Since we are including sightings not related to flying, I have a few more to add:

Saw Harrison Ford and his wife Melissa walking very quickly down the street in NYC (back when they were together.) Saw Dustin Hoffman and his wife at a cafe in Malibu. He seemed shy so I tried not to stare. Saw Jack Nicholson in Santa Monica. He didn't seem to mind being stared at and grinned that famous grin of his when he saw that I recognized him. I saw Ali McGraw on the street in Pacific Palisades (outside LA), Kevin Costner at a movie preview here in Seattle (I actually spoke to him!), and Matthew Broderick in the theater district in NYC.

Bill Parcells and Bob Costas both live very near me. See them both regularly.

Heckuva fun topic!

Met Maya Angelou on the flight from San Francisco to Boise (She was the commencement speaker as I recall) a few years ago. Very nice lady even though some other passenger wouldn't stop chattering at her.

Off plane, well.. I used to work in a small studio at the Virginia state capitol in Richmond as a news photog. Met quite a few political/royals/VIPs in that environment, not usually entertainers or sports types. Three current or former Presidents, one former Prime minister of UK (Mrs. Thatcher) Couple of Saudi princes, couple of British Princes.. I was one of the folks that made it possible for you to see them on an interview with someone from CNN or the BBC or whomever. Loved that job, crazy hours and always out in the worst weather. (Why do you need to see on TV the same hurricane you could see if you'd open the darn window?!?!?)

It was a lot of fun, buuuuuuut not a lot of money. You do get a bit tired of Ramen noodles after a few years.

Regards,
-Bouncer-

Nell Carter starred in "Gimme A Break" with Joey Lawrence. I'd say Nell's singing is a tad better than her co-star/fellow recording "artist!"

On 10/26 in Newark's Terminal C-- Gordon Bethune, CEO of Continental Airlines.

On 10/27 on New York City's 52nd Street-- Robert Sean Leonard (star of the Music Man on Broadway, played a leading role in Dead Poets Society).

I saw Vincent Pastore of the Sopranos fame (Had to look him up in imdb although you could not not recognize him) on DL F DL DFW-LGA. He carried a garmet bag with the Sopranos logo, in addition to a roll-on and two books he bought. The flight attendant tried to have him check the bag!

The flight was delayed for five hours. Everyone came out of the plane and waited at the gate, he was the last to come out, after three hours, got into an arguement with the agents, and left.

I also talked to Jennifer Jason Leigh after the broadway show "Proof", and got an autograph. She is tiny but very pleasant, and a great actress.


[This message has been edited by mntblue (edited 11-02-2001).]

I recently boarded a Continental ERJ into Cleveland and was waiting in line behind a group of laughing, talkative men carrying guitar cases studded with backstage passes, which I could see were from all kinds of international locations. I did not know who they were and felt like an idiot, but asked the FA. She did not know either so I asked one of the men who they were, since I could tell they were some famous group. It turned out that they were The Manhattans, an R&B band famous for songs such as "Kiss and Say Goodbye", "Shining Star" and so on. They were going to perform at a private function that night. They were very nice men! Prior to this, my closest brush with fame was when I met a guy who plays in a Kiss Tribute Band, and actually later saw him on the streets of Manhattan. Never got to see his band play though.

My sad and small collection of celebrity encounters:

In the COS airport once (many moons ago), we were eating in the restaurant and the Temptations were sitting right behind us. Big guys, all of them! Of course, I was but a wee lass of 11 at the time.

When I was 2 or 3 the Pope flew into the Des Moines airport, at which my dad was the asst. director of aviation, and he met my family. He held me and blessed me before handing me back to my mom. It's a shame I don't remember it at all, but we've got slides from it.

I rode with the Univ. of Washington football team on the teacups at DisneyLand... not really celebrities, but close...

And, last but not least, at a family reunion in Ottumwa, Iowa, Tom and Roseanne Arnold (they were married back then) were attending a wedding of the daughter of my parents' classmates at the same hotel we stayed at. Us kids tried all night to chase them down and finally got them in the elevator. Tom was very nice to us nosy kids, Roseanne ignored us completely. My parents went to school with Tom and Kay Arnold (she played Roseanne's dad's mistress on the Roseanne show years back)

Not too memorable, since I was very young for each encounter!

(Edited to correct spelling - I don't believe the Pope "blasses" anybody.

[This message has been edited by dvelata (edited 11-02-2001).]

I got my flight today LAS-LAX, and I found that Elizabeth Berkeley was sitting in my aisle exit-row seat. (There were open seats in first, so I can only infer that even celebrities can't stand the new AA blue first -class seats ) She was very nice about it, and so I just sat in the window seat. We also agreed that "Titus" should not have been canceled.

At LAX a couple of years ago, I was going through security with my girlfriend. A bag had gotten stuck at the sizing guard, causing bags to stop feeding. My girlfriend adjusted the bag so it would fit. Behind her, an enthusiastic voice said, "Wow! Someone give that girl a medal!"

It was Richard Simmons. And for those interested in the "shorts in first class" thread, he was wearing a t-shirt and very short shorts.

cnk

At the end on 1998 on my Star RTW, I saw Matt Dillon exiting a lounge in BKK, heading towards an AF flight to CDG, and in FRA i saw Monica Seles.

goodo

I didn't have the guts to read all 9 pages of posts, so I will just add this tidbit at the end.

I haven't seen any "celebritys" but my father tells a funny story. Back in 82-83, he was flying first class from ORD-SFO. Sitting next to him was a VERY large man. He struck up a conversation with this guy and low and behold this guy had a very strange profession. He was a professional wrestler.

Later that day when my dad called myself and by brother, he told us that he had sat next to some large person named:

HULK HOGAN

Of course, my brother and I freaked out becasue he was our hero. Poor dad didn't have a clue who he was.

Pretty funny!

I finally have one..though minor.

I saw Mike from Real World New York and Real World Challenge getting off a plane in Orlando.

Chris

I sat next to Don Carty (AA's CEO) on a DFW-ORD flight. I had taken a bump for $700 and a first class seat. I was in the window seat and at the last minute, he boarded and sat next to me. I was trying to sleep but the FA's were fawning over him. All the FAs introduced themselves to him personally, etc. I had no idea who he was. When we arrived in ORD, he was escorted off the plane before anyone deboarded. That's when I asked who he was.

Way back in 97? he lived in London while he did a play called Birdy. It was at a period when I had just quit my regular job, before leaving town.. I took a PT job to keep me occupied and was his driver/dogsbody.

Nice Guy, but very quiet. His then fiancee ( now wife, I understand ) was absolutely fantastic. She kept him pretty normal, ala "Rob, I'm outa rice. Get to the supermarket and get me some." He used to do a lot of rollerblading around London.