Close Encounters of the Celebrity Kind: Day #4
My favorite celebrity encounter happened at the premiere for the movie Ladder 49.
I originally went because I wanted to see John Travolta. It wasn’t like I was a huge fan (Note: I prefer Grease 2 to the original anyday) but I thought why not? He’s a celebrity. I’m a celebrity stalker. It seemed like the thing to do.
Unlike the Matt Damon premiere, it was a total mob scene at the theater. It was a warm summer evening and the event must have been highly publicized because everybody and their brother was trying to catch a glimpse of the stars.
I show you this photo for two reasons. 1.) I think my butt looks good in those jeans and 2.) I want give a proper illustration of the crowd I had to fight through to see the stars.
Sadly, this was as close as I got to John Travolta:
He did not stop to sign autographs or pose for pictures with the fans. Pretty lame, don’t you think?
Now before going on with the story, I really must digress for a minute and tell you just how strange I thought John Travolta looked in person. The best way I could describe it was that he looked like a walking corpse. I mean his face was a weird shade of green/gray but it looked like someone tried to hide it by caking on a bunch of makeup. It was so odd and actually a bit frightening, which could explain why he didn’t want to get up close and personal with the fans.
Well, after Zombie Travolta made his way into the building, another car pulled up and the celebrity who got out was….
Joaquin Phoenix!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now this was pre-crazy lumberjack rapper Joaquin that we have all come to know and not love. I contemplated putting a picture of the new and unimproved Joaquin, but I just can’t bring myself to do it. I’d much rather remember him this way, before he went off the deep end.
As he made his way down the red carpet, I looked for a good spot to stand so that I’d be close enough to get a photo. I pushed my way through the crowd but it was packed and there were so many people yelling his name at one time that I was beginning to lose hope of getting my chance with him. I decided that I would just get my husband to take this picture to document the occasion.
Right after this photo was taken, I tried one more time to get his attention and JACKPOT!! He looked up and acknowledged me. I asked if he would pose for a photo and he said, “Sure, as soon as I’m done signing this.”
Now this is where the story gets good.
Right before my husband was about to snap the photo of us together Joaquin said, “Hold on a second.” Out of nowhere, he reached over and put his hand up on to my face and said, “Do you mind? I just want to get this eyelash off your nose.”
HOLY CRAP!!! Did Joaquin Phoenix just pick an eyelash off my face?!?!?!? I was stunned. Do I look stunned in this photo? Because trust me, I was totally ready to PASS OUT!!
Now, I do realize that this is a horrendous picture. My face is cut off, my hair looks atrocious, and Joaquin isn’t even smiling but I really don’t care. I love it!
I left that premiere on cloud nine!
Thank you Joaquin for this really unique celebrity encounter. I will never forget it. (I really do hope that you get over this whole rapping phase and go back to making movies, though.)
There is still time to add your story. If you’ve ever had a brush with fame, write a post and link up below.
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15 Responses to “Close Encounters of the Celebrity Kind: Day #4”
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How cool!!!
Does Dave Barry count? I’ve met him several times, but I don’t know if anyone else would know who he was!
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That is so cool. I bet your husband has to be the best of sports to do that for you.
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I love these stories!
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That is so amazing!! How awesome. I only have those types of encounters in my dreams….
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i met john mayer before he was enormously famous. i entered a radio contest to meet someone named John Mayer just because i felt the contest was funny: write a romance novel scene that includes both the morning djs and John Mayer. I enjoy writing, so I entered and won. Before he came in, I was asking people, “Now, who is this?” They said, “He’s that guy that sings that ‘I wanna run through the halls of my high school’ song.” Ah. that song.
so, we heard him play that song, accoustically, then got to meet him. I didn’t even bring my camera in from the car because I had no clue who he was. when he got to me, I said, “i had no idea who you were 20 minutes ago, but i think you’re pretty good.” he signed my poster “To She from your 20-minute-man.”
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That is awesome! What a great story! I am a huge fan of Grease – it totally rocks!
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Shut Up I can’t believe he removed your eyelash!! WOW! So cool. Back in the day when my sister went to NYU they used to stalk John Jr. as in John Kennedy. She used to keep a log or John Jr. sitings. She is a celeb magnet. Timing!!
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I love this post, you are really cute. You don’t look bad and how exciting that you got a picture with him
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I love this story too! And we know how I feel about the elder Phoenix, so I’m in awe that you met Joaquin. But, he will always be Leaf to me. And what a nice guy!
Let me say also that your hubby is so cool and such a good sport! My hubby & I once attended a US Men’s Soccer game (he’s a huge soccer fan) and I wanted to get the autograph of 1 of the players. Hubby refused to even walk close to the fence line where the players were lined up. He said he was embarrassed for me because I was thinking of bugging them for an autograph. Spoiled sport!
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OMG! He touched your face! Holy shit i would have died! I saw Joaquin and Mel filming Signs but I was not that close to him. Lucky YOU!
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HOLY CRAP!!! That’s amazing! Is that picture framed in your house??? My celeb encounter is not blog worthy…… I played quarters with Frank Thomas (baseball player for Chi White Sox) when we were at Auburn……. needless to say he was much better than me!
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Your celebrity stalking certainly pays off. You and Joaquin have the same color eyes! COOL!
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I love the picture with you and Phoenix. I am SO glad he shaved all that nastiness off and that the uber-reclusive soul let you get a shot with him. That’s pretty cool.
However, I’m going to be a meanie with the next part of this comment. Maybe it’s because I’ve lost a son myself and can empathize with him…but here goes.
Travolta just lost his son, Jett, recently. If he looks bad, I can guarantee that’s why. Perhaps he indeed looks so gaunt that he’s using makeup to cover it up? Kelly and John are still numb and passing through the early stages of grief, so it doesn’t surprise me that not only does he not look too well but that he isn’t signing autographs. So, I don’t think it’s lame at all that he wasn’t schmoozing and bumping elbows with celebrity seekers (I hate the using the word stalker in this case, because you obviously aren’t leaving love notes and camping out at their homes…or are you?
, at this point in time.
Go easy on Travolta…he’s suffering from the worst kind of broken heart imaginable.
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Jen Reply:
June 27th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
This post is about a past celeb encounter. I think it was in 2004, when Ladder 49 came out. It was way before Jett’s death so that is why I posted about his appearance. If it had been recent, I would have never made that comment because it would be totally cruel and insensitive.
Honestly, I guess it still is a little bit rude to post it now after he has gone through such a terrible tragedy. I’m kind of regretting it. But really he did look bizarre. I have never seen anything like it in my life. I know they cake on the makeup for movies but it was just so weird to see in person.
As far as the not schmooozing part, your comment really did make me rethink my lame remark. The bottom line is that you never know what the guy might have been going through that night. Maybe his dog just died. Maybe he just got in a huge fight with his wife. Who knows? It was pretty inconsiderate of me to call him lame for not signing. He is a person who has bad days just like the rest of us. I guess it is easy to lose sight of that.
I think it goes without saying but I am so sorry for your loss. I can’t even begin to imagine going through something like that. I’m glad you left the comment. It definitely puts things in perspective.
PS As far as I know, Joaquin is still covered in that nasty beard, but actually now that I think of it I haven’t heard much about him lately. I wonder how his rapping career is taking off.
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Holy crap! I would’ve fainted straight away if it had been my nose he touched!
Seriously. I would’ve embarrassed myself silly…
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