"Visual Sounds" Mixed Media on paper. Copyright 2012 Totsymae
I don’t wanna brag or nothing but I’ve come by a number of celebrities in my life. True, most of them never said a word to me but these little brushes with celebrity are still memorable no less. For brief moments in time, we breathed the same air, shared the same space and while they came out of our brief encounters with nothing, I, folks, came out with this post, or article, as I prefer to say ’cause it makes me feel important.
For my second ever art show, which took place in the Atlanta area, Tyler Perry walked past my little booth. He’s a big guy in size, which made it all the more so ’cause I was bent down doing something and happened to look up, leaving me no chance to tackle him to the floor to buy all the art I had in my booth. He was going at a brisk pace in brown house slippers and mumbled a hello to me though. That was back in 2003, when the price of gas was still reasonable but around the time we, the U.S, told that lie about weapons of mass destruction being over in Iraq when we were really over there to, ahem, well, let’s say the agenda wasn’t that.
"The Divas II" Mixed Media on paper. Copyright 2012 Totsymae
In 2005, I was sponsored by an art dealer for the Art Expo in Atlanta. Never mind that his goal was to build a relationship with me to rip me off and have me eating canned goods the rest of my life, Jane Seymour breezed past my booth. I knew she was an artist and doing all manner of things with her creativity. She was a participant in the same show. I had to keep watching her ’cause, unlike Tyler, she’s a teeny woman. I think she only eats a spoonful of food here and there with a small cup of water. Well, tea, since she’s English and all. I also need to tell you I kept stalking her booth to meet her but was greeted by a rep plopped up in there and I can’t tell you how she looked. Her face wasn’t all that memorable.
Then, there’s John Amos. You know, the dad on Good Times? He’s actually related to my southern clan down here. Even though I’ve met him a few times and a lot of us have similar features and that same kinda nose, I can’t rightly say he’d recognize me if I headbutted him on the street. He stands around 5’6″. I know, you were expecting a bigger guy but nope. He’s a really nice fella and I ain’t saying it ’cause he’s family. I’d really pump him up if he had some of my art in his home out there in California but seeing that’s not the case…Ahem…Shall we move on?
In 2008, I was at an expo in Indiana. Thelma and Michael, the characters names in Good Times, were there. Thelma, well Bern Nadette Stanis is a writer and was selling her book. She was all ‘weaved up’ and bouncing all around the place. She seemed nice but I was too busy to be all into what was going on with her. She’s still kinda pretty though. I just couldn’t get past all that hair. I don’t know why they never called that show Hard Times and It Ain’t Gonna Get No Better.
What celebs have you had brushes with? Do they remember you? Better yet, are y’all texting each other?
I'm an artist who's writing,mothering, blogging and doing a few other things under the sun. I buy toilet paper 99.9% of every trip I make to the grocery store. I'm a people watcher, so I know you're here but drop me a line anyway.
–I love reading about brushes w/ Celebs. I can’t believe some of these stars do not have your Art, Tots!
I adore Tyler Perry ( have you watched “For the Colored Girls” yet? Well, after that, I looooved Perry.
I dealt blackJack to Telly Savalis, Gene Hackman, & Louis Gosset Jr.
….But someday, perhaps, I’ll meet the likes of you, Totsy!!
Xxx i hope so.
How dare they not!
You black-jacked the lollipop guy? Yes, I’ve seen For Colored Girls. It inspired me to write even more.
Seems like we’ve already met, yeah?
Telly Savalas, Gene Hackman and Louis Gosset? Now, that’s impressive!
Totsy, I’m impressed. You didn’t act a fool with them folk. I on the other hand have acted a fool. In about 1980, I was in Carmel with a boyfriend. We were having lunch at the Hog’s Breath Inn. This tall very skinny guy with sort of a big head walked in and as he approached our table, I recognized him so I said “Well, Hi!”. He looked a tad startled but said “Hello” and I slowly realized that yeah, I knew him all right. It was Clint Eastwood. He did not however know me. I went back to munching my lunch and felt sort of stupid. It ain’t like I wanted to be his girlfriend or in one of his movies either. I just thought I knew him.
I have dated a couple of well known musicians but it was before they were famous and I don’t kiss and tell. (Well, hardly ever, anyway.)
I also saw Farah Fawcett in San Francisco when she was making a movie. Thing that struck me is that she was so tiny she would be very easy to miss except her head and face were big for her body. A lot of these actors and actresses are stick skinny but they look all well built in movies. A lot of them have very big heads. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m no pinhead myself, but they all have heads that are about twice what you would expect. Mine, I’m pleased to say, is in proportion to my body.
Farrah was all hair and teeth. I had to keep looking at Jane Seymour because she was so tiny. She didn’t have a big head though but very long hair, she did. My head’s in proportion too, thank goodness. I think those celebrities stay hungry myself.
Beautiful artwork, as always, Totsy
I enjoyed this post and had no idea you so well-acquainted with the posh and swanky.
I have no such stories to share, no near-brushes with the airbrushed and fabulous; however, I did once dine in an El Torito Grille where they were filming a show for this up and coming skateboarder. I ran into his prom-date in the bathroom, eyeing herself with certain delight in the mirror as her “chosen few” fawned over her beauty.
It was entertaining at the very least.
Thank you.
When that kid gets famous, you can say you knew him when. Best to know them when their on the bottom of celebrity anyhow. They’re more humble.
One encounter that leaps to mind was when I was working at a boarding school and Richard Dreyfuss showed up to look at the school with his kid. I was rushing to lunch between classes and nearly pushed them into the bushes in my desire to get to food. Didn’t realize who it was until later.
I imagine him to be a really short guy and probably easy to run over. I imagine food can make a guy do that, however.
I shook hands with Nixon at a very private luncheon in 1965, again in the rope line in Tampa airport in 1968 and again in the rope line at Miami airport in 1972. I later wrote him to appoint me Secretary of the Treasury and the stupid creep never replied. So much for old and lasting friendships, eh ?
You got to touch Nixon? Well, you’re more famous than I am. Three whole encounters. Maybe you were aiming too high, trying to be over the money. I could see you being a good Press Secretary though.
Totsy, I have yet to have any brush with a celebrity but know that I have not given up hope that one day I will brush the likes of Jim Caviezel, Javier Bardem, and Antonio Banderas. The art work in this post is breathtaking, as usual, lady.
I didn’t mention I was an extra in a Chuck Norris film. Was paid 30 whole bucks and some free meals. Hang with me if you wanna get yourself some star power, Bella.
John Amos is only about 5’6″? I always thought of him as at least 6′; rest of them must have been midgets, but for whatshisface, tall skinny Dyn-o-mite guy, because he LOOKED big, in proportion to them.
Had a brief chat with Louis C.K. (comedian) a few weeks back – he was filling his tank, I was just putting air into my flat tire at the gas station. He offered advice as how I wasn’t going to make it far and I explained I just needed it to hold four blocks to get me to the tire repair place. I told him I liked his work; he was very gracious. On our date this coming Friday, we plan to – jk!
But he *was* nice. I do bump into a few here and there, in SoCal, and they repeatedly film some scenes for Desperate Housewives next door to my work.
Amazing how TV projects celebs to look like big people. You plan to jk? Okay. I hope whatever that means, it’s in your favor.
jk = just kidding
i’ve always admired john amos from his performance in “roots.”
when tyler perry walked by your booth, did he rename it “tyler perry’s booth”?
He could have if he’d bought lots of art. He seemed to be in a hurry though. I’ll be ready to trip him up next time.
I met Rod Serling in Central Park. Met an actress from a soap opera I used to watch, when I was attending a conference in Vegas. We talked for a while. Then, another time, I saw Woody Allen from afar at a museum in NY. Oh, and when Murder, She Wrote was still in production, I got Angela Lansbury’s autograph, when they were filming in Seattle during the Los Angeles Olympics one year.
You’ve got star power and been holding out on us? That soap star might remember you. I’d be a regular ole face in the crowd with Jane.
I don’t even remember her name, but I do recall the name of the character she played: Donna Chandler on All My Children (this was in the 80′s).
Love the art work
Thanks.
I experience a brush with celebrity every time I visit here…
Listen to you, Dr. Phil.
Paul Newman and Joann Woodward’s daughter once dropped an ice cream cone on my foot. Does that count? I think it is more of a splat with fame than a brush, but it is mine.
Wow…I’d take a splat. I hope you save that shoe to put on Ebay.
Alas, it was about 45 years ago, so those shoes are in a landfill somewhere. I did get to see her parents, though. They were quite embarrassed!
Ok, let’s get this straight…….. You were close enough to Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward to have their daughter’s ice cream drop on your shoe?? Paul New-man, Joanne Woodward?? Are you kidding!!?? WOW!!
How old were you at the time, Elyse?
I was about 13. The Newmans lived in my hometown, so sightings weren’t all that unusual. Only we were always cool about it, and respected their privacy. They were, in fact, very nice. I waited on them at a burger joint I worked at, saw them in stores. They were always pleasant, always very normal.
And I never saw them posing Angelina-at-the-Oscars style!
Okay, so Phil stole my line. Hmmm.
I once saw the back end of Julianne Moore when she was just a soap opera personality–at least I think it was her. Does that count?
If we’re talking about dreams, well, now, I can start an impressive list…
Does being a blogging buddy count as a brush with a celeb? If it does I’m counting you.
Awww, thank you.
One of my friends who lives in Ottawa used to visit NYC and hang out where she read certain celebrities hang out just so she could see them. I know, girlfriend needed a life.
In NYC, I saw Jane Krakowski using the ATM in Lincoln Sq one evening. She was performing in a Broadway play at the time. Another time, I went to a friend’s milestone bday party and Samuel Jackson breezed through — he even got there before the lady of the hour. I’ve met Victoria Rowell, Tamara Tunie (Law & Order), Melvin van Peebles, Edwidge Danticat, Chinua Achebe. Saw Michelle and Barack but was too slow to get a photo.
I like Victoria. She’s writing now and has a web series of her Soap Opera Diva book on her site. I wish I had the know-all to get that done. She married an artist here.
Well, I stood toe to toe and share my viewpoints with President Bill Clinton in Macon, GA when he was running for reelection in 1996. Does that count? Also met members of the Rolling Stones at a concert in Atlanta. Ate dinner with Neil Armstrong right after his “moonwalk” way back when. No kidding! Walked right past B.B. King at a Blues event in Mississippi once. Tots, us Southern ladies just know how to hang out with the right folks in the right places, okay?
That’s what I’m saying. It runs in our southern blood.
Pele!!
He came into the place where I was working (ahem, illegally) in New York state and caused huge excitement amongst the Irish and El Salvadoreans (i.e. the, ahem, illegals) who for one time only emerged from the kitchen and backrooms to be awed. None of the north Americans were in the slightest bit interested. I guess to them he was just some small black guy (who admittedly looked as though he had a small football – that is, soccer ball – up his shirt) who was getting the foreigners excited. They didn’t get many black guys there. As for the man himself – gracious, friendly, nimble, stellar smile – great honour to meet the world’s second best footballer ever (after George Best from Belfast).