Post here if you knew somebody famous, before they were famous.

[BeachBaby]

This topic came to mind today, because a childhood friend of mine brought it up.

From 8th to 10th grade, a group of my friends and I were subjected to Kelly Ripa on an all-too-regular basis. I wasn't particularly fond of her then - since she spent more time in front of a mirror, than hanging out and having fun - and I can't say that my opinion of her has changed for the better.

Then, in my senior year of high school, my boyfriend was the starting wide receiver for the football team of a neighboring high school. His QB was Glenn Foley (who went on to play for the NY Jets). Because the football team partied a lot on the weekends, I got to know him fairly well. All the attention he was getting (from college scouts and pro-football scouts) didn't seem to get to his head. He was very laid-back and friendly. He even asked me to dance with him at their prom. :)

I'd like to hear your stories, if you have them!

[kwassa]

1. I went to art school with .... David Byrne, Gus Van Sant ...

and Chris Franz and Tina Weymouth, who also became Talking Heads later.

Mary Boone, who became one of the hottest art dealers in New York by her late 20s, and made the career of many artists in the 80s.

Dale Chihuly was teaching glass at my school then, before he became super-famous. He was well-known at the time; he soon left and became the full-time artist that he is.

[BeachBaby]

21. Talking Heads!!!

"Once in a Lifetime" - loved that song of theirs.:)

[kwassa]

25. David and Chris were in a band at school called The Artistics.

I thought David was doing a Neal Young imitation, at the time.

I had heard that Gus Van Sant taught David to play guitar.

[kwassa]

23. and Chris Van Allsburg, author of Jumanji and other children's books

He was a graduate student in sculpture when I met him.

and I missed David Macauley, who was at the school before I was there, and taught there after I left.
Author of The Way Things Work and City and Cathedral and Pyramid and other things.

and Robert Richardson, three years behind me, who has won two Academy Awards for best cinematographer and several other nominations for the same. He won for The Aviator and JFK.

[tigereye]

34. RISD folks, right?

that's a pretty cool group of folks to know!

[kwassa]

63. yep.

[jobycom]

2. Brett Favre, Baby!! (and a couple of lesser celebs).

My best friend growing up lived in the Kiln, Mississippi, and his sister either hated or had a crush on Brett Favre, depending on who you believed. I saw him a few times, but never really talked to him. We just spent all summer teasing his sister, chanting "Sissy (not her real name) loves Brett Favre!" over and over again. She got so angry she took a butcher knife after her brother and came pretty close to decapitating him, while we all laughed. Yeah, I was a redneck. :)

Main reason I remember him was because of our chant, and because of Sissie's reply once. "He's so stuck up. He thinks he's special just because he plays quarterback. The only reason he plays quarterback is because his daddy's the coach, he's not any good at it." :rofl:

I never even knew he was any good until I accidentally saw him years later playing his final game at USM, and hearing the announcers praising him. I had forgotten about him, but the moment they said his name, I thought "That little snot-nosed brat? I thought he wasn't any good!" :rofl:

Anyway, the other two I knew were Greg Hibbard, a pitcher for the White Sox who was a grade ahead of me, and Matt Lawton, but only because I knew his brother. Marcus Lawton also played pro ball, but was injured after a couple of weeks and never made it back to the pros, except in Spring Training. His brother played a lot longer.

[BeachBaby]

22. OMG!!!

:rofl:

One question - didn't any of you bust his chops on the spelling of his name, versus how everybody actually pronounced his name? I would've been all over that. :D

[jobycom]

27. There were a lot of Favres on the coast. That's how the name is pronounced.

We mostly busted the chops of the tourists who couldn't pronounce it. :)

[BeachBaby]

36. Ha!

I always pronounce it "fahv-ray", although a lot of people say "favor". I don't care what he, or the media, say. Either shift the v and r around, or my pronounciation stands. :P

[jobycom]

38. What day comes after Tuesday again?

[BeachBaby]

40. Whensday, silly!!!!

:rofl:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear BeachBaby!

I have one friend who is somewhat famous for his Benjamin Justice novels. His name is John Morgan Wilson. We were friends initially when he started a local paper in Hermosa Beach, CA, back in the late 1960's.

Then he sold the paper and disappeared. He later resurfaced when he was writing for the Los Angeles Times. And then one day, I saw a review of a book that he had written, and I went to the book signing. He's won the Edgar award for his first book (Simple Justice) and the Lambda Literary Award for several others.

Maybe he's only famous out here in LA? Dunno!

:hi:

[guitar man]

4. Garth Brooks

Went to school with him at Oklahoma State. Didn't know him very well, but he played a lot of the same clubs I was playing, sat in and played a song or two with him. I moved away and next thing I knew he was famous. I'm sure he wouldn't remember me all these years later.

[abq e streeter]

9. An old girlfriend used to play drums in country bands there, and said Brooks was an acquaintance

That'd be really, really, weird if you knew her. She's I guess, about 44 now...Elizabeth (Betty) Pearson...Ever know any cute little blond female drummers in Stillwater back then? (farm girl from near the panhandle, and she'd actually gone to school there on a rodeo scholarship). Said Brooks and her sort of hung with the same crowd but didn't really consider him more than an acquaintance. Also said she remembered him playing rock and some solo folkie stuff but not country. I think I'm remembering right that she said she played country and not rock.

[guitar man]

45. I don't remember her

There were a lot of bands playing around town at the time though, live music was the thing on "the strip" and there were a lot of clubs to play in and around Stillwater.

As I remember, Garth was playing mostly country but would branch out and do just about anything. I remember hearing him do an acoustic solo version of Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" that was knocked out...it was really good.

[Born_A_Truman]

20. Did you know Gus Hardin?

[guitar man]

46. Yes, I knew Gus

She was a fabulous lady and it was a great loss to our music community in Tulsa when we lost her. :(

I know Don White and his son Steve very well. Don played Guitar with Gus for many years and then Steve played with her band later on. I was in a band with Steve for about 18 months back around '99-2000, Good times.

:hi:

[Born_A_Truman]

65. Gus played at a private club in NW Arkansas that I helped manage ...

At the time we booked her it was "Gus and Her Guys". We loved the Tulsa sound. Also had "A Grain of Salt" play there many times.

[guitar man]

68. now there's some names

I haven't heard in a while :)

The Tulsa sound is still alive and well, but we have lost a few people over the last couple years. :(

[BeachBaby]

39. Then, YOU would appreciate this story....

(told to me by my girlfriend's father, Dave)

Back in the late 60s, Dave was up in North Jersey doing a big construction job. Every now and then, he would go to The Stone Pony to have a beer after work.

So, Dave's sitting at the bar counter one night, enjoying his beer, gabbing with the bartender. There was a guy playing his guitar the whole time. Eventually, the guy got done playing, and walked up and sat down next to Dave. He chatted with the guitar guy for a bit, and told him how much he admired his talent. After awhile, Dave got up to leave. He and the guitar guy shook hands, and Dave said "My name is Dave, by the way. It was nice talking to you. Hopefully, I'll get to hear you play again". Guitar guy said "Nice to meet you, Dave. My name is Bruce, and I'm in here all the time. Make sure you come back in sometime and say hi, okay?"

Bruce was soon to become The Boss. :)

[guitar man]

50. That's a cool story

It's neat to hear about what the big stars were doing before they were famous. My dad was a trucker and I remember him coming home off the road talking about a phenomenal singer he heard singing with the band at the motel lounge where he was staying. About a year later, we were watching a show on television and Juice Newton came on to sing a song, Dad sprang up off the couch hollering it's her it's her it's her!! It's the girl that sang with the band at the motel!!! :D

[YankeyMCC]

5. Marvin Hagler

I was just a kid but he painted my parents living room before he was making a living full time from boxing.

I also knew Greg McMurtry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_McMurtry) in High School

[lost-in-nj]

6. nahhh

all I had to grow up with were a streaker and a murderer..(who was my best friend...yes before during and after the murder, I had no friggen idea).....


lost

[GreenPartyVoter]

35. Are you serious? Yikes!

[spiritual_gunfighter]

7. I went to school with Campbell Brown in the early 80s

It was an Episcopal school in Natchez Mississippi. I was in 7th grade and she was in 10th and I had a major crush on her (as did every other guy in school). She had blonde hair back then and went by Cami, she drove a huge old red convertable to school every day.

She was a cheerleader and I was on the HS football team at the time so I got to talk to her quite a bit, but I dont think she noticed me that much.

[Mike 03]

13. That is really interesting Wow. It is hard to know what to say, but that is amazing.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Loni Anderson.

She went to my high school, graduated a year ahead of me. She's not a natural blonde.

[BeachBaby]

37. I've seen photos of her with dark hair.

And frankly, I like the dark hair much more.

[MrsMatt]

81. I used to work with someone who went to high school

with Loni Anderson too.

Roseville?

[Mike 03]

10. Fascinating question.

I was fortunate enough to know a movie/TV director before he was famous. He was a mentor to me, and he was so gracious, so kind and so enthusiastic that I regard him as a huge hero.

ON EDIT. He even lent me my first camera.

[WolverineDG]

11. Valente Rodriguez

who played Ernie on the George Lopez Show.

Went to university with him, was in a few plays with him & loads of classes. He's very talented & yes it's true he was born on the kitchen table. His family was incredibly poor & I'm very happy he's done so well.

dg

[denbot]

43. I posted downstream that Constance Marie is my cousin..

Small world.

[handmade34]

12. Bernie Sanders

and Thom Hartmann

[El Supremo]

14. I went to school with Tommy Lee Jones.

He was older and just called Tom Jones. He was nice to me in drama class.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. I knew Adrienne Barbeau in high school...

She was involved with drama productions even then. Ran into her years later, but she didn't remember me, no surprise.

[blueknight]

16. i knew george clooney

was a nice kid and hung around with my younger brother. i havent seen him in years, but my brother still sees him every now and then when he comes back to ky to see his parents and sister. and of course my aunt was skeeter davis who was a semi famous singer

[abq e streeter]

19. You're being modest about your aunt being "semi-famous"

In fact just heard End of the World on the radio yesterday. To me, she is a true country music legend.

[WinkyDink]

74. Don't they-ey know it's the EYEND of the wurrrllld? LOVED your aunt!

[BlueJazz]

17. Lynyrd Skynyrd. I knew most them fairly well. We played at the same club.

They played the early part. We played the later part. (Comic Book Club--Jacksonville, Fl).

I think?? that Gary is the only one left who was in the original band....although I could be wrong.

[abq e streeter]

18. Several, including former Clinton Chief of Staff John Podesta, and the Dixie Chicks

John was a pretty good friend at Knox College in Illinois (and very politically involved already back then, as well as being a seriously brilliant student, and a real good guy). Lost touch with John by the mid-70's but have followed his career since he became Staff Secretary before being named Chief of Staff in I guess about '97 or '98...... The Chicks were just for a day, but I can honestly say I did know them. By random chance my blues band was paired up with them one day at the 1992 New Mexico State Fair, and we alternated sets, and hung out during the down time (we were just local, and they were unknown enough that we weren't even on the main stage, and I bet we played for no more than about 150 people at any one time, if that).Very nice people (pre- Natalie Maines by the way, by several years), talented as hell and deserve all the success they had.
Some other semi -famous include Amanda Jones; former Miss USA and runner up to Miss Universe ( a LONG time ago-1973, she'd been a high school friend), 3 term Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez; who I used to hang out with when he first came back here from Law School, former 49ers tackle (1968-1977) Cas Banascek (H.S. P.E. student teacher) ,and former NY Jet ( for maybe a couple of years; wasn't a starter) Bob Prout, another college bud.
Another casual friend is someone whose name almost no one will recognize, but most of you have heard his guitar playing: Tim Pierce , an LA session musician who plays the signature riff on Michael Jackson's Black or White (among countless other songs and artists); we played in bands locally at the same time in the 70's and I still bump into him, and will hang out a little if we do, once every blue moon or two.
My favorite connection to the vaguely infamous however , due to its incredibly obscure little corner of Americana, is that an old roommate (and still good friend) at the University of New Mexico in the 70's is the author of the immortal phrase ;"tough actin' tinactin".
One more but again, not really "famous" unless you're a NY Times reader. Barry Bearak, who was the Times reporter jailed briefly by Robert Mugabe's thugs in Zimbabwe a couple of years ago, was one of my best friends at Knox (he won a Pulitzer writing for the Times from Afghanistan in 2002 also). He was Podesta's roommate there ,and was likewise, a seriously brilliant guy.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

86. I have a few people from music that I have known pretty well

I knew Ryan Adams really well before he was famous and married Mandy Moore, he played in a band called Whiskeytown who were local and my band shared a practice space with them. He was always really cool and came to see my band in the early days. Now he is a huge star.

The infamous run in I have had was when I was a baby but my family went to the same church as Byron De La Beckwith (the man who was convicted years later of assassinating Medger Evers). He was notorious in Greenwood, Mississippi and people avoided him like the plague. He went to my church and my dad almost got in a fight with him in the church bathroom one day. He was a real asshole and was glad to learn he got convicted.

My dad told me he used to brag about his crime to anyone that would listen.

[JTG of the PRB]

24. Only one I know who's known (at least right now) was Brian Calhoun, a former NFL player.

He was going to CU the same time I was and we even had a class together, a prejournalism class. Late in the semester we did a small presentation together. He was a nice guy. He transferred away from CU the next year and finished his college career at Wisconsin. He got drafted in the 3rd round of the 2006 NFL draft bu the Detroit Lions but never had much of a career with them - which is a shame, because he was fun to watch on the field.

I have a couple of friends who are living in Los Angeles right now trying to make their way in the entertainment industry, so we'll see if they become famous too.

[AngryAmish]

26. Wasn't Ripa on "Dance Party USA"?

[flvegan]

28. 90's bands Extreme and Saigon Kick.

Knew them long before any record deal. Couple high school friends became pro wrestlers, most notably one of the nicest guys I've ever known, Rick Fuller.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Fuller

[Kat45]

29. Nobody I knew ever became famous.

:-(

[Aristus]

30. How famous is famous?

I went to school with Aaron Stauffer, the lead singer of Seaweed.

[Crabby Appleton]

31. Beverly D'Angelo

Bev went to the same high school and was the girlfriend of the brother of one of the guitarist in my band, she was about 15-16 then and was a nice person.

[Maccagirl]

77. You went to Upper Arlington?

I know her dad, Gene D'Angelo was general manager at WBNS. DeSales grad here.

[Crabby Appleton]

78. Yes

I was UA'67, she was '69.

[LWolf]

32. I went to high school with

Mare Winningham and Val Kilmer.

My mother's long-time boyfriend had numerous "actor" friends that we hung out with frequently. Some had some moderate success, some not. The most notable is Geoffrey Lewis.

[tigereye]

33. I used to go see Michael Chabon play in a band with other friends of mine

back in the 80s. I didn't know him particularly well.

I was in a skit when Dennis Miller was performing at my Uni before he became famous.

A old bandmate's brother became a famous writer...

[Lydia Leftcoast]

41. Two of my grad school friends became sci-fi/fantasy writers

S.N. Lewitt and Esther M. Friesner.

I remember Kevin Sorbo as a little kid. His family belonged to our church, and his father was my eighth grade science teacher.

[denbot]

42. Jack Russell: Great White and my cousin is Constance Marie (George Lopez show)

Jack is a year or two younger then me but we ran with the same crowd. I had watched him play at backyard keggers, but there were other local musicians I would have bet money on making it instead of him. I'm not slighting him or his band mates but I watched Van Halen play in a couple of backyard parties and High School gymnasiums. There is no shortage of talent in Los Angeles. Constance is a second cousin from my mom's side but I haven't seen her in many years.

[old mark]

44. Sort of famous - I went to college with Drew Barrymore's mom....

we both quit.


mark

[HEyHEY]

47. Well, the kid who played Encyclopedia Brown for HBO was a friend of mine

He grew up in my neighbourhood, his dad is actually responsible for my nickname. Sadly, he died about 13 years ago in a car crash. He tried to drive 22 hours non-stop and fell asleep at the wheel.

[Corgigal]

48. Martha Quinn

I was in the same drama class with her in High School. She rarely said anything in class and was quite shy. I was always placed in more parts then her. Then just a few years later I'm watching the new MTV channel and she's an original DJ from that era. I was amazed.

I also knew Harry Carson when he just started with the New York Giants. I worked as a bank teller and he would come in every week after a game with a check. I was shocked on how much he made a week and how little I made at the bank. Was a nice young guy back then and always was polite to me.

[Orsino]

49. I acted with Stephen Colbert a little back in the early eighties...

...in college and community theater. I don't really have any stories for you, other than confirming that it was obvious, even back then, that he was going to turn pro. He really was quite good. The ladies loved them some Colbert.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

51. Nobody too impressive....

I went to school with Andy Denhart, a relatively well known blogger who has appeared on national TV.

I also went to school with the future wife of 2003 NL Rookie of the Year Dontrelle Willis.

And a couple of local politicians who've I've known have climbed up the ranks, several to Congress, and one possibly to high state office.

[TZ]

52. This would get me flamed in GD no doubt...

And its more like KNEW about than knew. So you know you my Uncle used to teach at Georgetown U and Catholic U, and George Washington U. He was a prof of political science and therefore had a lot of current politicians and media figures as students. He became good friends with one of his students long before she ran for political office. And he told me about her long ago- because he was so impressed with her. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D) South Dakota (Blue Dog). He told me long ago that she was someone to keep an eye on. He still believes SHE will be our first female President.

[Kali]

53. I knew Jesse Valenzuela (Gin Blossoms) since he was a little kid

his sister was my best friend in college.

hmmm that seems to be all. My father is pretty famous in his field and obviously I knew him before that but it isn't anything most mainstream people would know about.

[rucky]

54. Vanilla Ice

long story.

[LibDemAlways]

55. I went to high school with George "Macaca" Allen. He

was a racist douche then too.

Other schoolmates were Chris Boyce and Daulton Lee - aka "The Falcon and the Snowman." They were a couple of upper middle class kids turned Russian spies who were the subject of a 1985 movie starring Sean Penn.

[Blue_Tires]

58. Holy shit that was based on a real story?

I loved that movie!!

[LibDemAlways]

60. Yes. Those guys are for real. Chris Boyce was about as nice a

kid as you'd ever want to meet - polite, friendly, and talented. He was by far the most talented kid in my drama class. Daulton Lee was very short and unattractive. He was adopted by a prosperous doctor and could never measure up to his parents' expectations. He turned to drug dealing and was very good at it. The two had been altar boys together in Catholic grade school and remained friends through high school and beyond.

Chris's dad had worked for the FBI and was able to get him a job at TRW, where he was put to work at age 21 in a top secret area that involved satellite communications. In the course of his work, he discovered that the US was screwing over some of its allies including Australia. Chris was an idealistic kid and the stuff he was learning pissed him off. He and Daulton hatched the scheme to sell some of the secret material he had access to to the Russians at the embassy in Mexico City. Daulton was only in it for the money. He made multiple trips to Mexico and sold a bunch of documents. However, he was arrested on an unrelated charge and microfilm was found on his person. Anyhow, the two turned on each other at trial and were both convicted. Daulton was sentenced to life but was paroled some years back and went to work for Sean Penn who had portrayed him in the movie. Chris escaped from Lompoc prison shortly after being sent there in the early 1980s. He was on the run for a year and half, robbing banks to stay afloat. He was taking lessons to learn how to fly and was on the verge of leaving the country when he was arrested in Washington State. He was paroled in 2003, married a woman who had helped him secure his freedom, and, it's my understanding, lives in obscurity in Oregon.

It's a hell of a story - and all true.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

92. Pat Metheny/David Bowie - This is Not America

A Great song from that movie by two of my fave musicians!!!

[PRETZEL]

56. Unfortunately no one for me,

but my dad served in the Coast Guard during WWII with Alan Hale who went on to play the Skipper in Gilligan's Island.

[Blue_Tires]

57. Few years back I went to a cousin's wedding in Ala.

Small ceremony, just few dozen people at the front of the church...My cousin had arranged for a friend to sing a couple of hymns, and I thought the big dude did pretty well with them (I didn't give it any notice at the time because I was sniffing around one of the bridesmaids)...

Five months later, my cousin calls me up to tell me to watch that singer try to make his big break on TV...His name was Ruben Studdard

[WinkyDink]

75. I just saw Ruben (with Clay) on 8/08! He has lost a lot of weight; still sings in a smooth R&B voice

Ruben also has a great flair for comedy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVqcPsIiEm0

[Seneca]

59. Slymenstra Hymen of GWAR

Well, a former member anyway. Her real name is Danielle Stampe, and she rode my bus and was in my homeroom for the first two years of high school.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

87. Cool I saw GWAR in 1988

in this tiny club in Chicago they were great fun.

[myrna minx]

61. I went to HS with Rep Paul Ryan.

:banghead:

[bikebloke]

62. Nobody.

I guess knowing me prevented their rise to fame.:P

[Rosie1223]

64. Sheryl Crow sang at my cousin's wedding.

She was HS friends with the bride.

:hi:

[MilesColtrane]

66. Cybil Shepard used to babysit me when I was a wee sprout.

I don't remember it though...dammit!!

[Bucky]

67. I was buddies with Anise Parker (mayor of Houston) many many years ago

She still knows me by name, which is part of being a good pol, I guess, but also says something about how thoughtful she is about people.

[DFW]

69. Howard Dean

A few years later, everyone knew who Howard was, but when I met him, he was a big question mark outside of Vermont.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

70. Nora Dunn, Liz Winstead, Chris Isaak --

Reno, and Les Claypool, to name a few. When you live in SF it is bound to happen.

[abq e streeter]

71. Just thought of one more---Ruby Wax (famous in England from what I understand)

childhood friend and classmate...moved to England and apparently she is a very well-known comedienne there. Fox (I think) brought her here to do a similar comedy/talk show but it didn't catch on in America...


By the way, that's her real name.

[mikeSchmuckabee]

72. John Daly

He was a freshman when I was a senior in college. He lived down the hall in the dorm. He sometimes came over for a drink and a pipe.

He was a hell of a decent guy! Just another kid from Dardanelle, AR.

He was on the golf team. The other guys and the coach were assholes. They ate breakfast together in the dining hall where I worked. They would be there when I took my breakfast break at 6am after 2 hours of work. John was the only person who would talk to a worker.

I'm glad he is getting it together.

[Oceansaway]

73. Kate Mulgrew....nt

[cwydro]

76. Martina Navritilova.

I took her to the airport in my Chevy Vega in 1973 or 74 lol.

She was playing in a local tournament at the club we belonged to and had not yet made her name, nor had she defected, lost weight, or come out as a gay woman.

But I was 16. And I KNEW she was secretly gay, just as I knew I was.:-)

I doubt she remembers it, but I do.

Martina, if you read DU, I was the 16 year old who had breakfast with you at Pat Mayers' house and drove that atrocious bright yellow Vega!

[Ron Green]

79. Dixie Chicks.

They used to sit in with my band when they were little girls.

[XemaSab]

80. Surprisingly I only know one

(There were a lot of VERY talented people at my high school, but I suppose their time hasn't come yet.)

Alexandra Breckenridge lived downstairs from me. We used to hang out.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1020036/

[lightningandsnow]

82. I went to middle school with Shenae Grimes.

She was nice enough, although a little full of herself. She was a couple years older than me - I doubt she'd remember me.

[OmahaBlueDog]

83. I've mentioned this before - Carrot Top

He used to work at a courier service I helped run in Boca Raton, FL. He told us he was an aspiring commedian and had been noticed by Gallagher. I saw him at an early performance at a club called Haggerty's (I'm thinking '89 or '90). I walked out thinking there was no way that act was going to make it -- which shows why I'm not a producer or agent.

[superduperfarleft]

84. I went to high school with the guys from Municipal Waste.

I hung out with A Place to Bury Strangers at shitty clubs in Fredericksburg, VA while they were getting big, but not nearly as big as they are now. I guess that counts.

[JohnnyBoots]

85. John Legend

My buddy used to play bass for him back when he was John Stevens. I hung out with him a couple of times. Really nice guy.

[DevonRex]

88. Charlaine Harris who writes the novels that True Blood is based on.

I know her well.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

89. Marty Roe, frontman for Diamond Rio

I used to cut grass with him before Diamond Rio was discovered. Lead guitarist Jimmy Olander was also on the crew, but as he had already played with the Dirt Band he was already "famous".

Great guys, all of 'em.

[Sisaruus]

90. Maybe not so famous, but definitely accomplished

I went to high school with Alex Gibney (Academy Award winning director of Taxi to the Dark Side), Bob McChesney (founder of FreePress.net and Media Matters) and Ridley Pearson (novelist).

Bobby Kennedy, Jr also attended for a year - but I guess he was already famous.

[Maccagirl]

91. Not my story, but my best friend from high school

had gone to a family reunion in Illinois (just outside of St. Louis) in the summer of '63. One of the people there, a woman named Louise , had brought along her brother who was visiting from England. One of the older men there asked the brother "What do you do back in England?" He replied "I play guitar in a group called the Beatles." The older man said "The Beatles! Son, with a name like that, you'll never go anywhere." Lynn (my friend) was just a little girl but she remembers George gushing about his first trip to a drive-in movie and that he was sweet and charming.

[Rhythm]

93. I was friends with the (in)famous founder of West Coast Choppers...

...back when he was still a bodyguard for a friend's band in the late 80's/early '90's.

Jesse was a good guy then... and i literally owe him my life after he got my unconscious self out of an ugly crowd, and carried me to waiting paramedics. I'd been kicked in the head by a crowd-surfer, and had a skull fracture and a nasty concussion.

Guess the money and all got to him... i'd dearly hoped it wouldn't.