On a Sh*ttle flight from LAS-DEN about year or so ago my brother in law and I were behind Sandy Koufax (he was in 1D, we were in 2CD). There happened to be a little league team on board and as soon as the seat belt light went off, every kid on the team came up and asked him for his autograph. He was a great sport, extremely patient, spoke to each kid for a moment or two, and honoured every autograph request.

The embarrasing moment came towards the end of the procession when a kid came up and asked the guy in *1C* for his autograph (the kid has no idea who SK was, he just saw his teammates getting and autograph, and figured he should have one too). The guy in 1C was flumoxxed, and asked Sandy what he should do, Sandy said "Sign it, he obviously won't know the difference anyway". Sandy then took it signed it and sent the kid packing.

Sean

[This message has been edited by skofarrell (edited 09-08-2001).]

I was on a flight from ORD-LAX (to connect on to a LAX-HKG and HKG-BOM) in 1st when I sat next to Ernest Borgnine (won Oscar in 60's, was in that helpicopter TV show). He was amazingly nice and talkative. He has been in over 60 movies and 1000's of TV shows.

On a flight from LAX-JFK in 1st, I sat next to the supermodel Veronica Webb. I had no idea who she was, but she had prolems with her onboard phone and asked to use mine to make a call. She gave me her Plat Amex to use to dial for her, which is when I saw her name.

I'm pretty celebrity-immune, but I wish I'd sat next to Ernest Borgnine (just saw two OLD movies of his -mid 50's-) or near Sandy Koufax. Koufax is not exactly known for being talkative with the media... how many Sandy Koufax interviews do you remember seeing. Anyway, nice to know he was nice to the kids.

Last year, on the way to the FAQ in Montreal, on AC in F, I sat near Richard Belzer (of "Homicide" and "Law & Order SVU"). On the way to Canadian Immigration (a 25-minute queue everybody had to endure) I told him that I thought "Homicide" was probably the best police drama on TV, ever, and that the only problem with "SVU" was that there wasn't enough Detective Munch (his character). He thanked me and said that there would be more of his character in the new season (last season). And there was.

Rich,

My brother-in-law was so embarrassed by the kid going to the wrong guy, that he actually got up and went to the lav. He said "I can't watch this"

Last September in the LHR T4 BA First Class Lounge, I had the opportunity to "chat" briefly with Michael Caine while we were both washing our hands in the men's room. As I recall the "chat" was about the price of real estate in cities around the world, or something to that effect. Seemed like a regular chap you could go hoist a few pints with and have a great time.

On a CDG-LAX a few years back, I sat across the aisle from Marcel Marceau. He had sort of an attitude problem - he didn't say a word to anyone, including the FAs. He just motioned for what he wanted like he was some sort of king or something.

:

Je me trouve sans mots.

When I was putting myself through college in Tampa (early 80's), I worked in a big electronics store in the mall. Hulk Hogan was a customer. He purchased a camcorder from me once. If I recall, I think his real name is Terry and he was very nice.

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Reading this thread -- and realizing I wouldn't recognize 90% of the people mentioned if they were sitting next to me -- makes me wonder how many times I've sat next to a "celebrity" and not known it.

Blairvanhorn, MM is known for being silent and talking with his hands.

[This message has been edited by pynchonesque (edited 09-09-2001).]

Think of all the times someone has sat next to me and not known it!

Jesse Jackson from ORD to IAH
Gary Shandling from HI to LAX
Steve Forbes w/spouse from DES to ORD
Jon Voight from ORD to LAX
Pat Robertson from ORD to LAX
Louis Farakhan(sp?) ORD to ATL
DR. Ruth SFO to ORD

My favorite was Steve Forbes, great regular guy (at least seemed so). Lots of good fun conversations.

Gary Shandling is very short.

Dr. Ruth is even shorter.

Louis Farakhan had all his bow tie's (must have been 50) in the airport even though he exited the plane to a waiting car below the plane.

Voight looked very old and very tired.

Pat Robertson was out there, but you have to like a person that lays their thoughts on the table, (at least I do)

Jesse was,......well......Jesse

[This message has been edited by Sweet Willie (edited 09-09-2001).]

@@went to see him perform on stage once, not a word spoken, but plenty said... a wonderful wonderful artist!

okay, back to topic...

other than yours truly, myself, was spotted a few times after appearing on TV and newspaper in Taipei... here are the real celebrity sightings:

while exiting a department store in Atlanta, was right behind a tall, slim, model-like woman, she held the door, waited for me, turned around and smiled, Whitney Houston!
(that was when she just married Bobby Brown, who was living in Atlanta at the time)

Florence (Marla Gibbs?), the maid from The Jeffersons, LAX

Seth Green (son of Doktor Evil from Austin Powers?), LAX

Emma Samms (Falon from Dynasty), same DL flight from LGW to ATL

Eddie Van Halen, ATL-LAX

Tom Jones! what a gracious and friendly man... got a picture with him, turned out it was too dark

practically had to pick my jaw up from the floor after realizing that those slim good looking poised beautiful young people sitting around me were the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and that handsome gentleman standing two feet from me was Arthur Mitchell!
(so i fainted for a few minutes...)

He is??? Gosh, wish there were more passengers like him ...

I saw a famous band once at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver. Now, since I am not into music I have no idea who they were but... (and they looked at me like I was supposed to come jumping at them asking for autographs - "sorry, I don't know you guys.")

Does that count?