Celebrity in Los Angeles is about as ubiquitous as palm trees and stop-and-go traffic. If you aren’t a celebrity yourself (and there are many who are delusioned and believe that they are), you know someone who knows someone who’s son goes to school with Reese Witherspoon’s daughter. Or maybe your doctor delivered Jessica Simpson’s baby. Or, more often than anything else, you’ve had a sighting.
What’s a sighting? It’s an experience somewhat unique to our little corner of paradise here in Southern California, something that rarely occurs anyplace else nearly as often, except possibly New York City. A sighting is when you see a celebrity in an ordinary place – the grocery store, a restaurant, a department store – going about their lives and, more often than not, hoping to be left alone.
First rule of a celebrity sighting: DO NOT BOTHER THE CELEBRITY. If he or she avoids eye contact you should take that to mean “go away.”
I know what you may be thinking – “But he/she is a celebrity! Don’t celebrities want to be noticed?”
I don’t think so. Maybe they like the flicker of recognition they see in your eye. But I think they just want to go about their days, eating their kale and chicken salad or buying a new pair of jeans without having to interact with anyone.
Second rule of a celebrity sighting: RESIST THE URGE TO TAKE A PICTURE OR ASK FOR AN AUTOGRAPH.
This is what celebrities do for their jobs – they get a lot of pictures taken and sign many autographs. Do you really think they want to do this while at a day spa? I don’t.
I’ve had many celebrity sightings during my 35 years of living in Los Angeles. Here are some of my favorites. A few are sightings in other locations, but they were pretty great so I included them anyway.
-While in high school, I smoked pot with Shaun Cassidy at a party.
-Also during high school, I frequently saw Danny Bonaduce at a place lots of kids hung out in Beverly Hills called Dr. Munchies (don’t you love that name?). He was pretty obnoxious.
-At a filming of “Battle of the Network Stars,” Scott Baio kissed me on the cheek for a commercial for the show.
-I saw Bob Dylan walking out of a store in Brentwood. I thought he was a homeless person.
-I sold Jeff Goldblum a tie while working at Robinson’s department store. He was very nice.
-I saw Geena Davis (Goldblum’s then wife) trying on clothes at a very upscale boutique. I think she’s 7 feet tall.
-I saw Kate Beckinsale at “West Side Story” at the Pantages theater. She was wearing a white mink coat and was stunning.
-I saw Robin Williams at a casino in Lake Tahoe.
-While on vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Dennis Quaid and his wife were staying at the same resort as my husband and me. There were hardly any people there so it was kind of hard to avoid contact with them. She was very nice and friendly. He was not. They’re both amazingly beautiful. I tried to surreptitiously take their pictures, but it’s hard to tell that it’s them.
photo courtesy Creative Commons
-Just a few weeks ago, as I was getting off a plane from New York to LA, Joey Fatone and Tom Selleck were getting off, too. Can I just say that Tom Selleck is a god? Whatever he had on “Magnum P.I,” he’s still got it.
The totally LA moment was waiting at baggage claim and seeing the TMZ guys interviewing Joey Fatone.
Those are just a few of my encounters with celebrities in Los Angeles. And I’m proud to say that other than the Quaids, I never spoke to or bothered any of them. Sadly, we tried to send the Quaids a bottle of wine, but they refused it. We were pretty tipsy or we never would have attempted something so embarassingly fan-like. We totally broke both rules that weekend. Never again!
Third rule of celebrity sighting: FOLLOW RULES NUMBER 1 AND 2. YOU WILL SAVE YOURSELF A LOT OF EMBARASSMENT.
Have you ever had an encounter with a celebrity? Tell me about it in a comment!
What a fun post! I loved it.
I saw Lucy Ball Arnaz getting off a plane I was waiting to board. I know the drummer of the Royal Guardsmen (does that count.) I’m not really a star struck person so I’d probably not recognize them if I saw them or think to try and talk to them.
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Hmm. Well, I was once within about three feet of Queen Elizabeth during a walkabout on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. I was struck by how tiny she is. And as an author, I’ve met various writing celebs–Margaret Atwood was probably the most memorable. Again, tiny. Then again, I’m 5’10″, so many people seem kind of little to me.
–Karen
Margaret Atwood is a big deal! Most movie stars are teeny-tiny – but not Tom Selleck!
I’ve had my share of sightings and meetings and one very embarrassing story to tell about my encounter with Jennifer Garner. I agree with your rules and I totally follow them all the time too.
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You must share that Jennifer Garner story! Maybe a blog post?
Now I know what to do next time I see a celebrity.
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Fun article! When my daughter was about 4 or 5 she took a trip with her grandparents and when we picked them up the airport, she excitedly got off the plane saying that “Bert” was on her flight. No not Bert of Sesame Street, she was referring to Bert of Mary Poppins … Dick Van Dyke! She did break rule #1 and said hi to him.
I think kids are exempted from these rules by everyone, including celebrities!
I want to smoke pot with Shaun Cassidy!!!! Well, maybe a *few years ago I would have. I had photos of him plastered all over my walls as a teen!!! I’m totes jealous!
I did run into Laura Innes from ER at the airport when ER was still on a HUGE. She was on the same plane I was putting my son on and of course it was delayed. We hung out on the floor of the airport chatting… she was SO incredibly nice, normal… not *celebrity type. I waited until the plane was ready to board until I said I recognized her. I was afraid it would get weird and she’d stop chatting if she knew I was the huge ER fan that I was…
And then there’s my guy Tim McGraw… I don’t even pretend anymore… I run and maul him. We’re buds LOL…
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I must agree, leave them alone. They do enjoying being everyday people when they get the chance. My hubby and I ended up taking a cruise to the Mediterranean in 2006. Low and behold, one of the OC Housewifes,Vicki Gunvalson and her family were on the same cruise ship. We tried to stay as far away as possible, and ended up be assigned to the table right next to them in the dining room. And yes, there are as loud and obnoxious as they appear on the show.
That’s pretty funny. The new guy, Terry Dubrow, was a close friend of mine in high school. Boy has he changed!
I used to live about two blocks from Fred Segal’s on Melrose and that part of town is awash in celebrities. It always amazed me that I, loving reader of InStyle magazine, would not recognize so many of the celebs. Dressed down and no makeup, like me, they might as well have been invisible. Exception: Debi Mazur–her blue eyes cannot be hidden!
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Too many sightings to relay in a comment – but the best was one I witnessed at LAX, where I picked up my parents after a long trip. My 5′ tall mother thought another passenger had taken her bag, so she walked over to protest – even jabbed her finger at his chest. The other passenger was Muhammad Ali. And it wasn’t her bag. I think he was amused – at least, his entourage was.
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That’s a really great story. I’m sure he was amused!
Ever since I’ve moved back to NYC, I often see celebrities walking through the streets or eating at a restaurant. Just a few of those I’ve noticed have been Robert Duvall, Anderson Cooper and Matthew Perry. I follow your rules completely. The only times I have ever asked for a picture with a celebrity is when I meet them at blogging events.
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I love Anderson Cooper. I would really have to hold myself back from telling him that if I saw him in person!
I have seen my share of celebs in my 50 years. Richard Dreyfuss at the Gettysburg Battlegrounds, Mr. T. Cruising Chicago Streets, Jim Belushi at O’Hare, The Chief Blonde at Blogher (oh wait..that’s me)….teehee! It’s hard to follow the rules!
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I wish I had read this before I ran into Molly Ringwald at an event. I’m still embarrassed.
When I first moved her I would see Harrison Ford everywhere I went, which was very exciting until we were at Adventure 16 and I tripped walking out and shoved my young son into the door. Harrison Ford said “oh my god. is he okay?” Not the conversation I wanted to have with Indiana Jones.
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Such a great post Sharon!!!
How exciting this post is. I love it. I went to high school with Jim Belushi and I know some things; I keep my mouth shut about it out of respect for privacy, but we did not smoke pot together if that is what you are thinking, but we could have. Russell Crowe was here shooting Man of Steel and was being spotted a lot at Whole Foods in Naperville, IL on a regular basis and he was also spotted in my hometown Wheaton riding his bike on the prairie path (a huge nature bike path that goes on for miles) and he stopped and chatted with some young boys in downtown Wheaton, so that was in the paper; this is not a personal spotting though is it. Keanu Reeves was here shooting The Lake House and my BFF’s old boss catered the movie set and Keanu also came to his restaurant and said he would be back the next day. My BFF was invited to just happen to be sitting there when he came back, but alas he did not return. So when you live in Illinois there are not a lot of personal sightings, just near misses. -LOL
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There have been many… Madonna literally ran right into me as I was coming out of a subway stop in Greenwich Village. She was very nice about it and apologized, asked me if I was okay. Then there was the time I found myself right next to Michael Jackson at the Palladium in LA. He was sitting on a chair at the edge of the dance floor just watching everyone. By the time people started to recognize him, his security whisked him away. We drove by Jay Leno on the 405 in LA and waved to him. He waved back. I’ve also seen Tracy Gold at my local market, Sylvester Stallone at a club in LA, Gena Davis and Bruno Kirby at the movies together, Alan Alda at a restaurant, Brooke Shields at a restaurant, Alicia Silverstone at a restaurant, Lisa Hartman at an art festival, assorted TV anchormen and most of the Disney teeny-bopper crowd. Oh and the highlight was seeing Taylor Lautner at a restaurant right after Twilight first came out.
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I want to rub shoulders with you!
Grew up in a very small town in the Midwest and have lived in the Midwest most of my life, so not a lot of opportunity to meet celebrities, and I wouldn’t recognize them even if I did. But I did meet Madilyn L’Engle at a writers’ workshop. She critiqued my short story. She was a lovely person.
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Hi Sharon,
You and I must have been hangin around the same “watering holes” and possibly even knew each other. We certainly went to the same parties in Beverly Hills a couple of times I am sure. I grew up in Hancock Park, and then the Los Feliz / Hollywood Hills. I went to Immaculate Heart High School (all girls) but we knew where the boys were!
I ran into celebrities all the time. I remember meetin Jack Benny when I was a little kid in an elevator. My mother used to take her girlfriends to lunch at The Brown Derby in Hollywood, and Hamburger Hamlet (two legendary celeb hangouts then) and one day we saw Dean Martin..yep sloshed and drinking martini after martini.
I met Lucille Ball (my idol when I was younger) at a luncheon in BH and was disappointed at how curt she was, but then I am sure she was just a very private lady.
In later years, my ex husband got to work in the homes of Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, and many other celebrities, installing elaborate security systems.
When you live in LA seeing actors, musicians and sports people just becomes part of the deal. You have to leave them alone and give them their space. I have seen many, but it’s hard to remember them all now.
We should compare notes Sharon..maybe we know each other after all!
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It does sound like we’ve probably crossed paths! We’ll have to chat sometime. I will follow your blog – let’s email.
I’m so envious! I never meet anyone. Well, anyone unexpected like that. I’m glad to hear that Tom Selleck still has it. I’ve always found him adorable.
Too bad about the Quaids. Celebrity or not, there are such things called “manners” and I think we’re all expected to adhere to them.
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Fun topic, Sharon. My first sighting was June Lockhart – who is old enough to remember her? We saw her in an elevator in Hawaii when I was 16, and we knew enough (or were shocked enough) to follow your rules. My favorite celebrity sighting was in about 1985 in the bar at Little Nell’s in Aspen – none other than Jack Nicholson. EVERYONE was following the rules there – I didn’t see a single person approach him. But I did take several photos of the back of his head.
Even living in the Midwest I’ve seen my share of celebrities while they are shooting movies – from Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman in downtown Cincinnati shooting Rainman in 1988, to Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson shooting a new movie called The Internship just a few weeks ago on the Georgia Tech campus. Rules followed every time!
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Have run into a few. Recently met Louis CK at a local gas station – he was filling up, I was putting air into my flat tire. He offered his opinion that it probably was not going to hold; I told him I was just trying to get it five blocks down the street to the tire repair place, and he agreed it would probably last THAT long. Since we were already semi-conversing, I asked him if he wasn’t…? He said yes, I said, “I really like your work.” He kinda blushed and said thank you. It was very cute.
I waited on Michael Gross a very long time ago when he was playing the dad in Family Ties – same dealie, told him I enjoyed his work. IMO, that level of fandom is okay – *if* you are already conversing with ‘em, to let them know that you recognize them and that you appreciate their work. Who doesn’t like to hear that? Have had other celeb glimpses when I stuck to the code – Harrison Ford & Callista Lockhart, not too long ago. I totally agree – No running up to them, no pestering for pictures, and ABSOLUTELY no harassing them in a restroom!
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That is so cool, I am not going to lie I am star struck but too much of an introvert to say anything. I met Lars from Metallica and he is arrogant
Cute Post…I too had too many sightings to post living in L.A. 20 years ago at least, I worked for “The Chiropractor to the Stars” Got to do physical therapy on a bunch of em. Did Bob Dylan…oh and btw, HE DID look homeless..smelled it too…We would tell him to Jacuzzi before he came in to relax his muscles, when actually we just wanted him to bathe because of the stench…that is where I found those really potent citrus based air fresheners, we would spray the heck out of the place before he came in and after.
oh and in high school I looked a LOT like Genie Francis and it was during the whole General Hospital thing. I would get asked all the time if I was her. I was in the dressing room at Contempo in the May Co Plaza back then, trying on some jeans, in those days they didn’t have doors on the dressing rooms. She was across from me trying on clothes too….My jaw dropped here she was in a MOST intimate moment she looked at me I had that jaw dropped look on my face and I stumbled with…”uhhh HI “..She just looked at me…and said…”Do I know you?” OMG she actually thinks we are related or something…I totally clammed up…and said…”uhhh no, but I love your work” I forgot to mention that I would love to play her long lost twin sister or something on GH could she get me an interview?…uh alas never saw her again…oh and I saw Danny Bonaduce at the bowling alley in Panorama City, I legit asked him for a dime to call my mom to come pick us up told me “No I was only asking because I needed an excuse to talk to him.” uhhh yes he was a jerk…i agree. 
I got a million stories….and thanks for the Opportunity to write, this was fun!
I love that Genie Francis story. When I was a teenager I looked a lot like Chris Evert, and I played a lot of tennis. When I would be at tournaments I would get a lot of second looks – until I got on the court. Then it was obvious I wasn’t her!
My daughter works on Robinson Blvd in LA – so whenever I visit we usually stumble into one celebrity or another. Last time it was Ryan Seacrest at Jack and Jill – before that – Jennifer Anniston at Ivy’s.
When I was a little girl scout my troop got to meet with Danny Kaye at the Denver Airport. He was so nice.
And in the late 70′s – it was – and this was my favorite – Robert Redford on a dock at Lake Powell in southern Utah. It’s a very hot place in the summer and I was hopping across the metal dock barefoot trying to get back to my boat saying, “shit, shit, shit” with every step. He laughed. I could have died.
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Twenty years ago I waitressed at a restaurant located by Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, CT and waited on Julia Child, Richard Gere, Richard Dreyfuss, Stockard Channing, Evelyn Champagne King, Diane Sawyer & Mike Nichols, Gary Burgoff, Anthony Zerbe, Swoozy Kurtz, Chuck Berry, Herb Brooks, Edward Herrmann, and Patricia Neil. New Haven CT is also home to Toads Place, a nightclub where the Rollings Stones did an impromptu stop one night. Holy cow! Couldn’t believe I was looking right into the face of Mick and Keith! Also, used to see Jodi Foster at Toad’s Place quite a bit when she attended Yale.
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I have had many celebrity sighting living here in Los Angeles my whole life…. Drew Barrymore sat next to me at a concert and talked my ear off.
She was the sweetest. Too many insane sightings to name… Tim Burton at La Serenata de Garibaldi in East Los Angeles.
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I’d give my eyeteeth to run into Tom Selleck.
I live in Nashville/Music City, and my husband works in the music biz, so I personally have had a bazillion sightings of “famous music people” and we have the same code of conduct here: smile, nod, and move along.
My best ever celebrity sighting was when Vince Gill held the door open for me at the YMCA. I beamed up into his eyes. He beamed down into mine. Those eyelashes!!! I know he’ll never forget that moment, either. I bet he writes a song about it someday.
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