Who is the most famous person you have ever met

[jase (Jason)]

Bill Clinton - When he came out to Melbourne. He was out of office at the time (no longer President of the US). There was a special dinner and speech held at crown casino. I didn't go, but was passing by when he was shaking hands with the crowd in the reception area. Just got in line and shook his hand. Four days later 9/11 hit and he was ushered out of Australia. Was quite a buzz.

Also went to school with Robert Alenby - the pro golfer.

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

I am surprised !

am i the only one that has met Mike Salway ?

[h0ughy (David)]

I met Paul Russell

[Ric]

I haven't had that honour yet Geoff

Cheers

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

I guess I am at an unfair advantage due to my years in Television and Movies.

I have worked with the biggest names in the world and It wasn't a matter of just being in the same room or studio with them, part of my job was too look after them (drinks, nibblies, footstool, conversation, all that sort of crap). Jimmy Stewart, Steve Martin, Audrey Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Sammy Davis Jnr. (regularly), Jerry Lee Lewis, Liberace, Demis Roussos, Muhammad Ali, The Bee Gees, Sydney Poitier, etc.

Many of them were regulars on some of the shows we made and became friends.

For example, just before I left channel 9 Melbourne I made a rough count of the 'Stars' I had spent time with, and I lost count around 1200!!! I just couldn't remember them all.

Each week we had roughly 12 international guests on the ''Don Lane Show' (movie stars, bands, Authors, Sports stars, Politicians, etc), on ‘Hey Hey it's Saturday’ we had 2 or 3 internationals each week and the usual round of Aussie performers, Paul Hogan Show had it's special Guests, then there were the specials we made: 2 Ronnies down under, Ronnie Corbett Show, etc. and I had to look after them all.

Also out the back of Channel 9 (unknown to most) is a recording studio for international bands and singers that sneak into the country and record albums then sneak out again. If we weren't having lunch with them in the cafeteria, no-one would even know they were in Oz!

Movies I have worked on include Storm Boy, The Stud, Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith, Patrick and other minor ones (I am mentioned in the credits).

I have even been in a few shows myself. The Floor manager says, "quick stand over there and look like you are doing something".

The worst people I ever worked with were Ronnie Corbett and Burt Lancaster. Both very rude and their 'poo' don't stink and they let you know it. Practically all the others were fine. Some I even kept in touch with up until only a few years ago.

But among them all, some really stood out as good friends and were happy to spend time privately socialising while they were in Oz regularly: Debbie Reynolds, Stevie Wonder, Lee Marvin, some of the M*A*S*H cast, Kiss, etc.

Then there were the ones who felt like neighbours coz we worked with them so much. Bert Newton, Daryl Somers, John Farnham, John St.Peters, Little River Band, John English, and on and on.

Apart from my time at TV and Movies, my uncle is Reg Lindsay (country singer, yuk) and all the Rugby League stars I have had to have meetings with in the last few years.

I was a regular golf partner with actors from 'The Sullivans' on weekends, and generally visited and spent time with many Aussie actors and performers outside work.

So I suppose you could say I've had my share of 'Stars'.

I have lots of funny memories from those days. One I have mentioned before about having to pull Paul Hogans pants down many times LOL, nearly getting the sack because the 'Village People' wouldn't give props back that I had to get from them, Peter Hehir (Bert in 'The Sullivans') rolling a joint and offering it to a cop (in uniform), Reg Gorman (Jack the barman in 'The Sullivans') M.C.'ing my wedding reception and spent all night cracking everyone up with his jokes, getting plastered beyond belief with Wilbur Wilde and John Blackman till we were thrown out of the bar/restaurant which was holding the end of year party we were supposed to be at with the 'Hey Hey' cast & crew, Glenn Shorrock (Little River band) pinching his own bands Drum Skin for me, arguing with Renee Geyer coz I told here I didn’t like her song, helping ‘sober up’ Kate Bush from a cocaine over-dose 2 minutes before she had to go live on air, and so on.

They were all fun times and good memories.
I still have the video of me being said farewell to on three channel 9 shows.

Interestingly, I am never star-struck because of all the people I have worked with. They are just people doing a job and I happened to work along side of them and became friends with some.

I am still currently a close friend with Jac Kreemers (gold record) the drummer from Madder Lake, Mick Fetters the Lead singer from Madder Lake, and Phil Irving, the designer of the famous 'Vincent' motorcycle and other world famous engineering feats, worked for me for at my Harley Davidson shop in Ballarat for a week and a half before he died.

So as you can see, I am at an unfair advantage.

It’s certainly been a colourful life!

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Ken! Thats one hell of a part of your life story! and now you know ME!

[Shawn]

Thats Easy

Santa in Woolies when I was 7 years old....

Serously

Marc Bolan, rember him..

70s rockers...

S

[Deeno]

Several yars ago while in Sydney, I stumbled upon the filming of "Hart to Hart" in Australia. My Mum loves Robert Wagner (Prince Valiant) and Stephanie Powers was the source for many a wet dream in my teenage years so, a little autograph hunting seemed the logical to do. Mr Wagner (Bob) was very polite and chatted warmly, beaming his best Hollywood smile. Ms Powers was a little nervous about this fury headed numbat and seemed to on the lookout for security but, politly smiled and coughed up an autograph anyway.
They now hang on Mums wall of fame.

Once bought Merve Hughes a beer at the Tall Timbers Hotel.

See motorcycle champ Wayne Gardner fairly regularly as he is involved with a magazine I work for. Nice bloke.

[Greg Bryant]

No chance of matching Ken!

Two occasions of particular note.

Late 70s - attended an antique car expo as a young kid. Was peering into the front of a car, turned around, and there was the then Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser.

1995 - had a one-on-one interview with Gene and Carolyn Shoemaker (comet impact with Jupiter) in their hotel room when they were in Canberra for a public lecture.

There was also the time in 1986 when I was introduced on the dance floor (School Deb Ball) to a certain ex NSW policeman of note...

[Blue Skies (Jacquie)]

I met Rob McNaught last night - does that count?

[iceman (Mike)]

I went to school with Natalie Imbrouglia - she was in my year (year 11&12).

Belinda Cotterill (starred on some ABC shows and commercials) was also in my year in high school (7-10).

Belinda Emmett was a year above me in school (may she RIP).

Great stories from everyone!

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

There may be some in here who know famous people but can't say so. I know for a fact that there are approx 40 old Hollywood Movies Stars and Rock Legends living in Australian Rural towns but the locals are asked not to divulge this infromation.

There are also approx 15 current Hollywood Stars and famous International Band members living scattered about Australia incognito. One of them that I know of lives in the Hawthorn (a Suburb of Melbourne).

American/Australian Gus Mercurio (actor) and his son Paul Mercurio (actor, Dancer) still practice Chiropractic in Ballarat (its OK, it ain't a secret).

Lee Marvin lived in Cairns for about 20 years!

So for those that are busting to say "I know so & so" but can't, we accept your silent post here

[danielsun]

I got to know Steve and Terry Irwin whilst living on the sunshine coast in the early to late 90s and going out with one of his employees.


He really was a good bloke.

Steve that is....

[Paddy de Klerk]

I too once shared a queue at the fish &chip shop at Ettalong& yes she does sound like that in real life.A deceased, dear friend of mine once 'paid a penny' along side Ian Andersen,the lead singer of Jethro Tull's band.Leslie Philips of Doctor in the House fame &I shared similar times in London.My wife once posed with the Queen Mother while working for the British Legion,whatever that meant,(for a photograph that was).Joel" Bigbird" Garner popped up in Melbourne once as well.A big boy when he grows up!

[Paddy de Klerk]

I too once shared a queue at the fish &chip shop at Ettalong& yes she does sound like that in real life.A deceased, dear friend of mine once 'paid a penny' along side Ian Andersen,the lead singer of Jethro Tull's band.Leslie Philips of Doctor in the House fame &I shared similar times in London.My wife once posed with the Queen Mother while working for the British Legion,whatever that meant,(for a photograph that was).Joel" Bigbird" Garner popped up in Melbourne once as well.A big boy when he grows up!

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

I was on a flight back from Japan one day and was trying to get some sleep. The bloke behind me was snoring so loud that the whole row of seats shook. During the night I leaned over the seat and asked the guy to keep it down. He was Malcolm Fraser.

[DobDobDob (Ron)]

Ken as the originator of this thread, I am exercising my right to expel you from the thread You are way too into famous people, actually we can all now claim we know you, which makes us famous by proxy

Naw, just kidding, it sounds like you had a lot of fun. There's still another 1900 odd members who can add their momentary brush with fame

[bloodhound31]

I stuck my finger up at Ita buttrose in traffic in sydney years ago. she ran a light and cut me off.

It all started with Brian barker, the weatherman in perth.
Then it was Jeff fennech, paul keating, little johnny howard 3 times...i felt like saying, "this is the third time you have met me and you still dont remember my name...I remember yours"... go figure.

Uncy Pete Cosgrove a few times. My hero. A distant brush with Kylie...oooohh ahhhh.....
The umbilical brothers in macca's at south nowra. Nice chaps. They were having a shake with that grey haired joke teller from Hey Hey its saturday.

Oh, and I chat on a regular basis to the Father and Son when I feel the need.

Happy Easter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Baz.

[33South (Chris)]

Originally Posted by sheeny

I said G'day to Rolf Harris once in passing in Sydney airport. (scraping the bottom of the barrel, now getting down to momentary walk bys!)
Al.

Me too, and also D.K.Lillee at Auckland airport.

Came across quite few 'people' at work in the mid 60s when I worked at Manchester Square in London - Then head office for EMI records.

Used to chat to Fatty Vautin, he was the caretaker at my kids school, Mona Vale Public.

Probably the most famous, by association was a small group of us having tea and a private tour of the family home, seeing all the memorabilia (got some piccies, might scan and post them one day) then watching the first(? about 1977) Mars landing on TV with Caroline Herschel the great-great-granddaughter of Sir William.

[okiscopey (Mike)]

Ron, when this thread has run its course and all 1900 have responded, how about "What is the most famous person (living or historical) you'd LIKE to meet?" Reasons would have to be mandatory of course to make it more interesting. Didn't want to start it now in case it diluted the current interesting topic.