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Photo Dealer Finds An Old Photo Collection With Photos Of A “Mysterious” Man With Hollywood Celebrities (30 Pics)
Most people would go to extreme lengths to meet their idols and have this moment caught on camera so they can cherish it and brag about it forever, and here is this unidentified guy posing for photos with Hollywood's finest celebrities. He blends into classy parties to the point you might think he's one of those celebrities you know, but just can't put a name to a face. Despite being completely unknown, he seems to be hanging out with the biggest names in the entertainment world. What a legend!
This amazing collection was recently found by a talented artist and photo dealer, Dan Barry, who took us on a nostalgic trip down the memory lane of what Hollywood's A-list stars looked like almost 30 years ago through personal pictures of an "unknown guy." The only question that remains unanswered: why would someone discard such a precious collection?
More info about Dan Barry and his artwork here: Instagram | danbarryart.com
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Will Smith
One of my sons met him. Said he was so down to earth and laid back. Not pretentious in any way.
Load More Replies...I'm getting a James Franco meets Jennifer Garner kinda vibe from the guy's appearance.
The fresh-faced young man managed to get his photos taken with the most famous faces such as Meryl Streep, Will Smith, Nicole Kidman, Robert Downey Jr., Janet Jackson, Jodie Foster, Winona Ryder, Quentin Tarantino, Steven Spielberg, and Clint Eastwood, just to name a few.
Since the photos were found this past January, it has been discovered that they have been taken at Tina Brown Hosts "The New Yorker Goes to the Movies" event on March 14, 1994, at Hotel Bel-Air in Bel-Air in Los Angeles, California. The same man was spotted a week later at a black-tie event at the 66th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. He seemed to stay in Hollywood's behind-the-scenes for some time after that as more recent shots with Demi Moore, Christina Aguilera, Mr. T, and more suggest.
Meryl Streep
Jodie Foster
Dan Barry told Bored Panda about how he came across these pictures online: "I'm always trying to find strange, interesting and extraordinary photos to share with other merchants and photo collectors, that's how I found this collection. I couldn't identify the guy in the photos or someone knowing his identity."
Brendan Fraser
Whoopi Goldberg
Born and raised in rural Wisconsin, Dan Barry, who now lives in Austin, Texas, quit his corporate job five years ago to fully dedicate his time to mixed-media art. Trading vintage photos and other finds became a way of earning a living in between exhibitions and art sales.
"It didn't take me long to discover that there was some money to be made by buying and selling photos found. Five years ago, I stopped my corporate work (working at the same company for over 20 years) to have more time to dedicate myself to my art. I consider being an artist my main profession. And the photo trade has become a good way to earn money to pay my bills between exhibitions and sales. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit."
Robert Downey Jr.
Cindy Crawford
Barry is constantly looking for inspiration he could use in his own art, and on the way, he finds interesting and valuable gems just like this collection of celebrity photos.
"Part of how I became a photo retailer is that I often use vintage photos and snapshots found in my works of art, so I was spending a lot of time looking for photos I could use or inspire me with."
Kathy Bates
Goldie Hawn
I can't help but keep seeing the "Jennifer Garner as a male" in this guy!!
"While looking for old photos to use in my works of art or to resell, I often think about how all those photos discarded at one point meant something to someone."
We asked Barry why seemingly precious photo collections like these lose their owners: "I could imagine that photo collections like this get separated from their initial owner when they are going through some sort of transition in life—leaving things behind in a move, forgotten in a storage locker and/or possibly, sadly upon their passing."
Janet Jackson
Emma Thompson
"With vintage photos, as when people collect coins, or art pottery, or baseball cards, etc— rarity, scarcity, and uniqueness have an impact on value," Barry told us why old strangers' photographs are a valuable find. "In this day and age, people experience photos and photo-taking in a very different way than they did just a couple of decades ago. I think a lot of people, myself included, find vintage photos to be little moments frozen in time. For some, the search for vintage photos is a way to spark their imagination and to connect to the past."
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali!!!!!!! I... would do anything to even have a one minute conversation with him. He accomplished so much. This mystery man does not know how lucky he is.
Stephen Spielberg
Barry said he hasn't tried to identify the unknown man who took pictures with celebrities, but it only makes these photos more intriguing.
"Knowing the identity of the young man in the photos would help to complete the story, but not knowing is intriguing and interesting in it own way."
Winona Ryder
Mr. T
"I can appreciate photograph types from the 1860s thru the 1990s—CDVs and tintypes, to cabinet cards and RPPCs (real photo postcards), but most interesting to me know are 20th-century snapshots. Once cameras and photo-taking became accessible to more people—they started to photograph their lives, their surroundings, loved ones and whatever was of interest to them. Taking photographs became a form of recreation and a part of our culture. Now with a few decades of distance, I and many people enjoy revisiting the 1970s, 80s, and 90s through vernacular snapshots," Barry told us about the photos he likes the most.
Glenn Close
Christina Aguilera
A year ago, we shared a similar gem found in a thrift shop in Belgium when Opnieuw & Co discovered an old album full of photographs of a mysterious woman posting next to the biggest stars in Hollywood. It later became clear that the woman was Maria Snoeys-Lagler, a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and the album captured her proudest moments at work. Could this be a similar scenario? Turn on your inner detective and let us know in the comments who you think these photos might have belonged to!
Quentin Tarantino
Nicole Kidman
Ed O'Neill
Eric Idle
Geena Davis
She is so statuesque and beautiful. As much as I miss her work, I am happy that she found her Dr. Prince Charming and moved on to fulfill other dreams on the domestic side.
Danny Glover
Cindy Crawford
Demi Moore
Clint Eastwood
Jay Leno
Sean Combs
This one has me cackling. Sean Puffy Diddy Daddy P Lopez Love Combs looks pissed.
Tori Spelling
Barbra Streisand
Note: this post originally had 72 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I think this guy must have worked for a company supplying A-list parties. Just jumps into the good clothes and asks for photos. Cool late 80s pics tho.
Definitely....was tour guide personnel at one point but a third of the photos are in the same suit and tie....had a couple of good nights and some occupational highlights....still wonder what happened to him...maybe he saw enough of showbiz to last a lifetime...
Load More Replies...That is what I was thinking. Like a Matt Dillion knock off
Load More Replies...These all look like the early 90s/2000s.. Celebrities were a lot more accessible back then. I had a friend (she passed away from cancer) who lived in Vegas and her cousin was the little boy in Village of the damned, so her aunt would always invite her to events. She used to take pictures of all kinds of people, she hung out with Stephen Dorff one time, she always talked about how nice he was. Most of her pictures looked like these.
Apparently whoever wrote this can't read his shirt. It's not sad and not a mystery, guy hopefully has a more rewarding job than working at Starline and hanging out with celebs. He probably took these for other people to show off who he got to meet, but he didn't care, hence leaving them behind. Not that cool if you haven't done anything with your life but meet celebs...
The photos seem to range from 1993-2006. If this man worked for Starline Tours Hollywood the whole time, someone should be able to identify him. Working in the same industry, in Hollywood, for 12-13 years is a long time.
I’m thinking he was a production assistant, or an awards show seat filler...
He must have worked for a tour operator called Starline Tours as he's wearing their logo in a number of different pictures.
"research" - LOL, the date is stamped on them Kodaks for one event. Many are commenting late 80s. Did I miss something? 1994 for 2 events, plus later ones for Demi Moore, Christina Aguilera, etc.
So basically he was someone who had a job that meant he had the opportunity to get photos with celebrities and then somehow he lost his photo album between then and now. I love the fact it's been decided he's either died from AIDS or the photos aren't real to begin with. He's probably gonna get a movie made about him next week at this rate, what with the mystery of it all :P
it looks like he maybe snuck some of those pictures, but he is very lucky to have those
I don't get it. Why is it important to get his face on the same photo like some famous person?
People meet celebrities and want a photo together to remember it and/or to show their friends. What would be the point of just snapping a pic of the celebrity?
Load More Replies...I am curious "Who" others see in this guy. I definitely can't get past the Jennifer Garner meets James Franco feel. Hope we get an update when he is identified.
He looks like a young Robert Sean Leonard. I had to look at the cast of Dead Poets Society to find him and I'm not 100% on it, but it's a close resemblance to me.
I could have sworn that I read this story about five years ago. His Mom was a well known casting agent or something.
Was he in White Squall? He's an actor of some sorts. I've seen him before.
These are taken over a long-ish period of time. I wonder what happened?
Looks like that actor who played Hugh Laurie's best friend on the tv show, "House."
Looks like some of the celebrities were NOT having it - even back in the 80's!
A couple of the pics look like 2000's as well, like the one with Demi Moore (and Ashton behind her). He does not look sick either. Probably just doesn't work for that tour company anymore, and just quit going to events. Who knows
Load More Replies...Yeah, no. Many of these pics are from the same event, and most are from the 90's. That's actually film developed phots, they aren't edited. It looks like he worked as some celebrity tour guide or something.
Load More Replies...Most of these photos are 30 years old. Have you ever heard of actual film cameras? No, these aren't shopped
Load More Replies...I think this guy must have worked for a company supplying A-list parties. Just jumps into the good clothes and asks for photos. Cool late 80s pics tho.
Definitely....was tour guide personnel at one point but a third of the photos are in the same suit and tie....had a couple of good nights and some occupational highlights....still wonder what happened to him...maybe he saw enough of showbiz to last a lifetime...
Load More Replies...That is what I was thinking. Like a Matt Dillion knock off
Load More Replies...These all look like the early 90s/2000s.. Celebrities were a lot more accessible back then. I had a friend (she passed away from cancer) who lived in Vegas and her cousin was the little boy in Village of the damned, so her aunt would always invite her to events. She used to take pictures of all kinds of people, she hung out with Stephen Dorff one time, she always talked about how nice he was. Most of her pictures looked like these.
Apparently whoever wrote this can't read his shirt. It's not sad and not a mystery, guy hopefully has a more rewarding job than working at Starline and hanging out with celebs. He probably took these for other people to show off who he got to meet, but he didn't care, hence leaving them behind. Not that cool if you haven't done anything with your life but meet celebs...
The photos seem to range from 1993-2006. If this man worked for Starline Tours Hollywood the whole time, someone should be able to identify him. Working in the same industry, in Hollywood, for 12-13 years is a long time.
I’m thinking he was a production assistant, or an awards show seat filler...
He must have worked for a tour operator called Starline Tours as he's wearing their logo in a number of different pictures.
"research" - LOL, the date is stamped on them Kodaks for one event. Many are commenting late 80s. Did I miss something? 1994 for 2 events, plus later ones for Demi Moore, Christina Aguilera, etc.
So basically he was someone who had a job that meant he had the opportunity to get photos with celebrities and then somehow he lost his photo album between then and now. I love the fact it's been decided he's either died from AIDS or the photos aren't real to begin with. He's probably gonna get a movie made about him next week at this rate, what with the mystery of it all :P
it looks like he maybe snuck some of those pictures, but he is very lucky to have those
I don't get it. Why is it important to get his face on the same photo like some famous person?
People meet celebrities and want a photo together to remember it and/or to show their friends. What would be the point of just snapping a pic of the celebrity?
Load More Replies...I am curious "Who" others see in this guy. I definitely can't get past the Jennifer Garner meets James Franco feel. Hope we get an update when he is identified.
He looks like a young Robert Sean Leonard. I had to look at the cast of Dead Poets Society to find him and I'm not 100% on it, but it's a close resemblance to me.
I could have sworn that I read this story about five years ago. His Mom was a well known casting agent or something.
Was he in White Squall? He's an actor of some sorts. I've seen him before.
These are taken over a long-ish period of time. I wonder what happened?
Looks like that actor who played Hugh Laurie's best friend on the tv show, "House."
Looks like some of the celebrities were NOT having it - even back in the 80's!
A couple of the pics look like 2000's as well, like the one with Demi Moore (and Ashton behind her). He does not look sick either. Probably just doesn't work for that tour company anymore, and just quit going to events. Who knows
Load More Replies...Yeah, no. Many of these pics are from the same event, and most are from the 90's. That's actually film developed phots, they aren't edited. It looks like he worked as some celebrity tour guide or something.
Load More Replies...Most of these photos are 30 years old. Have you ever heard of actual film cameras? No, these aren't shopped
Load More Replies...