Meeting Your Hollywood Heroes - What did you say?

[Monster Dave]

Was there not already a thread like this that had both good and bad stories of meeting celebs? I think it was called "Celebrity Jerks"

Maybe - but I'm not interested in celebrity bashing. I wanted to know specifically, what people said the first time they met their celeb heroes - most of which are fun, positive, and happy stories that people like to share.

 

[aeonpulse]

Well, I met Henry Winkler when I was 6 or so. He was signing autographs and such at some kind of convention that was in the area. My dad asked me if I wanted to meet Fonzie (we often watched reruns of Happy Days together), and I excitedly agreed. Long story short, we met Mr. Winkler, who I had confused with Fozzie Bear. Apparently, Henry thought it was hilarious. I had no idea why everyone was laughing. Still got a great picture out of it though. If only I knew where it went.

 

[CaptainEO]

"Thanks."

I've been fortunate enough to meet some celebrities in non-convention contexts. If they are not busy and seem approachable, I usually just tell them my name, and thank them for their work. That's about it. :cool

 

[Monster Dave]

Well, I met Henry Winkler when I was 6 or so. He was signing autographs and such at some kind of convention that was in the area. My dad asked me if I wanted to meet Fonzie (we often watched reruns of Happy Days together), and I excitedly agreed. Long story short, we met Mr. Winkler, who I had confused with Fozzie Bear. Apparently, Henry thought it was hilarious. I had no idea why everyone was laughing. Still got a great picture out of it though. If only I knew where it went.

lol:lol

 

[Lost in Trek]

They say never meet your heros.

My heros are James T. Kirk and Data, not William Shatner and Brent Spiner. With that said I do collect autographs but I never expect the actor who portrayed the character I like to be that character. That's the mistake some people make.

 

[Zombie_61]

...I never expect the actor who portrayed the character I like to be that character. That's the mistake some people make.

Very true. Also, people will see a celebrity in, say, a restaurant somewhere and, for whatever reason, common courtesy goes right out the window as though they've forgotten these people are also human beings, and they expect said celebrity to accomodate whatever requests they might have regardless of how rude or inconvenient it might be at the moment. Having lived in southern California my entire life I've seen quite a few celebrities here and there (i.e., not in an "appearance" setting like a convention), and out of courtesy and respect I've never disrupted them.

 

[Probe Droid]

I met Henry Winkler a few weeks ago at a tiny con in NYC. We had a wonderful chat about a fly-fishing memoir he published last year, which I had reviewed. He was thrilled to talk about his books. A nicer guy you'll never meet; extremely friendly and gracious.

It was also just weird to see a 60+ year old Fonzie.

 

[Monster Dave]

A few years back, I met Lance Armstrong at a book signing. The moment was so quick that all that I could say was "Hi" and "Can I shake your hand?" and that was it. At least my fiancee got a picture of my brief moment!!

My best spontaneous meeting was was with Greg Lemond - he and I did tequila shots together!!

I think that it must be far more rewarding for an actor to discuss a lesser known work than a mainstream role that they played like Probe mentioned with Winkler. I wonder if anyone ever asks him about Macgyver? Though it's not really a lesser known work, I'm not sure it's at the top of the list for him.

It's also hard for me to remind myself that when I watch my favorite actors over and over playing the same roles, that they do get older. In fact, when I had Levar Burton autograph a picture for me last weekend, I used the one of him as Geordi because that's one of the most vivid images of him that comes to mind when I think of him.

 

[swede]

edward furlong: tried to talk to him but he was hungover and in a bad mood
kristanna lokken: just being nice and smiley
lou ferrigno: called me bob after i told him my name was bo
michael biehn: what an ass...
mark singer: best celeb ive ever had the pleasure of meeting!!
robert englund: really funny and totally crazy guy,loves fans
ray parks: cool guy but didnt say much
jenette goldstein: nice and friendly woman who appreciated the fans
lance henriksen: loves the fans,met him 3 times

and many more...

 

[Monster Dave]

edward furlong: tried to talk to him but he was hungover and in a bad mood
kristanna lokken: just being nice and smiley
lou ferrigno: called me bob after i told him my name was bo
michael biehn: what an ass...
mark singer: best celeb ive ever had the pleasure of meeting!!
robert englund: really funny and totally crazy guy,loves fans
ray parks: cool guy but didnt say much
jenette goldstein: nice and friendly woman who appreciated the fans
lance henriksen: loves the fans,met him 3 times

and many more...

Which was were you most looking forward to meeting?? And what was the first thing that you said to them??

 

[Zombie_61]

lou ferrigno: called me bob after i told him my name was bo

In Big Lou's defense, he is 75-80% deaf, and lip reading (if he does that) isn't as easy as most people think it is.

 

[Monster Dave]

In Big Lou's defense, he is 75-80% deaf, and lip reading (if he does that) isn't as easy as most people think it is.

That's why when I met him recently, I wasn't all that disappointed that he really didn't say very much. I read that he recently had some state-of-the-art implant put in that now allows him to hear without a hearing aid though! Good for him!!

 

[swede]

look forward to all,
eddie and biehn was a waste of time,especially biehn!!
we talk in general about everything and ive noticed that many of them like to talk about other things besides the actual movies they starred in...
best so far is lance,singer,englund,great guys!! i was supposed to meet robert patrick this year and i was SO excited but he cancelled for some reason,too bad

 

[swede]

dont get me wrong guys,
lou was nice and friendly and all so no worries! i just thought it was funny

 

[aeonpulse]

look forward to all,
eddie and biehn was a waste of time,especially biehn!!
we talk in general about everything and ive noticed that many of them like to talk about other things besides the actual movies they starred in...
best so far is lance,singer,englund,great guys!! i was supposed to meet robert patrick this year and i was SO excited but he cancelled for some reason,too bad

If you don't mind me asking, what happened with your meeting with Biehn? As I mentioned earlier, I met him a few weeks ago, and it was a pretty nice experience. We chatted for a few minutes, he was very talkative, we had a few good laughs, and I got a picture with him. I have heard from others that he's known for being a dick, but luckily that wasn't the expecience I had with him.

 

[Monster Dave]

If you don't mind me asking, what happened with your meeting with Biehn? As I mentioned earlier, I met him a few weeks ago, and it was a pretty nice experience. We chatted for a few minutes, he was very talkative, we had a few good laughs, and I got a picture with him. I have heard from others that he's known for being a dick, but luckily that wasn't the expecience I had with him.

One funny thing you made me think of - when I saw Casper Van Dien yelling at a fan my first thought was "wow...I wonder what that's about" then I realized he was in character from one of his movies!!!

:lol

Awesome.

I'd love to meet Arnold and have his say "Come on!! Get to the Choppa!!"

 

[aeonpulse]

when I saw Casper Van Dien yelling at a fan my first thought was "wow...I wonder what that's about" then I realized he was in character from one of his movies!!!

Hahahah, that's awesome. I hear Van Dien is a pretty swell guy.

 

[Monster Dave]

Super nice guy. Though I have little to compare with, I'd say it's rare to see a celeb get into character by request!! I bet it made that fans' day!!

 

[Probe Droid]

I'd say it's rare to see a celeb get into character by request!! I bet it made that fans' day!!

Not the same, but ages ago, a scene from The Muppets Take Manhattan was shot at the place where I worked, so Frank Oz was there a few days directing. He talked in the Muppet voices all the time. It was weird and wonderful. I wanted so badly to ask him to do Yoda, but thought it was too forward.

For the record, he was quite nice.

Also, another employee swiped the props (Gonzo-sized water skis and life jacket) after the shoot wrapped.

 

[firesprite]

Super nice guy. Though I have little to compare with, I'd say it's rare to see a celeb get into character by request!! I bet it made that fans' day!!

There are a few folks I've met that'll do it. Michael Hogan (Tigh from RDM Battlestar) is absolutely nothing like Tigh (except for their shared love of whiskey), but if you ask him, he'll perform a few Tigh-isms.