I used to do a lot of travelling for a Swedish Company for many years and met quite a few celebrities personally:
I remember sitting at the airport bar in Providence, R.I and the person sitting next to me (eating a bowl of soup) was Christopher Reeve (just before he had his terrible accident). We said a few words (I was also with my customer from Boston and he was thrilled to have Christopher Reeve as part of the conversation.)
In New York I met Yul Brunner in an expensive restaurant (my boss usually invited me to these places) - Yul had a beautiful young woman at his side - he was very cordial and a little shy I found.
Elliot Gould I met at the Park Lane Hotel - He was a close friend of one of my customers from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Also in New York (I travelled there many times) I encountered Liza Minella - when I was talking to her, I was surprised how insecure she was - she was giggling like a little girl and enjoyed the attention from us quite a bit. David Niven was standing next to her and he was very shy and quiet.
When I was in Nassau, the Bahamas, I met Sammy Davis Jr. at night while walking in a park next to a yachtclub. I was walking alone and he suddenly appeared out of nowhere - he was a little scared at first but laughed it off and greeted me.
I personally met David Hasselhoff in Montreal - my whole family shook hands with him. Also in Montreal I met Michael York, who was filming there. Also met Katarina Witt, the German ice-skater. I met Guy Lafleur as well, he used to be a famous hockey player for the Montreal Canadiens.
Also in New York I met Mary Lou Retton and Regis Philbin, as he was waiting for the longest time in front of a restaurant. He was just standing there next to the hotel I stayed - we met and said hello. Lloyd Bridges was sitting next to us in another restaurant (The Oyster Bar, which is near the Plaza Hotel). Shelley Winters I met at La Guardia Airport - she was just coming back from Montreal finishing a movie there.
In Salt Lake City I met Dan Janssen, the ex-speed skater. Also in Salt Lake City I met Bernice King last year. She is the daughter of Martin Luther King.
One time I remember sitting next to Brian Mulroney in an airplane. (At that time he was climbing the ranks and became Prime Minister of Canada 6 months later.) Also in an airplane I met Ilie Nastase, a once famous tennis player. Another time I was sitting next to Mordecai Richler, who is more famous in Canada then in USA. He wrote a few books, one of them being the "Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz", on which they also made a movie.
In Los Angeles I met Cher while they were taping one of her shows at the time. In Montrea I met Leonardi di Caprio and William Dafoe, both of whom were filming there. That was back in August 2003.
In Westhampton Beach I personally met Gary Grant - he was relaxing at a tennis club. In Miami I encountered James Caan.
Debbie Reynolds used to visit us frequently in our house in Westhampton Beach. My father had a beach home and Debbie Reynolds was our neighbor. My father had no clue at the time that she was a movie star and she was impressed about the fact that "some people didn't recognize her", as she was tired of being haunted by fans everywhere. I was very young then and even I didn't really realize that she was famous. She liked that and she felt comfortable being with us.
In Italy I met Oleg Cassini - he was a designer of man's clothing (my father was in the textile business at the time) Oleg was once married to Gene Tierney, a well-known actress in the 1950's.
In Holland (where I was born) I met Princess Beatrix - she is now the Queen of Holland.
I also shook hands with Queen Silvia of Sweden in Toronto. She visited with her husband King Gustaf to open a Swedish-Canadian conference on the problem of worldwide pollution of some kind.
In Freeport, the Bahamas I met Dave Thomas - the late owner of Wendy's. He was a very humble man - he did a lot for underprivileged kids.
At Toronto Airport I spoke to Ed McMahon, the then right-hand man for Johnny Carson.
That's all I can remember....... I am not travelling anymore so much, but working from my home - Nowadays I don't meet famous people anymore. Ohhh, before I forgot, I also met some who were part of the Governing Body in Brooklyn..., but that doesn't count - they are not famous but INfamous LOL!
Richie :*)