25 Memorable Celebrity Encounters.
Nathan Johnson
Published
08/10/2022
in
wow
These went better than expected.
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1.
Brie Larson. I met her at ACE Midwest in 2019 - the first convention she'd ever done. I stroll up to the booth to get a photo taken with her, carrying a Cosmic Cube prop. I asked her to to hold it, she did, and we took the photo. As I was leaving, she looked at the camera guy and said "Wait, I have an idea. Can we take that again?". Worth noting that photos with her were something like $200 a pop, and you almost never get a retake unless it's REALLY bad, so for her to ask for a second photo was pretty incredible. Anyway, we take the second photo, this time with her tossing the Cube into the air. It came out AWESOME, and is still one of my favorite photo op pictures. I showed it to her later while getting her autograph, and she gushed over it for a bit. I get that it's at a con, but she was genuinely nice, really does love her fans, and came across much warmer than I expected. -
2.
I met Renee Zellweger and she was so much kinder than I ever could have imagined. This was when hurricane Harvey hit Texas. I was working at Austin Pets Alive and we took in thousands of animals from hard hit areas. It was insane. One day Renee Zellweger just showed up to volunteer. No warning, no fanfare. In fact, the only reason I noticed her is that she was wearing long sleeves and long pants and it was august in Texas. She spent a week volunteering. She did laundry, cleaned out poop covered crates, and drove vans of dogs from Houston to Austin (not a pleasant job with the smell and the barking). I hope this doesn’t get buried because she was truly amazing. So so nice and hardworking. The laundry room was next to my office so we became friendly over the week she was there. There are multiple news articles about this so it’s legit. Forever a fan. -
3.
I was about 8 when I stumbled across Stephen King. He was in a rush getting out of a limo into a building, so I quick shouted "Mr. King I love Cujo!" He gave me a bemused smile and said "Who the hell let this kid read Cujo?!" -
4.
Saw Ryan Gosling at my brothers graduation. His mom was graduating with a masters degree from same school. Ryan sat in front of me. He clapped for every kid who got on stage to get their diploma. I was so tired from such a long ceremony that I almost didn’t even clap for my brother. -
5.
Brad Pitt is a top-notch guy in real life. I met him in Malta while he was filming Troy. I was guiding a group of students as a group leader on a holiday trip and we saw Pitt just walking out of a cafe. He took time to take lots of pictures with all the kids and was really nice to everyone. Among my group were a bunch of teenage girls who almost fainted. Hilarious day all around. -
6.
I met Gordon Ramsay once at a book signing event, I was just walking around the area and ran into him on his free time. He was actually so nice and down to earth. Talked about food for a few minutes and how he’s liking his trip so far. Super nice guy and nothing like you see on his cooking shows -
7.
Robin Williams was shooting a film in my city he stopped by the nearest senior home just to say hello and take pictures with the residents. No other reason than to brighten up their day class act of a man. My grandma was a resident -
8.
A few years ago Tenacious D played a concert in Kuala Lumpur. The building the concert was in was pretty small, and there’s no way they made a lot of money from the show. Despite that, after the show was over, Jack Black came back out on the stage and just chatted and joked around with people for like an hour. My buddy yelled out, “I love your shirt!” Jack Black yelled back, “I love your shirt! Trade me!” Then he took off his shirt and threw it to my buddy, who threw his shirt to Jack Black. Jack Black threw my friend’s shirt back after pretending to try it on (my friend is much thinner than Black, haha), and then told him to keep his shirt from the concert. It was a great experience! -
9.
David Beckham - not just a nice guy, but when his kids came to the secret event we were filming and some people spotted them, he came across and told the public who could see him that he'd do any photos or signings they liked, but to please leave his kids alone as they were not in the public eye and he wanted them to be afforded privacy. Good dad. -
10.
I met Ryan Reynolds before he became famous. I was in a stall in the ladies room of a restaurant and someone came in and used the stall beside me who was definitely not female. As I was washing my hands, he came out of the stall and gave me a puzzled look. Then he got a look on his face of absolute horror and checked to find out he was, indeed, in the ladies room. He apologized, I told him I wasn't going to report him or anything. Came back to the restaurant and scanned the place to see if I could find him. He wasn't famous back then, but he was still cute as f**k. He spotted me looking for him and came over to chat. Very flirty and funny, we had a great conversation. Six months later I started watching Two Guys, A Girl, and a Pizza Place and there he was. I'm glad he's enjoyed so much success. He deserves it. -
11.
Hugh Jackman. He's known for being nice but I didn't expect him to be so genuine and actually keep the conversation going and to keep asking questions and showing interest. It must be exhausting considering how many people he meets every day, yet he is always on. -
12.
I served on a jury with Robert Downey Jr., the case lasted about a week, he was the alternate juror but took copious notes and would happily chat with all of the fellow jurors during brakes. Very down to earth and pleasant guy. -
13.
When I was like 3 I met Barack Obama at the Iowa state fair, he spent 5 minutes listening to me tell a story about my f*****g tooth. My mom said that when he was talking to me it was like I was the only person in the world. -
14.
I can definitely attest that Michael Fassbender was a kind man who acted more excited to meet me than I was to meet him. Very satisfied by that experience! -
15.
Sally Ride, the first American Woman in space. I was in the fourth grade and I had a science project to do. My mom found out that Sally Ride would be in the tri-state area giving a lecture on her experiences as an astronaut. There were Q & A cards that were given at the beginning of the show and my mom filled on out without me knowing. She wrote "what would be the most interesting opinion/fact you could give a 4th grader who is doing a science project?" She answered how "she believed that there is no way we (humans) are alone in the galaxy." After the show one of her back stage guys came up to me and my parents and said "I bet you are the one here for a science project (I was pretty much the only kid at the lecture) and asked if I would like to meet Sally. We got VIP passes and I met her back stage. She was really kind and soft spoken and my mom has the photo of us together. -
16.
Robin Williams was THE KINDEST human being as you’d expect. He used to ski where my family does. One day I was out in rather blizzardy conditions and my mom was sitting inside noticeably worried. He chatted with her and told jokes to relax her. Another time, someone was inside with crutches following a bad fall, and he just checked in on him to ensure he was ok and to ask if he needed anything. I am still gutted over his death as he truly was everything you’d expect. -
17.
I used to work in the music and film industry (as a grunt, when I was in my early 20s), so I've met a lot of celebrities. George Clooney was the nicest one - SO down to earth, and would play practical jokes on the entire crew very regularly. He had these t-shirts made for every crew member to wear with the director's picture on the cover of People's "sexiest man alive", lol. (This was not an attractive director - it was kind of a joke between them I guess.) He had his car drive people home if buses weren't on schedule or whatever. He'd eat lunch with the crew rather than in his trailer. I had the pleasure of working a show on a David Bowie tour he did in theatres. Every member of his band made a point to thank the crew members. IDK if Bowie himself did it but I wouldn't be surprised. Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) was also awesome and talked to everyone, didn't act like she was even a celebrity in the least. -
18.
Met Jason Momoa at a con a few years back when I only knew him from Game of Thrones. His positive energy and sense of humour is very disarming despite him being so big and imposing. -
19.
Michael Sheen - he does a lot of charity work for our shared hometown. I had no idea just how well known he was as a kid. Years ago he spent a night bowling with our youth club, it's been a decade and I'm still blown away by how caring and genuine he was. He's always doing something wonderful for the people in South Wales, and every time I hear about what he's up to I still can't believe my luck that I met him. He's the best of the Welsh. -
20.
Chadwick Boseman, who I met while I was working as an extra. We weren’t supposed to talk to the actors, but he struck up a conversation with me. Asked me how I was doing, told me I was doing a great job. He was a genuine, sweet person and an incredible talent. -
21.
Met Elvis Presley in Las Vegas in august of 1972. I was in the Navy stationed at point mugu California and drove to Vegas to see him live at the midnight show. I was in uniform alone and the maitre de sat me in a single seat center stage 3 seats from the stage. During the performance Elvis called me out and thanked me for my service and asked me what my job was and I replied I was an air traffic controller at point mugu California. He said man you have a stressful occupation for a young man. I told him ive waited all my life to see him in person and he thanked me and said enjoy the show. I was 23 at the time and was so blown away he called me out. Near the end of the show a man came up to me and asked me if id like to meet Elvis after the show and I replied are you serious? He said absolutely. He escorted me to back stage and to a room and after a while Elvis appeared showered and hyped up after his show. He sat down next to me and talked about his army service and wanted to know where I was from and what I was going to do spin discharge, how I liked serving my country and what music I listened to, about my parents and my sisters. He was so down to earth and so polite. We spent 20 minutes or so just talking and he said he needed to get upstairs and try to unwind so he could sleep. I asked him for an autograph and he gave me one and a couple of autographed photos and Joe Esposito escorted me downstairs and I thanked him for his kindness and he told me Elvis enjoyed the meeting more than me. I was so excited and it took me a month to come down off my buzz. He was absolutely so down to earth and really interested in what was going on in my life. I will remember this until the day I die. It was the most exciting thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. I have so much respect for him and was devistated in 77 when I heard he passed away. Maybe we will see each other on the other side. I hope. -
22.
Dave Grohl (and the Foo Fighters) - met him and the band the night before they played a concert in our town. I was with a friend in a random a*s empty bar and all of the sudden they walk in and sit at a table. My friend freaked out and wanted to go over to them but I felt like "Naaahh leave them be." But she couldn't resist, took a convidence shot and walked over. She chatted with them for a few minutes and soon waved me over. I got over there as well and shook hands with everybody. Dave was really really nice and asked us if we would come to the show the next day, but of course, it was sold out months ago. He said not to worry and that he would put us on his guestlist. yadayada we kept talking for a few more minutes, but soon left, because we didn't want to disrupt them too much. Even though they didn't act as if we would bother them at all. The next day went to the venue - we didnt have too much hope though. We thought he probably forgot but we wanted to try anyway. And who would have thought, he didnt forget, we were on his guestlist and we absolutely had the best time of our life. Dave Grohl really is the nicest person of rock 'n' roll! -
23.
I got to spend a few hours hanging out with Jon Stewart. It was my life goal to be interviewed by him on the daily show. Well I am more than happy to say that he is as kind, warm, hilarious, and personable as you could ever imagine. Easily one of the highlights of my life. -
24.
Kristen Bell - one of the most sweetest, down to earth people you’ll ever meet. I worked at a high end hotel spa and she came in on one of our most busiest weekends and was so patient. Most celebrities I encountered booked with aliases and through an assistant, she just called in on her own and booked as any other person would (this seems like the bare minimum, but I’ve had some super needy celebrity guests). She is also an EXTREMELY generous tipper. She is the exact person that she appears in tv interviews. -
25.
Nick Offerman is a gem of a human being. He came to my small college in an Illinois Suburb for a book tour thing and I was in an acapella group at the time and we were rehearsing in the building where he was doing the signing and he accidentally walked in on us and ended up staying to listen to a song, complimented us, hung out for 5 minutes and signed stuff for all of us. Super genuine, funny guy.
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