What a life Tony Hawk has. Professional skateboarder, star of an extremely successful line of video games, and apparently the most "almost recognized" famous person on the planet. His Twitter is full of existential hilarity. Does Tony Hawk actually exist?

Guy in crowded elevator (not the one I got stuck in): “Have we worked together?”
Me: I don’t think so
[awkward silence]
Him (loudly): “SKATEBOARDER!”
Me: yes, I am one
Him: “We are honored to be in your presence”
Me: That’s excessive, but thanks
[awkward glances until doors open]

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) December 12, 2019

In hotel lobby, about to leave for @CAMuseum Hall Of Fame induction
Woman: “I don’t know who you are, but my friend recognized you and I want to get a picture for my son”
Me: Ok
Her: “He’s a big fan, we watched your videos when he was young”
Me: Those are conflicting statements

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) December 11, 2019

Captain’s announcement, after landing and a slight delay on tarmac:
“As soon as this plane passes, we are going to do 180 turn to an open gate. Not as impressive as a 900 in 2016, but we’ll do our best.”
My life is so weird

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) December 9, 2019

In front of @WonderfrontFest vip gate, waiting for my kids to arrive so I can give them their wristbands.
Guy on bike: “is this the stage where @OFFICIALSTIG is playing and
Tony Hawk is skating?”
Me (with kneepads on) yep
Him: “where is the main entrance?”
Me: around the corner

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) November 25, 2019

A conversation with auto service:
my life as a meme pic.twitter.com/0QbZfKQIvE

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) November 22, 2019

Kid at skatepark (as I arrive): “you a good skater?
me: sometimes
him: you ever been here?
me: no
him: you travel a lot?
me: yes, perhaps too much
him: are you a YouTuber?
me: no, I’m just a skater and a dad
him: wanna see me do a jump?
me: absolutely
..and I then shot this pic pic.twitter.com/IBODPauEe2

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) October 30, 2019

Follow up: I asked him his name and he said Irving. I told him my name is Tony, to which he replied sarcastically “like Tony Hawk haha”
and then he left.

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) October 31, 2019

Woman at concert: “Are you Tony Hawk?”
me: I am today (Spicoli reference)
her: “I took a picture with you years ago”
me: where?
her: “In Vegas. It was the first time my son thought I met someone cool.”
me: wow thanks
her: “he took the print, cut me out of it & put it on his wall”

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) September 16, 2019

At a skatepark, older dude outside the fence sees me and yells (heckles) “do a kickflip!”
So I did one.
He then turns to his friend and says: “holy sh!t, he actually did it”

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) September 14, 2019

At will call: I have 2 tickets for Hawk
agent: “Can I see your ID?”
me: I forgot it but I have a credit card
other agent: “He’s Tony Hawk”
agent: “he doesn’t have ID”
guy behind me: “that’s him”
agent: “I can’t find your name”
me: there is no E on the end
agent: “here you go”

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) September 1, 2019

Approaching ticket counter, agent looks up and exclaims “I know you... you’re a famous... person... or sports guy... skateboarder! And your name is...” (glances at my ticket)
“Anthony Hawkins!”
me: close enough
her: my son would love a picture with you
me: Is he here?
her: no

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) August 24, 2019

To all the people who now approach me (especially at airports) to say “hey, you look like Tony Hawk” and then laugh: I got you... and thank you for your service.

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) August 15, 2019

Stepping out of a taxi in Paris, trying to pay and organize kids / bags.
Guy on sidewalk: “hey, you are a famous sports guy, I saw a video with you and @Casey Neistat!”
me: yeah, he’s cool
him “can I get a selfie & your name?”
me: yes, it’s Tony
him: “what’s your Instagram?”

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) August 11, 2019

For those that think I’m complaining about these encounters (I’m not; I think they’re funny), or that I’m simply making them up: here is the aforementioned selfie: https://t.co/e6YVzDYufK
Please don’t harass him; he was nice and I don’t expect everyone / anyone to know who I am.

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) August 11, 2019

Kid at skatepark:
“Are you Tony Hawk?”
me: I am
him: “no you’re not”
me: ok, I’m not
him: “but are you, FOR REAL?”
me: I am, for real
him: I thought you’d look younger
me: ME TOO

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) July 29, 2019

Meeting a friend for dinner, parking lot full, found a spot a few blocks away and skated to restaurant. Guy at crosswalk: “are you Tony Hawk?”
me: yes
him: “I can do a kickflip”
me: cool
him: “I wish you had your camera crew so I could show you”
me: I’m off the clock

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) July 25, 2019

In Athens, Greece at a Cure concert, walk up to bar to order drinks.
Guy next to me: “you gotta get in the back of that long line to buy drink tokens”
me: ok thanks
him: hey, you’re American!
me: I am
him: I know you but I don’t KNOW you
me: It happens
him: is your name Kelly?

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) July 17, 2019

Woman on plane: “Are you Tony Hawk?”
me: yes
her: “my son knows all about you”
me: I’m honored
her: “do you sign autographs, or is that too 80’s?
me: it is a tradition that endures
her: “please sign this”
me: ok
her: “not sure what he’ll do with it”
me: I can’t imagine

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) July 12, 2019

Went to a convenience store on my way to skate, approaching counter with water & Advil (I’m old), clerk sees me: “you look like someone”
me: oh yeah?
him: “what’s your name?”
me: Tony
him: “last name?”
me: Hawk
him: “you are him?”
me: yes
him: “no charge, but you owe me a selfie”

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) June 19, 2019

At Disneyland with kids, waiting in line for churros. Girl in front of me: “you look like Tony Hawks”
me: really?
her: “yes”
me: Is that good?
her, nonplussed: “I guess so”

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) June 15, 2019

In NYC, guy cutting meat at deli looks up with confusion:
“you freaked me out, I thought you were that guy from the movie Ghost”
me: Patrick Swayze?
him: “No, his friend that betrays him”

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) June 13, 2019

This interaction happens regularly (including yesterday):
X = a person I don’t know
XX = a city nowhere near San Diego
“Hey Tony Hawk”
Hello
“You grew up skating with my friend X!”
Where did he skate?
“In XX!”
I’m sorry, but I grew up in San Diego
“Pretty sure it was you though”

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) April 28, 2019

Pulling up to drive-through window, girl starts to read back my order and stops herself: “you’re Tony Hawk?”
me: yes
her: “can I tell everyone?”
me: I suppose
her: “yo, we got Tony Hawk at the window!”
voice from kitchen: “Who?”

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) April 21, 2019

At rental car agency, can’t find my name on the monitor to find my car, go inside & wait in line. Finally get to the front, agent sees me & says “you really are Tony Hawk”
Me: um, yes. I was looking for my name outside on the list
Him: “I deleted it because I thought it was fake”

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) April 14, 2019

Guy approaches me while standing in line at coffee shop in Cancún.
Him: my friend says you are a famous person. Is that true?
Me: that depends on your definition of fame
Him: will you show up on Google if I search your name?
Me: yes
Him (typing into phone): you are Tony Stark?

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) April 3, 2019

I’m sorry if these encounters seem redundant... but they’re all true & this just happened.
Sitting at gate, guy recognizes me, walks over & says hello.
Guy next to me: “you’re Tony Hawk?”
Me: yes
Him: “I have seen any recent pictures of you. You’ve gotten older.”
Me: it happens

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) March 8, 2019

Young kid at skatepark: “Are you a professional?”
Me: yes
Him: “But you’re a grown up!”
Me: I know. It’s weird.
Him: “I have a skateboard”
Me: I hope you never outgrow it

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) March 3, 2019