Celebrity Encounters

You met a celeb in some way or whatever. A list? B list? Z list? send it in
oddtodd7@hotmail.com

About a year and a half ago I met John Goodman. I was pretty excited because I loooove the Coen brother's movies and Goodman has had great parts in The Big Lebowski, Raising Arizona, Barton Fink, and others. I had met a friend for lunch at a St. Louis restaurant named O'Leary's. Goodman is from St. Louis and is part owner in the place. It's got his old report cards, Boy Scout stuff, etc. strewn about the place. So we are sitting there eating and this really big guy gets out of a car and starts walking towards the restaurant. I made the comment that the guy looked like Goodman but was too big.

Turns out it was him - he looks way bigger in reality. He sits down at the bar and starts to watch the Cardinals' game on the television. Of course everyone there is whispering to each other, "Hey, that's John Goodman!' but no one is being geeky enough to go talk to him. However, being such a big fan of his movies I decide screw it, wait for a commercial, and sit next to him. Then I say something like, "Hey, I don't want to bother you, but I just want to say I love your work, especially the stuff you do with the Coen brothers." He kind of looks at me and says, "Thanks. Yeah, those guys are great." Not overly friendly, but courteous nonetheless. I then say, "I just wanted to tell you that, I'll leave you be," to which he responds "No problem. Thanks." Then I go back to my seat, finish my beer, and get out of there. I felt kinda dorky, but it was totally worth it. Every time I watch the Big Lebowski I'm glad I spoke to him. Not much of a story, but that's as close to Hollywood you can get in the Lou.

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Saw Lewis Black sitting at the bar after his show, and asked for his autograph. After he obliged, I gave him a kiss and told him that I loved him. Which I do. Of course it seemed like a normal thing to do after a couple of drinks (hey I don't set the minimum.)

Served Matt Lauer's wife and baby at my last job but never saw the actual celebs- they always came in before my shift or on my days off. I don't take it personally, though.

Jon Voight came into a bar in NYC while we were celebrating my cousin's wife's birthday. I grabbed the card that I brought for her, and asked him to sign it. So it was signed by me AND Jon Voight. Very nice of him. He's one of those stars who LOOKS like a star in real life, too.

At my last job, spoke to Steven Colbert (very charming) and Jayne "Don't-You-Know-Who-I-AM?!" Meadows (rather snooty. And I had to look her up.)

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Hey Todd,

I love your site. Here's my claim to fame having met several celebs while working at a hotel.

1. Sugar Ray Leonard - He was making a guest appearance at some boxing event my hotel was having. I worked at the restaurant in the hotel at the time and he just happened to be eating and had seen me, a 110 lbs 5'2" kid carrying around a large tray full of dishes and glasses since bussing tables with a bus tub was just not my hotel's style. He was impressed how strong I was and wanted to know if I would ever be interested in a career in boxing... No BS!!!!

2. Jim Carey - I finally got to work in Room Service where the big tips were made and one afternoon I answered a call from some guy wanting some cereal. Normally cereal is only served in the morning but since he sounded polite and didn't want any cut fruit in it, I didn't think it would be a problem. Lo and behold when he answered the door, I totally recognized him as the white dude from "In Living Color" (this was before all the movies he made). All I could spout out was a stupid "So how do you like being on tv?"

3. Jennifer Love Hewitt - I started working in the restaurant again, moving up to host/shift supervisor when the director of Food and Beverage for the hotel I worked in (again the restaurant was located in the hotel) told me that there was a special table that I would have to set up and serve myself. Thinking this table was for just a bunch of snobby people thinking their above everyone, I set up the table super quick and just waited for them to arrive. That's when she walked in and I had to get one of the bussers to wipe the drool off the floor I was creating. I poured her coffee and the much older guy she was with asked me if I knew who she was. I said "Duh! Who doesn't know HER? You're even prettier in person!". I can't believe I actually hit on Jennifer Love Hewitt.

I've got more stories but I'll write them for another time....

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If you sent in a celeb story and it hasn't been posted yet its because I really got alot of these in. The ones posted today were sent in like a month ago. Thanks for yer patience..