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| Borrowed from FanPop.com |
TOPIC: Have you ever met a real-life character? Someone who was very different from your preconceptions, or someone who was just bigger than life, or whose lifestyle was so very different? A very eccentric someone? Tell about them (without giving real identities) in any manner you like. Did they change your viewpoint? Did you use them as a fictional character?
BOY!!!! Did I ever. I lived in California at the time and this long-known and well-respected actor happened to come to the dentist in the office next to my dentist. I'd long heard rumors of how the office staff disappeared from my dentists to next door whenever he came to town, but circumstances never allowed me to experience his presence personally. However, one day he stopped at a neighborhood bar and grill where my then husband and some of his cronies were hanging out for a bit of after-shift relaxation. Of course, several of them called home to tell us "HE" was there. I happened to be with two of the other wives, and we all had children, so we flipped a coin to see who stayed home. I didn't lose the toss, so Karan and I left poor Kim with the kids and headed downtown.
Everyone there was in awe of him. Me included, as he had long been a TV hero, especially westerns. I wasn't yet an author then, but I imagine I might have patterned a hero or two after him since I write western historical. The fellas from the PD wanted to buy him a drink, but no one had the nerve to approach him. I've long been a believer that everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time, and certainly his just didn't fly out of the closet and appear on him automatically so I said, "What's the big deal. He's just someone who happened to make it big. I don't have a problem asking him."
So, I sauntered across the room to the bar where he sat with a friend and stood for a second until he noticed me. Before I could say a word, he waved me away like one would a pesky fly, saying, "No autographs please."
That pissed me off. Not only do I believe the pant theory, I also don't relish autographs. Hell, I could sign his name on a piece of paper and who would know the difference? So, I broadened my shoulders, stared him in eyes not quite so gorgeous anymore and said, "Are you kidding? I don't want your autograph." I pointed out the group at the table. "See those guys. They're from a local PD and wanted to buy you a drink but were afraid to ask, but I assured them you were a nice guy. Seems I wasn't quite right. Have a nice day."
I turned to leave, but he had to have the final say. "Well, tell them thanks but no thanks, because they'd probably stop me and make me take a breathalyzer if I accepted their offer."
Needless to say, he was never a hero for me beyond that. More of an bung-hole actually. A bunch of hard-working guys wanted to spend money on someone who could probably have bought the place, and he was just downright rude. I know celebrities get bothered with autograph idiots, I mean hounds, but there wasn't one person even close to him at the time, and I think his response besides being rude was a bit pretentious. I won't give you his name since the topic says without using real identities, but I can tell you he looked a whole lot like the guy who played Rowdy Yates on Rawhide. *lol*
Would I base a hero on him now. No way!
Now, hop over to http://wattleglen-margarettannersblog.blogspot.com.au/ and see what my friend Margaret Tanner has to say.
Hi Ginger,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. I often think some of these actors/actresses who have made it big, forget that it was the public who got them where they are today. Some of them are just so big-headed.
Regards
Margaret
What a fun post, Ginger. I agree with the person above who said famous people sometimes forget who made them famous. I know everyone has a bad day, but a professional conceals it from the public. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteVery fascinating and great story potential -- you truly met a character (LOL).
ReplyDeleteThe public tends to think actors and anyone in the public eye are the characters they play. In reality they are all just pretending to be someone else for a living. Except maybe 'reality' star. They might not even be living in the same reality as everyone else.
First, I love your cowboy at the top of the page. I'd base a character after him , or by him a drink. Great blog. It's too bad some e celebrities have such inflated egos that they're jerks. He's one you wouldn't even want to see again. Glad you never asked for an autograph.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a preteen, and my friends were swooning over Bobby Sherman and David Cassidy, I had a crush on Gene Wilder. There was some other heartthrob who publicly disappointed his fans and I made vow that, with the possible exception of Gene Wilder, I would reserve my crushes for characters, not the actors who played them.
ReplyDeleteI will look for actors because I enjoy their work. I might even speculate that they seem like nice people, but I don't count on it. I'll stick to romancing the characters.
What an interesting post. And so different than that man that kinda looked like you know who. I ended up being an extra because I was at a 7/11 when they came in to do a very famous movie. Until you showed that picture, I would have forgotten all about it! LOL! What a hoot!
ReplyDeleteBut this is so very true and somewhat typical of some actors. You know, my theory is if you didn't want to be in the public eye you should have done something else.
Thanks for sharing and bringing back such an interesting memory!
Interesting story and i heard that the guy who looks like that guy would hit on any woman who came into the bar he used to own in Carmel. Since I never met him, i couldn't say. I've seen a few movie stars but never to talk to, mostly I pretended I didn't know who they were.
ReplyDeleteBut my father and mother met a TV star years and years ago. They were rock hounds and out in the back country of Eastern Oregon. He was there with his wife and very friendly and nice with a big luxury motor coach-- Martin Milner who was starring in Route 66 at that time.
Not the cowboy I had imagined.
ReplyDeleteNot the cowboy I had imagined.
ReplyDeleteoops! sorry for the double post
ReplyDelete