Celebrity encounters, exceeded your expectations or not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Despite the fact that I don't play piano, I've only met celebs that do.

Debbie Gibson (sorry, Deborah) - really sweet and low key, when I mentioned my DD was learning to play she turned to her, and they delved into a whole conversation about nuances that were over my head.

John Legend - our boys played together at a playground, he just sat on a bench watching. when my bag next to him tipped over and fell he picked it up and resituated it.

Alicia Keys - carried herself with a distinct presence, seemed to kind of want to be noticed but was gracious when people approached.

This makes me so happy about Debbie Gibson. I went to college with a few people who had gone to her high school ... they only had good things to say, and that's when she was still pretty famous. I always thought she was talented!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nathan Lane (who I adore) was cranky. He turned gave me a half smile. I smiled back, We were the only people in Starbucks at ~6am. He was getting boxes of coffee and breakfast items. Short, long trench coat, skinny mustache. I was behind him just to grab a simple coffee with only one barista. Was working up the nerve to do my best Atticus Spartacus impersonation to “wig” him out. His loss since he didn’t offer to let barista serve me first when she asked me what my order was. I’m pretty, but alas he’s gay.

Alec Baldwin was fun to watch early morning pulling up to the beach in a town car wearing dressy loafers, swim trunks, wet towel over shoulder, limping to the ocean. ✅Big donor though.

Billy Joel in a local shop sooooo drunk. Also short. Polite and functional.

Christie Brinkley walk-skipping and singing her way down Main Street, ALONE.

Paul McCartney almost ran his bike into DH on his bike. He was very apologetic and self deprecating. Known to buy lemonade from kids stands.

Jimmy Fallon loves fans, always takes selfies with kids.

SJP promised to make a donation to a local charity. Nope.

Another one that’s too close to home (literally), that would out me.

Why would anyone care who you are?

Ooh. Somebody lives in the Hamptons. Amagansett, East Hampton or Sag Harbor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Diana Ross came into the Hard Rock cafe in Chicago with a couple of her kids in the early 90s when I worked there. We had to rope off the entire upstairs for her. She didn't want anyone looking at her or taking any pictures. She was a goddess -- maybe the most beautiful woman I've ever seen and I only caught a glimpse of her as she walked up the stairs. We also had a bunch of the Chicago Bulls come in one night (although no MJ) -- this was during the Bulls heyday -- and I remember being overwhelmed by how tall they were. We had a manager who was about 6'5" -- we thought of him as so tall, but he looked small next to them. Eddie Murphy pulled up in a limo once, but a friend of his came in, looked around at the mob scene, and said "Oh, no. Eddie can't do this," and they left, lol. I don't blame him one bit.

Saw Diana Ross yelling at her assistant at the Kennedy Center Honors - true diva

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Diana Ross came into the Hard Rock cafe in Chicago with a couple of her kids in the early 90s when I worked there. We had to rope off the entire upstairs for her. She didn't want anyone looking at her or taking any pictures. She was a goddess -- maybe the most beautiful woman I've ever seen and I only caught a glimpse of her as she walked up the stairs. We also had a bunch of the Chicago Bulls come in one night (although no MJ) -- this was during the Bulls heyday -- and I remember being overwhelmed by how tall they were. We had a manager who was about 6'5" -- we thought of him as so tall, but he looked small next to them. Eddie Murphy pulled up in a limo once, but a friend of his came in, looked around at the mob scene, and said "Oh, no. Eddie can't do this," and they left, lol. I don't blame him one bit.

Saw Diana Ross yelling at her assistant at the Kennedy Center Honors - true diva

LOL. Ashley Simpson said how they hadn’t planned for anyone to be at the birth of her baby (with Evan Ross, Diana’s son) and the staff couldn’t stop Diana Ross from barging in.

[Anonymous]

Idina Menzel - and yes, she exceeded them. She was so lovely and down-to-earth. This was back in 2013 right before she really blew up in the mainstream from the success of Frozen. She was in DC doing If/Then at the National Theatre. I knew who she was because I'm a big Broadway nerd and had seen her in Wicked.

She and her son were at either the natural history museum or air & space museum when my son and I were there one gloomy Monday. Our kids interacted and we did the polite mom talk "how old, so cute, blah blah". The kids kept meeting up at the same exhibits/activities and we chatted more.

There was a guy there who lingered nearby but not so nearby that he looked like he was her bodyguard, haha. If you didn't know who she was, which most didn't at the time, then he looked like a solo dude enjoying the exhibits nearby but always within reach and with them in his sight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Idina Menzel - and yes, she exceeded them. She was so lovely and down-to-earth. This was back in 2013 right before she really blew up in the mainstream from the success of Frozen. She was in DC doing If/Then at the National Theatre. I knew who she was because I'm a big Broadway nerd and had seen her in Wicked.

She and her son were at either the natural history museum or air & space museum when my son and I were there one gloomy Monday. Our kids interacted and we did the polite mom talk "how old, so cute, blah blah". The kids kept meeting up at the same exhibits/activities and we chatted more.

There was a guy there who lingered nearby but not so nearby that he looked like he was her bodyguard, haha. If you didn't know who she was, which most didn't at the time, then he looked like a solo dude enjoying the exhibits nearby but always within reach and with them in his sight.

Hit enter too fast. I forgot to add, I saw If/Then that next weekend and did stage door with my friend afterward to get her autograph. She remembered me and signed my Playbill with my name instead of just signing her signature like she was doing for others. That was totally without prompting, too. I couldn't believe she remembered my name from like 5 days prior.

[Anonymous]

My BIL went to St. Barts this past winter. He and a couple of passengers on his flight there from wherever they connected, had some sort of difficulty in the airport or with customs. Amongst those passengers was a teenage boy who seemed lost so BIL helped him navigate the whole issue and they all arrived safely in St. Barts.

A few days later, BIL was at a restaurant and all of the sudden, the jaws of everyone at his table dropped because Sir Paul McCartney came and sat at the next table, right behind BIL. He was frustrated that he couldn't turn around to look but didn't want to seem stupid or to bother Sir Paul. About halfway into their time at the table, he feels a tap on his shoulder. He turns around and it's Paul trying to get his attention. BIL turns around and Paul says "My grandson tells me you helped him out at the airport the other day, I just wanted to say thank you."

Moral of the story, always lend a hand, you never know who's grandson it might be!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nathan Lane (who I adore) was cranky. He turned gave me a half smile. I smiled back, We were the only people in Starbucks at ~6am. He was getting boxes of coffee and breakfast items. Short, long trench coat, skinny mustache. I was behind him just to grab a simple coffee with only one barista. Was working up the nerve to do my best Atticus Spartacus impersonation to “wig” him out. His loss since he didn’t offer to let barista serve me first when she asked me what my order was. I’m pretty, but alas he’s gay.

Alec Baldwin was fun to watch early morning pulling up to the beach in a town car wearing dressy loafers, swim trunks, wet towel over shoulder, limping to the ocean. ✅Big donor though.

Billy Joel in a local shop sooooo drunk. Also short. Polite and functional.

Christie Brinkley walk-skipping and singing her way down Main Street, ALONE.

Paul McCartney almost ran his bike into DH on his bike. He was very apologetic and self deprecating. Known to buy lemonade from kids stands.

Jimmy Fallon loves fans, always takes selfies with kids.

SJP promised to make a donation to a local charity. Nope.

Another one that’s too close to home (literally), that would out me.

Why would anyone care who you are?

Not necessarily care who I am, but if I named the celebrity they’d know where I live and my exact street address. The above encounters are a pretty good giveaway.

I dont think you are as famous as you think you are!

[Anonymous]

Paul Rudd is great to talk a little Kansas basketball with. Rock Chalk!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Liza Minnelli, guarded but gracious and pleasant.

Jealous. I LOVE HER!

[Anonymous]

Cristo Fernández from Ted Lasso seemed like a great guy. He is passionate about soccer and giving back. He is also clearly still getting used to being recognized. Futbol Is Life

[Anonymous]

Guys, it’s Gwyneth. Not Gwenyth. Literally not one person has spelled her name correctly in this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Muhammad Ali - He emerged from an elevator at a DC hotel and paused for a second about ten feet away from me. He looked at me, smiled and winked. Seconds later he was swarmed by other hotel guests.

Love this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Muhammad Ali - He emerged from an elevator at a DC hotel and paused for a second about ten feet away from me. He looked at me, smiled and winked. Seconds later he was swarmed by other hotel guests.

I can picture this so easily. If it had been me, this would have been the best moment of my life, lol.

[Anonymous]

Paul Newman. I worked at one of his camps years ago. Down to earth guy in t-shirt and shorts sitting among a bunch of VERY loud 9y olds drinking (his brand) lemonade and eating spaghetti looking like he was having the time of his life. Later on he came to arts and crafts (where I was working) and did some woodworking with some teenagers.

Super nice and low key guy.