QotD: Famous People
Posted May 31st, 2005 @ 04:29pm by Erik J. Barzeski
Question: Who is the most famous person with whom you've ever spoken?
My Answer: Steve Jobs. The CEO with whom I spoke a few weeks ago is a close second.
You are encouraged to answer the Question of the Day for yourself in the comments or on your blog.
18 Responses to "QotD: Famous People"
Posted 31 May 2005 at 4:40pm #
How'd you meet Steve Jobs?
Posted 31 May 2005 at 4:53pm #
That hardly answers the question, Basil. I've told the story before. I'm not telling it again.
Posted 31 May 2005 at 5:04pm #
Probably Phil Schiller...
He happened to be visiting CMU one day, and I kind of bumped into him.
Other then that, a few Canadian Senators.
Posted 31 May 2005 at 5:04pm #
If you've told the story before, a link to it would go a long way. But it's your site, and I'm sorry for my failure to meet your comment quality standard.
Since you insist: The most famous person I've ever met has been Metropolitan Philip of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. I've met him numerous times at national and diocesan church conventions as well as at parochial events.
Posted 31 May 2005 at 5:06pm #
I'm pretty lame when it comes to meeting famous people. I've met a few politicians. I guess the highest I've met was John Manley who was the deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Minister of Defense. Politicians are boring though.
Are movie directors famous? I met Norman Jewison (Fiddler on the Roof, The Hurricane).
Erik, if you don't care to tell your Steve Jobs story again do you have a link to somewhere where you did tell it?
Posted 31 May 2005 at 5:38pm #
Brian Kernigan. I met him while he was talking to someone in my deptartment at AT&T Bell Labs one time. I had no idea who he was (well obviously, I knew the name) and I asked for help, he helped, and then left. One of my office mates then turned around and asked me if I knew who that was, and of course I had no idea. The name is stated, and I'm floored.
Totally caught me off guard. Very personable guy. I think he teaches at Princeton, or Harvard now. But, I think for me, he stands above Steve Jobs (who I've met as well, along with a few politicians from India (including ex-presidents)).
Posted 31 May 2005 at 6:13pm #
Probably the Duke of Edinburgh (Husband of the Queen of the UK). We shared a few words at a presentation last year. I was shitting myself the entire time.
Posted 31 May 2005 at 6:52pm #
I would have to say it was a toss up between Sir Edmund Hilary (of Mt. Everest fame), and former Canadian PM Pierre Elliot (after he left office, he used to walk to his law offices like everyone else in Montreal; no security in site).
Posted 31 May 2005 at 6:59pm #
Woz, at MacHack 2001.
Non-computer related: singer Youssou N'dour & other members of his band
Posted 31 May 2005 at 8:21pm #
Keanu Reeves, at the baggage claim in the Maui airport. My opinion of him went up considerably after actually having met him.
Posted 31 May 2005 at 8:24pm #
Executive Summary of my many conversations with Steve Jobs: When I ran Apple Wizards, there were many names we wanted to use for the e-zine besides "Apple Wizards." Some were names Apple had used in the past, and thus, names I would want to buy from Apple (for a dollar or something cheap, if Apple wasn't going to use them). After going back and forth with the lawyers, Steve called one day to say he'd love to do it, but the lawyers wouldn't let him. He then gave me his actual email address. I spoke with him a few times after that, including at a Macworld Expo where I spent 15 minutes in a room with him and Avi T.
I do try not to make a big deal out of it, as Steve is just another person who's simply got an interesting job, but you asked, and that's the executive summary. Now, please answer the question if you have not. 😉
Posted 01 Jun 2005 at 9:40am #
Liam Howlett, Keith Flint, Keith Palmer and Leeroy Thornhill of the band 'The Prodigy'.
Jim Davies (guitarist) of 'Pitchshifter'
Posted 01 Jun 2005 at 2:41pm #
Spoken to: Dennis Quaid
Had a closer encounter with: Roy Disney Jr.
Both were visiting Disneyland. (not on the same day) I was actually working at one of the attractions. Both were examples of genuinely gracious celebrities. Mr. Quaid was being recognized and was patient as his party waited for our lead to lend a hand escorting his party into the attraction.
The heads of attractions and I think theme park operations were with mr. Disney, so I was a bit nervous and excited to help him board and exit. Another cast-member, who shall remain nameless, didn't realize who it was. Perhaps it was too dark to see clearly.
Posted 01 Jun 2005 at 4:48pm #
Ronald Reagan while he was still in office, 2nd term. He shook my hand, asked me about school (I think I was in the 9th grade then) and other small talk. He signed my friend's arm cast too. He was quite impressive. Stevie Nicks, Natalie Merchant and Bjork are probably the most famous musicians I've met... not so famous, but my fave was Julianna Hatfield. Shigeru Miyamoto is the best of the best of the game designers I've met.
Posted 02 Jun 2005 at 2:52pm #
Gwen Stefani. We shared a rootbeer float backstage at Hara Arena in Dayton, OH circa 1996. The day after Brad Nowell died.
Posted 02 Jun 2005 at 2:59pm #
I met and spent time in Tom Ridge's office when I was little, I'm trying to think of a musician cuz it feels like I've met a lot but it seems most weren't famous. I guess the most famous was Glen Phillips from Toad The Wet Sprocket, we chatted for maybe 30 seconds.
Posted 07 Jun 2005 at 7:36am #
Mike Saenz, at Macworld 1992 when his company, Reactor, introduced Spaceship Warlock for the Mac II. I was sixteen.
He might not be famous to many people, but ever since he wrote and illustrated "Shatter" on a Mac (in 1986?), I idolized and sought to emulate his graphic/creative work. If fame is gauged by one's own sense of respect for the subject or what they have done, then he's hands-down the most famous I've ever met. I wonder what he is doing these days.
Posted 02 Mar 2006 at 6:37pm #
Id like to know about Mike Saenz, too. I worked with him and care a lot about him. Haven't seen him in years! Any info appreciated