[Near] Brushes with fame

DGMacphee · Fri 03/09/2004 02:37:04

I know Leslie Uggams. She's my auntie.

Who is Leslie Uggams, you ask?

She's a famous singer and had her own show in the 60s: "The Leslie Uggams Show". She's performed in Broadway productions, TV shows, and movies. Her biggest moment, IMO, included playing Kizzy in one of the most famous mini-series ever, Roots, and she was nominated for an Emmy and Golden Globe for her role. She also won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for "Hallelujah, Baby!" in 1968 and was nominated for another in 2001 for Best Actress in a Play for "King Hedley II". She also played Rose Keefer in the series All My Children.

Here's a pic of her with Richard Pryor after presenting him with an award:

And here she is on the Ed Sullivan Show:

And here she on her wedding day. On the left is her Dad and on the right is my Uncle Grahmme:

I got to meet her when I was in high school. She and Grahmme and my cousin Jason came over to visit around 94-95. It was so great meeting them all. Jason, especially. He was a damn funny guy. And I got to introduce him to a little game called network Doom.

http://www.leslieuggams.com/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0880081/

Oh yeah, I also once met Bob Ellis, one of Australia's most famous filmmakers and political writers. I asked him what his favourite movies were and he called my question "idiotic".

shbaz · Fri 03/09/2004 03:59:32

This means about this [ ] much to any of you guys, but I've met a lot of Oklahoman politicians. For example, the two leading Senate candidates from my half of the state are both from Muskogee, Oklahoma, where I was raised and where the County Court House I work at is. I've met them both at different times, their names are Brad Carson and Tom Coburn.

Brad Carson gave me a few art awards when he was in the House of Representatives and apparently some hung in the Congressional hall somewhere (Blender rocked Congress!). I've also met him at a few political events while campaigning for my boss, I think he knows me by name now but who knows.

Tom Coburn is a Doctor and he gave my dad some sort of anal probe, I asked for details but it pains him to talk about it. So think about that the next time you hear your parents complain about politicians getting them "up the butt." My dad did, literally!

I think I'm going to vote for Brad.

I've also met a number of bands at the Warped Tour before they were famous, talked to them and etc. I would name them but it's pretty embarrassing now.

Barbarian · Fri 03/09/2004 05:51:00

Well, I was an "actor" in 3 low-budget movies that never really got off the ground.
And I was an "extra" actor in a couple of scenes that was a regular running tv series for a couple of years (Black Harbour, starring Geraint Wyn Davies who was also the main actor for the Forever Knight series in which he played a vampire).

I've met and interacted with several famous people over the years.
Geriant Wyn Davies (as mentioned above).

And Some of the world famous Martial-Art Masters I've trained with (I've trained with many top-ranked Masters over the years, but here I'll mention a few of the more well-known ones):
Danny Inosanto (He was Bruce Lee's best friend in real life, and starred in Game of Death with Bruce Lee),
Bart Vale (many times world champion Shoot-Fighter).
Jean-Yves ThÃ©riault "The IceMan (23 time world-champion kick-boxer).

Arnold Schwartzenegger (Methinks everyone knows who he is - world champion body-builder - movie-star - Governor. I met him briefly at an airport).
Sandy Riddell (a world champion Body Builder).
Vince Taylor (a world champion Body Builder).
Roberta Bondar (first Canadian woman astronaut to go into space).

I've also met and interacted with a few other semi-famous celeberties as well.

And, I've now completed my first book which is in publishing stages now, so, I'm going to really be a published author... Who knows, if it becomes a success (I hope), I might become "famous" in some ways too. ;-p

Oh yeah, in certain places on the internet, I'm a little 'famous' too.. but that's another story

Timosity · Fri 03/09/2004 08:47:55

I've met quite a few Australian Cricket players that some may have heard of

Steve Waugh
Mark Waugh
Brett Lee
and many others

I met Jason Donovan when he was on Neighbours in the mid 80's, I just got to shake his hand. This was at an action game show called "It's a Knockout" if any Aussies are old enough to remember it.

John Laws (famous australian radio wanker man with the golden microphone) I didn't really meet him, that's cause I'm a good driver and avoided him wiping me off the road. This was in busy traffic and he just changed lanes right in front of me without looking as if he owned the roads. He's also famous for collecting expensive cars, maybe he should learn how to drive them first. This was some shitty convertable Lexus. He didn't even look back after to acknowlege anything had even happened.

I've met pleanty of others BCDEFGZ levels but never really sat and had a chat with any.

Except Jason Whalley from Frenzal Rhomb, who is an acquaintance of mine, although I haven't seen him for a couple of years. If any aussies listen to JJJ, he took over Roy & HG's radio show while they were at the Olympics, and I think he'll be getting a few more shows over the next little while.

Rui 'Trovatore' Pires · Fri 03/09/2004 09:05:55

Well, no such experience yet, but I did meet several great actors. They're Portuguese, though, so it's very unlikely that the names Anna Paula, SÃ©rgio Silva, Luis Rizo, Santos Manuel, AntÃ³nio Marques, FlÃ¡via GusmÃ£o, LuÃs Barros, Tereza Corte-Real, Fernanda Neves or JoÃ£o Vasco-Silva mean anything to you...

But if you live in Europe, you may have heard the name Carlos Avilez. He's a stage director, a controversial one (you know the type;) ). He was my teacher. So I guess I should kinda count him as a "card up my sleeve", or something.

EDIT - Oh yeah, I've done a couple of on-and-off things... danced a rough waltz in a huge old house for the kiddies, fenced in a play called Noite de AnÃµes (Dwarves' Night) (really bad play), and participated in my (acting) school projects which were publicly shown - an hommage to Timor for its independence, a comic-relief version of Hamlet (in which I kinda starred, sort of), and the final examination, Mayakovsky's "The Bed-Bug".

jetxl · Fri 03/09/2004 10:33:43

I NEVER met anybody who worked on Event Horizon or Red Planet, BUT THEY DID STOLE MY IDEA'S!!!

I did met a guy who could talk just like Christopher Walken...

[edit] I met Dennis Hopper. He was giving some other guys directions to a bar. I Didn't knew sure until later, though.
AND I met that guy who made AGS!

Babar · Fri 03/09/2004 11:22:39

I met the Pope when he came to Cairo. They even showed me on TV with him. I have met the Pakistani president, shook his hands and gave flowers to his wife. I met the entire Pakistani team (how it was back in 97) and have all their autographs on my bat.

SSH · Fri 03/09/2004 12:46:05

I was walking through the Edinburgh Botanic gardens with my daughter while they were filimg this there and saw various actors in costume, but dunno if any of them were stars as I was running after the wee girl at the time.

Also, when I was 10, I was on TV (Grampain's North Tonight news) showing a trick to Paul Daniels for about 3 seconds. I was also interviewed on Radio Aberdeen at the time.

Oh, and in 30 years time, my daughter will be elected president of the known universe.

DGMacphee · Fri 03/09/2004 17:15:16

I just got back from a friend's 21st and I just want to say... Peter Combe ROCKS!!!

I got my photo taken with the dude himself and he is awesone. If you're Aussie andÃ,Â have no idea who I'm talking about, you can go screw yourself sideways!

http://www.petercombe.com.au/

Combe 2004! Toffee Apple, nice and a licky!! ROCK ON!!!

Also, a big cheerio to Anna! Thanks for the awesome night! Happy birthday! Combe ROCKS!!!

Go about your business, citizens!

veryweirdguy · Fri 03/09/2004 17:43:25

I once met Chris Eubank at my school.

I once saw Mike Tyson shopping.

My parents once had dinner with Timothy Dalton's parents.

That is all.

Privateer Puddin' · Fri 03/09/2004 17:54:58

Paddy Ashdown visited my school.

haha.

evenwolf · Fri 03/09/2004 18:23:42

Redrum, I thought the name Carlos Avilez was very familiar, so I looked him up on IMDb. Turns out I was thinking of Carlos Ã Âvila. He's a director but I don't think he's well known.

Rui 'Trovatore' Pires · Fri 03/09/2004 18:28:45

Nah, Carlos Avilez is strictly theater. Mostly influenced by Peter Brook and Grotowsky (sp?). His first great hit was in Japan, a colossal performance of Gil Vicente's (the father of Portuguese theater) "Auto da Barca do Inferno", er, "Something of the Boat of Hell" (I don't know how to translate Auto, it's kinda like a genre, you know?). Hmm, might be spelled Avillez, but not sure...

Mephistophilis · Fri 03/09/2004 19:03:18

My dad, John Ward, is an Author he wrote the already released 'Secret of the Alchemist' and soon to be released sequel 'The Stone of Sorrow' and his Canadian publisher,Robert Davies, (who is his friend's Cousin or Brother) who I think I'll meet, his Daughter is a Singer Maia Davies I believe.

LGM · Sat 04/09/2004 02:19:56

I met William Sleator... He's an author of young-adult fiction such as"The House of Stairs", "Interstellar Pig", and "The Box." It was neat.

DGMacphee · Sat 04/09/2004 02:32:47

Quote from: jetxl on Fri 03/09/2004 10:33:43
I NEVER met anybody who worked on Event Horizon or Red Planet, BUT THEY DID STOLE MY IDEA'S!!!

Hehe, that reminds me of this awesome thing I just found:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0356721/board/nest/11347394

P.S. Peter Combe rocks and I am very hungover!

auhsor · Sat 04/09/2004 02:38:08

Wow, Peter Combe. He was about all me and my brothers listened to when we were kids. We went to one of his concerts many many years ago. Many memories of Peter Combes music.

Hmm famous people... At the Prime Ministers XI, I sat sorta next to Shivnarine Chanderpaul. There was this litle fence dividing us, but he was right next to me.. This is before we went like famous, cos he was 12 man. I didnt talk to him, but yeah.

Hmm my mum and dad saw Ricky Ponting at the blood bank when they were giving blood. They didnt talk to him tho.

Well I don't know If I have met any other famous people.

Duzz · Sat 04/09/2004 03:56:38

Peter Combe rocked, kicked Don Spencer's ass any day. I grew up on him. (and 'It's a knockout').
Only person I've ever met was Toady from neighbors, he asked me for a light. I didn't even know his name (still don't actually) I couldn't really care less either.
But Peter Combe!

Moox · Sat 04/09/2004 03:59:38

My dad works with the guy who invented the happy meal for mc donalds, he works for lowes now, my old country club had one of the original clevland browns go to it, I ran into ken griffey by accident, my hair stylist owned North Wilkesboro Speedway, the original nascar track.

Blackthorne · Sat 04/09/2004 16:32:01

Well, I once posted on the same forums as DGMacphee.......

Bt