It can be kind of exciting when you meet a celebrity in real life (as long as they don’t give you the old “Do you know who I am?” attitude). But even more fun is when you bump into them in an unexpected place and have a totally random encounter. Today we’re spilling all on our favorite celebrity sightings — and we want to hear about yours in the comments!
Marla Cooper
My favorite star-sighting story is the one where I didn’t realize it until the next day. Many years ago, I was standing outside the Loew’s Santa Monica, waiting for the valet to bring our car around, and I struck up a friendly conversation with two men who were also waiting. One of them—the quiet one—had slicked-back red hair and was wearing nerd glasses and a green suit. As we were walking to our car, my husband whispered under his breath, “Chris Farley,” and I thought, “Ha, yeah, that guy did kind of look vaguely like Chris Farley.” The next day, on some entertainment news show, they were covering the Grammys from the night before and they showed a guy with red hair, nerd glasses and a green suit. The same guy I’d been talking to outside the Loews. “Oh my God, that really was Chris Farley!” I yelled out to my husband, who was in the bathroom brushing his teeth. “Yeah,” he hollered back. “I told you!”
Lisa Q. Mathews
I am so jealous that Marla had a real-live convo with Chris Farley!!! Our energetic new Golden puppy is named Farley in his honor. The celebrity I’ve run into a zillion places, way back since the 80s? Christie Brinkley. What a sweetheart. Sadly, I can’t say the same for the Queen of Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow. She literally blew me off the sidewalk on a quiet, uncrowded street in the Hamptons once, without a word or look back. Next time I’ll uncouple us with a few choice words, Gwynnie.
Ellen Byron
Not to boast, but our 55 year-old subdivision abuts a fancier neighborhood that sports a number of famous residents. Like a certain Mr. George Clooney??? As well as Bruno Mars, Teri Hatcher, Julie Bowen, Alex Trebek, Leah Thompson, and Leah Remini. And those are only the stars I know about. I used to run into way more famous people when I lived in New York. (Is that Madonna? OMG, it’s Warren Beatty!) But it’s pretty fun giving a “Hiyah, neighbor!” wave to George when he tootles by on his motorcycle. My favorite celeb sighting story, however, is this story. One day about ten years ago, I was walking our basset hound, Lucy, on the fire road up the street from our house. My nickname for her was Lucy Loo, so I start singing to her, “Lucy Loo, Lucy Loo.” Well, guess who lives down the street from George and Teri, and happened to be walking her own dog that day? That’s right, the human Lucy Liu. Who turned around and said in a very friendly voice, “Hi!” Embarrassed, I explained and apologized. She laughed, and we walked our dogs together. Several times after that, too. She was a total delight. Very gossipy sidebar: Teri, Lucy and George live only a few houses from each other and the neighborhood gossip is that during his randy batchelor days, Mr. Clooney rendezvoused with both of them. Shhhhh! Don’t tell.
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Chicks on the Case 
I’ll never forget stopping by the grocery store in downtown Andover– years ago, when Spenser was filming in Boston– and seeing Robert Urich, who was more handsome in real life than he ever was on screen. 🙂
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I always expect celebrities to look more average in real life, but I had a similar moment when I passed Matthew McConaughey in a hotel lobby. As I described him to my husband afterwards, “He was seven feet tall and he glowed.” 🙂
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All of these stories are amaze-balls!
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While we’re on the subject, someone posted this over on Facebook today. We used to work next door to the flagship Whole Foods in Austin, and it was prime star-sighting territory:
2001. Whole Foods Market. 6th & Lamar. Austin, TX.
Cashier: Look at that black limo (MOTIONS TO PARKING LOT).
Me: Anybody famous in it?
Cashier: I dunno. But yesterday, Prince was here.
Me: Oh, that’s right. He’s in town for that concert.
Cashier: Yeah, he was right over there (MOTIONS TO VITAMIN AISLE) buying vitamins…(DOES A DOUBLE TAKE) Oh, look, there he is.
Me: (LOOKING TO MY LEFT. THERE IS PRINCE DRESSED LIKE HE’S ABOUT TO GO ON STAGE. COMPARING TWO JARS OF VITAMINS.) Damn. Prince. How cool is that?
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I spotted a star in Mystery Scene today! Glad to see you there, Marla!
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Where did you see it? Or I guess I should ask, where can I see it? I didn’t know about this! 🙂
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p. 26, yours is the first one and the only illustrated one. The Hook, Intriguing First Lines. If you don’t subscribe, I can send you my copy.
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Neato!! I had no idea! I don’t subscribe, but I can probably find in a bookstore. If you’re done reading yours by Malice (and if there’s room in your suitcase) bring it along! Yay!! Exciting!
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Will do!
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And I meant to say it before but I was caught up in the moment: Thanks for letting me know!
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You’re welcome.
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I have had two celebrity encounters. One was Barbara Stock, Spenser’s flame in Spenser for Hire. She was totally lost in Coolidge Corner, Brookline, and I gave her directions to where she should have been (shooting on location in Brighton/Allston that day).
The second one was many years earlier. Noel Neil (let’s see how many remember her) was appearing at Northeastern U., and I was the lucky one who got to go to the airport and pick her up. She was terrific and went out with us afterwards to the pub for drinks. Very likable, friendly, and not at all stuck up. She was the Lois Lane I really liked and was also in the first film as Ella Lane, Lois’ mother, when Clark/Superman races the train.
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How fun, Claire! And funny how Spenser for Hire figures into two different stories. (I don’t know if you saw Kate’s comment above, but she had a Spenser sighting!)
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