Did you ever run into any famous while traveling
 

A few years ago on a very rainy day my husband and I went into Boston to the Trader Joe's market. After getting our groceries, we headed to the checkout line and who should be in front of us but Julia Childs.
She wore an old windbreaker, slacks and sneakers. The rain was coming down heavy and the checkout clerk offered to have someone take out her groceries, but she refused. "Can you give me an extra plastic bag" she asked. Upon receiving it, she split it open, put it on her head and tied the ends under her chin. Out into the elements she strode, carrying her own groceries.
There, I thought, is a truly Grand Old Lady.

Um, Jamlady, there's a gigantic thread on this very topic not far below yours. I'll top it for you; enjoy!

Anonymous, you are just the sweetest thing to top this for thejamlady. She's my mom, and I've been badgering her for weeks to join in! Everytime I've ever written something she's also interested in, I get an e-mail with her views. I told her to go public! Don't worry, she'll soon get the hang of things. (And if I ever thought I had opinions....) :d

Last year in Cannes Woody Allen, Sharon Stone and Jean Claude Van Dam.. post film festival week . Here where I live I actually see more celebrities.
Gene Wilder, Ron Howard, Luther Van Dross, Dianna Ross, Mel Gibson, Robert Preston, Glen Close , Paul Newman, Marths Stewart, Perhaps you should vacation in Fairfield County Connecticut if you want to famous people

It's ok, jamlady, Welcome! I once met Robert Redford with his ex-wife, lola(a great lady) at a house party.they arrived with Mike Barnicle who was at the Boston Globe before his firing.

Cigalechanta, sweetie points for you too! I remember when you explained ttt for me when I couldn't figure it out. Now you know compter illiteracy runs in the family. Or as my mother says, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

Thank you anonymous, mrsb and daughter, dln for enlightening me. Who said on old dog can't learn new tricks?

Hi Jamlady!!
Does this mean that you make jam or you like to jam to music:)

In London we saw a play and the next day we ran into the star of the play on the street. I can't remember his name,LOL, but he was nice to talk to!
When we used to take our children to Serendipity in NYC, there were always celebrities there, the best were Goldie Hawn, she played with my son! and Vincent Price, he gave my daughter his autograph for her birthday-it said Happy Birthday, love,Vincent Price!!
Used to run into Alan Alda in the grocery store all the time, he lived in my neighborhood.
Now I see Bill Murray when I go to Rockland County NY.
Ran into an old pal from California one night at Lincoln Center where he was playing-only jazz people would probably know him, Charles Lloyd.
There are more, but it is too hot to think!

I was in Tokyo and saw the Beatles. I have a pix of me with John, no kidding, I was 3 years old. And I miss him.

Wow, what a wonderful thing to have. You are very lucky. I miss John too...

A few years back, on our first day in London and we were coaxed into taking the last tour of the day around London on a double decker bus. We sat on top, in the first row enjoying the sights.

Suddenly, we were stopped in traffic at a driveway by St. Paul's Cathedral. The large beautiful doors opened and there was Queen Elizabeth! The tour guide said he wasn't aware of anything special going on that day! Later we learned it was an anniversary of a religious nature.

The Queen got in her car with Prince Phillip and they rode down the driveway directly in front in our bus. We stood up and waved, and she looked up and waved back. We were in shock and quite excited. The Queen had the sweetest smile on her face, and I shall never forget that special moment.

I was in Dublin at the Clarence Hotel and when the taxi first pulled up I thought I saw Iman walk out the door. Just put it down to being really tired. The day we left I was sitting in the lounge waiting for my SO to pay the bill and I was watching this guy smoke. I had just quit smoking a few months before and I was just thinking how much he was enjoying the cig and wondering if I could ask him for one. (I didn't, though.) He got up and left about the time that Don and the car rental lady came in. They both looked at me and asked, 'Did you see who that was??!!!" It was David Bowie!
Last fall, I was at the airport in Frankfort waiting for a really early flight in the lounge and Geraldo Rivera was waiting for a flight to New York. He looked as tired as everyone else (coming from the mideast) but was really nice and gracious to everyone who talked to him. A really great guy.

1981 during the air controllers strike Mick Jagger was on our plane he told everyone he would sign autographs on the plane. We were to young to realize that we couldnt get into first class to get his autograph.

I just had a celeb-sighting at South Beach last week. Jackie Mason at Jerry's Deli. Man, he looked great. And I think it was all natural, or either the best do-over I've seen. What a cool guy. He was posing for photos with anybody who asked.

Jun20, I bumped into the Queen as well!! I was in London on Boxing Day 2003. I was walking alongside the walls of Buckingham Palace when a long limo pulled right up beside me to turn into the driveway. The driver had turned on his inside lights, and just then a panel opened from behind the driver, and I saw the Queen's little grey head come through. Apparently she opened the panel to say something to the driver. I was only standing about 10 feet away from her, and nobody else was around to notice.

About 2 weeks later on that same trip I was in Morocco. We had just driven past the Royal Palace, and suddenly we saw a motorcade coming toward us. The guide told us it was the King of Morocco. I got a good look at him because he likes to drive the limo himself. So I got TWO brushes with royalty on the same trip!!

When I was about 15 years old, my mother and I were at the airport and we spotted Diahnne Carroll. I went up and got her autograph and she was very sweet and gracious. They say that movies stars don't look the same in person, but she looked absolutely gorgeous.

just mrs ronkala when a storm knocked out the electricity.

Speaking of England I think I posted this on an old Europe thread - my sister in law was in Harrods with us and she turned her head to see noneother tham Mr. Al Fayed standing right next to her. She gave him a giant hello out of surprise and he greeted her back warmly. There were about 8 guards around...

Speaking of guards, Harrods reminds me of one year, being in Bloomingdales when I was sort of surrounded by some 4-5 very tall very large men with those little ear pieces on, and there was Mrs Nixon, shopping next to me!
I just kept shopping ( nothing stops me!) but she looked very frail and I wondered about her needing to be in a mall with those obvious big men..what if she wanted to go into a dressing room? would all the other ladies have to leave?? I didn't stay to find out :)

jack palance 1970, madrid hotel lobby
-geraldine chaplin a couple times at restaurants in madrid
-cary grant, madrid airport early a.m
-marisol.. spanish movie star madrid ariport
-tom cruise's first wife, cincinnati gym class i was in while he was on location filming
-jesse jackson, cincinnati airport nov. 2004

lincasanova, that would be Mimi Rogers (ex-Mrs Tom Cruise). We sat next to her in a tea room in Kew Gardens, England one year :)

Wow....6 degrees of Fodor's separation!

I saw her shopping at the mall inside the Aladdin Casino last year =D>

During our return from a tour of duty in Korea during that war, the destroyer I was on visited several Med ports. Just after we anchored off Cannes, a speedboat came out and kept circling the ship. Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were in it waving to us.

Grew up in Freeport,NY and frequently saw Guy Lombardo. Went through grammar and high school with Dick Schaap.

David Hasselhoff, doing his morning calisthenics in a park in Toronto, Canada. His gorgeous sausage dog ran over to us, and David stopped exercising and came over to talk to us, flexing his naked, tanned upper torso as he approached! He spoke about his trip to Australia (we are Aussies), that he liked Sydney but not Darwin, and was working in Canada. I didn't let on that I recognised him, though I was dying to ask for a photo together, especially when he held out the little dog for a closer inspection. He seemed a very nice person, and just as gorgeous as his dog!

Jesse Jackson in the Rio de Janeiro airport just before their last presidential election . We almost bumped into each other (literally) boarding our flight to Miami. I said "it's ok, I'm from Chicago too". He shook my hand. He is huge.

OMG, Carrabella, the images you have put into my head!! I wish his sausage dog would run over to me....

The very first time I went to LV. Not anything like it is now. I think it was at the old Dunes. I was eating a breakfast muffin out by the pool and Robert Wagner, Natalie Wood and their girls (6, 7 years old and with draped towels on as "dresses") came down and sat at the table right next to mine. They were very friendly and very tanned. It was early and no one was about, and they ordered breakfast pooliside.

I was surprised at how small she was and how absolutely good-looking he was.
They were talkative and helped me pick out some 25 cent Keno numbers. I didn't stay out there long. I was nervous. Silly.

on a trip to Hawaii, three years ago, we had a layover in LAX and while having a beer and pitza in a bar, the gallaher brothers of Oasis sat beside us.they were very gratious, asking us about our trip and saying that they were co-heading with Black Crows in denver. Although my camera was on the bar it never occurred to photo. A great 30 minutes of conversation

Fortunately, I would not recognize any celeb, so it would be inconsequential.
M

Joan Rivers at LGA. I was shocked when I saw her mainly because of her appearance, therefore I didn't say anything to her.

Very petite little lady with very, very, VERY tight leathery skin, looked creepy to me.

Had to change planes at the Atlanta airport a couple of years ago. Me and Mrs. Pappy shuffling along when I look up and see OJ Simpson coming straight at us. He gave the Mrs. a really creepy look. She commented on how it made her skin crawl. (Mrs. Pappy is a looker). : )

Tandoori_Girl, I saw Jackie Mason walking down Las Olas Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale last February at an art show! He looks great for his age, but OMG the make-up he was wearing - not to mention the 1980's wardrobe!!! But I do think he's funny and was happy to see him.

I work at a college, and when I returned to work and told some of the students who work in our office who I saw, they all responded "who?"

Oh well.........

I saw Marvin Hamlisch in the Buffalo airport on my way to Ft. Lauderdale, and the students' responses were the same......

We saw Robert Redford getting into a car in Santa Fe last summer. We weren't sure at first it was him, but later that day I heard on the news that he was in town for something.

As a Lord of the Rings fan, though, I was thrilled to meet Richard Taylor and his partner Tania Rodger, who run Weta Workshop and who did all the props, special effects, etc. for the Lord of the Rings films. Dh and I were up on Mt. Victoria in Wellington last year looking for one of the filming sites. I looked up and they were walking toward us with their little son. "Nothing better than going to the source," I thought, so I walked up and asked him how to find the sites. They were lovely people, very friendly, and we had a nice chat, took pictures and had them autograph my guidebook.

Lee Ann

Years ago on my way home from Japan, My friend and I met Whoopee Goldberg and Judd Hirsch at the SF airport while having lunch....Joe and Jennifer Montana at Neiman Marcus (while I was working, not traveling)...Joan Baez, same place....Clarence Thomas driving into Tysons Corner mall..Magic Johnson at Marriott Marina San Diego...that's about it

In spring 2002 my family took at trip to New Zealand. We were visiting the Agrodome in Rotorua, and I noticed this guy hanging around with a couple of camera men by the stage.

I whispered to my sister "Isn't that the guy from The Amazing Race?" She said no, but I was sure it was him. After the show I went up and asked him, and it WAS Phil Keoghan! The first season had just finished, and he seemed surprised and delighted that he had been recognized - I guess the show really hadn't taken off yet.

Turns out they were filming stuff for a piece to be shown on The Early Show the day after an episode aired. My sisters ended up in the piece, and afterwards we hung with Phil and just chatted for about half an hour. He was an extremely charming and regular guy.

Just a couple of weeks ago, my sister and I drove up north to Gaylord, Michigan to watch my grandson play in a hockey tournament and saw Jeff Daniels, who was there to watch his son play in the game after ours. He wandered around talking to the other parents from his son's team while waiting. It wouldn't be so surprising running into someone famous in a big city, but it was strange to have it happen in a small town in northern Michigan!

I saw Kirstie Alley leaving the Beverly Center in Los Angeles, one year when I was headed into that mall. I saw Sean Penn in a NYC hotel lobby one summer. "Did you get a photo?" everyone asked. Nooo, don't think so. I've met my share of rock musicians along the way, but I've waited out for those (see my screen name to give you a clue on that one.) One of the biggest celeb surprises I ever had was seeing Prince Charles and Princess Diana at a concert in London. I was waiting out before a rock music fundraiser at Albert Hall, and they both attended, as the concert would benefit the Prince's Trust that night. All they did was disembark from their limo and wave at us before going inside. There must have been twenty or thirty photographers there to document the moment. As a long-time Anglophile, it was a kick to see royalty!

Chatted with Sam Snead at the Greenbriar (he was picking up his laundry at the golf shop). Ran into actor Paul Winfield checking out of Charleston Place hotel (he had been filming a miniseries there). Had dinner next to Anne Meara, Jerry Stiller, Ben Stiller and his wife (then fiance) at a restaurant in NYC. Walked by Patrick Duffy in Princeton, NJ. Spent some time in the airport and was on a flight with baseball pitcher Jim Palmer.

Years ago my then husband and I were staying in Palm Springs and the hotel we were staying at had a boxing ring set up in the back because Duane Bobbick or Larry Holmes were staying there for training (It was a big match being hyped up between these two). Anyway, we were walking along and all of a sudden we saw a crowd of people around the pool - it was Mohammad Ali! He was doing magic tricks and schmoosing with the press and the public. I actually got the nerve to run up to him and get his autograph. Unfortunately, to this day - I have no idea what happened to that little slip of paper - I could just die!

Another time - in Palm Springs again- we stayed at the same hotel Sally Field and her family we at. They sat at poolside a little ways from us, but no one bothered them. Looked like she was reading a movie script.

And then last but not least - in Carmel when Clint Eastwood was mayor, we were walking down the street when a person ran by us telling us the Mayor was down the next street. Sure enough, a crowd of people were around him. Clint broke away from the crowd and ran right towards me! As he ran by, I said "hi" and he actually took the time to turn around and say "hi" back! I was in heaven.

I was in an elevator with Ray Romano in New York City.

In Aspen where no one blinks an eye at celebs we see the rich and famous almost daily as we are there at Christmas time.
Jack Nicholson, Sally Field, Jose Conseco, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Mariah Carey, Vin Diesel, Melanie G. and Antonio Banderas (daily and annually as their kids seem to be in lessons when mine are), Ivana and Ivanka Trump, Arnold S. and half the Kennedy Clan, Robert Wagner, Barry Bonds, Dave Winfield, Cybil Sheppard, Bruce Willis, Don Johnson, Burt Bacharach, and Chuck Woolery (gameshow host) along with a number of others that have slipped my mind.