Celebrity jerks?

I think that she is indifferent to her fans is because she really doesn't like signing autographs and posing for pictures. She looks at it as a chore to raise money for her animal rescue charity.

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Then don't do it. For whatever reason she's there, she should be gracious to people who paid to get in, waited in line, and paid more for a picture or autograph. If she's shy or just not that interested in fans that's perfectly fine, but then don't put yourself in a position where you have to interact one on one with strangers and be unpleasant. There's no excuse for that.

Probe Droid said:

Then don't do it. For whatever reason she's there, she should be gracious to people who paid to get in, waited in line, and paid more for a picture or autograph. If she's shy or just not that interested in fans that's perfectly fine, but then don't put yourself in a position where you have to interact one on one with strangers and be unpleasant. There's no excuse for that.

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Sadly a lot of celebs are like this. They want the worship and the cash but don't want to work for it.

I'd like to think if I were a celeb, that I would always be willing to give fans a moment with me, in appropriate moments that is.

As some have stated, I imagine it depends on the mood, the approach, and several other actors. I mean, we all have cruddy days, but it is such a shame when one's hero is a dink - and it only takes once - and ruins your love for them.

I'm lucky - my greatest celebrity love is Lucy Lawless and I have met her and she's a 100% total doll who appreciates her fans and is mighty darn good to them.

I met Ming Chen, Michael Zapcic, and Robert Bruce from Comic Book Men at Comikaze in Nov (I'm the one in the "Top Gun" hat) they were really nice and didn't even charge to take a picture with them which was super cool. Another person I met which also happened to be at Comikaze as well was one of my favorite cosplayers, Leeanna Vamp she was insanely beautiful in person and was really cool and nice.

I waited tables in New York City as a struggling actor. I waited on TONS of celebrities and the biggest stars were usually the nicest. It was always the person who had a part on a hit show in the 70s for about 5 minutes that acted like the biggest jerk. THE biggest jerk I EVER waited on was BILLY SQUIRE!!!!!
He acted like the King of a large Empire and would call you or dismiss you with hand gestures, never looked you in the eye, and was a terrible tipper.
THE-BIGGEST-JERK-EVER!!!!!! And he had ONE hit song in the 80s. It broke my heart when Eminem sampled his stupid song because now he'll make MORE money.....just what we need....to give that jerk MORE money. I'm telling you I cringed whenever he came in. Billy Squire.... was always very degrading in the way he treated you.....EVERY time he came in.
Nice celebrities? Hillary Swank and Chad Lowe, Harrison Ford, Julianna Margulies and Ron Eldard, Paul Rudd, Paul Stookey and so many more.
AND I had always heard in tabloids how rude Kevin Kline is and they are soooooo wrong! He and his family were the NICEST!!!!!!
Bryant Gumble was always great as well. I felt bad he always got a bad rap.
But you would HATE Billy Squire if you ever met him or waited on him. Blech!

My best and worst experiences have been Dukes of Hazzard related. I met John Schneider in 2000, and he was perfect. Strong hand shake, looks you in the eyes and thanked me for waiting so long (about 2 hrs). $5.00 for an autograph, free picture.

The next year James Best and Sonny Shroyer came to town. Best was absolutely rude, and totally crushed me. I've been a Dukes fan since before I could walk. He wouldn't look up for a pic, which is fine, but he was nasty and seemed like he was miserable there. He was so bad that Sonny Shroyer took notice and went out of his way to ask our names, pose for a picture and even call after us when we walked away. I turned and he had that big Enos grin and a huge wave.
I've learned over time how to meet celebrities and keep your dignity. Don't ever assume you have anything to say that they haven't heard a million times before. Don't try to engage them in any conversation when there's a real line. They say to never meet your heroes. I think it's best to not go into a situation like that with any expectations. And I do believe that when people are paying huge sums of money and waiting in line to meet them, a celebrity should be able to put aside whatever bad mood they are in and not pass it on. They are, after all, actors. A bad experience can be just that, and may not define the celebrity as a person, but the fan has to walk away with that, and it really ruins a lifelong love of a film or show when that happens. Not to mention, how stupid you feel walking away from the booth with a big $$ item that you no longer feel excited about.
I heard Tom Wopat can be nasty too. The big story is that he was passing through a Casino lobby in Vegas once, totally drunk. He had been performing with Schneider I think on their reunion tour. A small fan asked for his autograph, and Wopat told the boy to get a life, and kept walking.

I agree with "it's best not to meet your heroes". I would hate to meet someone I was a lifelong fan of just to have them dismiss me as if I was fungus.

Once, in the late 80s, I saw Frank Oz in a restuarant. I was SUCH a huge fan of his. The friend I was with was adamant about us going over to talk to him. Although I'm sure he is a nice fellow, I wasn't about to take the chance of having him shoot me down. The guy was just trying to have a nice quiet dinner. He didn't need me slobbering all over him.

I don't mind talking to a celebrity if it is at a convention or somewhere they are doing a public appearance. It's expected there. But if I see one just out in public, just trying to mind their own business, I will respect that and not approach them.

Laspector said:

Once, in the late 80s, I saw Frank Oz in a restuarant. I was SUCH a huge fan of his. The friend I was with was adamant about us going over to talk to him. Although I'm sure he is a nice fellow, I wasn't about to take the chance of having him shoot me down. The guy was just trying to have a nice quiet dinner. He didn't need me slobbering all over him.

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That's the key. Respect their space and you'll be surprised how much nicer most celebs are. In that case if I really wanted to meet him I would have waited until his dinner was done and then said hi as he was leaving. Don't expect a long conversation either, you don't know how busy someone is.

P.L Travers thought Walt Disney is a jerk. He only gives out pre-signed business cards.

Laspector said:

I agree with "it's best not to meet your heroes". I would hate to meet someone I was a lifelong fan of just to have them dismiss me as if I was fungus.

Once, in the late 80s, I saw Frank Oz in a restuarant. I was SUCH a huge fan of his. The friend I was with was adamant about us going over to talk to him. Although I'm sure he is a nice fellow, I wasn't about to take the chance of having him shoot me down. The guy was just trying to have a nice quiet dinner. He didn't need me slobbering all over him.

I don't mind talking to a celebrity if it is at a convention or somewhere they are doing a public appearance. It's expected there. But if I see one just out in public, just trying to mind their own business, I will respect that and not approach them.

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I have been in more than a few restaurants on Disney property while celebrities are eating. You will do nothing but annoy them if you are a fanboy and you interrupt their meal and conversation. Sure some might be polite and pose or thank you for being a fan, but it will be rude that you just did that to them.
I wouldn't blame them if they were slightly rude or uninterested.
So on a few occasions, I wrote on a napkin a few kind words, just thanking them for what they do and the joy they bring. I ask the waitress what they are drinking, and tell her to just give them the note and another round on me. And I leave it at that. A couple have read the note, asked who sent it, and raised their glass to me with a smile. That was enough for me
But a few waved and smiled, finished their meal, and came over to introduce themselves. They came to me. And everyone on the restaurant watched the huge celebrity come over to me to shake my hand. It was nice.

So treat these people (and I didn't use the term celebrity because they are just people) with genuine respect, and you will earn it right back. Understand that they get tired of photos and people invading their space and personal time.

Mavis said:

I waited on TONS of celebrities and the biggest stars were usually the nicest. It was always the person who had a part on a hit show in the 70s for about 5 minutes that acted like the biggest jerk.

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Same with musicians, people that have made it can be seriously nice, but the folks who can maybe draw at a local level can be unbearable. I used to go to a restaurant next to a venue called the Recher in a suburb of Baltimore and they had a bunch of so-so bands who could play regional music festivals and maybe got on local radio. Watching them make fools of themselves trying to be rockstars before their shows used to be hilarious.

Laspector said:

I agree with "it's best not to meet your heroes".
...
He didn't need me slobbering all over him.

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I think "Don't slobber on your heroes." is good advice in any context.

I've met a few celebs in my time at cons (both local cons and the bigger ones) and I have both good and bad stories...

Walter Koenig: Met him at my local con close to 20 years ago... A little uppity but was cordial enough to take a picture with me (I was dressed as a PsiCorps Agent) and signed a pic. Not a bad experience, overall.

Patricia Tallman: Another B5 actress... VERY nice, and hung out with all of us in the Party Rooms.

Tamoh Pennikett: EXTREMELY nice and cordial. When I introduced myself and told him how much I appreciated his work, he was all smiles and made sure I got a pic with him, much to the chagrin of his handlers.

Aaron Douglas: This man is a HOOT to be around! We got totally hammered a few years ago at Dcon at the BSG party.

Richard Hatch: This man went out of the way to answer every question we had for him and never once complained.

Noel Neill: For those that don't know, she played Lois Lane in the George Reeves Superman TV series... This was perhaps one of the best experiences I've had with a celebrity, and I'll tell you why... My Mom is a HUGE Superman fan, and grew up watching the series on TV. My local convention hosted her as the celebrity guest of honor one year, and I didn't know it until I actually got registered in. Now, I'm a HUGE Stargate fan (I own several Stargate costumes and was costuming that year), but Ms. Neill didn't recognize the costumes in my group, as we all dressed in SG Tactical. Well, I know quite a few of the staffers at the con, so one of them approaches me and says to me that Ms. Neill would like to talk to us. I was shocked, but I nevertheless approached her. She had so many questions about Stargate, which to be honest was an absolute pleasure to do... After answering all of her questions, I immediately placed a call to my mom and told her that she needed to come to the convention, right now. 30 minutes later, she arrived, and I paid for her day pass, then walked her over to where Ms. Neill was. Now, during my Q and A with Ms. Neill, I told her that my mom was a fan of the original series... Well, when I approached Ms. Neill again, she smiled widely, came back from around the table and gave my Mom a hug. The look on my Mom's face was PRICELESS. They talked for a good 20 minutes... Seeing that was worth every penny.

Don S. Davis: A total class-act, and in the same vein as John Rhys-Davies. I met him the year before he passed away, and was fortunate to get an autographed picture. Totally LOVED the Stargate fandom community and was very encouraging to me on my OD Offworld Gear, which at that point was in its beginning stage... When I got word that he passed, I was in tears.

Billy West: Another nice guy, although I couldn't get an autograph... He even did the Zoidberg voice for me, which was a hoot to hear in person.

JG Hertzler: Nice enough, but turns into a raving egomaniacal jerk when you disagree with him on anything. He turns into a UNBELIEVABLY raving egomaniacal jerk when it comes to politics, which seems to be his discussion topic of preference off-screen or stage.

Ray Park: Good guy, although he seemed a bit full of himself... Either that or he was full of booze, as he was on the party floor of the con I was attending. Regardless, he was nice enough to talk to the folks that asked questions and wanted pictures, etc.

Peter Mayhew: EXTREMELY nice man, and pleasant to talk to! He was at my local con one year and came outside to smoke a cigarette. I smoked at the time myself, and was outside at the same time. We chatted and he seemed like just a down to earth individual.

Jim Henson: I met him through my Mom, as they both went to High School together. VERY quiet man; almost shy to be honest. Nevertheless, it was a treat for a 6 year old like I was to meet Kermit the Frog in the flesh!

Moviefreak said:

I have been in more than a few restaurants on Disney property while celebrities are eating. You will do nothing but annoy them if you are a fanboy and you interrupt their meal and conversation. Sure some might be polite and pose or thank you for being a fan, but it will be rude that you just did that to them.
I wouldn't blame them if they were slightly rude or uninterested.

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Hehe. Some celebrities will actually do this with other celebrities. On the commentary track to "The Quest for Fire", Ron Perlman talked about how he was having dinner at a restaurant where Orson Welles was also having dinner, and since the two of them worked indirectly on that film (Welles doing the promotion material), he thought he'd introduce himself as someone who have worked on the same project together. I won't spoil it (It's a great overall commentary. Give it a shot!), but Welles' response to Perlman was quite funny.

Owing to my job I was attending a local Incubus concert and got to meet the band; all very nice although, frankly, not really my kind of music and they aren't really on my radar so I don't know that their personalities would have registered on me either way.

But his post is really about what happened before the concert: My co-workers and I met at a local restaurant near the concert venue and I happened to spot Terri Hatcher! She was having wine with a friend so I took a chance on interrupting (wouldn't have if they were actually eating) to ask for an autograph.

I've heard she can be prickly but was quite nice, asked my name in order to personalize the signature, and didn't seem bothered by the request (her friend, on the other hand, I could tell wasn't crazy about it ... the price of hanging with a celeb!).

edit - see below;o).

Mr.Faustino seemed very nice, he looked you in the eye like he wanted to be there...unlike some of these people where you only see the top of their heads. He did seem a little flustered, so I think this may have been his first convention ;o).







Finally got my picture with Bob ;o). Apparently Sonia/Maria was supposed to be there as well, but decided not to do it. I guess she's not a convention type.
I didn't get the guts though to ask if they give tours of the SS set. Maybe next time

Andy Garcia is the kind of guy who will make fun of children. Like, My son is being hurtful to this child, let me pile on.

F that guy.

My wife and I go to Hard Rock and Metal concerts and festivals often and last year we went to the Wizard World Convention in Philadelphia. Here are some of the celebrities I've met over the years:


The Misfits - I met them in Missouri years ago and I had never heard of them. They seemed a little upset about that but were really nice. They were a real fish outta water band there in conservative backwater Missouri.


At a State Fair in Missouri in the 90's my exbest friend, our kids and I met a handful of prominent wrestlers, many of whom worked at the time for the WcW and WWF (before the name change to WWE). We met "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig who gave my young son a high five though he had just finished a match in the August heat! Mick Foley was obviously wasted and gross. Big Boss Man was ok. Some of the less known wrestlers were really nice. Not a single one was rude or offensive in any way. A fun event.


Almost a year later, my kids got to go see Mick Foley again at a book signing in Joplin, Mo and he was sober and a lot of fun with the kids.


Just before his stardom took off, we got to chat with Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson. He was just beginning to get a huge push in WWE and most people really didn't know much about him. We chatted for a while, skeptical at first that it was really him. He proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was him, though after he asnwered some trivia about not only him but also about his dad, Rocky Johnson.


Once my wife and I started going to Metal shows, she wanted to meet the musicians but she can't always make it through the long lines so I sometimes I do it for her. I'm not the biggest fans of meet and greets but I do it for her. Here are some of those memories:


Trivium was great! The whole band went up and down the corridor in the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ. giving back to their fans!


Exodus's Gary Holt was awesome. Disturbed's John Moyer has nodded and pointed to me a couple of times, at different shows. We are huge fans of Disturbed, my wife having seen them at least 13 times!


My wife met four of the guys from Slipknot - Corey Taylor, Sean "the Clown" Crahan, Sid Wilson & Chris Fehn for a photo op and all were great to her.


Stone Sour at the Uproar Festival in Scarnton, PA - I stood in line to meet Stone Sour for my wife while I was wearing an Exodus shirt. All of the bands members were cool although Cory Taylor wanted me to wear one of their shirts instead. I told him I was representing the older metal bands which didn't seem to impress him. His loss!


Lastly, we went to see Uproar Festival, again in Camden, NJ to see Rob Zombie who had Slipknot's drummer Joey Jordison playing for him that summer. My wife got to take some cell phone pics of Joey and his Murderdoll's band mate Wednesday 13 were there, not to perform themselves but just for meet and greets. Though my wife wasn't in line, the two guys waved to her and didn't get mad when she took an offhand photo. Later, I stood in line for her to meet Rob Zombie and his band, this time including Joey. I was supposed to get them to sign a specific photo but my wife had taken off across the busy festival grounds with the pic. I told Zombie I didn't have the pic but I did have the official festival magazine playbook and asked if they could sign that instead? He said, "Yeah, sure your wife has the photo! Ok, we'll sign whatever you want us to!" The whole band signed the magazine spread over their pictures! It was cool but as I said hi to each of the guys, the only one that didn't say hi and shake my hand was Joey. He signed while continuing to talk to the guy next to him with out even looking up. I tried to say hi to him again but when Joey continued to ignore me I looked up at the other guys and Rob shook his head. I shrugged and then left. I don't harbor bad feelings over it, though. I don't know how these people can put on such a good face with thousands of fans, in the glaring heat, city after city each summer.