airport celebrity encounters-have you ever had one?
 

ever happen to see a celebrity an any airports while traveling? did you solicit them for a photo opportunity or autograph? The only celebrities I ever saw was Arnold Schwarzenneger in 1994 at LAX, and M.C. Hammer, also at LAX in 1992

I met Dianne Carroll in Tulsa, and she was just as beautiful in person as on TV. I met Helen Thomas, the White House Correspondent, here at the Austin airport. DH met Hollywood Henderson of the Dallas Cowboys at DFW airport, of course.

Mary Ellen from "The Waltons" at LAX. Whoop de Doo!

LOL, Aunt Annie!! I don't think I would recognize Mary Ellen anymore.

This sighting wasn't really recently....if my looks are any indication, I wouldn't recognize her anymore!!! Ha.

Muhammed Ali, NY. His wife quietly escorted him to a seat in the departure area. No entourage, no fanfare. Adults started noticing, but kept their distance. Kids started coming up to him. Very gracious.

Bill Cowher, (he's a celebrity after the superbowl isn't he(:) First class connection through Pittsburgh. Actually didn't know who he was at the time but he was tall and the older woman sitting next to me couldn't reach her bag out of the overhead. I asked him to get it for her, and he was very nice as he did so. Later found out who he was.

Marvin Hamlisch (I'm sure I'm misspelling everyone's name). First Class cabin to NY. Took me awhile to realize that the guy who kept getting in my way was MH (:

I saw Spike Lee on the Boston-New York shuttle. He looked familiar to me, I was pretty sure it was he, and then he got ticket from a dispenser, and I saw him signing "S. Lee." I said "I thought it was you!" and smiled, and he smiled back. That's it!

Liz

Bill and Joe from Season 1 of Amazing Race? Does that count?

Cesar Chavez

Dennis Conner (America's Cup)

I never bothered any of them.

My husband sat in front of Barbara Bush on a flight and he said she was really nice. They chatted a little on the flight and she signed a picture of my daughter for him.
Together, with my sister in law, we saw Pierce Bronson in the airport in Nassau, Bahamas. She spoke to him and he asked her to not bring attention to him. He was rather abrupt to her.

In 1968, I saw Muhammed Ali in the Newark airport; he was the most gorgeous man I'd ever seen. I was a teenager, and a bit awed. My mother, who is never awed by anyone, encouraged me to speak to him and get an autograph.

A few years ago, we saw Peter, Paul and Mary in LaGuardia.

sheryl crow and i passed each other in an airport- i had on a green faux fur coat - hers was the same style but in orange- we smiled at each other and exchanged hey nice coats

Roger Daltry walking right towards me at Logan (in 1985). I did not approach him.

Sports celebrity: Freddy Adu in front of me in security line at National. My daughter got his autograph.

Have seen many more on planes, but you asked about in the airport...

And Mark Madsen (NBA) in front of us in security line at Dulles. My son (a high school basketball player)started corresponding w/him by mail (and got notes back) after that 45 min. encounter at Dulles. Last week we saw his team play the Wizards in D.C. and Madson invited my son to meet him after the game to chat and get his picture taken w/him.

1990 - James Woods getting off a flight in Lihue.

MY

Oh, gosh, so many!

My favorites were Sonny & Cher with infant Chastity at National (now Reagan) who were on the same Eastern shuttle to NYC when I was 19.

Some years ago, we were waiting at Logan for my son to return from my parents' home in Florida. In the seat next to me was Harry Belafonte! My mother-in-law was some disappointed I did not ask for his autograph for her.

Lawsy! Have I ever had one ! lol, I used to live and work in Hollywood, it seemed like I flew with someone famous all the time ...
but since then....
Senator Alan Simpson ( sooo cool)
Tony Bennett ( reeeally cool lol)
actor/football player Jim Brown
Speaking of the Waltons!! John Boy :)
I know there are more, my poor mind, going blank ~

I remember!!
Goldie Hawn and the Hudson brother :D

Dh and I waited for our luggage with Gene Hackman at Chicago airport; he's a down to earth guy, he just stood there chatting and smiling.
Bette Midler was one seat ahead of us on a Ny/Mtl flight; she was carrying a small boombox.
I just smile and acknowledge them; I don't want to be one of those annoying persons who makes a fuss.

Over the years I've seen several "celebs" (including Mario Andretti, Gliff Gorman, Gene Hackman, Dallas Mayor Laura Miller, to name a few) at airports and on planes but I make it a point not to bother them. My most memorable close encounter was when I was waiting to board an aircraft and this very attractive woman standing next to me struck up a conversation about flight delays. She looked very familiar and a few minutes lated I realized she was Angie Harmon from Law & Order. She and her husband Jason Seahorn (NFL player at the time) sat in the seats right in front of me.

I'm usually in my own little world and not paying attention to who or what is around me (the horror!) but a few that stand out because people were making a fuss include George Gervin aka Iceman (NBA) and David Robinson--have seen both several times either at the airport or on the same flight. And if anyone watches The Bachelor I ran into Alex Michel at the BWI train station a couple of years ago. I don't understand the need for autographs or photos.

Years ago, I was standing next to Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger on the tram at Hartsfield airport (Atlanta)... the shuttle that goes between terminals. Alec Baldwin had a huge stack of books under his arm, and was sweating profusely and loudly cursing, talking about how he's never flying Delta again! Kim Basinger had on her "celebrity disguise" -- hair in ponytail, baseball cap, sunglasses -- and seemed embarrassed by Alec's rant.