I find I’m far less obnoxious the older I get. After all, celebrities are just people like you and me.

Once while crossing 5th Avenue at 40th St in NYC around 1980, I noticed that Richard Nixon was crossing (alone) from the other side. I was never a big fan of his and my first instinct was to launch a tirade of criticism, but I just smiled and said “Hello, Mr President”. He nodded, smiled and said “Hello.” back. My opinion of him has certainly mellowed over the years.

My biggest brush with fame was in Dallas when Kevin McCarthy was interviewing Vincent Price on his radio show. I am a huge fan of Vincent Price (I grew up watching his great horror films) and feverishly dialed over and over trying to get in the queue to talk with him. Finally, I made it in and when I spoke to him, I told him what a big fan I was and how I thought he had been robbed of an Academy Award nomination for “Whales of August”. “Why thank you, Bob.” he replied and then it hit me: VINCENT PRICE JUST CALLED ME “BOB”!!!! as if we had been friends for a long time! Holy ****!

ps. Ruthann, I do need to make a correction. “Cuba” was a film starring Sean Connery and directed by Richard Lester. The film you are referring to (starring Robert Redford and directed by Sydney Pollack) is “Havana”

Ed Asner’s assistant was particularly helpful and hooked us up to a number of Ed’s friends. One afternoon I got a call from Eliott Gould. That was pretty cool. Alec Baldwin was another story. And Shelly Berman (do you remember Shelly Berman) was a lot of fun.

We lost the election anyway, but I wanted to call Ed’s assistant and thank her for her help. When I did, I was surprised when a man answered. So I asked, “Is this Ed?” and he said, “Yeah, who is this?” That led to an hour conversation about politics and life. If you can imagine an hour on the phone with Lou Grant, that was exactly what it was like. He was very personable and uncensored.

Later he was visiting locally for a hospital fundraiser and we got to ride in the limo with him to the event. That is another story.

The most famous person I have met is Robert Duvall. I was in Chicago at dinner with clients about 15 years ago when Mr.Duvall was seated across from us. It was pretty late and the restaurant was very empty. He was with a younger man – could have been a son or nephew and they were having a lively discussion. My two clients proceeded to get up, go over to his table and sit down with Mr. Duvall and his guest. I was completely mortified. Despite the fact that he is one of my all-time favorite actors, I could never have imposed in that way. He was very generous and talked with them for about 15 minutes – until I finally came over and said our taxi was waiting (a convenient lie to get them out of there). I thanked him and told him it was an honor to meet him. He shook my hand, smiled and winked at me, which was very sweet. A true gentleman!!

Another class act – may be a surprise – Anna Faris. My daughter went to the NY premier of House Bunny. Anna Faris was so kind and giving of her time to all of the girls, allowed them to take multiple photos, gave autographs and was very down to earth. She did not have to take the time to actually talk with the girls, but did so, answering their questions about making the movie, working in Hollywood and other silly teenager things.

I saw Dean Koontz in our local bookstore several years ago. I was actually in the store buying his newest book when the owner flagged me down and said to go over and ask him to sign it (“he will always sign a book when he is here”). I still didn’t go over and bother him.

In general, I just feel that everyone deserves their privacy when they are going about their day-to-day business. However, it is part of the job as a celebrity to be graceful in public, so I see nothing wrong with telling someone you are a fan, asking for an autograph or shaking a hand in the appropriate situation. I object to getting in someone’s personal space or interjecting yourself into their situation when it is clearly not desired.

I wish I had spoken to him an hour earlier. It would have been interesting to have an hour to chat with a Senator. As it was we only had 15 minutes, but that was interesting too.

If I lived in Oregon, I would vote for him. Any Senator who flies coach is OK in my book. He is author of the “Airline Passenger Fairness Act”.

That being said, of those I’ve interacted with, Hugh Jackman, Jimmy Fallon and Al Roker impressed me as the most down-to-earth nice people I have met – celebrity or not.

However there is one standout. While working a movie premiere many years ago, I had the occasion to have a conversation with Walter Cronkite that I still marvel over. My dad, who it seems gave up on pop culture in his 20′s was impressed when I shared the story with him.

My best was that I used to go to 6am mass as a high school kid and when the Dolphins were in town I used to sit next to Don Shula occasionally. Which means that when the priest says….Please offer a greeting of peace to the people around you, I got to shake his hand on game day. He liked to sit in the back just like me.

Wow – Michael Jordon and JR Reid. Clearly two superstars from UNC. You should have taken R up on his offer and never cashed his checks!

Thanks for your comments.

Merrill