I haven't recognized any celebs on my flights, but on a recent DFW-LAX on AA, the FA in fc, after eyeing me for an hour, asks me "I don't do this very often, and I see lots of important people, but do I know you? You look important." I'm about ready to burst laughing. Me? Important? I smile and thank her, and let her know that I have lots of twins out in the world.

So I guess my celebrity sighting would be...me.

Well, since this was dredged up I'll update my original reply from 2 years ago. Not many in that period, at least that I can remember.

Wilford Brimley (twice) & Della Reese, both in SLC airport.
Joe Thiesmann, eating french fries out of a McD's bag at an ORD gate.
Rock & Roll legend Little Richard, across the aisle from me in F, ATL-LAX. He greeted every person who looked at him & smiled during boarding. We spoke briefly, I got his autograph...a very nervous flyer.
Pro wrestler Sting on UA ORD-LAX flight. He in F, me in first row of C.
Sidney Poitier in the CRC at LAX.
Jesse Jackson (again) walking in DL terminal at LAX.
Cris Collinsworth (former Bengals WR/HBO commentator) in F on DL CVG-LAX.
Richard Simmons & James Earl Jones (there's an unlikely duo) at PHL gate.

(edited to add last line)

[This message has been edited by shadow (edited 07-24-2001).]

Ice Cube - ended up sitting with him at the LAX UA Red Carpet Club (last summer) for about one hour while we waited for a flight - great guy.

Three that come to mind....

Mary Lou Retton - DL MCO-LAX around 1992. Never ever seen anyone ruder to the FAs in my life. Never saw that smile from the Wheaties box on her face! So glad when that flight landed.

F.Lee Bailey - US MCO-DCA in 1999. 8 am flight, and he already had a strong drink in hand. He was in Orlando defending the McCorkles (timeshare scammers?) and it wasn't going so well for him. Friendly guy, nontheless.

A Norwegian guy from the band A-HA while they were hot with their one hit - "Take On Me". Peoples Express MCO-BNA in the 80's. He kept kicking my seat. I finally fell asleep with my drink on the back of my armrest, next thing I know, he's yelling. Somehow my drink slipped through the seat backs and spilled all over his leg. Truly an accident, but well-deserved!

Not me, but my school superintendent sat next to Brad Pitt on SST from JFK to LHR. She said he was "rather messy" and she claims to have helped him work out his budgeting difficulties.
Hmmm... the superintendent of schools can afford to take the SST to Europe. Double hmmmm.....a movie actor can afford it. And I keep eating Kelloggs' cereals.

Not on flights, but sitting in airports:

Evander Holyfield at ATL - walking down the concourse in sweats carrying a duffel bag. Man, that guy does not have an OUNCE of body fat. To make sure it was him, I discretely checked out his ear - it was after the Tyson fight.

James Takai (Star Trek's Mr. Sulu) in the DEN RCC. Once again, how to confirm it was him? He turned and spoke to a friend - ah, that deep voice... yep, that's him.

Joe Montana in the DFW Admiral's Club. Very polite - he gave me an autograph for my wife (the die-hard 49er fan).

Sally Field, JFK-LAX
Gloria Ruben (Jeannie from ER), LAX-EWR
Spencer Christian, EWR-LAX
Charles Osgood (twice, once sitting in coach)
Dan Rather, EWR-ATL
Bob Griese, EWR-MIA
Ted Kennedy (BOS-LGA shuttle)

Oops!

Almost forgot!

Michael Jorden in the SMF baggage claim!! Yes, this was before the Bulls got their charter plane. Once again, very nice - he gave me an autograph for my brother.

George Foreman looking very fit in a PC at IAH this past Thursday.

A few of my favorites over the years...

• Doug Moe and the entire Denver Nuggets in SLC. Moe was on a pay phone the entire time we were in the concourse. Eight lucky players took up the entire F cabin -- and I felt sorry for the rest of the players back in Y with me. (For those outside the US, The Nuggets are an NBA team whose players are REALLY TALL.)
• Joe Namath in F, LAX-DEN. I couldn't believe how he hobbled off the plane -- those knees must be really shot.
• Grant Hill in F on a nightmare, typhoon-interupted LAX-HKG journey that took three days. Spent the night in LAX, spent another night in TPE, and sat next to him on the Kai Tak bus from plane to terminal. He was doing a promo tour for his shoe contract, and was traveling with his father (famous himself). Nicest guys I ever met in F.

FWIW, I never ask for autographs or such, or even try to strike up a conversation. If we make eye contact, I give a slight head nod and a bit of a smile, but unless they feel talkative, I give them space. Maybe it was my four years as a radio DJ (in a previous life http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif ) that helped me understand the BS that "known" people have to put up with. Let 'em be.

RAD

(Edited for formatting)

[This message has been edited by RAD (edited 07-21-2001).]

>>4 years as radio DJ<<

I know exactly what you mean...I did morning radio for 17 years until I finally escaped 5 years ago. (I jumped the fence and ran, but they shot over my head.) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Although not nearly in the same leaugue as movie & sports celebs, I have been interupted/hassled at dinner, movies, shopping, etc. That little taste was bad enough. I understand why celebs punch photographers, snap at people, become reclusive, etc. Not saying it's excusable...by I can understand the feeling.

PF



[This message has been edited by Pointfreak! (edited 07-21-2001).]

On a Air Canada flight LAX-YVR, James Belushi sat across the aisle from me in business class. He was going to Vancouver to continue filming a movie.

In 1998, I was waiting for a connecting flight in the ORD United terminal. When the inbound flight landed, a limo driver was holding a sign reading "Forbes".

My first thought was "naw, couldn't be," but out walked Steve Forbes.

BradC, shame on that limousine driver or company! A sign should not have been necessary. The driver could simply have walked up to him with business card in hand and said, "Good evening, Mr. Forbes, I'm John Doe and I'm your driver this evening, may I assist you with you carry-on...."

I hope at least it was a professional appearing sign?

I was on a flight a few years back from London to LAX, upgraded to business class, and it was cancelled due to a mechanical. We were rerouted on a nonstop to Seattle which UA held for us, and then we continued the flight, with the LA bound passengers, down to LAX (UA 747 service SEA-LAX... you don't see that everyday). I was stuck there for the night and put up at a hotel at UA's expense, as they could not get me up to OAK that late.

There was a voice I first heard in London that a fan of the original Avengers series will always recognize: Patrick McNee (AKA John Steed on the series). I even stood next to him at baggage claim. Didn't have the nerve to bother him, though.

I was flying from SFO to Dulles two years ago, and upgraded both myself and my dad to business. He was sitting next to a woman he did not recognize, and other passengers were coming up to her chatting, some exchanging business cards. My dad mentioned to me that this woman must be someone important. I knew who she was: Sen. Barbara Boxer, who represents my state. This wasn't the first time I've seen her, or my representative George Miller, on that flight. One of these days they might even have seats next to me and we can talk about air travel and miles http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif