Famous People
*Famous People.
Here’s a recent email from reader JStern.
Jeff,
Just killing some time and I’m reading about your entertainment business/legal background. Just curious as to some of the famous folks you have met?
*****
JStern,
Like you,, I’m gonna kill some time here and give you a “partial” list. Just so you know, the listed folks aren’t “friends” they are just people that I-casually met or had some-type of business/legal dealings with.
In no particular order of importance…
Ed Kranepool
Ron Swoboda
Jackie Leonard
Totie Fields
Willie Mays
Richard Nixon
Sid Caesar
Ed Koch
Lee Majors
Nelson Rockefeller
John Lindsay
John Gotti
Michael Douglas
Jacob Javits
Patrick Moynihan
Joe Frazier
Muhammad Ali
Roberto Duran
Chevy Chase
Jerry Lewis
Geraldo Rivera
Cal Ripken jr.
Chubby Checker
Bill Medley
Al Pacino
Dustin Hoffman
Al “Grandpa Munster” Lewis
Smokey Robinson
Mike Tyson
Steven Segal
OJ Simpson
Mel Torme
Burt Reynolds
Carl Bernstein
Gilda Ratner
Ringo Star
Patrick Swayze
Regis Philbin
Sonny Bono
Cher
Malcolm Forbes
Whitey Ford
Eddie Fisher
David Brinkley
Larry Holmes
Don King
Gladys Knight
Jerry Lee Lewis
Joe Namath
Judge Wapner
Andrew Dice Clay
Bruce Springsteen
Joe Biden
Buffalo Bob Smith
Frankie Avalon
John Travolta
Mickey Rooney
Roseanne Barr
Greta Garbo
Woody Allen
Liza Minnelli
Rock Hudson
Michael Jordan
Cousin Brucie
Roy Orbison
Anna Nicole Smith
Yogi Berra
Robert De Niro
Bill Cosby
Al Sharpton
Hulk Hogan
Dan Marino
Jon Bon Jovi
Sugar Ray Leonard
Jake LaMotta
Rocky Graziano
Dick Clark
Gilbert Gottfried
Mickey Mantle
Bo Diddley
Chuck Berry
Michael Bolton
Pete Rose
Kirk Douglas
Warren Beatty
Jim Belushi
Little Richard
Martha Reeves
Carl Perkins
Leslie Gore
“This” list and 15 cents (or whatever a NYC Subway ride goes for these days) will get me on the Subway.
Thanks for killing sometime with me!
Finally, if any of you guys have “rubbed shoulders” or for that matter anything else with a famous person, please share the name/story!
Jeff,
This should help you out.
Like you, I remember those 15 cent tokens.
The New York City subway system is one of the most efficient people transports in the entire world. The hot and dingy subway system of the 1970’s has been completely renovated into a safe, convenient and comfortable mode of transportation between nearly all areas of New York City. Over 4.3 million people ride the subway system every day; over 1 billion people go through the turnstiles per year! While minor theft and homelessness still abound, the subway is a much better place than was predicted back in the financially troubled days of the city.
Fares
The primary method of fare payment is the Metrocard. All subway stations and busses are now Metrocard capable. Tokens are also available, and cost $2.00 each.
Metrocards can be bought on a pay-per-ride basis ($2.00 per ride) or an unlimited ride basis. With pay-per-ride, you get 11 rides for the price of ten and you can add more money to your card if need be. With unlimited ride Metrocards, you can get a 30 day card, a 7 day card, or a 1 day Fun Pass.
Children under 44″ tall ride for free; senior citizens and disabled people ride for a reduced fare.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The MTA has a great webpage with tons of info and subway maps. For Passenger Information, call (718) 330-1234 or (718) 330-4847 (Non-English speaking).
Other Numbers:
Long Island Railroad: (718) 217-5477
Metro-North Railroad: (800) Metroinfo
President William Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton at a health care conference in Miami when he was in office.
JEFF –
Santa Claus When I was A Kid !
YES – For Real !!
Joe Louis,
Dwight Eisenhower
Walt Disney
Cary Grant
Rock Hudson
Jeff
Great list.
Just curious, how and when did you meet Garbo?
LODI:
Just had a chance to read your comments.
In 1985 Greta Garbo lived on East 52nd Street in Manhattan and I lived at East 63rd Street. Don’t recall the exact date but Garbo and my 3 year old daughter literally collided at the corner of East 63rd Street & Second Ave. when my daughter who was running ran into Garbo who was walking assisted by an aide. No damage done and Garbo commented to me as to what a beautiful child she was.
Thanks for reading…
The Garbo story was very interesting.
Just one other question, my wife is a huge Michael Bolton fan, how do you know Bolton?
LODI:
Just had a chance to read your comments.
I have met Michael Bolton twice.
The first time was at a Softball Game that Pete Rose arranged through his Boca Raton restaurant. Don’t recall the date, but on that afternoon I met Rose, Bolton, Lee Majors and a ton of other celebrities.
The second time was on the Saturday Night before Katrina hit New Orleans. I was seated next to Bolton at a blackjack table at the Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi which was later destroyed by the hurricane.
Thanks for reading..,
Jeff,
Fascinating stuff.
If you don’t mind, how did you meet Liza Minnelli?
Thanks,
ZED:
Just had a chance to read your comments.
I met Liza Minnelli in NYC at the opening of the movie Great Balls Of Fire.
Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats were seated behind Roseanne Barr and in front of Liza Minnelli who was seated next to Maury Povich and his wife Connie Chung.
At the celebrity party, Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats shared a table with Sylvia Miles, Ralph Macchio, Chubby Checker and Scott McKenzie.
Thanks for reading…
what’s the lowdown on Brucie and Murray the K?
TURNER:
Just had a chance to read your comments:
When I was a kid growing up in Brooklyn I lived at 811 Cortelyou Road. Brucie lived a few blocks away on Ocean Parkway and Ave. C. For years I’d see Brucie in front of 811 when he walked passed me on his way to the subway. By the way he always said ” Woo- I’m Your Cousin Brucie.”
On Murray the K, my cousin Alice was married to his son so we were MISHPUCHA (non Jews may need GOOGLE right about now).
Thanks for reading..,
Met,
Walt Frazier
Bill Bradley
Rich Little
Lucille Ball
Had breakfast with Clyde Frazier early morning before a Knick game.
Roberto Duran sang happy birthday to me(in spanish) at a restaurant in South Beach.
Met Tom and Nancy Seaver in a parking garage with my father in NYC
Met Lionel Richie in an elevator at Bally’s in Atlantic City. Also met Tony Curtis in an elevator at Beau Rivage in Biloxi.
Many years ago I was Rooms Division Manager at The El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico. That was in the day of big showrooms in PR. I had a chance to meet many celebs. Those that come immediately to mind are:
Milton Berle
Shirley Bassey
Freddie Roman
Enzo Stuarti
Jerry Lewis
Sergio Franchi
Johnny Weismuller
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Dick Capri
In later years, while general manager at other hotels:
Chris Evert
Martina Navratilova
Boris Becker
Stefi Graf
Pres. George H.W. Bush (twice)
Richard Crenna
Whoopie Goldberg
Buddy Ebsen
Gov. and Sen. Bob Graham
Sen. and Gov. “Walkin” Lawton Chiles
Bob Costas
Lou Ferrigno (The Hulk)
Don Shula
Jimmy Buffett
Mal Z. Lawrence
Joe Rose
I have met a ton in the sports world and movie stars due to VIP events and many years ago dealing with players for autographs. Funny you should mention Kranepool. In the 1980s he woutl sign autograhs for a few hours for 500.00. He also did Bar Mitzvahs.
Scottie Pippen _Sat next to me in first class a few weeks ago going to Chicago
Kendra-Playboy mansion. I have been there twice
Clint Eastwood
Dennis Franz
All Cast of Desperate Housewives
CSI most of the original cast
Morgan Freeman
Charlize Theron – A little chilly but who cares
Mantle
DiMaggio
Williams
Duke Snider
Dave Winfield
Mattingly
Strawberry
Sharon Lawrence
Joan Rivers
Don Rickles
James Garner
Glenn Close
Julie Andrews
Sandra Oh- She is nice
Deniro -I was at his movie premiere but did not talk to him. I was sitting next to one of his best friends-Chazz Palmitieri
Jimmy Johnson -on a flight
Andrew Dice Clay-Met him also
Rosario Dawson
Rickey Henderson
Wade Boggs
Pete Rose-Drove him to the racetrack in CA
Denny Mcclain
Barry Larkin
Eric Davis
Andre Dawson
Gary Carter
Robin Yount
Gaylord Perry
Steve Carlton
Rollie Fingers
And many others. I met most of the older hall of famers in baseball. Many more baseball than any other sport.
I have a million stories about players either first hand or from people I know. Many colorful ones.
Rob
I MET ELVIS PRESLEY.
Top that!
Got you topped.
JOHN
PAUL
GEORGE
RINGO
8/15/65 Shea Stadium
Not sure if this means anything but I have met every heavyweight champion (united/organization) starting with Rocky Marciano to the present date.
That list has all of them including Patterson, Johannson, Liston, Clay, Frazier, Ellis, Terrell, Foreman, Spinks, Norton, Holmes, M. Spinks, Tyson, ALL OF THE THEM!
Worked in the music business for many years. All these were more than casual hellos
Jehudi Menuhin
Paul Anka
Mariah Carey
Rickey Martin
Julio Iglesias
Vicente Fernandez
Celine Dione
Steve Lawrence and Edye Gorme
Robert De Niro
Danny De Vito
Johnny Cash
Willie Nelson
Rosie O’Donnel
Dick Clark
Rolling Stones
Jennifer Lopez
Mike Tyson
Joe Louis
Shakira
Roberto Carlos
Nancy Reagan
Edward Seaga
Henry Kissenger
Arrowsmith
William Paley
Frank Stanton
Marc Anthony
Michael Bolton
Thommy Mottola
Thalia
Gloria Estefan
Aljandro Fernandez
Chayanne
Tony Bennit
Jerry Vail
Luis Miguel
Juan Gabrial
Marco Antonio Solis
Selina
Anna Gabriel
Bruce Springsteen
Ricardo Arjona
Frank Sinatra
Johnny Mathis
Harry Belefonte
Puff Diddy
Beyoncé
Dixie Chicks
Forgot Michael Jackson with whom I met on many occasions
Got you all beat, recorded Love Me Do with John, George and Paul in 1962.
Jeff, I see that you have Bill Cosby on your list. What do you think of all of these recent allegations that in the 1980s he sexually assaulted women?
TURNER:
No need to go into detail, Jeff Eats “heard” about Cosby’s behavior dating as far back as 1982. I wasn’t there, so it’s all hearsay, but I would trust my life with the guy who told me the story about women/illegal drugs/anitsemitism in Las Vegas. I will also tell you, that a very well known comedian’s wife told me in 1991 that Bill Cosby was an out and out anti-Semite, she did not mention anything about women/illegal drugs.
Thanks for reading…
John Lennon.