It’s been years since I last watched the Oscars, but I’ve read that Sunday’s telecast was one for the ages. I was planning on offering my two cents about the event, but I’m mindful of criticisms that I’m too negative and that my contrarian views too toxic. Let me just say that inviting an actress best known for the film “Trainwreck” to co-host this year’s Oscars, the producers were clearly on to something.
The questionable behavior of Will Smith got me thinking about the many celebrities I’ve met in my lifetime. With only one exception, every encounter was pleasurable, and fortunately none resulted in violence.
Please join me on my trip down celebrity memory lane.
Brooke Shields
It was a Saturday morning, late 1990s, the Starbucks on 65th and Third on New York’s Upper East Side. The woman standing behind me looked very familiar, but I couldn’t place her. Here’s how I remember the conversation:
Me: “I know this sounds like a come on-line, but I know you from somewhere.”
Woman behind: “I don’t think we’ve met.”
Me: “You sure? Do you work out at The Vertical Club?”
Woman behind: “No. Maybe you’ve just seen me around. I’m in the neighborhood a lot.”
I took my coffee and walked to the table, when my friend Allan visiting from Detroit walked in.
Allan: “Look there’s Brooke Shields!”
Me: “Where?” I asked excitedly.
For the record, Shields was incredibly warm and gracious. Construction workers outside recognized her and she stopped and signed autographs for all of them.
Cindy Crawford
Same Starbucks, a few years later. This story needs some context.
When my nephew was a kid, he already aspired to work in business and wanted to have business card. Not yet having a job, he made up a title: “Nice Jewish Boy from Detroit.”
My sister’s friend was the mother of Cindy Crawford’s college roommate, and my nephew’s card found its way to the supermodel. Crawford thought the card was adorable and sent a message that she wanted one. My nephew agreed on the condition that Crawford send him a personally autographed photo in return.
It was just after six a.m. and Starbucks had just opened. As Crawford passed me on her way out of the store, I mustered the courage to speak to her, despite a demeanor that clearly said, “Don’t even think about it.”
Me: “My sister is friends with the mother of your college roommate,” I stammered, planning to explain that it was my nephew whose card she once coveted.
Crawford: “Yeah, what’s the name of my college roommate?”
Me: Blank stupid look on my face, as I didn’t know her name.
I’ll say one thing about Crawford. She can make a guy feel like a big loser without saying a word.
My nephew? He’s a successful Wall Street executive.
Jaclyn Smith
The encounter happened more than 20 years ago. It was an unusually chilly day, and I was visiting Los Angeles from New York. Passing through the upscale Brentwood neighborhood that’s famous for its celebrity inhabitants, I stopped off for some soup at a store in a strip mall.
Although it was primarily a takeout place, there were a couple of tables in the back. Sitting alone at one of them was one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen in person. As the other tables were taken, I thought I could legitimately ask the woman if I could join her. Unfortunately, some guy walked in, and they left together.
Still smitten, I had to share the moment with someone.
“That’s one incredibly beautiful woman,” I said to the disinterested teenage at the counter.
“Yeah,” the kid said, “She was in some old TV show called “Charlie’s Angels.’”
Karl Malden
A late cousin married Malden’s daughter and I met the legendary actor at a family wedding. Malden was incredibly down-to-earth, and we talked for some time about his life in New York, where I was living at the time. Malden had fond memories of the city and shared with me about his life there when he was a struggling actor trying to make a name for himself.
Malden starred in several movies considered among the greatest of all time, including “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “On the Waterfront,” but also in “Pollyanna,” forever one of my favorites. Of let’s not forget “The Streets of San Francisco” and his “Don’t Leave Home Without It,” American Express commercials.
J. Mark McVey
You might not know who J. Mark McVey is, but you should. He is one of the great musical Broadway stars of all time, including playing the lead role Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables” both on Broadway and London’s West End. My longtime fantasy was to play Jean Valjean on Broadway, so McVey was living my dream.
I struck up an email exchange with McVey when he was starring “Les Mis”and I worked in PR. McVey not only gave me a couple of house seats, but he also invited me backstage afterwards and then treated me to a steak dinner at Carmine’s, one of my favorite NYC eateries.
When McVey stepped down from the role, he invited me to the party he threw to say thanks to the cast and crew.
Hanging out with the entire cast of “Les Mis” ranks among my most exciting experiences.
William Baldwin
A Canadian banking client invited me to an American Banker awards dinner in New York where the Baldwin family was being honored for their charity work. William Baldwin was there to accept the award.
At a reception afterwards, Baldwin approached me, insisting that we’d met before. I told him that wasn’t likely, but he was adamant, despite my assurances that we didn’t move in the same circles. Suffice to say, my client was impressed that a celebrity befriended me.
Some 20 years later, my cousin Rob mentioned in passing that he used to run into Baldwin regularly when the actor was dating Chynna Phillips, whose mother Michele of The Mamas and the Papas fame lived in his L.A. neighborhood. Cousin Rob and Baldwin would often exchange greetings.
Then it hit me. Baldwin mistook me for my cousin, which was quite flattering. Although there’s a resemblance, my cousin is better looking.
Ayelet Zurer
Gal Gadot and Natalie Portman are Israel’s most famous Israeli film stars, but Ayelet Zurer is equally deserving, if not more so.
Though popular in her native country, Zurer is best known to U.S. fans for her role in the hit Netflix show “Shtisel,” an internationally acclaimed series about an ultra-religious family living in Jerusalem. Zurer played Elisheva, a twice widowed mother who resisted the marriage overtures of an aspiring artist. Zurer’s U.S. films include Steven Spielberg’s “Munich,” “Vantage Point,” “Angels and Demons” and “Man of Steel.” More recently, Zurer received rave reviews for her starring role in the Apple TV+ thriller “Losing Alice.” An animal rights activist, Zurer appeared in the low budget Holocaust movie called, “Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog” in which she gives a very moving performance as a mother of two children in Nazi Germany. Awesome film – a must see if you love dogs.
Underscoring my admiration for Zurer, I abandoned my tightwad ways and paid extra to attend a reception I confirmed she was attending. I asked Zurer if I could take a photo with her, and she did Brooke Shields proud.
More on my love for Israeli television and meeting another famous Israeli actor can be found here.
Francesco (Frank) Stallone Jr.
I’d only recently moved to L.A. and decided to check out Wally’s, a trendy wine bar and restaurant in Beverly Hills. The guy seated next to me at the bar appeared to have knocked down a few and kept going on about his multimillion-dollar guitar collection. He told me he was a musician, and I just assumed he played at weddings and bar mitzvahs. I doubted the stated value of his guitar collection.
When he got up to leave, my newfound bar friend gave me his card and said he hoped to run into me again.
“Frank Stallone,” I remarked after looking at his card. “Any relation to Sylvester?”
“He’s my brother.”
I looked up Frank Stallone when I got home. He is a very accomplished musician, having written and performed “Far from Over” for the 1983 film “Staying Alive,” which was directed and written by Sylvester, his older brother. The song was nominated for a Golden Globe and the movie soundtrack album for a Grammy.
Stallone is also a respected jazz performer, appearing regularly at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Jazz Club before the pandemic hit. And he really does have a guitar collection worth millions.
I subsequently learned from a Beverly Hills insider that Frank Stallone doesn’t appreciate being known as “Sylvester Stallone’s younger brother.”
You’ve been forewarned!
Tim Horton
Yes, there really was a Tim Horton. Before going into the coffee and doughnut business, he was a defenseman for my beloved Toronto Maple Leafs, helping the team win four championship Stanley Cups before getting traded to the New York Rangers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and later the Buffalo Sabres.
Meeting a hockey player might not sound like a big deal, but to an adolescent growing up in Toronto during the 60s it was a dream come true. Horton was one of three Maple Leafs who visited our family’s Orthodox Jewish synagogue as part of a “Father and Son” night. As I recall, Bob Pulford was part of the trio, but I can’t remember the third.
I do remember all three hockey players donned yarmulkes for the event. That was a sight to behold.
Sharon Stone
Okay, I didn’t actually meet Sharon Stone, but I was in close proximity to her. Stone was honored for her efforts promoting peace among Israeli and Palestinian children at a gala dinner for the 2016 Israeli Film Festival I attended. Stone earlier developed a close friendship with former Israeli Prime Minister and Nobel Laureate Shimon Peres, and they worked on some joint project.
Stone spoke eloquently, and I was very inspired by her talk. Stone will forever be remembered for this scene in “Basic Instinct” with Michael Douglas, but she also starred in “The Muse,” one of my favorite comedies.
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones
Speaking of Michael Douglas …
I attended a memorial service for Karl Malden and was intimidated by all the A-listers, so I stood at the back. Suddenly, I felt the presence of people behind me. I turned around and Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones were standing there.
As it was a memorial service, I nodded, and they nodded back. I wish I could have gazed at Zeta-Jones a tad longer, but I knew better.
Rest assured if I ever encounter Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett, I’ll keep my mouth shut and quickly make my way to the nearest exit.
Postscript: My encounter with the comedian Jackie Mason can be found here and Jerry Van Dyke here.