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Celebrities are just like us. Of course, not always; they make millions of dollars, live in giant mansions, and travel on private jets. But when you strip them away from all of the wealth and glamor to just a person visiting a zoo or having a coffee, we might not even recognize them.
A few years back, Redditor Kimantha_Allerdings asked other users to share their funniest "I met a celebrity but didn't let on that I knew who they were" stories and their post (as well as the comments) has been making a comeback, so we decided it would be a good idea to show you the wildest ones.
Now, can you believe everything anonymous people on the internet say? Probably not. But these anecdotes are still entertaining.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
My mom yelled at Pierce Brosnan. She and my dad were at a ski resort getting lunch. My mother gets quite hangry (an unfortunate trait I inherited) and was waiting in line to order. Right as she's about to order a guy tried to cut in front of her and interrupt her. She snapped and told him to go to the back of the line like everyone else. She got her food and went back to my dad sitting there mouth wide open in shock.
"Do you know who that was?"
"No?!"
"That was Pierce Brosnan. You just yelled at James bond"
"Well he shouldn't have tried to cut me"
Vicky Z 3 years ago
🤣🤣🤣 True! I'm Bond! James Bond! And I'm Smith! Susan Smith! GET BACK IN LINE!!!
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DennyS (denzoren) 3 years ago
She's right....don't cut in line, it's rude. Go take a 007 number and get in line.
TiffInTheUSA 3 years ago
Who effing cares who they are? I'd have done the same, even knowing who he is. Who cares? Wait in line like everyone else.
RELATED:
#2
This happened yesterday! My wife took my son to the zoo, and he wanted to read every little plaque in the reptile area. My wife was distracted for a moment, so he asked the nearest stranger to read the plaque for him. My wife turned around to see Scarlett Johansson happily reading the info to him.
Agnes Jekyll 3 years ago
She must have enjoyed being treated like a normal person, asked to do a normal, adorable thing.
Ivana 3 years ago
I am actually listening to the audio book of Alice in Wonderland with her as the narrator so the kid has some good taste, the audio book is great.
#3
My mom is a big sports fan. One time she was shopping at and saw a really large, fit looking man who she didn't immediately recognize but seemed familiar. She thought it must of been a professional football player or something, so she went up to the only other person in the shop, who was this smaller wierd-looking guy, and asked him if he knew who the athletic looking man was. The short guy looked at my mom and said "That's my bodyguard, I'm Elton John."
RatherLoopy 3 years ago (edited)
"Must have been, not must of been." Phonetically, "must of" sounds exactly like the contraction "must've" which is a shortened form of "must have," but "must of" is an incorrect way to write "must have." Same goes for "would of/would've" and "should of/should've" and "could of/could've." Apologies for being so pedantic but it just recently occurred to me that usage changes language, and I am so dreading the day that "U" and "UR" appear in the Oxford English Dictionary.
Malwin Wellham 3 years ago
She should have asked Elton If she can get his Bodyguard's autograph
April Stephens 3 years ago
The thing that gets me is "must of." Good story, though
Load More Replies... TiffInTheUSA 3 years ago
Oh. So we should "bow down" to you? Sir Elton? ........no. I will not.
#4
I used to be a server at a Mexican restaurant right outside LA in the late 90s. One day Leonardo DiCaprio came in with who I assume was his mom to have lunch. This would've been post Titanic so really at the peak of his breakthrough mega celeb status. He was wearing a ball cap, sunglasses and unshaven but I recognized him anyway. I didn't let anyone know and I wrote something like "your movies are awesome, I hope you liked our food" on his receipt when I dropped it off at the table.
After he left, I swung by and picked up his payment and he had left me a note back that said "thank you so much for not blowing my cover" with a $100 tip. S**t was awesome I was only like 19, I went and got some Playstation games with it after my shift ended.
DennyS (denzoren) 3 years ago
I'm really happy that the server didn't call attention to him. Celebs need privacy too.
Christopher Walkies 3 years ago
If Leonardo di Caprio was with a woman over 25, it was definitely his Mom.
Vicky Zar 3 years ago
Leonardo was 22 at that time, so even 25 year olds were older than him back then.
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Imogene Cargeaux 3 years ago
That's definitely the way you handle this type of this. Never out a celeb! ESPECIALLY if they're not being recognized... put yourself in their shoes! And don't ever out a celeb if they're with their kids! There's a story about a guy recognizing Lin Manuel Miranda on the subway and he quietly gave him a little "I love you dude!" To him and made sure not to get people's attention all because Lin was with his kid and then Lin went on to talk about this and wanted to thank the man because he didn't really have the talk about how he's famous with his kid yet.. so he really appreciated the man not putting him on blast. So don't ever do that.
Gabby M 3 years ago
Oddly enough where I live small town USA we are used to the rich and famous so seeing a Hollywood (or anywhere) star" or Football hero. or, or, or, Is really no big. Of course not taking into consideration of the younger variety of Online people. TicTak FB and what have you.
#5
This doesn't count because it's about my father in law, and he legitimately didn't know who she was, but we were vacationing in Maine and spending a lot of time on the beach. My father in law would walk his dog early everyone morning. He met this lady and they would meet up and walk their dogs together then go their separate ways.
One morning I got up early to come with him, and to my surprise, we met up with Sigourney Weaver and went for a walk.
YinzerGhost 3 years ago (edited)
In my mind, the part of Sigourney's dog is played by one of the Hell Dogs from Ghostbusters.
TiffInTheUSA 3 years ago
Yep! She is like Leo DiCaprio. Humble. I like that. We should all be humble.
Karis Ravenhill 3 years ago
It'd take everything in my willpower not to bow to the queen of SciFi.
Jeffrey Diehl 3 years ago
A former next door neighbour knew Ms Weaver from Stanford before Ms Weaver dropped out.
Martha Higgins 3 years ago (edited)
Her dad lived on Mount Desert Island and she was here often before he died.
#6
My dad met Robin Williams in an elevator. He got in and they rode a few floors in silence. They stopped on a floor and s bunch of fans ran in and started getting pics with Robin. My dad said he was gracious and took pics with everyone. The doors closed and they rode a few more floors and my dad turned and said “does that ever get old?” and Robin smiled and said “Nope. Never.” Then my dad got off on his floor and they nodded to one another and my dad went on with his day.
Vicky Z 3 years ago
Yes and that makes me feel sad! He was so kind that he would never say no to a fan but this thing must have been very difficult for him especially when he wasn't in a good mood
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The Shark 3 years ago
I met Robin Williams while working at Starbucks several years ago. They were shooting a movie nearby, but celebrity sightings aren't particularly comment in CT. He was wearing a hat and sunglasses, obviously just trying to get his tall americano lol. Everyone in line behind him was whispering and wondering if it was him. He was extremely gracious and friendly, but me and the baristas deliberately made it a point to simply treat him like any other customer to not blow his cover. He quietly thanked us for that and was able to make it out without anyone asking for autographs or the like. Such an amazing human being... RIP
Imogene Cargeaux 3 years ago
These stories always make me sad. We really didn't deserve him. He was one of few who truly loved his fans and made the most out of his status. They don't make them like robin anymore. He's one of the only celebs that I actually get upset about when I think of him being gone. As if it were my own friend or family member. He was just such a special person who only did good in the world. He was the most humble man until the day he passed and I will always look up to him.
#7
I helped Steven Spielberg move his daughter's bags into her college dorm.
I was working a shift helping first-years move in and I see a guy in a hat and sunglasses who is unmistakably Spielberg. I strike up a conversation, ask if he needs help with the bags, etc. First names only -- "We're from CA. My wife, Kate, and I sent all our kids to East Coast schools though." Stuff like that.
Later, when his daughter opened the door for the first time, he whipped out a camcorder and, wearing the biggest Dad grin, recorded the whole thing before turning the camera on my friend and me to ask us about the city.
So, I have a supporting (the luggage), speaking role in a limited release (home movie) film shot by Steven Spielberg.
Igor Giunta 3 years ago
Long time ago a good friend of mine sat next to him in a restaurant in Asia. They started talking about everything, except work "I work in the movie industry". "Thank you, it was a nice evening for me too, I'm Steven". Back to the hotel he recognized him on the TV and nearly passed out..
#8
I was in a book store in RI and was in the horror section. Picked up a book by Stephen King, and flipped it over and saw his picture on the back (or inside the cover, I don't really remember).
I look up, and in the next aisle over, right across the book shelf from me, is a guy that looks exactly like Stephen King. So I hold up the book and say "is this you?"
"Yeah."
"Good books"
"Thanks"
And that was that.
pigasus1 3 years ago (edited)
I heard that Steve often signs one of his books and puts it back on the shelf when he's at bookstores.
Vicky Z 3 years ago
I wonder if the bookstores raise the price if they find out
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E2U&U2 3 years ago
Back in the early 90s, my husband was the propmaster on the original version of The Stand. They shot a portion of it in Las Vegas and I drove over from LA to visit for a few days. I was sitting on the set reading a book while the production team set up. A man came over and took the book out of my hand and looked at the cover. He handed it back and said, "Only Stephen King books are allowed on this set," and walked away. It was Stephen King.
Scipio Africanus 3 years ago
He probably appreciated you compliment but also that you were chill about it
Richard Hunt 3 years ago
Steven King Follows the University of Maine Women's basketball team . Find them and he'll be there !!😶
#9
I worked at a Barnes & Noble in NY as a clerk, but once or twice I'd be called over to the in-store Starbucks cafe to help out whenever they were understaffed. One time, Alan Rickman came up and ordered something, I can't recall what. I wrote "Hans Gruber" on his cup though. He smiled at me when he noticed it.
Ultra-Sonic Octopus 3 years ago
By Grabthar's Hammer, by the Sons of Warvan, you shall have your latte!
Sarcastic Cow 3 years ago (edited)
I would write prof. Snape. Different generations I guess. Or Colonel Brandon!
#10
I was 10 years old in 2002 when my mom took me to the Bronx Zoo for the first time. It was a rainy day so we practically had the whole place to ourselves except for 3 British kids running around, chaperoned by a woman. My mom quickly befriended the woman while I made like a kid and joined the hoard, looking at spiders and scorpians and sharing in the awe and excitement of the animals.
After about an hour when we said our goodbyes, my mother told me that the kid, Daniel, who I had been hanging out with had played Harry Potter in the movie that came out last year.
I had thought he looked familiar.
Ganta S 3 years ago
I've served Daniel Radcliffe in bar I was working at in Lake District (him and two stunt doubles) when they were recording second to last Harry Potter movie in Scotland. I didn't expect him to be this short, bar was quite high and before I've recognised him I was thinking to ask him for id if he orders anything alcoholic, but they all had diet coke with their meals. My gf's daughters were obsessed with the books and movies and I've rang her, she came down with girls and he sat with them for like half an hour talking, nice guy. One of the waiters kept his glass with his fingerprints as a souvenir, we got his autograph for kids.
Dorothy Parker 3 years ago
He still seems to be a genuinely good man, even disagreeing with J.K. Rowling's stance on transgender men and women.
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#11
I had the fortune of being on the same plane as Stan Lee. We were being shuttled to another part of the airport. I whispered to what I assumed to be his bodyguard that I didn’t want to lead others on who he was so please just let him know that I appreciate his work. He nodded then whispered into Stan Lee’s ear. He then smiled and put his head down in acknowledgement.
Rest In Peace big guy. You were a big part of my childhood.
Katie Lutesinger 3 years ago
I met him once too! He was the nicest guy. So friendly and sweet and unpretentious.
Harri Ellis 3 years ago
I have the uncanny knack of running into and talking to celebrities every time I am in London. But not this trip. I was joking with my friend, who had never been to England, that he had jinxed me. Our flight was only about 1/3 full, and as I looked over my shoulder, none other than Richard Branson met my eyes. I smiled, and he came and sat down with us. We chatted for about 20 minutes. Other passengers realized that he must be famous, but had no idea who he was. I told them to open the front page of the in-flight magazine. They were shocked. As we were disembarking, he greeted every passenger. I never ask for pictures, but this time I did as I was the last off. His bodyguard said no, but Richard took my camera, handed it to the bodyguard, and I got my picture. Funny, gracious man.
#12
My friend's mom (over 70yrs old) owns a small asian grocery store. Post Malone came walking in with his girlfriend and his mom had no idea who he was. A few cute things happened:
1. She was nervous because of his tattoos, but happy/not worried once he bought a lot of food. She had no idea he was a celebrity.
2. She gave him a free snack for buying so much food and told him to come back for lunchtime for cheap and tasty gyoza (he did come back the next day!)
3. She was worried he would get mugged going to his car because of 3 big men outside so she followed him outside (they were his bodyguards)
4. She really liked his "cool car" (it was a lamborghini)
She told my friend about the encounter that evening and he pulled up a youtube video based on the description - it was him. When Post Malone came back the next day for Gyoza she got a selfie with him (it's on my friends phone so I don't have the picture available right now). Whole thing is adorable with how innocent his mom is.
Evil Little Thing 3 years ago
Guy who let other guys scribble on his face
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Bobert Robertson 3 years ago
At first I wasn't a fan, but he keeps growing on me. Seems like such a humble and down to earth guy, and extremely talented. Not my cup of tea, but talented nonetheless.
Missi Boness 3 years ago
Amazing how much hate has been dumped on this guy in the comments section here based on his tattoos. Haven't we moved passed basing people on looks?
#13
About 5 years ago my dad was in LA for business and got into the elevator of his hotel to head down to one of his meetings. When he got in, he instantly recognized a huge, legendary, hall-of-fame LA Laker standing next to him. Normally, my father would never say anything but for some reason felt compelled to introduce himself. He stuck out his hand and said, "Shaq, it's nice to meet ya." He immediately realized he messed up and the guy responded, "I'm Magic Johnson but it's nice to meet you too." The secondhand embarrassment is real.
Paul V. Schmoll 3 years ago
We had just finished our bicycling vacation, having ridden around three of the Hawaiian Islands. As we finished the last of our ride and I was riding from the street onto the sidewalk, pulling our bike trailer with our luggage in it, and trying to stop the bike because of the added weight, I found myself headed for a man sitting on a bench by the hotel. Stopping the bike only inches from the man, I said something like, "sorry," then moved on. I looked back and realized that the man was Magic Johnson. It turns out he was there for a Fantasy Basketball camp, along with Jerry West and several other notable players of the day. This was during Magic's playing years. We were in our 50's at the time, and the one thing I remember thinking was how young he looked.
LaToya Mack 3 years ago
That’s an honest mistake. I recently just learned that ASAP rocky and Travis Scott are two different people and I’m a black woman. I thought it was an altar ego because they look so much alike I could not understand for the life of me why my fellow Pisces Rihanna, the billionaire, would tolerate this man having all these babies with them KarTrashians…🤭🥴🤫 so that’s one good thing that came out of astroWotld 2021, delusions broken. If you know you know!
#14
Sigourney Weaver. I think I was in the middle of selling her a jacket and some art from the Whitney museum gift shop before I truly recognized her. She was amazingly tall and I got to bask in the glory that was Ripley. Totally makes sense why they casted her as the Xeno queen fighter she was. Just her presence alone was both intimidating and alluring. SO cool.
#15
Was walking out of a gas station over on Crescent Heights and Sunset and heard a "hey!...hey!" coming from a cracked window on tinted out range rover that was parked at one of the pumps. I walk over to the car to see Jeff Goldblum, who had somehow seen my gold ring I was wearing on my right hand from 20 feet away. He proceeds to tell me how he loves my ring and has been looking for one just like it and asks me where I got it. I tell him it was my grandfather's and he asks to see it up close. I hold my hand up to Jeff Goldblum, he takes my hand, gushes about the ring for a minute and thanks me. I said sure and walked back to my apartment.
I like to think we're friends now.
Helen Haley 3 years ago
I imagine having a conversation with Jeff Goldblum to be like a really good acid trip or good jazz. It is surreal, never goes where you think it will, and you just find it delightful.
TheWickedOne 3 years ago
He probably had one like it that got stolen and thought you were the thief. lol
#16
My husband was vacationing in Arizona, killing time in a bar over a burger and a beer. A guy sits next to him and my husband has a nice chat with him. The guy leaves and my husband goes to close his tab and the bartender tells him it’s been covered by the guy he was talking to.
The bartender asks if he knows who he was talking to. My husband has no idea. Chuck Norris, it was his bar.
Edit: How embarrassing. It wasn’t Arizona, it is Woody’s Wharf in Newport, California and still exists today. The story is still true. I just flaked on the location. Thanks for all the fun comments!
NoodleBear 3 years ago
For some reason I really like the phrase “killing time in a bar over a burger and a beer”, I think it’s the alliteration
Faith Donovan 3 years ago
A friend of mine used to work in Atlanta at a photo developing shop, and Chuck Norris came in once. She said he was very nice and down to earth; they had a fairly long chat
cybermerlin2000 3 years ago
Sounds like the name of an American boy band from Texas
Load More Replies... #17
The Rock was at the Gold Coast, Australia to film San Andreas. He came into the place where I worked in Surfers Paradise with a woman and a young child. He was kind-of in disguise, had his head covered and had something partially obscuring his chin.
I served them and didn't recognize him at first. The woman handled the talking, and he just kind of hung back quietly. I looked at him once, and probably wouldn't have given him a second thought, but his eyes widened for that split second (possibly he was wondering if I'd recognized him and was about to cause a scene, it was a packed centre) and it just clicked in my head to connect the eyes with the news of the Rock being in town.
Once I made the connection, it was totally obvious who he was, and since I was still looking at him, I could tell by now he knew he'd been spotted.
Then I just wished the group enjoy their day and half-smiled at him, and he gave me a nod, and they went about their business.
I didn't tell anyone at work, because I didn't want the dude to get swamped when he was trying to spend time with his family. I didn't tell anyone I knew, because it's really not that much of a story. In fact, this is the first I've ever shared this story with anyone.
Cactus McCoy 3 years ago
The thought of Dwayne Johnson trying to fade into the background is a funny one.
Marcellus II 3 years ago
Even if successful, the voice would give it away on the first word...
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Jo Davies 3 years ago
I don't like most of his films (not an action fan and only select comedies) but I have seen him in interviews and he comes across as a really nice guy. Ozzie man (YouTube) interviewed him with Jack Black and it is so funny.
pigasus1 3 years ago
He's a nice guy, but as an actor he's a good wrestler.
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somebody you don't know 3 years ago
The place where I work supplied some things for the set of Young Rock. Can't say I got to meet him, but I did meet some of the people who worked on the set 😁
#18
Met Elon Musk in a Tesla store in LA. Really wanted to meet him but didn't want to be that guy. Decided I had a plan, so walked up to him and said, "Excuse me, do you work here?"
He replied, "I mean yeah kind of".
I say, "Ah what can you tell me about the entertainment console of the Model S?"
He says, "let me see if I can find someone to help you."
To which I say, "nah I'm just f**king with you"
He laughed and shook my hand and walked off.
Demongrrrrl 3 years ago
I don't think I want to know why he's holding that model rocket in that way.
DandiPandi 3 years ago
Personally, kind of disappointed that he couldn't say anything off the bat about the car he's designed/engineered 🤷🏽♀️
#19
I met Justin Timberlake and had no idea it was him until someone told me afterwards. Went to a basketball game with my dad and we stopped by the bar area in the arena first. The game had just started so it was pretty empty except for the bar itself. My dad goes to the restroom and I walk up to the bar to order a beer. There's only one seat at the bar next to a guy in a baseball cap and sunglasses. I politely ask if the seat is taken and he just says "nope, it's all you, man." We shoot the s**t for a couple minutes. He's sitting on my right and eventually he says he and his wife are going to go to their seats. He extends his hand and asks my name. I tell him and ask his name. He says, "Justin. Nice to meet you dude, have a good night."
He and his wife leave and the bartender comes up to me and says, "You know that was Justin Timberlake, right?"
I immediately did a double take and couldn't believe I didn't recognize him even with the hat and sunglasses. I told my girlfriend at the time who was a huge Justin Timberlake fan and she couldn't believe I met him without knowing it was him. She wouldn't let it go for like a month.
John Meise 3 years ago
Just normal people that don't have any financial worries at all. Which, I feel I must remind you, is about 80% of modern life. Don't believe me? Keep a tally of everything you do and everything you have in your life, and do not exclude essentials like food housing and transportation. And do not exclude gifts either because those cost money even if you didn't spend the money. You will quickly see the rich people don't have to worry about 80% of life. So yeah I suppose they're normal. They have fears, hopes, dreams (that most of them have achieved already while most of us never will), likes, and dislikes. They are human. They have feelings they hurt and they can feel happy. Just never forget how good of a position they are in financially compared to the vast majority of the world. It's not fair, it's not right, it's not just. I don't wish any illness on them though because they probably are decent people most of them anyway. But I can't help be frustrated.
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Marcellus II 3 years ago
Wouldn't have recognized him either. Dollarstore Daniel Radcliffe I'd have guessed if pressed.
#20
I was at a test screening of the movie Valkyrie. Me and my friends were near the front of the theater talking before the movie started, and I went on this big, loud rant about how "normally I like Tom Cruise movies but War of the Worlds was such a piece of s**t, one of the worst movies I've ever seen, plot didn't make sense, they strung a bunch of cool scenes together and put a s**t happy ending on it and called it a day. " after I wrap up my 5 minute rant outlining everything wrong with War of the Worlds the person sitting behind us tapped me on the shoulder and point 4 seats down in my row to Tom Cruise glaring at me, I gave him the nod and sat there for what might have been the longest 10 minutes before a movie started ever.
Not quite what you were asking for but close enough for an excuse to tell that story.
TLDR: Didn't notice Tom Cruise was listening while I talked s**t about one of his movies.
Otter 3 years ago
Agreed, that movie sucked. The stories about Cruise feuding with Spielberg behind the scenes were FAR more entertaining than the movie!
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Daniel Tregant 3 years ago
I take it none of you have read the orginal novel by HG Wells? Cruise's film was a faithful as you can get an adaptation of an alien invasion that takes Earth by surprise.
#21
A couple of years ago me and my sister were at Comic-Con. You tend to see some a lot of famous people there, but it's usually with them in booths with guards and stuff (with the exception of Seth Green).
Anyway, me and my sister were at one of the booths waiting for their giveaways when a man suddenly came up beside me all excited and in a bit of wonder. He told us how great everything was there and how much of an experience it was for him there, all in a while I was probably looking at him strangely because of how familiar his accent and his voice and his face and his blond hair was. He asked where we got our poster tubes, and that's probably when I remembered who he was but decided to just not mention it because I was kind of still in disbelief and pointed him to one of the far off booths where they sell poster tubes.
The man was Owen Wilson. I hadn't been sure it was him, because I always thought he'd be a lot taller. It was kind of warming to see how excited he was to be there in the crowds.
Rissie 3 years ago
You should watch the making off episode of all things Marvel on Disney+. The episode about Loki. He and Tom Hiddleston are having some nice conversations and interviews and it just shows who he is. Kind, sweet person. Just like his brother Luke.
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#22
One of my best friends doppelganger is Ethan Hawke. Like it's scary how much he resembles him, to the point that during those stupid facebook challenges he just changed his profile picture to him and nobody realized it. Also his favorite story was one time at San Diego Comic Con he actually confused Rosario Dawson at a hotel bar.
Anyway one night I'm walking home from work in NYC, and I see who I thought was my friend, John just walking on a kind of secluded part of of 9th ave around Hells Kitchen, and I yell "JOHN!"
He doesn't turn around.
So I decide to yell it again, and instead of responding his pace quickens. I decide the best thing to do is to run at him which seemed to terrify him as keep in mind it's late and there are very few people around. Anyway I catch up to him and say "Oh, you're not John" and then walk away from what was a very frightened Ethan Hawke.
Christina Rosetti 3 years ago
I want to hear more about how your friend confused Rosario Dawson!
Wandaluzt 3 years ago
You'd have to travel back in time a couple of years and ask them on Reddit then won't you.
Load More Replies... #23
My cousin rode a ski lift with Jack Black in Vail. Just the two of them. Her husband and I were in the lift behind them, freaking out. When we got off the lift they’d gone their separate ways. We made our way to her she was like “wow, that guy on my lift was so nice.” We were like NO S**T THAT WAS JACK BLACK. She was like “THE SCHOOL OF ROCK GUY?!?!”
She was so embarrassed. She said she rambled on about living in Iowa for most of their conversation. We laughed our asses off.
Gabby M 3 years ago
Not sure if this is well known but what the hay posts it anyway Jack Black and his brother Neil Siegel made a special appearance this week on the podcast "Periodic Talks" to talk about their late mother Judith Love Cohen, an aerospace engineer who was credited with helping create the Abort-Guidance System, which helped assist in the rescue of the Apollo 13 astronauts.
#24
When I was younger with fewer responsibilities I used to just drive around for the hell of it. To me, driving is a hobby. Late at night was my favorite time. The streets are empty. My uncle is like this too. I asked him if he wanted to meet at American Coney Island. We sat down in a booth. A couple guys walked in after us and sat down behind us. Eminem, Dr. Dre, and a guy I later found out was Jimmy Iovine. We paid them no attention, but we knew who they were. They finished before us and as they were walking out, Eminem nodded at us and said, "thanks for not making a big deal about this. We got you." He and the other guys disappeared around the corner.
Sheila Stamey 3 years ago
It irritates that people think every entertainer owes them a recognition award when they're out. Yeah, sure we watch their movies and such, but hey please let them have some life. I've met celebrities several times, not once have I gone all crazy. Bets are off over Jason Mamoa though.
Julia Mckinney 3 years ago
Making a long story short- This happened at a small multiplex in North Seattle, WA. I got hit on the butt by a rolled poster wielded by Kevin Costner after a special "audience comment 5 page survey" for "Dances with Wolves" a few months before it actually came out. Kevin Costner was there and after the movie, and the survey, he'd just finished talking to the theater manager (a family friend of mine) and happened to be walking across the lobby towards me (mid-20'sF) and my friends. I couldn't come up with a single witty comment (a rarity for me) and just grinned at him. That's when he swung the tube like a baseball bat at me as we passed by. Got teased for MONTHS by my friends about that.
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#25
I served Daniel Radcliffe brunch one time. All the other servers were freaking the hell out that he was in our restaurant, so, given I don’t care much about actors and would remain professional, I was chosen to take care of him. He ordered the eggs Benedict, no sides, extra Benedict. I dubbed it “The Quad Benny”. He was incredibly polite and appreciative, tipped well, and his accent was downright intoxicating. After that experience, I became a big Radcliffe fan.
Tee Witt 3 years ago
Yes, he was good in the films nd maybe a very nice person but why do people go silly over actors? After all they are making lots of money from what they do, it is just another job
Ripley Dog 3 years ago
Because humans have a tendency to form parasocial bonds with celebrities.
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#26
My dad and I bumped into Michael Jordan at a Walgreen's near Chicago. This was back in 2006 or so.
We were picking out birthday cards for my mom, and MJ and his son came in the same aisle browsing some cards. My dad kept his cool and continued to look through different cards, giving him his personal space. I, on the other hand, was 9 years old and in awe, sort of staring at him. After MJ picked out his card, he winked at me and gave me a walk-by fist bump.
Didn't really set in until I was older how cool that was.
Maya Stafford 3 years ago
The story is fake i reserch him he died 1993 born 1963!
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#27
Used to work at a posh hotel and we had wedding there all the time. I was pretty young at the time, say 15.
David Tennant was at one wedding, Doctor f**king Who and I was pouring him coffee.
At first I was sat there thinking is he/isn’t he so I was playing it cool. I went back to the kitchen to top up more coffee in my coffee jug and the staff were talking about it too before deciding it actually was David Tennant.
Spent the rest of the night playing it cool because I was in that yeah whatever stage of teenage life. Inside I was freaking out.
Dorothy Parker 3 years ago
What fun! Our favorite Doctor and yet so creepy in the Harry Potter movies.
#28
Jared Leto. I work in an outdoor goods store in Boulder CO, which for those who don’t know is one of the biggest climbing towns in the US. He came into the store to get some stuff as he’s known to travel here and climb with other big pros, notably Alex Honald who is a buddy of his. He had been outted in the middle of the footwear department by a coworker on mine in front of a big group of customers so by the time he got over to the climbing area where I work he was really on edge and unfriendly. I walked up to him and honesty just acted like he wasn’t hot s**t. I acted like I didn’t really know who he was and just spoke to him like any other customer even breaking conversation with him at several points to answer questions for other folks as opposed to giving him my full undivided attention.
After about 5 minutes of that he totally relaxed and his entire demeanor changed. He went from being somewhat rude and cold to being very chill, calling me bro etc. and I ended up walking around the store with him for like 25-30 minutes helping him shop. The only time I implied I knew who he was was towards the end as I was ringing him up. He asked me to recommend some climbing spots close to town like the flatirons. It was a beautiful Saturday and I said to him that those places are great but he’ll get bombarded by people if he goes there and I recommended some spots just outside of town instead. He sorta leaned in and thanked me for my discretion and that was it. It seemed like he really just wanted to be treated like a normal guy.
s. vitkovitsky 3 years ago
Just a little aside, he is 50. And I want to know what he's doing to look so very much younger.
#29
My father has the best one.
He was coming back from work and was stepping around a bus that was outside the Port Authority in NYC. As he's coming around, someone else is coming the other way and they bump into each other. My father apologizes and the guy just gives him a smile, letting him know it that it's cool. As walks away, he looks back again and realizes that it's Henry Winkler, AKA The Fonz, and he almost knocked him on his ass. This was before cameras in phones were a thing.
Random Reah 3 years ago
I actually got to meet the fonz once! so i have always been a happy days fan (im 14) and i even dressed up as the fonz for halloween when i was four. anyways, so i went to a car show that is pretty well known in my state and i was just looking at all the cars that were used in movies and stuff. well i get to the middle and i see a man who looked kind of familiar sitting next to his car that he was showing. I get closer and i realise that it was THE fonz. we talked for abou 15 minutes before i decided to move on. (I also got to meet the original eddie munster the same day, but thats a different story)
#30
Not sure if this counts but when I was 15 I was really into playing Starcraft (being a 3 month old game at the time) on battle.net. I did mostly 3v3 games. After finishing this one particularly epic match (close game, we won), we all got into a chat room to talk about how fun that was. Iirc, one of them says something to the effect of "not sure if you all care but you just beat Ben Affleck." Of course we all ask him to prove it, so he told us to wait a minute and visit his official website's message board (benaffleck.com or something like that). He had just made a post in red (red being Ben Affleck himself) about just losing a game of Starcraft.
We briefly chatted with him and that was it.
Jo Johannsen 3 years ago
I'm not impressed that he felt the need to point out who he was. But to each their own.
Odette Boisvert 3 years ago
actually I think he did it because he knew that the kids would appreciate that - meant for a story to tell later on no?
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#31
I didn't meet him but a friend did. In our town Brendan Fraser was shooting a film, he went out to a local beach to (I assume) take some pictures abd just generally relax. Well, out of the blue my friend, his brother and and another guy rolled up in their s**tty beat up nissan micra. They got to talking, and somehow convinced him to hop into the car handed him a can of beer and went diffing. Best part was they didn't know his actual name so they just kept calling him george of the jungle.
Dorothy Parker 3 years ago
Not surprised. Such a loveable person. Very enjoyable as an actor too.
#32
I've shared this story on Reddit before...I actually had no clue I was sitting next to a celebrity in an airport for about 90min. People asked him for his picture. Some people asked me if I should be in the photo. I declined. The celebrity asked me to smile and play along if anyone else asked for a picture of us both. At first I was confused, as time wore on I was a little embarrassed. He told me he was on TV and we chatted about where we were flying, what books we were reading etc... but I didn't want to ask who he was because it seemed rude. After he left someone asked me how I knew him. I said I didn't. They told me he was Michael C. Hall from "Dexter"...saddest thing is I watched that show but didn't clue in. I think about it and laugh...someone got a picture of me and Dexter and showed it to their friends trying to figure out who the other guy in the picture was.
#33
I walked right past Stevie Wonder in a small hallway once. My face lit up with excitement, but he didn’t know.
#34
Robin Williams used to walk around my lone childhood country town near SF. I saw him once (after hearing many rumors about his sightings, not entirely unlike Bigfoot or Nessy sightings).
My brain didn’t fully comprehend what it was seeing. But I could tell he was trying his very best to remain incognito and not draw any unwanted attention.
We locked eyes. He smiled, I smiled and nodded back, and we both went ur separate ways.
#35
I met a celebrity but I didn’t realize who he was: I posted before in a thread buried in 10k comments. Doubt anyone saw it.
Years ago, like 20 years ago, I went to see Adam Sandler standup at a small comedy club. Clearly I knew who he was because I got tickets to his show. My date and I were running a smidge late and ran into a guy in the lobby. A guy I used to work with, so I was like, “Hey! Danny, how are you doing, what have you been up to?” He was like, “I’m good, how are you?” I responded that I was good, but running late for the show, had to run and he said, “ok, have a good night” and walked off. As my date and I walked into the club, he said, “you know who that was?”
It wasn’t Danny. It was Adam Sandler. But, gotta say, he played the part of Danny well. One of his better roles.
Marcellus II 3 years ago
Definitely funnier, and more believable than most of his roles as 'slob who gets goodlooking girl'.
#36
I worked at a movie theater in Albuquerque at the time they we're filming the first avengers film. Captain America was about to come out, I remember because we had the huge standee of him in the lobby. I was reading in the box office when three people came up. Guy asked for 3 tickets to Bridesmaids. It was dark out and he had a green baseball cap and sunglasses. He paid with a credit card. Christopher Evans. I stared at the card after I swiped it. Handed it back. "I need you to sign the receipt" he did. And then he walked in.
Edit: thanks for all the comments guys. Just to add on. I didn't recognize the other two with him. One was a blonde woman and the other was a guy with buzzed hair and a six o'clock shadow. Also I only lived in ABQ for a year in 2010-2011
#37
Samuel L. Jackson was on my flight. I was second to last to board the flight and there was all this commotion with the flight attendants and gate crew. Once I approached the door of the plane I realized they were all looking at Samuel L. Jackson. He was standing by the cockpit making himself available to passengers/fans. I played it cool. Didn’t say a word. Turns out, I’m shy around celebrities. I’m just glad I didn’t make a snakes on the plane joke.
Tiger Pearl 3 years ago (edited)
Missed opportunity for that joke 🤪 but I understand completely. If I attempted, it’d probably come out a weird jumbled mess of words haha. I know this because it’s how I speak normally (chronic lack of sleep lol)
#38
In the Mid 90's I was a cab driver. Our service was like a cross between a limo and a taxi, and we serviced some fancy resorts. As I dropped off my passenger at a resort, another guy asks if I'm a taxi, and I say yes, so he tells his friend their cab is here.
His friend got in the car and said "this ain't no cab, smells too good to be a cab" in that unmistakable Chris Rock voice.
He and his friend just bulls**tted with each other for the ~15 minute drive to a local night club. There was a white kid trying to talk to a yellow-cab driver ahead of us in the parking lot and Chris Rock started imitating the kid, like "I need a ride, yeah, I'm drunk, but I need a ride", and I was trying really hard not to laugh out loud.
He wasn't nearly as famous yet at the time, but I had seen his stand up routines on Comedy Central and knew exactly who he was, but didn't go fan-boy on him.
10/10 would drive Chris Rock again.
#39
Not sure if this counts as a celebrity, but last fall I was flying from LA to Dallas and the person sitting next to me was a real housewife from Bravo. I didn't recognize her since I don't watch her show, but she did mention it to me multiple times during the flight. She wanted to apologize in advance in case there were fans hounding her at the baggage claim. Spoiler alert - there weren't.
Hours later when I was checking into my hotel, she was there in the lobby and made sure to tell me again that she was on TV.
#40
Was at a convenience store in LA when me and a very nicely-dressed black gentleman walked up to the cashier at the same time to pay. It was night time and he had his dark shades on and was talking on his phone. I gave him the "after you" gesture and he nodded and said "thanks buddy", paid and left. It wasn't until he was out of the store that I realized he was Jamie Foxx.
#41
Before I realized who he was, Shaun Alexander asked me if I liked football. I told him I liked the Steelers. He said, "Yeah, I lost to them in the Super Bowl." I felt pretty stupid, but he thought it was funny. Super nice guy.
#42
I was at IKEA in Vancouver and noticed this lady in a low hanging hat had dropped something. I helped her pick it up and noticed it was Sarah McLachlan. Didn't let on that I knew who she was because I couldn't think of anything to say.
#43
I was in Tokyo Japan and was visiting the square cutout tower with my grandparents, we were trying to take a family picture when an American business man offered to take the picture for us, he did we said thank you, and afterwords as after he was going down the escalator one of his Asian entourage told us it was Jeb Bush. My grandparents nearly s**t themselves.
Dodo 3 years ago
They might be talking about Shibuya Scramble Square. Not sure though.
Load More Replies... #44
I was on my way to a Rams game, back when they played in St. Louis. I was headed for the Metrolink station, in the middle of a crowd of people who were all wearing Rams gear, and clearly going the same place I was. The station is right smack by Barnes-Jewish hospital, and we're walking by buildings that are part of the hospital complex or Wash U's medical campus. As I'm walking towards the stoop of a brownstone, I see someone step out, and react in surprise. I immediately recognized him as one of the team's defensive tackles, who was on IR at the time with a foot injury. He looked surprised to see the crowd, then worried, which I took to mean he was concerned he might get caught up by fans wanting to get autographs or take a photo. Nobody recognized him. They just kept walking by. I was going right by the steps where he was standing, so I stepped to the side and said, "Hey man, if you go back in and take a right, you'll be able to go out the north door, and there'll be less people there." He nodded, said "Thanks", and headed back inside. 40 minutes later, and there he is on the sidelines, right in front of me.
#45
Bumped into David Gilmour while walking down Newbury St the day after I saw him in concert. A bunch of apologies and we kept on our way. (Addit - TBH we were staring at the girl on his arm more than him)
#46
I (almost literally) ran into Shaq at a small restaurant in LA. He was standing in the doorway. You know how some people are so tall you don't "see" them? So I'm exiting the doorway, and say "excuse me man" and he stepped aside so I could leave. He is one large human being.
Stacy Parker 3 years ago
My husband and I are both tall. I cannot tell you how many times people have almost run into us because they don't see us. I thought it was just a weird "us" thing. Is not seeing tall people an actual thing?
Vanta Black 3 years ago
If we can't see your head, we can't see you're human.
Load More Replies... #47
Ashley Tisdale. I was her waiter...a 36 year old guy who was the furthest thing from her "target market". I didn't let on that I knew her cause I didn't know who she was. Took care of her and her date the whole time. A couple of times when I was explaining the menu and asking if she'd been there before she had a smirk on her face. Looking back I guess she was probably thinking "I guess this guy doesn't know who I am." Later that night I was watching TV and there she was. I was like WTF?! I just waited on that girl tonight!? GF was like...yeah that's Ashley Tisdale.
Jayne Kyra 3 years ago
She plays Rachel King in the newest installation of The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes.
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Thomas Hiette 3 years ago
I was 10 visiting Aunt and Uncle in Chicago. We're walking along and see kids surrounding this guy. Uncle asks me if I knew the guy. I thought-Chicago-Ernie Banks. Go get his autograph. My sister tore a piece off envelope her future husband mailed letter to her, handed it to me, and off I went. To get Ernie's autograph. Got it, brought it back, Uncle looked at it, tells me, "You just got Muhammed Ali's autograph"! I replied, "Who ?" I still have it. M Ali
Don't Look 3 years ago
That’s funny. I got Ernie banks signature. In Washington DC.
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DuchessDegu 3 years ago
When I worked in Belgravia (London's posh neighborhood) I used to go for a walk on my lunchtime and seen many TV actors around, but a couple of times I've crossed paths with this older gentleman, very tall, very well dressed, and he always smiled and said "Hello darling, how are you?" and we exchanged a couple of words. I just thought he was a very nice man. Then many months after I left the job I saw him on an episode of Dr Who (Matt Smith at the time) - it was Tom Baker (the 4th Doctor)!
ZAPanda 3 years ago
So lots of American celebs there, in fact I think all are, except Potter. So here's one. 1986. In a lift ("elevator") in Johannesburg, South Africa (for those who don't know where it is). I'm with my mom. Behind me in the lift is an african lady with a really awesome hat made out of wound fabric, and a few really large guys in suits. As I got in my eyes must have gone big. Anyway we get out on our own floor, she's obviously still going up. I say to my mom, "WAS THAT???" and she says "Yep. Her lawyers are in this building." It was Winnie Mandela.
Missi Boness 3 years ago
David Tennant isn't, neither is Elon Musk, nor Alan Rickman.
Load More Replies... Anne 3 years ago
I was on a plane with REM, but I didn't recognize them and we talked the whole flight about what stuff and also on what we were going to do in Amsterdam. They were like, yeah we are going to go see about some gigs, maybe do some music. It wasn't until we landed and got our luggage and they were swarmed by fans that I realized maybe they weren't just some startup band... They waved at me after, so I guess I didn't make too much of a fool of myself.
MellonCollie 3 years ago
I was on a plane with Hooverphonic - they were sitting right behind me, I even borrowed a pen from them to fill out my customs document, and didn't recognize them for a second, even though I absolutely love their music! They looked like a bunch of regular (albeit creative) people, easy-going, not at all like the famous musicians they are. Only one person really recognised them once we had landed, and asked for an autograph. It was then that it clicked with my husband, but I was still totally onblivious. When he told me (outside of the airport) I couldn't believe that I had not recognised them.
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Mazer 3 years ago (edited)
I ran into George Lucas in a bookstore, he lives nearby. Nobody cares. Not George, not me…nobody. We like it that way.
Llewella 3 years ago
Working at a gasstation in the Netherlands late at night a big luxury bus stops and a group of normal middle aged guys gets off. They come in and ask me for all the stroopwafels we've got. They buy the entire stock. Really nice guys! Last in line is the driver, he goes "you have no idea who they are right?" Nope. Apparently they were The Beach Boys.
MrOwlAteMyMetalWorm. 3 years ago
Celebrities are just regular people,wanna enjoy the small things like us.We're all the same.:)
RB 3 years ago
My friends and I were lost, trying to find a restaurant in London. I stopped to ask a man for directions, he was outside a cafe, drinking coffee and reading the paper. He started giving me directions and telling about a shortcut. As soon as I heard his voice, I looked at him again. By this time, my friends had caught up and shouted "OMG, are you Bill Nighy?" It was, and spoke to us for a little while about our evening before reiterating the directions for us! The shortcut was just what we needed and he was a true gentleman.
Carol Emory 3 years ago
My husband and I lived just East of Seattle and would frequently drive down I-405 to Tukwila or Auburn. One day, my husband was driving and started to complain about the guy behind him that was tailgating him. I said "Pull over in the other lane and let him pass." As the car approached on the right, my husband looked in the driver's side mirror and said "No Way!" I wasn't sure what he was so shocked about until a black Merkur Scorpio passed us with the license plate "Doo Fame" on it. Yep! That was James Doohan (aka Scottie from Star Trek) going warp speed past us.
Thomas Hiette 3 years ago
I was 10 visiting Aunt and Uncle in Chicago. We're walking along and see kids surrounding this guy. Uncle asks me if I knew the guy. I thought-Chicago-Ernie Banks. Go get his autograph. My sister tore a piece off envelope her future husband mailed letter to her, handed it to me, and off I went. To get Ernie's autograph. Got it, brought it back, Uncle looked at it, tells me, "You just got Muhammed Ali's autograph"! I replied, "Who ?" I still have it. M Ali
Don't Look 3 years ago
That’s funny. I got Ernie banks signature. In Washington DC.
Load More Replies... DuchessDegu 3 years ago
When I worked in Belgravia (London's posh neighborhood) I used to go for a walk on my lunchtime and seen many TV actors around, but a couple of times I've crossed paths with this older gentleman, very tall, very well dressed, and he always smiled and said "Hello darling, how are you?" and we exchanged a couple of words. I just thought he was a very nice man. Then many months after I left the job I saw him on an episode of Dr Who (Matt Smith at the time) - it was Tom Baker (the 4th Doctor)!
ZAPanda 3 years ago
So lots of American celebs there, in fact I think all are, except Potter. So here's one. 1986. In a lift ("elevator") in Johannesburg, South Africa (for those who don't know where it is). I'm with my mom. Behind me in the lift is an african lady with a really awesome hat made out of wound fabric, and a few really large guys in suits. As I got in my eyes must have gone big. Anyway we get out on our own floor, she's obviously still going up. I say to my mom, "WAS THAT???" and she says "Yep. Her lawyers are in this building." It was Winnie Mandela.
Missi Boness 3 years ago
David Tennant isn't, neither is Elon Musk, nor Alan Rickman.
Load More Replies... Anne 3 years ago
I was on a plane with REM, but I didn't recognize them and we talked the whole flight about what stuff and also on what we were going to do in Amsterdam. They were like, yeah we are going to go see about some gigs, maybe do some music. It wasn't until we landed and got our luggage and they were swarmed by fans that I realized maybe they weren't just some startup band... They waved at me after, so I guess I didn't make too much of a fool of myself.
MellonCollie 3 years ago
I was on a plane with Hooverphonic - they were sitting right behind me, I even borrowed a pen from them to fill out my customs document, and didn't recognize them for a second, even though I absolutely love their music! They looked like a bunch of regular (albeit creative) people, easy-going, not at all like the famous musicians they are. Only one person really recognised them once we had landed, and asked for an autograph. It was then that it clicked with my husband, but I was still totally onblivious. When he told me (outside of the airport) I couldn't believe that I had not recognised them.
Load More Replies... Mazer 3 years ago (edited)
I ran into George Lucas in a bookstore, he lives nearby. Nobody cares. Not George, not me…nobody. We like it that way.
Llewella 3 years ago
Working at a gasstation in the Netherlands late at night a big luxury bus stops and a group of normal middle aged guys gets off. They come in and ask me for all the stroopwafels we've got. They buy the entire stock. Really nice guys! Last in line is the driver, he goes "you have no idea who they are right?" Nope. Apparently they were The Beach Boys.
MrOwlAteMyMetalWorm. 3 years ago
Celebrities are just regular people,wanna enjoy the small things like us.We're all the same.:)
RB 3 years ago
My friends and I were lost, trying to find a restaurant in London. I stopped to ask a man for directions, he was outside a cafe, drinking coffee and reading the paper. He started giving me directions and telling about a shortcut. As soon as I heard his voice, I looked at him again. By this time, my friends had caught up and shouted "OMG, are you Bill Nighy?" It was, and spoke to us for a little while about our evening before reiterating the directions for us! The shortcut was just what we needed and he was a true gentleman.
Carol Emory 3 years ago
My husband and I lived just East of Seattle and would frequently drive down I-405 to Tukwila or Auburn. One day, my husband was driving and started to complain about the guy behind him that was tailgating him. I said "Pull over in the other lane and let him pass." As the car approached on the right, my husband looked in the driver's side mirror and said "No Way!" I wasn't sure what he was so shocked about until a black Merkur Scorpio passed us with the license plate "Doo Fame" on it. Yep! That was James Doohan (aka Scottie from Star Trek) going warp speed past us.
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