Yes, it’s that time again. And, through remarkable coincidence, the questions all focus on famous people …
1. If you could eat dinner with and “get to know” one famous person (living or dead), who would you choose?
*Sigh*. I would probably have to go with a major religious figure, out of a moral obligation to try to Figure Stuff Out. Jesus. Paul (for whom I’d have some sharp questions). Someone like that.
If we left it in the realm of “modern historical characters,” I’d like to meet and get to know Dubya. Really. Learn what’s going on with him. Maybe even have a non-financial influence on his Administration’s policy.
2. Has the death of a famous person ever had an effect on you? Who was it and how did you feel?
No, I can’t really think of one. Deaths of people not immediately in my face tend not to have an effect on me. That’s a problem I have.
3. If you could BE a famous person for 24 hours, who would you choose?
Hmmmmm. I’m tempted to say some major political figure, so that I could have 24 hours to Do Stuff, but would likely get reverse pretty early on. Unless maybe it was someone like William Renquist during Supreme Court Ruling Season.
Or maybe Yasser Arafat. I’ll bet I could either get some things moving — or find myself dead.
As to entertainment figures … nah.
4. Do people ever tell you that you look like someone famous? Who?
Funny you should mention that. When I had my full beard and longer hair, I was told I looked like Steven Spielberg a couple of times. When I had just my goatee, I was told I looked like Jonathan Frakes. And now I’m told, beardless, that I look like Tom Bosley.
Things are not improving here, people.
5. Have you ever met anyone famous?
I attended a business speech by Ronald Reagan during his Wilderness Years, 3×5 cards and all. I met George Takei (who dabbled in LA politics for a while) at the same function, and babbled something incoherent. When I was doing volunteer work for the San Diego Comic Con, I got to check in Jack Kirby. And when I was a kid, we spotted Pernell Roberts up in the big observation tower at (Six Flags) Magic Mountain. Do they count?
Oh, and I got a form letter from Wil Wheaton. As far as I recall, it didn’t mention that I look like Jonathan Frakes.
Then there’s my wife, who is justly famed for her cooking and hospitality. Birds suddenly appear every time she draws near, and stars fall down from the sky under similar circumstances. If that’s not fame, I don’t know what is.
I don’t think it’s a problem to not mourn people you don’t know. In fact, I think its crazy to get worked up over the death of a stranger. Now, I do think its fair to be sad that someone of great work that you don’t know has died – I am sad that Billy Wilder whose movies I have enjoyed has died – but I won’t be crying the next time “Some Like It Hot” is on TV. Locally, I don’t understand the strangers who were in tears over the death on Danielle Van Damme, to say nothing of the message it gives their kids. I woudn’t be hard for me to cry again over the death of Lance (at 39), but that’s a real person who really affected my life. I try to reserve my emotions for the people who can know them. That’s enough heavy stuff for now.
A younger, more vibrant Tom Bosley, but yes, the resemblance is there. “Mr. C. Does The Blog,” perhaps? 😉
You seem so cold. How could you not be sad over the murder of an innocent child?
There is sadness, and then there is mourning, profound emotional disturbance. Thousands die every hour, around the world. Should I mourn, be in tears, over every one? How could I live that way?
Having only recently discovered your blog, I’m working my way back through it. I wanted to comment on some aspects of this post.
>2. Has the death of a famous person ever had an effect on you? Who was it and how did you feel?
You know, I still get an ache when I hear Paul Frees’ voice. I missed the news of his death, and heard it from an amused cow-orker! (Do you remember my asking you about it when next we spoke? I tried to coax a description of his photo from you, as I didn’t know what he looked like, and you had seen a photo printed with his obituary.)
>4. Do people ever tell you that you look like someone famous? Who?
I don’t see any of those for you. Personally, I always thought you looked like Peter Cook!
I, on the other hand, am beginning to show an uncanny resemblance to Charles Laughton.
>5. Have you ever met anyone famous?
I missed my chance to meet Paul Frees and the other Bullwinkle voice actors when they opened Bullwinkle’s in Montclair! I saw the flyer the day after the opening! TANJ!
The first celebrity I met was Christopher Lee, at a con in 1976. I now crow about having met Saruman and Count Dooku!
My favorite celebrity meeting, though, was with Yvonne Craig! She was signing autographs at the San Diego Comic Con a few years back. She immediately said, “I’m going to ask you to lean closer, so I can look at your eyes.” We spent the next 20 seconds gazing into each other’s eyes! sigh
Boy, this turned into a real me-fest, didn’t it? Oops!
Peter Cook? Hmmmm.
I’ve had a chance to meet June Foray on a couple of occasions. Very nice woman.