* * Disclaimer - These stories were submitted by visitors to the Dead or Alive? site and reflect their experiences and opinions in meeting famous people * *
Engelbert Humperdinck, Carol Channing - In 1967, my mom had the opportunity on the night of my 7th birthday to go to see Engelbert Humperdink in concert. My dad had recently passed away, though, and she didn't want to leave me on my birthday. I was always pretty well behaved for a child, so she decided she would take me with her. The dinner theatre was set up so Engelbert could sing from a stage, but also walk up and down the aisles and meet his fans. As he sang and walked around greeting the audience he spotted the one and only little person in the crowd. He worked his way over to us and my mom told him it was my birthday. A few moments later he was singing "Happy Birthday" to me. I got a kiss and a pat on the head and he continued on with the show. A few moments later a beautiful woman all dressed in white walked over to our table. She had a voice I would never forget, and I can remember diamonds all over her, her ears, neck, wrists, fingers and gown just covered with diamonds. She looked like a queen. She chatted a few moments with us, giving me a hug and wishing me a happy birthday. I remember her telling my mom I was such a good child and that she loved to see kids come out to the theatre when they behaved as I had. The woman would know theatre, she was Carol Channing. I had no clue who she was, but my mom told me, and every time Miss Channing was on TV mom would let me stay up to see her. From that night on, I have been a fan of both Engelbert and Miss Carol Channing. I'm very happy they are both alive, they certainly made my 7th birthday one I would remember always. - Sharon
George Will - In 1985 or 1986, I was eating lunch at a Pizza Hut in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., with a friend on a Sunday afternoon. My friend, a diehard political conservative, was saying something about George Will saying something profound on the Sunday morning David Brinkley show. As my friend was talking, George Will walked into the restaurant with two children, maybe 8 and 10 years old. Will sat down in the booth behind my friend, who didn't see Will walk into the restaurant. I whispered to my friend that Will was sitting behind him. He didn't believe me, but eventually saw him. - Martin
Richard Gere - I met Richard Gere and got his autograph at a Lakers game in 2001. He was on his way out of the building and I managed to talk to him briefly. He was very nice, asking if I enjoyed the game. He was a very nice person! - Steven
Johnny Cash - I was living in Hendersonville, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville in the early '80s and one day I found myself very late for work, a 45-minute drive to Nashville's west side. I was driving a Pinto station wagon that had actually been used in a few Nashville Network TV skits as a complete piece of traditional Southern junk car--the muffler was falling off and the bottom was rusted out. If I made a hard left turn, the passenger door would come open; that kind of car. I was rushing down one of the main drags of the city, and almost ran into the back of a Mercedes driving 35 in a 50 mph zone. I couldn't believe this geezer was driving like that. I tailgated him, flashed my lights and acted like an overall road-raged jerk. Traffic finally allowed me to pass him in the left lane and as I leered into the Mercedes (I now noticed it was black), I saw it was Johnny Cash! If he could have shot laser beams out of his eyes, I would have been a pile of ash. I can't remember for sure, he might have flipped me off, which I deserved. Too embarrassed, I slunked in my seat and drove on. - A Jerk to Johnny
Joyce DeWitt - Ms. DeWitt was starring in a play in Calgary a couple of years ago that a friend of ours happened to be in as well. My partner and I went to see it one night, and we were introduced to Joyce after the show. She invited us to stay for a drink; and for the next hour or so she was one of the most gracious, kind, and entertaining hostesses I've ever met. We'll never forget it.
Gladys Knight - this is what happened in 2005 we were in the lobby of the flamingo hotel we had ordered pizza and we were waiting for it(rather than another buffett) we saw several people with staff t shirts on and wondered wha was going on . It took me a few seconds but i leaned over to Sharon and sain thats gladys knight it was 8:30 and her show started at 7:30 she was gracious enough to wait till alll the people were seated to go onstage rather then cut the people off and give rainchecks for another date or a refund wow what a lady!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Greg
Donald Trump - During Christmas week about 10 years ago, I was in Tower Records looking to purchase Christmas gifts. As I was looking through the CD's, someone nudged me and said, "Look who you're standing next to" - I turned and there was Donald Trump right next to me also browsing through the CD's. A lady from England beat me to the punch and asked him to autograph her cash register receipt. He was very cheerful and took about 5 minutes to talk to the growing crowd! Meanwhile, with my camcorder, I got great closeups of The Donald. - PK
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