 8:37 am | Link

I've met Al Pacino, Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo, Bill Clinton, John Travolta, Olivia N. John, Madonna, Ricky Martin, Liam Neeson, Barbara Streisand,David Ushery,JFK Jr. and an actor from Spanish Tv.

Couldn't agree more Y&A. I'd probably throw up on the spot if I bumped into Bono. That would really impress the poor guy. I'm just really really star struck. I've seen other celebs at a distance (Barbara Walters, Olympia Dukakis) and I've frozen to the spot and just stared at them.

My aunt was a well-known 50s movie, tv and radio actress (although I never met her) and I dated a guy who was on tv for a while - It's sort of the first steps of my 12-step celebrity freak-out reduction program.

2cutedoggies said on May 14, 2008 8:45 am | Link

Tito Santana. He now owns a hair salon in Roxbury. Very nice guy.

CleverUserName said on May 14, 2008 9:14 am | Link

I met Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford (back in the 80's). I also ran into Kevin James at Shea Stadium. We went to Ca for our Honeymoon and didn't meet one famous person the entire trip! How ironic is that?

justcurious said on May 14, 2008 9:16 am | Link

Tito Santana was my gym teacher at Roxbury High School. Met Adam Sandler and Kevin James while in Vegas, Samuel L. Jackson in NYC, Ben Stiller and his wife, Phish, Jim Breur at Bernie's in Chester (great tipper!)

Megan said on May 14, 2008 9:19 am | Link

Tito Santana teaches middle school Spanish met him out one night good guy.

Matt said on May 14, 2008 9:50 am | Link

I think a lot of people in this area have met Tito Santana and Jim Bruer, they are always around. I met Tito many years ago, looked at a condo he had for rent in Stanhope, really nice guy. Talked to Jim Bruer several times at Redwoods in Chester, he goes there a lot.

calico696 said on May 14, 2008 9:55 am | Link

Can't think of anybody off the top of my head...........

John C said on May 14, 2008 10:15 am | Link

I think most of you are exaggerating and stretching the truth a bit. Not all of you though.....

I've met Troy Aikman, Darren Woodson, Mark Tuinea, and Muhammad Ali.....I have pictures with each. Worked in the back at a sports show. I saw ALOT of other athletes there, but I wouldn't sugar coat it and say I hung out with them. The list would be too long.

Jim Norton, Opie and Anthony, Club Soda Kenny, Big AAAAAAA, Pete "not on baseball, well mabe" Rose, Hank AAron, Met Reggie Jackson in a bathroom in Atlantic City (did NOT shake hands), Bobby murcer, Joe Kleco of the Jets, lots of old & current mets players.

oh!! and MR. MET

bruce springsteen and bill paxton...

XM SAM-Do you know Club Soda Kenny ? or just meet him ? The guy is a real horses butt,to put it nicely,I know him personaly also.

Crunchy Mom- no it was not Suzy chapstick, her name was Suzanne and she was just on the Olympic team.

hometown gal said on May 14, 2008 12:01 pm | Link

I met Ed Sanders at one of the first poetry festivals at Waterloo Village.

Wendy said on May 14, 2008 12:17 pm | Link

Came awfully close to meeting god once.

joshua said on May 14, 2008 12:30 pm | Link

Crunchy you are thinking of Suzy "Chapstick" Chaffee.

Dolly said on May 14, 2008 12:31 pm | Link

TonyS, I've only met him at Lil' Jimmy's shows, had picture taken w/him as a goof, spoke briefly and you are right, he is a Jack_Ass. The rest of the dudes at O&A are great.

Oh and Carlos Mencia, he actually hit on my wife ...........

My wife was in John Mellencamps bed in his Hilton Head home.

Alone or with him.

joshua said on May 14, 2008 1:08 pm | Link

Mmmmmmmm........... okay, give me a minute..... I think I might know someone...... no, not them, oh well! Maybe I'll think of someone later!

John C said on May 14, 2008 1:14 pm | Link

This is a fun thread! Okay... I have seen (did not actually meet) Julia Child, Gregory Hines, the guy who played the painter on Murphy Brown, and Stiller & Meara. My husband and I met, spoke with, and were blessed by Mother Theresa. THAT was pretty spectacular! I have also been in the presence of the Dalai Lama twice, but I did not talk to him personally. (However, I was quite near him both times!)

Kathy said on May 14, 2008 4:03 pm | Link

I've met Dolly of DollyLama purses. Very exciting and right here in Hackettstown!

We met Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown while on vacation in Las Vegas. (Funny how they live in Mendham, NJ and have never seen them here. Plus, their daughter went to Jeff Lakes Camp in Stanhope.) Whitney was singing in the pool (off-key) believe it or not. She sounded terrible...

Also, met Molly Ringwald in NYC. We went to see the play "Rent" on the same night.

Lastly, met Debbie Reynolds while on vacation in Sedona, Arizona. We did not realize who she was until another family member pointed it out. We were talking to her near the pool and thought she was strange.

My husband has met several basketball players (usually at airports)...don't know the names...one owns a cookie company.

Okay....... I remember now! I met the best (Wartime) President of the United States we ever had! Had my likeness taken with him! God Save Our Great Union!

John C said on May 14, 2008 6:00 pm | Link

Every time I see Whitney and Bobby B on the tube they both look like they have a really bad case of allergies, teary bloodshot eyes and totally out of it. Maybe they should see an allergist.

Thats not allergies thats drugs!

Christine said on May 14, 2008 9:06 pm | Link

years ago, Whitney and Bobby used to come into the restaurant I used to worked at and they were terrible tippers! not even 10%. we'd always make the newest server take their table since we knew it wouldn't be worth our while.

Megan said on May 14, 2008 10:42 pm | Link

Whitney is looking great again www.whitneyhouston.com , I love her boots.Bobby was her downfall.

Uh TonyS thats an old picture.

Christine said on May 14, 2008 11:03 pm | Link

I met george michael at a bathroom in San diego Years Ago

sam said on May 15, 2008 9:02 am | Link

I met pee wee Herman in a theatre in Sarasota.

LMAO, y&f, I hope you didn't shake his hand.

calico696 said on May 15, 2008 9:23 am | Link

About 5 or 7 years ago Im pretty sure Frank Langela was sitting at the crier counter, someone said he has friends in PV. I think he may have dated that troll woopie.

Matt Stairs (plays baseball for the Blue Jays) sat next to me in highschool math class (I "helped" him on occasion).

I had a drink with Albert Hague (Shorofsky in Fame. He also wrote the score to the 1966 classic Grinch). Met him in a cabaret after he and his wife had finished performing. He must have been having a few sips during his performance, because he was feeling good when he sat down with my friend and I.

Met Andy Dick and Ben Stiller at a Broadway Play. Calicat2u (see her post earlier herein) and I were entering the seating area at the same time as Andy. She started chatting with him, and then Ben, who had been in the men's room, came up. Andy introduced us to him "Do you know my friend Ben?" Me the doofus exclaimed "Of course. Everyone does." ... they seemed to shy away after that .... Brooke Shields was at the same performance and everyone was gawking at her.

Sort of met Norman Mailer in Cape Cod. He was coming out of the men's room at a restaurant and I, and a bunch of my female friends, were in line for the ladies' room (the restrooms were singles). It was a very cramped space and when he exited the men's room, he looked surprised to be walking right into a gaggle of women. Calicat2u (her again) told him "we're your receiving line." He smiled at that.

ha ha...you didn't mention that I than had the priviledge to use the toilet just vacated by Norman Mailer!!!

Hope he flushed!!!!!

John C said on May 15, 2008 4:05 pm | Link

never met anyone famous except one of the guys from a christian group called the grits. i saw brian littrell up close at revalation generation in frenchtown back in sept. my cousin in law plays minor league baseball for a team in erie does that count?

JohnC - Happy to say the toilet seat was down and the bowl clean!!!

Wassily Leontief, Nobel prize in Economics.

Norm Harvey, inventor of Basic

Red Reddington, physicist/engineer behind the CAT scan.

That's all, ignoring Jack Welsh.

excuse me that would be "Rowland Wells Redington",

look him up: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h...754C0A963958260

AND, he was a great guy to drink with, and a fine sailor. Also, to get totally escoteric, I believe he was the prototype of Mr. Rosewater.

calicat2u - on my first attempt at posting I did mention that you liked to brag about that, but alas, the post went missing and I didn't have time to get that in depth the second time.

met Richard Thomas ("Johnboy Walton"), Duff McKagan (Guns N Roses) & Barbara Mandrell when I was a kid...
partied with Corey & Matt from Trivium, Mark Briody (Jag Panzer), Vinnie Moore (UFO), Michael Angelo Batio (Nitro) in February..
met a bunch of others in between...

I had lunch with Vice-President Cheney, Duncan Hunter, and now incarcerated Representative Duke Cunningham. I chatted with Jessica Simpson and Sugar Ray, attended the 2003 NFL Commissioners Party meeting Joe Namath and just about everyone involved with the 2003 super bowl in San Diego. Dustin Hoffman, Joe Piscipo (he lives in the area), President Bush (twice), Toby Keith. I served under Major General Bowden USMC (he commanded the shuttle mission that launched the Hubble Telescope). Nick Cannon (Married to Mariah Carey), Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20), General Peter Pace (Fmr. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), he was at the urinal next to me at the 2001 Marine Corps Ball in San Diego. R. Lee Erney from Full Metal Jacket. There are probably a few more.

John said on May 16, 2008 8:24 pm | Link

Boy, and I thought i was cursed!

John C
tonight currently investigating (and very bored)at the old Carbon County Jail in Jim Thorpe Pa. BOO!!!!!

John C said on May 16, 2008 8:37 pm | Link

Stop making me jealous John C. I would trade with you in a minute!

Christine said on May 16, 2008 8:50 pm | Link

It's been very cold and damp, and that was at the Irish Pub on Broad street for dinner! Here in the Jail, working the board it's not too bad. Thirth minutes to "lights out!" will report tomorrow.

John C said on May 16, 2008 8:57 pm | Link

Tell the guys I said Hi John C. Jealous me!!!

Christine said on May 16, 2008 8:59 pm | Link

Will do! Going to be a long night!

John C said on May 16, 2008 9:02 pm | Link

I'm jealous, too! Hope you find some evidence tonight John!

KAT said on May 16, 2008 9:03 pm | Link

I met Reggie Jackson (he was a real jerk), Bill Murphy (hes funny), Weird Al Yankovich (he was mad chill), and some others I cannot remember.

Hey JohnC did you bring some blue jello with you?

Farrah Fawcett~ ditzy but nice
Liza Minelli~ looking for attention, wanted to be noticed
Tony Randall and Kitty Carlisle~ very nice couple
Marissa Tomei~ tiny in person
Christina Applegate~ petrified of flying
Sarah Jessica Parker~ another tiny one but nice
Eminem~ jerk
Kevin Bacon~ quiet, loves his sukodu
Pink~ surprisingly nice
N'sync
Kid Rock~ down to earth
Danny Glover~ did not want attention
Gregory Harrison~beautiful eyes
Dionne Warwick~ very nice
Harvey Keitel~ short
Rev Ron and family~ very well behaved kids
Paul Sr and Jr. from OCC~ Paulie loves giving autographs!
Bruce Springsteen~ wrinkly and thin but nice
Josh Hartnett~ very shy
Chris Brown~ travels with his mom, cute~
Walter Mondale
Jessica Simpson~ tiny little thing
Prince~ short, snobbish
Stevie Wonder~ very nice, great smile
Philadelphia Sixers~ bunch on a$$wholes, sore losers

Second night out here, and yes Lin, only blue jello brings out the spooks and we have a s*** load of it!

John C said on May 17, 2008 5:55 pm | Link

Be careful in the Pine Barrons,lots of Banjo playing going on down there,you might end up like Ned Beatty in Deliverance,and I do mean, End UP.