For me it was Jeff Kinney. I was meeting a different author I love, but there wasn't enough room downstairs and we had to go up. Turns out that's exactly where Jeff Kinney works! He's the author who got me into reading so I thought that was so cool
Met Arthur C. Clarke in 1997 in his house near Colombo, Sri Lanka... A friend of my dad organised the meeting...when we arrived Mr Clarke was sitting in his office watching one of the first Mars rover landings live on CNN..a moment and coincidence which i was only able to understand many years later...
I lived and worked in New York and met a ton of celebrities/big names there. James Gandolfini was really nice. Bjork was not particularly nice. Tori Amos is one of the sweetest, most open and genuine people I've ever met. Ethan Hawke was a gross dick. Rik Okasek smells bad but is nice. I got shitcanned with Claude Coleman, my favorite drummer. My favorite celeb I have ever met though is Joan Jett, who I have met many times and is absolutely the best. It was super funny the one time I was just hanging out randomly on the street with a group of friends and this short little muscular blond lady rushed up to me, gave me a hard hug, and rushed away and I got to be like, "Oh, that was just Joan Jett" to my friends.
Dizzy Gillespie. Way back in high school our school jazz band opened for Dizzy at a festival/contest. I was heading to the rehearsal room and saw our director chatting with him, and the director waved me over and introduced me. He said “Hey man, it’s cool to meet you” and shook my hand.
James Earl Jones. He was doing a book signing in his small hometown, not far from me, when his autobiography was published. As it was such a small shop he spent time talking with everyone who came by. Hearing Darth Vader’s voice coming from such a humble and relatively soft-spoken man was an amazing experience.
I've shaken Arnold Schwarzenegger's hand back when he was running for governor of California.
It was surreal as fuck because I only ever knew him from movies, when I was a kid, so I was shocked that he didn't tower over me. I was actually a bit taller than him.
Dolly Parton at the Nashville rotating restaurant (on top of the Sheraton in the 90s). I was having dinner with a friend and just getting to know her better. She was explaining to me how she always runs into celebrities. She carried around an autograph book everywhere she went. We go to leave and Dolly is coming in. My friend gets another autograph. Dolly was very sweet and very short.
I was working catering in the Vatican for some conference, and they kind of forced me to go to the audience with the Pope. Sort of shook his hand, but he was already late into Parkinson's.
No body knows him but I yesterday I went to the pharmacy and asked the pharmacist where do I get a ticket for the line. Some old guy behind me said its over there, I said thanks and went to get it. When I got back, I saw that the person who answered me was a very famous guy in my country, who hosted talk shows and have multiple gold record from the eighties and now run commercials.
The only celebrities that I met and had a moment to converse with were Nathan Fillion and Jon Huertas.
My wife and I met them at a release event for a small electric car company in 2011 or 2012. I had just gotten a copy of "Dr Horrible's Sing-Along blog: The Book" and it was the first time he had seen it. So basically we flipped through the book together and Nathan pointed out things in pictures and talk about who made them or what they were made of.
I think the only famous person that I have met in real life and took picture with was a gay/straight/bisexual? (Im not even sure) man porn star, it was actually funny because I didn't know who he was, but I saw a couple of people asking for a picture, so I was like, ok let's just take a picture with him. Then I proceeded to upload it to my social media with a text like "cant believe I got to talk with him today!!!"
Years later, I was fapping away and watched a video of him, and I was like, wait he looks familiar, and then it hit me.
DMX. I was working at a cell phone store in Western New York in 2016 and he had just gotten out of prison and wanted to get a new phone for his daughter. He had quite the eccentric entourage with him! He was actually quite nice and took pictures with everyone in the store and had some convos with people. I have a picture with him where I look like an idiot lol.
I was working on the Jungle Cruise at Walt Disney World, and had a VIP group get on my boat with one instruction: no Brazilian guests could share the boat. Nice enough dude, built, good lookin’ dude.
As we moved down the dock to load the rest of the guests, a Brazilian tour group saw who was there and COMPLETELY LOST THEIR MINDS. Americans, including me, had no idea who it was.
Went through the ride, they got off the boat, left via the back way.
I've seen a lot (doing high-end retail in LA) who have all been pleasant and polite with me but I'd have to say my favorite is Julie Andrews because I've also interacted with people who work for her and they genuinely love her warmth and kindness.
I'm some form of science hermit, so I measure these things by degrees of separation. So I meet people by proxy. Some long after they are deceased, I suppose.
I have two degrees of separation from Paul Erdos (and of course his mother), several prime ministers of Vietnam, Kevin Mitnick, and Keanu Reeves. Three from John Von Newmann and most world leaders.
I also probably have an Erdos-Bacon number. It would be quite large though.
I met Prime Minister of Economics and Innovation of Lithuania, Aušrinė Armonaitė, back in the days she was just a politician. She tries to be very tactical and friendly person (as most politicians do). Nevertheless, she is one of the most hated politicians right now, probably.
Gordie Howe babysat me often as a child. He was a neighbor and friends with my grandparents when I was young and would offer to watch me while my grandparents were busy. I had no clue who he was until many years later, still have the picture of me sitting on his lap.
Years ago I went to the Philly ComicCon with some friends. On the first day we're walking in and I see this huge shadow come up behind me and then over top of me and then I see the tallest person I've ever seen walking directly in front of me. Turns out it was Peter Mayhew. He literally walked over my small 5'0" self. It was surreal.
Terry Pratchett. It was at a book signing. He stayed very late, until every last person got their book signed. Generous and warm with everyone in line.
Paul Walker, at blockbuster in Santa Barbara 2008. He didn't have his membership card, had to look him up by his driver's license. I had no idea who he was, my co-workers were freaking out and asked me what his license looked like. I didn't pay attention at all and couldn't remember any details. My guess he probably appreciated being anonymous to me.
I am not a sportsball fan, but in the 90s worked in a couple (completely unrelated!) places where I met/interacted with a bunch of NFL dudes in a relaxed setting
Troy Aikman - serious, aloof
Emmitt Smith - extremely kind, patient with children. The kind of guy you would want dating your sister.
Daryl Johnston - quiet, private
Nate Newton - funny and good-natured. Not terribly concerned with the rules. Like standing next to a refrigerator.
Tony Dorsett - dick, rude, would leave his wife alone so long we used to sit with her to keep her company.
Jimmy Johnson - helmet-haired dick, belligerent, the law didn't apply to him and he can do whatever the hell he wants. Voted (by me) most likely to ask "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"
I also once was in a group dinner with Wayne Hussey (Mission era, rather enjoyable, center of attention but didn't demand it, if that makes sense). Met Vince Neil at an EM club in Germany in the 80s (box of rocks and kinda rude).
Samuel L Jackson and Jessica Alba, both were shooting movies near me and I happened to be a dealer at a new casino that just opened. SLJ came to my table and left, no cash in or anything, so I guess I didn't really meet him. Jessica Alba had her face covered and was in sunglasses with some big dude near her. She also came to my table, said something to her bodyguard and then they sat at the table next to me.
Brian Blessed is probably the most known person I've met. He is exactly like his appearance on any TV show you've seen him on. He wants to tell stories, endlessly. He's always got a fascinating story or fact to tell you. He wants to speak to literally anyone about anything.
This was at a convention years ago, and he had two handlers who were ripping their hair out from the frustration - they were bitching about how impossible he is to get from place to place but he's just so goddamn nice.
Other notable meet (to me) was Regi Fils-Aimé. I was wearing a Zelda necklace and he went "ooooh I like your necklace!" and I pretty much resembled that scene where Troy meets LeVar Burton in Community.
50 cent. He was at a charity function I attended for work. I buckled and joined the people asking for pictures. He was ridiculously nice, absolutely JACKED and smelled incredible.
Slightly different genre I also met Amy Grant at a different charity event for work. Also very nice, slightly less jacked and no discernable smell to speak of.
I didn't actually meet him, but I made Bill Hader smile!
I was walking being him in a parking lot/alley in Venice and when I realized it was him I got super excited, then my friend whispered loudly "keep your cool, don't make a scene" and then when he turned the corner we could see the smile on his face. It was very exciting
I've also walked behind Fred Armisen and Carrie Beownstein when I walked past a place where they were filming Portlandia
If you count the dudes from Last Podcast on the Left, though, I've met Henry Zebrowski so often that he recognized me on the street when I ran into him coming out of a bar. And he was in a Scorsese movie
I met Craig Ferguson a few years ago, I was just a stand-in contestant for a game show pilot he was filming. He was super nice, took the time to say hello and have a quick chat before getting down to business.
It was really cool to watch him, he was so calm and cool until the camera started rolling and then he was just 'on'.
Numerous metal bands... I can't list them all with any accuracy. In the early 2000s I met most of the Green Bay Packers and numerous WWE wrestlers due to a promotion gig I had.
Motoo Fujiwara, lead singer/composer of Bump of Chicken.
He was good friends with a friend of mine so we went out to dinner and hung out in his apartment. He'd just turned down the offer to write an opening song for One Piece, because he'd never heard of it, and was regretting it immensely (as a consolation they did the ending of the 2003 movie).
Working in games I've worked with more famous people, like Tim Curry and Billy West, but never met any of them. Still cool to see your name in the same credits roll :D.
When Obama was campaigning he did a stop at my kids' high school. My husband shook his hand.
Couple of years ago a friend and i were at breakfast and started talking to an old guy sitting at the counter beside us. It was photographer Irv Steinberg. He sat and chatted for an hour, telling funny stories about photographing Marilyn Monroe and accidentally eating John Wayne's steak.
When my kids were young they auditioned for ER and we met Anthony Edwards. He said, "hi. I'm Tony," which seemed funny.
I sat down and had a conversation with Michelle Pfeiffer on a beach in SoCal while she was on break during the filming session. I was just a kid and had no idea who she was at the time; she was just some woman sitting on a stonework. I was too young to even remember what we talked about.
Depends on what you mean by met. There was a thing at a nighclub for blade2 and wesley snipes and for some reason shaq was walking around. Saw them and talked with our friends and said neat but I always felt the nicest thing you can do for famous people is to leave them alone. If that counts well then I used to go to scifi/fantasy cons and there were actors who got paid to go or went to shill something. Did background work and the main actors were there off in the distance. Actually met? Well the guy who was the chef for the obamas worked with a charity with this soup and talk thing and he served the soup but I did not really talk much except saying thanks. He gave some of the talks and even announced where he was going when he was allowed to tell people. He literally looked like michael stipe. Then I worked for evl under Dan Sandin and Tom Defanti who if your in the area they are legends. I would not be surprised if relatively famous folks were around and I did not even realize. Seen politicians at the public transit stations. Oh and my extended cousin is Phil Collins and saw him at some extended family reunions.
Michael Jordan on a random beach I. The Virgin Islands. He hung out and chatted for a bit then kept walking. We were the only other people on the beach. Seemed chill at the time.
Met Robert Patrick (best known as the T-1000 from Terminator 2).
He had a booth at a Horror convention. I knew nothing about the convention and didn't know a ton about his other work, but his local agent asked their local family if they knew a Graphic Designer because the booth posters for Robert and Billy Boyd got lost in luggage.
I eneded up being a last minute call for help, had the agent send me what official images they had, and threw together what I could in an hour or two so I could get it to a printer in time.
Was right by Robert at his booth all day, interacting with his fans. He seems like he probably has some political views I'd disagree with, but I've never seen anyone spend time with fans like him. He truly put the time and work in with every single person in that line.
Had no clue how many diverse fandoms he was part of. He seems strongheaded, but very professional and super loving to the people that show up for him.
Got to have lunch with him and Billy Boyd that day, and they're total dorks together in the best way. Billy Boyd is 100% the sweetest man and it was hilarious realizing he had voiced Chuckie.
Jimmy Carter, Céline Dion, Michael Gorbatchev, Bruce Springsteen, Arnold Schwarzenegger and many many more. One of the benefits of working in the luxury hotel scope for a few years.
Android Jones. He’s a local artist, I’m not sure if he’s known outside of our area or not, but his art is gorgeous. I cleaned out (physically and digitally) his computer for him after he got back from Burning Man. It was filled with so much sand.
billy corgan, twice. total dick once, nice the other time. dan aykroyd bought us a shot. ray manzarek of the doors had a strong presence and was direct but polite. chuck palahniuk at a book signing, funny but no opinion either way. john waters was kind and weird, exactly what you'd expect. al jourgensen didn't say much and looked terrible.
Hayden Panettiere, at the time I was an intern at a recording studio and lionsgate came in and filmed some studio scenes for the show Nashville at our place. Hayden walked in and was looking at this big fish tank that was by the front entry. I honestly had no idea who she was and started talked to her as she asked what type of fish our bright orange parrot fish was. After that she walked off to go get ready. I googled who was on the show later that night as I am totally aloof on anything on TV and actors/actresses in general didn't realize till then I met her. She is really short, pretty and seemed nice.
Looking back my favorite part of that day was the craft food services truck(s) ulimited redbull and snacks. Also one of the camera guys I chatted up and learned he had done some work on Lord of the Rings, which I thought was really cool.
I was working at a small gaming studio and talked on the phone with German Garmendia because we wanted to make a game featuring him and his staff. He's a youtuber, I think he was called "the pewdiepie of latin america" or something like that? He had way too many subscribers, I think about 50M
He was a nice individual from what I remember, very hard working and friendly. I think he was recently "cancelled" though but idk I don't keep up with those things.
I didn't meet him per se, we just talked on the phone, and he's not like... A hollywood celebrity or amything but it's the closest I get.
Sam Abell from National Geographic: He was really nice, bought me a coffee and gave me photography advice as a thank you for showing him to the nearest coffee shop!
Erykah Badu, I did some work at her house a few times. She was very nice when I spoke with her, but usually I dealt with another lady. The first time I rolled up I figured she would be cool when I saw "FORGIVE" spray-painted across her garage.
Maybe Louis CK before all that stuff. Twice actually. He was nice, and a bit shy each time.
I met a lot of other comics. Hannibal Burress, Judah Freidlander, Jim Jeffries were all favorites. All seem very genuine.
For musicians, I guess Victor Wooten is the most famous. That was really magical. He was exactly as I hoped, dude is a natural teacher.
Actors… I ran into Adam Scott (Parks and Rec, Severance) when I was quite drunk (and on a date) many years back. We were both in line at a speakeasy ramen restaurant at like 11PM.
I don’t think I met any politicians or other kinds of famous folks.
As a teenager, I worked in a local single-screen movie theater in an affluent town and had occasion to meet John Delancy (Q from Star Trek Next Gen) who was very friendly, and Jason Robards, who was pleasant enough but kept to himself. I've met a few famous people at conventions, but the best was Adrienne Barbeau, who I met at a horror convention in Worcester, MA years ago. It was early and there weren't a lot of people around yet, so we went over to say hello. We spent about half an hour just talking, commiserating over the then-very-recent cancellation of Carnivale on HBO. She was an absolutely lovely person in every way.
Spoke for a solid hour with Peter Zeihan, author of The Accidental Superpower, at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. Very knowledgeable, and much taller in real life than I expected. I highly recommend his books.
I was a carpet cleaner for about 20 years. Cleaned all over Chicagoland. I was a regular for Dennis DeYoung for about 6 years. Kept to himself mostly, but friendly. He had a dog that he named Lady. His house was pretty big. His bedroom, also huge, had a big master bathroom. To the right of that was a couple of stairs then a small hallway and at the end of that hallway was a room, a literal apartment sized room that was her closet! To the left of the master bathroom was another door, his closet. Open that and I could stick my hand in it and reach the end of his closet. Always struck me funny. Another thing that struck me funny was in his kid's bedroom, there was a form letter from Mike Schmidt. A form letter. From Mike Schmidt to the son of Dennis DeYoung.
I also delivered a hand washed rug roll to Bonnie Hunt. Very friendly.
I was working in a kitchen and David hasselhoff came to eat (I live in Austria) so we asked him for a group photo and he obliged, dude was pretty cool about it.
I was next to Al Sharpton at the airport in DC once. I didn't meet him, though. I was too tired to try to strike up a conversation. He is VERY short. You don't really see that on TV.
It was backstage at a concert, we were the very small local band and they (Die Toten Hosen) were the main act and technically I met them but they were shielded from us until they went on stage and had to go through the place we had our backstage together with the second band (Donots).
The Donots guys were very cool, we played football together in the evening, they gave us beer they had with them because they knew that catering for the other bands is shitty when you play with Die Toten Hosen and we drank together, awesome time.
In music: GZA and Raekwon probably. Bloodywood and Lake Malice are more recent bands but they're still on their rise and not as well known as the Wu-Tang overall.
In comedy: Russell Peters, more recently Nimesh Patel.
Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, but it was more of a brief wave from a few feet away than meeting them. Still, amazingly cool experience to be that close.
I've never actually met a real famous person but the closest was that I once went to school with a girl who later briefly did photo shoots for a vaguely popular magazine. I don't remember her full name but her first name was something like "Kristina" and I'm pretty sure her last name sounded Russian. She randomly friended me on Facebook several years ago but when I messaged to her, it seemed like I was talking to her manager and not her directly, it was very weird.
I met Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio and Blink 182 for a bit, it was at a festival he was acting and he came.up to me and my mate because he couldn't find the stage he was supposed to be on 5 minutes before talking to us.
I guess the most famous I've met is Screamin' Scott Simon of Sha Na Na. He's friends with my mom. Went to visit one year and he took us to his home in the valley of LA. Lovely guy, and the most insane driver I've ever met.