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Celebrity Sightings and Encounters

By Michael Durand

I am fully aware of how weird it is to be star struck, but I, for some reason, like a LOT of people out there, love seeing and meeting celebrities. And I’m not only so dorky that I’ve kept a list of my lucky sightings, but I have gone beyond the limits of pathetic behavior by adding an asterisk to the names of celebrities with whom I have exchanged a handshake. The photos are from the web except the Christy Turlington shot.

*Morey Amsterdam - Actor. Buddy on the "Dick Van Dyke Show." Met Morey in 1980 in San Francisco at the Mark Hopkins Hotel. I asked him if he still played the cello. He said "Yes."

Loni Anderson - Actress, "WKRP in Cincinnati" at LAX in the 1990's.

Louie Anderson - Comedian, host of "Family Feud" at the Grand Wailea Resort, Maui, 2004.

Baby Face (Kenneth Edmunds) - Musician. Spotted him shopping at Fred Segals on Melrose in Los Angeles. December 26, 2006.

from wikipedia:

Kenneth Brian Edmonds (born April 10, 1958 in Indianapolis, Indiana), known professionally as Babyface, is a successful American R&B and pop singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist, record producer, film producer, and entrepreneur.

Candice Bergman - Actress, at Disneyland, early 1990's.

*Pat Buchanan - Commentator, former speech writer for Nixon, politician running for President. He was getting out of an elevator at the Four Seasons Newport Beach in the mid 1990's.

Sophia Bush - Actress. I was directing a video shoot in the rose garden of the Tournament House in Pasadena. I was interviewing Sophia for a Leadership Pasadena video, "Imagine". (She was showing Brad how to hold a reflector.) In 2000, Sophia was the Queen of the Tournament of Roses Parade in her hometown, Pasadena, California. That's the same year she graduated from Westridge, where both my nieces were students. Sophia plays Brooke on "One Tree Hill".

Muhammed Ali sparring with "Wilt the Stilt."

Wilt Chamberlain - Basketball Hall of Famer, getting into a limo on Market Street, San Francisco, late 1980's.

Tracy Chapman - Singer/Musician, near the Marin Brewing Company and at Castro and at a Market Street gas station, Castro, San Francisco in the 1990's.

Warren Christopher - Former Secretary of State, on same flight to (?).

*Howard Cosell - Sports Announcer. In NYC and Chicago.

Bill Cosby - Actor. He was on the set of "Jack" with Robin Williams in Ross, CA late 1990's.

Gray Davis - Then Lieutenant Governor of California. I was an usher for six U.N. Ambassadors at the San Francisco Opera House for the United Nations' 50th anniversary ceremony commemorating the signing of the U.N. Charter. Gray was sitting in the wrong row and I had to ask him to leave his chair. An omen for the future, perhaps? Later Governor of California - booted in a recall election. Enter Governor Swatzenegger. 1995.

Susan Dey - Actress, "Partridge Family " & "L.A. Law." Walking down Van Ness in San Francisco, 1980's.

Lou Dobbs - CNN Television show host, guest speaker at our Chevron convention, Orlando, Florida, early 1990's.

Richard Dreyfus - Actor, filming at a night shoot in Fisherman's Wharf ~ 1980.

Clint Eastwood - Actor, at his Hogsbreath Restaurant in Carmel, CA. 1990's.

Heidi Fleiss - Celebrity and convicted drug dealing madam, at a craps table in the Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas, January 6, 2005.

Betty Ford - Former First Lady, USA, at the Governor’s Conference on Women, Long Beach, 1990's.

Steve Garvey - Baseball player with the Los Angeles Dodgers, at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. Early 1990's.

Mark Geragos - Lawyer for Winona Ryder and Scott Peterson, leaving a restaurant on Colorado Boulevard in Old Pasadena, getting on his cell phone and into his Porsche, January, 2005. Again in the hallway when I was a juror in Lance Ito's courtroom, Feb. - March, 2007.

*Barry Gordon - Actor, Lawyer, Political Analyst and Commentator. I was a frequent caller in the early days of his "NewsRap" television show and I was the Stage Manager for the 2005 Pasadena Follies in which he played a significant role on and off the stage. Extremely talented, very smart, genuinely nice and politically engaged - thoughtful and almost always exactly right on the issues. Ran for Congress. He was the teen in "A Thousand Clowns" and has an impressive list of other show business credentials. President of the Screen Actors Guild for seven years.

UPDATE: October 2006. Barry was the Music Supervisor for the Pasadena Follies. I was the Producer/Director. He was terrific to work with and is amazingly talented. Delightful man.

http://www.barrygordonfromleftfield.com/

Gene Hackman - Actor, at baggage claim and the Burbank airport.

Mary Hart - Television Personality, at the Governor’s Conference on Women, Long Beach, CA, 1990's.

*Carolyn Hughes - Fox TV News Sportscaster, at Dodger Stadium, summer, 2005, just days before her alleged affair with Dodger pitcher

Derek Lowe made the news. My friend Hans and I figured it out. We talked and she took my business card.

Mr. & Ms. Evander Holyfield - He was the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. Bumped them from first class on a flight from Cancun,

Mexico. Sorry! Circa 1994.

Lance Ito - Los Angeles County Superior Court judge. My neighbor on South Madison Avenue in Pasadena. I was a juror for nearly two weeks in his courtroom. Murder trial. Two brothers, mid-twenties convicted of killing a shop owner with hand guns.

*Art James - 1960's game show host, at an FNIC conference (got an autograph for Mom). Early 1990's.

Sally Kellerman - actress, at a restaurant at the Disneyland Hotel, early 1990's.

Jeff Kent - Major League Baseball All-Star, after a game in the V.I.P. lounge at Dodger Stadium, summer, 2005. "We miss you in San Francisco," said Michael Durand. "Yeah, we had some good times," said Kent.

C. Everett Koop, MD - Surgeon General, USA, a guest speaker at a CHW meeting, early 1990's.

Huey Lewis - Rock Star, several times, Marin County.

Art Linkletter - Television Personality, at the Governor’s Conference on Women, Long Beach, CA, mid 1990's.

John Lovitz - Comedian/Actor (SNL), at the taping of the NFL All Star Comedy Blitz, Wilturn Theatre, Hollywood, CA, circa turn of the millennium.

George Lucas - Filmmaker, "American Graffiti", "Star Wars" at the Marin Civic Center ~ 1996.

Norm MacDonald - Comedian, (SNL). Talked with him after a game at Dodger Stadium, 2003.

*Reba MacIntire - Country music star, at a Barbecue with Winterland Productions of San Francisco. Circa 1995.

Steve Martin - Comedian/Actor, at the corner of Colorado and DeLacey in Old Pasadena, circa 2000.

Lee Meriweather - Miss America 1955. Actress. Known for role on "Barnaby Jones" with Buddy Ebsen. I was camera operator at sn Encore Cafe shoot.

Alissa Milano - Actress TV's "Charmed." Lovey dovey with Barry Zito of the Oakland A's, at the Burbank airport, 2004.

*Kevin Mitchell - Baseball player with the S.F. Giants, at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco.

Michael McDonald** - Musician (Doobie Brothers), ** We never met, but he did leave me a voicemail regarding a concert in October, 2001 for St. Anthony Foundation which was cancelled due to 9/11.

George McGovern - 1968 Presidential Candidate, at the San Francisco airport mid 1990's.

Mark McGwire - Baseball All Star and alleged steroid abuser, at the gym at the Inn at Spanish Bay.

Rick Monday - Los Angeles Dodgers, at the inaugural Manny Mota's Field of Dreams Golf Tournament, La Canada-Flintridge Country Club, Summer, 2005.

*Warren Moon - NFL Allstar, at the taping of the NFL Allstar Comedy Blitz, Wilturn Theatre, Hollywood, CA, circa turn of the millennium.

Martin Mull - comedian/actor, in the baggage claim area, LAX

*Manny Mota - Los Angeles Dodgers, at the inaugural Manny Mota's Field of Dreams Golf Tournament, La Canada-Flintridge Country Club, Summer, 2005.

Don Newcomb - Los Angeles Dodgers, at the inaugural Manny Mota's Field of Dreams Golf Tournament, La Canada-Flintridge Country Club, Summer, 2005.

Jack Nicholson and Dyan Canon - actors, at a Laker game, Staples Center, January, 2005.

*Chuck Norris - martial arts master / actor, in SF on the elevator of the St. Francis Hotel.

*Jim Palmer - Member of the basball hall of fame. Ran into him at Macy’s in San Francisco.

Al Pacino - Actor, writer, director. Rodeo Drive at Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, with Regan, December 26, 2006.

Odalis Perez - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, Manny Mota's Innaugural Golf Tournament, 2005, La Canada Country Club.

Steve Perry - Lead Singer for Journey, several times in Marin County - Kentfield, Larkspur Landing, San Anselmo.

Tom Petty - Rock Star. He was getting into a limo at LAX. I accidentally interrupted a moment between him and his girlfriend. (Sorry!)

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip - 1980's, several times during her visit to San Francisco. Once, in London when the queen was returning home to Buckingham Palace in her vintage Rolls Royce.

Ronald and Nancy Reagan - President and First Lady of the United States, 1980's, in San Francisco with Queen Elizabeth aboard the

Brittania Yacht, celebrating their wedding anniversary. We arrived in the rain with boxes of Cheerios. Get it? Cheerio?

Rob Reiner - Actor, producer, etc. at Dodger Stadium, Summer, 2005.

Paul Reubens (Pee Wee Herman) - comedian/actor, dancing in the aisles to the organ playing "Tequila" at a Giants game in

Candlestick Park, San Francisco, 1980's. Did I say organ playing?

Lisa Rinna - Television Personality, Soap Star, Host. (Married to Harry Hamlin - L.A. Law, Dancing With the Stars) at the Orlando airport, circa 2000.

Cokey Roberts - Television Personality at the Governor’s Conference on Women, Long Beach Convention Center.

Smokey Robinson - Singer, at the Burbank Airport, January, 2004.

Pete Rose - Major League Baseball's all-time hit leader and shamed gambler and cheat, in San Francisco, outside the St. Francis Hotel with apparent hooker. I saw him again early in 2005 in the parking lot of Glendale Community College. After covering a mud slide story for Crown City news, I was checking out his Porsche SUV and he was watching me suspiciously ... I waved and said "Hi Pete!" He said "Hi," but not a friendly "hi." I was more like a "get-the-hell-away-from-my-Porsche SUV" kind of a "hi."

Pat Sajak - TV's "Wheel of Fortune" host, at Dodger Stadium several times.

Jason Sehorn - NFL All Star, NY Giants at the NFL All Star Comedy Blitz at the Wiltern Theater in Hollywood.

Brooke Shields - Model, Actress, at LAX in the early 2000’s. She was coming back from Maui where she was appearing in "The Vagina Monologues." She was waiting for her luggage and a box of pineapples at baggage claim. She was no Diva, hauling the box off herself.

*Alycia Silverstone - Actress, at the Gamble House in Pasadena on March 23, 2006. She and her boyfriend were there to take a tour of the ultimate example of Craftsman architecture.

Bruce Smith - NFL All Star with the Buffalo Bills, at the NFL All Star Comedy Blitz VIP party after filming of a television show at the Wiltern Theater in Hollywood, circa 1999.

Rob Snyder - Comedian. Saturday Night Live. Once in the mid 1990's reading a script while dining at the Clarement Hotel in the Oakland hills. Also, at the end of March, 2006 Rob was walking a dog on Lake Avenue, Pasadena.

http://www.robschneider.com/

Ryan Styles - Comedian, "Who's Line is it Anyway?" and "The Drew Carey Show" in baggage claim, Burbank airport.

Jim Tracey - Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Manny Mota's Golf Tournament in 2005 at La Canada Country Club.

Christie Turlington - Supermodel. She was posing at a photo shoot in 1994 in the Marin Headlands, overlooking San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. I was pretending to take a picture of my friends Regan and Ryan.

Archbishop Bishop Desmond Tutu - Spiritual Leader, at the U.N. 50^th Anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter at the San Francisco Opera House. I was an Ambassador Guide. http://nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/1984/tutu-bio.html

Steven Tyler - Lead Singer for Arrowsmith, on an elevator at the Four Seasons Newport Beach mid 1990's.

Jerry Vale - Singer, at Shea Stadium at a New York Mets baseball game, 1960's.

*Robert Wagner - Actor, in an elevator, at, I think, a Hyatt Hotel in Palm Springs.

*Kellye Wallett - Actor, Singer, Artist. Nurse Kelly on M*A*S*H. We met at the 2005 Fundraiser for the Cherry Blossom Festival at the Asia Pacific Museum. I was the photographer. I saw Kellye again a couple of weeks later on Colorado Boulevard at Raymond in Old Pasadena, December 28, 2005. Saw her again at the 2006 Cherry Blossom Festival.

UPDATE: Kellye was a singer and actress in the 2006 Pasadena Follies. I was the Producer/Director. I asked her to be in the show. She was TERRIFIC!

*Bill Walsh - Head Coach, S.F. 49ers and Stanford Football, at Silverado in the 1980's. Chatted with him for a moment, with Peter Miller. A few years later, at a Giants game at Candlestick Park, I was sitting on the aisle as Bill was walking up the steps. My friend and roommate, Jimmy was there. As Bill was headed up the stairs, I said "Hey Bill!" He gave me a hand on the shoulder and a "Hey, howya doing?" in an equally cheerful voice. "You KNOW him?" said Jimmy. "Sure. That's Bill Walsh," I said.

Jeff Weaver - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, in 2005 at the Manny Mota Field of Dreams Golf Tournament, La Canada Country Club.

Betty White - Comedian/Actress/Television Personality, at the Governor’s Conference on Women, Long Beach.

*Robin Williams - Comedian, Academy Award winning Actor, on Clement Street, SF, filming "Jack" in Ross, CA and several other Bay Area sighting.

*Maury Wills - Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star shortstop and stolen base king at Manny Mota's 2005 Field of Dreams Golf Tournament at La Canada Country Club.

Pete Wilson - Governor of Calfiornia at the Governor’s Conference on Women, Long Beach.

*Dave Winfield - Major League Baseball Hall of Famer in San Diego at All Star Game festivities.

Chuck Woolery - Game Show Host, "Love Connection" and "Lingo," at a Burger King at LAX on January 28, 2005. He and a boy (son?) left a mess at their table. They were on my flight to Miami. Saw them again at baggage claim MIA.

Stevie Wonder - Musician, getting into a limo at the Westin La Paloma, Tucson, Arizona.

*Alan Young - Actor - "Wilbur" on Mr. Ed, at a luncheon with Brad and Sandra Macis in L.A., Circa 2002. He played a friend of the time traveller as both young and old in the movie in the movie "The Time Machine."

Barry Zito - All Star Pitcher Oakland A's, snuggling with Alissa Milano at the Burbank airport, 2004.

No offense to all the beautiful people, superstars and movers/shakers who have been inadvertently left off this list.

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Destination Pasadena and Pasadena Walking Tours are no longer in business as of 2007.

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