Celebrities I've Met in Person

One of the sweetest ladies I have ever met; saw her outside the Coronet Theatre in West Hollywood, she was in a play and asked for my help carrying stuff in. Warm, friendly, and treated me practically like an old friend. Loved her - still do

Doing extra work on "ER" as a patient, I watched him shooting hoops outside with the tech crew, Clooney dressed in tennis whites. After, when they called him to the set, he went past me and - remember, I was dressed as a patient - I just stuck out my hand and said "Thank you, doctor - thank you very much!" and he smiled, shook my hand, and was into the studio. Very nice man, and the smile seemed genuine. Great memory, and would love to just shake the man's hand again.

Did NOT look incredibly happy to be spotted at Borders books near the Beverly Center (this was years back, and the store was still there), but still nodded and smiled a bit, shook my hand and said thanks when I told him I was a fan.

Doing extra work on an early episode of "The Practice" back in 1996, I took the risk and chatted for a few minutes with Dylan McDermott ... though he was distracted the entire time with a game (can't remember if it was baseball or basketball) on the TV, in between takes. A running joke among the crew was, like, "good luck getting Dylan away from the television" so it must have been a hell of a game - but he was cool with me, typically distant as celebs need to be, but not at all unfriendly. Have actually met him twice, pleasant guy.

SWEET, generous, kindhearted and charming man - one of my personal favorites, and a true gem of a person. At a TV memorabilia show in Chicago, he was there signing autographs and radiated such terrific, warm energy you couldn't help chatting with him. God really got a good angel in his care when this sweet man passed.

At a book-signing (her autobiography) in Chicago years back, Ms. Turner was close to a half-hour late (befitting of a Hollywood legend), and the place was PACKED - but you never felt rushed through, not with one of Hollywood's royalty; she came from the golden era when actors actually appreciate and knew the importance of their fans, and when in front of her you never felt rushed and she gave you her full attention. I shook her hand, it felt so tiny and fragile. One of my fondest "celeb-memories".

At a stage door in NYC, only really long enough to get his autograph but the man had such insane, frenetic energy - bouncing around the small crowd outside the stage door more like a circus clown than an actor. Crazy, loony, and a lot of fun. Have loved this guy since I was a little kid and watched "Tenspeed and Brownshoe" on TV.

I had heard so, SO many negative things about this guy, and how he treats fans ... and it was no exaggeration. Waited over an hour at the stage door of the Second Stage Theatre in NYC, only to have him walk past me, headphones as big as hubcaps on his ears, and dismiss me with a royal wave when I asked for his autograph and held out a photo to sign. Very much like royalty dismisses a peasant - and though I was a stalwart fan before the experience, I've never quite cared for watching his work since.

Another NYC stage door experience, this time the reverse of Mr. Diggs at #8; Mark Ruffalo is one of the kindest, nicest, most humble actors I have ever met - and a guy who seems to not only appreciate but rely on his fans for support. Can't say one bad thing about this bighearted, extremely talented actor, except before I met him I was a fan of the actor - after, a fan of the man.

Waited at the stage door, at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, for the "Seventh Heaven" mom just so I could get her autograph for one of my dearest friends, Karen. She arrived plenty early enough to stop and sign, but instead pretty much hid her face and skirted past me at a run, saying she was late and not even listening to what I was saying. No (attempted) good deed goes unpunished!

One of the biggest shocks of my life, running into him at the Samuel French bookstore in Hollywood! Coming from NW Indiana originally, he and the Jackson 5 were such a huge part of my growing up, I had to tell him so! Bypassed his security guard and approached him, saying I was a fan; he asked if I worked there and I said no, told him about growing up with his music. He shook my hand, signed an autograph, and was so gracious and soft-spoken and humble, it was actually touching. Say what you want about him and the rumors, I will never, ever forget the kindness he showed me in person.

Another L.A. stage door experience, the outspoken and hugely talented actor was just like any other guy when you meet him, shaking hands and signing autographs and posing for photos - usually cutting up and joking around the entire time. VERY nice man, seems like he's make a great buddy to share some brewskies with. Great experience.

Met him at a memorabilia show in New Jersey, he seemed kind of spacey and unfocused, eyes half-open the entire time I was there, but overall a friendly guy and he seemed cool with meeting/signing autographs for fans.

Not to sound gayer than a picnic basket, but NOT ONE photo of this man does him justice - he is that phenomenally good-looking in person, so much so it's almost dizzying. Happily, he was also a very nice guy when I met him and shook his hand, all smiles and with none of that closed-off, invisible walls many celebs put between them and their fans. Not Bradley - he was friendly and genuine, and I hope to meet him again one day to tell him so.

Over a year before "Ugly Betty" made her a star, I met her - briefly - at a stage door in NYC. Nothing good or bad, particularly, she just gave the impression that she just wanted to sign autographs and move on.

Love, love, LOVE this man; you meet him, and he makes you almost feel like you've been his buddy for years. Another NYC stage door meeting, we chatted while he smoked, then he had to run to his car for something, before coming back and doing the autograph/take a photo thing. Very cool guy, even in a hurry he took the time to stop for a fan.

Have met him a couple of times, at various TV memorabilia shows, which was especially exciting as I was a "Batman" ADDICT as a kid! Okay experiences, he was fan-friendly but somewhat guarded; there, I think, to collect his fees and sign autographs, and not a lot more - though not, by any means, unfriendly at all!

He was still a teen, maybe around the middle of the HP series, when I met him at a memorabilia show in NYC. Very down-to-earth and friendly, much like Neville but not so geeky. Hope his career as an adult blooms, he deserves it!

Another 'celebrity' I was warned about - told over and over again she was NOT nice to fans - and brother did I get that proved. Ran into at the Coronet in West Hollywood maybe around 1996-1997, she was hurrying into the play with a much-younger blond guy, and when asked for an autograph on a simple piece of paper she actually asked "Are you going to sell it?!" in a nasty, accusatory tone. Ill-tempered, rude, and more unpleasant than a rabid pitbull, I've not watched any of her films in the approximately 15 years since meeting her. Horrible experience, etched into my brain for life.

Crashed a TV-pilot set in Houston to meet one of my favorite actors at the time - and he remains a favorite, as he was so freaking friendly and took the time to step out of his dressing room to meet a fan. One of my few truly nice memories of living in Texas!

Met her back when she had her real face, years ago at a book-signing in Chicago. She is EXACTLY, in real-life, as she is on-stage; funny, outrageous, and speaks her mind without inhibition or censorship! She keeps it real, I loved her then and love her now. Always!

Just met her a couple years ago ... and it was meeting royalty. I was humbled and in awe, with cotton-mouth and everything. SUCH a sweet lady, tried to sign for all her fans even as they were rushing her into the Beverly Hilton for an event. Only had a few moments with her, but it was humbling. Long live Betty!

Another favorite television actor from my childhood - though if you can, see 'Bells are Ringing' as well, he's brilliant! Was just like meeting a toned-down version of The Riddler; he was much older when I met him, but still so full of life and energy and laughter. Truly a sad day when he passed ...

Just ran into him, briefly, outside Spago's - so while quick, he was very kind and thanked me for being a fan, shaking my hand. He radiates a genuine pleasantness, though underneath has a strength and intelligence that comes from being one of the best directors of the last three decades. Great accidental meeting!

Waited at an event at the Beverly Center for Rob's dad to show - and, thankfully, he finally did! Like his son, he waved and signed autographs and quickly hurried into the event - doing his 'duty' as an actor, but still smiling for and greeting his fans all the same. A class act.

A genuine clown, a true goofball - and a true pleasure to meet, when I saw him at an event at the Biltmore in downtown L.A. years ago. Played up his Long Duck Dong celebrity for three very beautiful young ladies, really one of those 'do anything for a laugh' guys who seems like a sweet man at heart.

Another stage door meeting in NYC, he stepped out and immediately started talking and joking around with fans, wearing shorts and flip-flops and looking so relaxed and pleased to see everyone there. Signed autographs and took photos and appeared so happy to do it, you couldn't help but love the guy. HUGELY underrated as an actor, too!

Very reserved and quiet woman, I had the chance to say hello on a TV set. She wasn't unfriendly but didn't encourage attention, either; I just expressed myself, being a fan, and she nodded and said thanks and I walked away.

Was actually a bit intimidated when I saw her approaching outside the Geffen Theatre - somehow, she's just one of those ladies that seems like she'd be a bit aloof or imposing in appearance ... so was surprised when, though in a hurry, she stopped to chat for a few moments with a fan.

Another memorabilia show, he was in full regalia as Pee-Wee, and totally in character, signing autographs for fans and posing for photos ... so can honestly say, I guess, that I met Pee-Wee instead of Paul Reubens, as he remained fully in character the entire time I was there.

It was June 1987, my first trip alone to NYC and I wanted to see some plays. Hamill was starring with Robert Joy in 'The Nerd' and - being a HUGE 'Star Wars' fan - I had to hang out at the stage door after (the play was GREAT, and he was great in it!). There were only a few of us there, after the matinee, and he was VERY happy to see all of us; chatted with me, took a photo with his arm around my neck, and I was so freaking stupid and naive, enthralled with him as I was (I mean, this was LUKE SKYWALKER!), I even asked if I could buy him lunch (I know - DUMB)! He was so kind, though - said he would, but it was Father's Day and he had to get home. Super-dumb, on my part, but he was such a great guy I've NEVER forgotten that day.

You gotta love a man who loves his mom so much; have met Takei twice, actually, he's the consummate gentleman, and the first time was at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown L.A., where he was attending an East West Players banquet, years ago, with his wife and mother ... whom he escorted in and out with tender loving care, as if she were a piece of crystal he was afraid to break. He's been a favorite of mine, even beyond being an actor, ever since.

Outside a theater in NYC, and just long enough to get an autograph - the crowd was outrageous and it was more planned-out than D-Day; you marched up, got your Playbill signed, he nodded, and that was that. Seemed like a nice guy, but hell - blink once, and you missed the whole thing!

Over the years, I'd had the chance to be in the audience of Oprah's talk show, in Chicago, three times. Each time, you could tell she was a bigger powerhouse in the industry more than the last; the first time, each audience member marched by her, as she sat on a stool and she shook hands with (and thanked) each and every person who came to the taping. The second time, she just waved as we were all herded out. Third time, they MADE SURE to get her off the stage and away from the area before even letting the first audience member out! Ahh, fame ...

He was doing the play 'Love Letters' with Stephanie Powers in Chicago (she'll be on the list, in time, as well), they were GREAT and it was a pleasure to meet both of them at the stage door and tell them so. They were EXACTLY like Jonathan and Jennifer Hart in person; great-looking, obviously close, and totally at ease with both each other and fans - Wagner maybe just slightly more distant than Powers, but still cordial/friendly.

Brief but memorable, Spacey was actually in the audience of a play I saw in West Hollywood, years ago. Saw him in the crowd of theatergoers afterward and approached him long enough to say hello and shake his hand (okay yeah, I also got his autograph - I mean, this was Spacey!) ... but it was, like, as soon as he realized he was being recognized he sort of disappeared into the crowd!

Another chance encounter, when Nimoy and his wife were exiting a theater after seeing the play. I was in awe of actually running into Spock, did ask for an autograph but really wanted a photo with him; he signed the autograph, but held up on hand like a traffic cop when asked about the photo, gently shaking his head. And of course, being Spock, I did the logical thing and backed off.

I knew he was short, but was still surprised when I met him. Literally rushing out of a theater in NYC, he stopped to say hello and was a very nice, mellow guy. It was a great surprise, and he gives off a very warm, friendly energy.

No other celebrity I've ever met has made me laugh so much, or been so outwardly friendly and inviting, as the late, great Mr. Miyagi. The photo I have of the two of us shows him with a goofy smile and giving a 'thumbs-up' for the camera, me standing sort of behind him and smiling with laughter. I treasure that photo, and this experience, running into him after an East West Players awards banquet in Los Angeles.

The guy has such a big heart, you can just feel the vibe when you meet him. Ran into him at the Coronet Theatre - twice - and both times he ALWAYS takes the time to talk with fans, sign autographs, and take photos. While so many other actors of his generation seem to do it as part of their job, barely acknowledging their fans, Arquette will let you engage him in conversation and goes overboard to please everyone.