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| Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: oz2252 12:31 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| I’m a first time poster. With all of the reviews for “The Life,” it triggered a memory of mine from years ago. I was invited to a theatre after-party. During the evening, I saw Billy Porter. I’ve admired Billy and his amazing talent for years. Careful not to interrupt, I waited for a moment when he wasn’t in conversation. I walked up and introduced myself. I told him how much he inspired me and how much I love his work. There was a LONG silent pause, he stared at me, looked me up and down (literally), pursed his lips and walked away leaving me standing there in the dust. I wasn’t asking for an autograph, or a photo, I just wanted to share how much I admired him. I was young at the time, a “small fish in a big pond.” I’m sort of a shy personality type. It took some courage to approach him. I understand he could have had a bad day, etc., but I will never forget how rude and ungracious he was. I’m sure Mr. Porter doesn’t remember the young guy from the party. I’m older now, a “big fish in a small pond,” but even in my worst day, I always manage to say “thank you so much.” Especially if someone is being kind or paying me a compliment. |
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| He is......... | |
| Posted by: mermaniac 12:18 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: Billy Porter - oz2252 12:31 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| .........evil and must be destroyed ! Get this: I invited Ruth Brown to dinner, and she accepted ! We became friends as a result. So let's just shrug off Porter. | |
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| re: He is......... | |
| Posted by: kieran 01:17 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: He is......... - mermaniac 12:18 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| My brother is a Ruth Brown fan and he said she was lovely to him. | |
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| Extremely Snooty | |
| Posted by: bythesea2007 09:26 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: Billy Porter - oz2252 12:31 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| When he won for Kinky Boots he at next to me at one of the awards shows. I was a voter and told him how much I enjoyed his performance and happy for his win. Gave a perfunctory 'thank you' and turned his head. Did not expect a conversation but the attitude was very disappointing. | |
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| Narcissism | |
| Posted by: TheOtherOne 09:58 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: Extremely Snooty - bythesea2007 09:26 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| A certain amount of narcissism is inevitable, even desirable, in a star but his is off-putting. | |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: NewsGuy 08:46 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: Billy Porter - oz2252 12:31 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| Sounds worse than Debbie Gibson ;) | |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: portenopete 06:06 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: Billy Porter - oz2252 12:31 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| Well, I can't say that I am surprised. I find him insufferable when I see him interviewed, and the self-regard (which he labels as self-worth) that oozes out of him is beyond my tolerance. I didn't see him in Kinky Boots so I can't speak to his Tony Award bona fides, but I am not suggesting he isn't talented. But I do think his intersectionality of being both Black and queer has benefitted his career at this moment in time and he has embraced his supposed marginality as a badge of courage and bravery that almost dares the public to not embrace his wonderful uniqueness. (In this he is not alone and people far less talented than him are building lucrative careers on such tenuous foundations.) I've found myself talking to celebrities since I was a kid who was a little too obsessed with movies and TV and plays. I can only think of a couple who weren't at the very least pleasant and tolerant of a nervous and chatty little theatre nerd. I don't really want to mention names since I have no idea what was going on in their lives the day I happened to speak to them and none of them were awful, just deeply uninterested in me LOL. One denied being who they were and I have to say it didn't affect how I viewed them and I continue to be delighted by this one actor's brilliant work. I will say that I haver witnessed tremendous grace and generosity from actors such as Judi Dench and Julianne Moore and I personally had lovely encounters with Janet McTeer, Jeremy Irons and the recently-departed William Hurt who, despite his reputation of being rather tetchy and withdrawn, was exceedingly pleasant to me. (This was in 1984 and long before news of his more aggressive behaviour with women became known to the public.) I'm lucky to get recognised occasionally by theatregoers and I am always grateful to be told that my work has been appreciated and meaningful to people. It doesn't take a lot of energy to at least make eye contact and say "Thank you". If they seem to want to, I'll often end up in a conversation but often I sense that all they want is to say their peace and move on and I try and be sensitive of that. You sound like a kind and mature person and I'm glad the encounter with a less-than-responsive idol didn't turn you bitter and angry :). Rise above! |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 04:11 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - portenopete 06:06 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| I thought he was absolutely fantastic in Shuffle Along... I also think he's excellent in Pose. But I saw him in Kinky Boots, with the entire original cast (so not all that late in the run), and I have to say I thought was... not giving a performance worthy of a Tony, is the kind way to put it. I have to assume I caught him on an off night. |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: portenopete 10:45 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - Chazwaza 04:11 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| I'd actually forgotten I'd seen him in Shuffle Along. With all those great actors in it he kinda got lost for me. (Brandon Victor Dixon and Adrienne Warren were the ones who stayed with me.) I think that may be the only time I've seen him live so I want to reiterate my crankiness about him is not an appraisal of his work. It comes from the interviews I've seen him giving over the last few years, after he had become "an icon". This is why I wish I wasn't such a consumer of talk shows :). I'd like to just experience him through his work. (Of course it's within my power to watch or read interviews with him, I admit.) |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 06:20 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - portenopete 06:06 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| In the subject of denying who they were, this actually happened in the locker room of a gym in 1999: ME: Are you who I think you are? BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Yes. I’m Charles Manson. |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Last Edit: Delvino 11:41 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
| Posted by: Delvino 11:40 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - KingSpeed 06:20 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| For a couple of decades I went to an upper west side gym that had scores of celebrities, many in broadcast journalism and media, but actors, sometimes stars (I took aerobics taught by Janine Turner before she did Northern Exposure and entered right wing punditry; Sesame Street's Maria, Philip Casnoff and wife, Roxanne Hart, were often in my classes.) Almost everyone of note was left alone -- small club, small pool, small locker rooms -- but when we got big celebs, like Raquel Welch after Woman of the Year, we'd stare. She would smile back -- usually in sunglasses. We always hoped she'd sign up for the cardio -- you had to, not enough machines. So that we might hear someone call out, "Welch!" Never happened with her, but did with Tim Matheson. I love NY. | |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: AlexanderKat 03:33 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - Delvino 11:40 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| I saw "the Raquel smile" too even under the worst of circumstances. Unfortunately, true story here. I was seated in a restaurant at a table next to Ms. Welch's. At one point two women, who must've heard she was there, actually walked right up to her table to get a close look at the actress. And within hearing distance, I heard one woman loudly say to the other, "Hey, we look better than she does" (which was far from the truth). Of course, my attention and others were drawn to Welch's reaction who nodded to them and gave them a big huge smile. I adored Welch after that. I've often wondered if peoples realize their rudeness when in the presence of a celebrity? I've seen times when people will silently walk within a foot of someone and just continue on. It's as if their curiosity hath no bounds. So I guess rudeness is rudeness regardless of who the person is. |
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| There was serious talk of Welch doing "Lady in the Dark" | |
| Posted by: Delvino 10:35 am EDT 03/23/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - AlexanderKat 03:33 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| Who else recalls that chatter, pre-internet? When Welch took over Woman of the Year, it was covered as a reminted career. She made it work in new ways. I saw her early -- very early, when she went on during Bacall's two-week vacation. It was stunt casting, but she pulled it off. Whatever one thinks of the show, it's a sizeable role, with many play-like book scenes by Peter Stone, one big dance number, and a fair number of songs. Though for my money the most sparkling musical comedy Tess was the short-lived Reynolds, Welch's presence had its own electricity, if not that of a triple threat. There was speculation that an overdue revival of Lady in the Dark would be a good fit. It sounds bizarre now, and to me, in my youth, it sounded bizarre then. Her return in Victor/Victoria did not result in the same kind of "reminted career" talk, and the run was uneventful. As a woman pretending to be a man, she was/is an unlikely candidate. Perhaps that was the casting joke, but suffice it to say, not a good one. Could she have played Joanne in Company? Maybe. I saw Jane Russell, arguably a Welch of her time. |
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| re: There was serious talk of Welch doing "Lady in the Dark" | |
| Posted by: tedlefdes 10:53 am EDT 03/23/22 | |
| In reply to: There was serious talk of Welch doing "Lady in the Dark" - Delvino 10:35 am EDT 03/23/22 | |
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| Raquel Welch played the title character in the film version of Myra Breckinridge | |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: portenopete 10:24 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - KingSpeed 06:20 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| That's very funny! He's a lovely man. | |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: lonlad 09:25 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - portenopete 10:24 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| That's a brilliant reply actually since your question doesn't really give the person being questioned much of an out. How does he know who you think he is? And what if he's wrong? Or you are? Stokes is one of the loveliest people out there. | |
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| re: Billy Porter (and the most and least gracious "stars" I ever met) | |
| Posted by: toros 11:20 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - lonlad 09:25 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| Although it's a completely separate consideration from the quality of their work, the most gracious stars I ever met were Brian Stokes Mitchell, Cherry Jones, Julianne Moore, Norm Lewis, Annaleigh Ashford, Mandy Patinkin and David Hyde Pierce. The least were Santino Fontana, Heather Headley, Lauren Bacall and Alan Cumming, but I'm willing to give them all the benefit of the doubt... | |
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| re: Billy Porter (and the most and least gracious "stars" I ever met) | |
| Posted by: BruceinIthaca 04:43 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter (and the most and least gracious "stars" I ever met) - toros 11:20 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| I second Cherry Jones. We were both waiting in line for the rest room at BAM (different lines) after a matinee of Lesley Manville in "Ghosts." I said hello and thanked her for her work. I especially thanked her for being a role model for young queer acting students--that you can be out and have a career (this was a number of years, before EVERYBODY was out! Joke). She was gracious and humble--classy and warm. | |
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| re: Billy Porter (and the most and least gracious "stars" I ever met) | |
| Posted by: writerkev 06:23 am EDT 03/23/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter (and the most and least gracious "stars" I ever met) - BruceinIthaca 04:43 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| When I saw the “On the Twentieth Century” revival, my row was almost completely empty. (Kristin Chenoweth was out, ugh, so perhaps people didn’t stay, or maybe it was simply early.) In any case, my seat was on one aisle, and at the far other end of my row, also sitting alone, was Karen Ziemba, with no one between us. I nodded to her, smiled, and gave a little friendly wave, then I sat down and opened up my Playbill. Next thing I know, she’s moved over to the seat next to me and says “If no one sits here, can I sit next to you?” She was utterly sweet. We had a really nice conversation before the curtain and during intermission. | |
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| Most Gracious... Lena Horne and Marian Seldes | |
| Last Edit: SCH 01:58 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| Posted by: SCH 01:43 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter (and the most and least gracious "stars" I ever met) - toros 11:20 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| Speaking of the most gracious stars, I'll never forget when I went to see Lena Horne in The Lady and Her Music. I must have been about 14 or 15 years old. There was a small group of us gathered at the stage door after the show, and it suddenly began raining, which thinned the crowd down to even fewer of us. Lena Horne had the doorman bring all of us who were still waiting inside and into her dressing room where she signed all of our Playbills and very graciously spoke to us for about 10 or 15 minutes. It was a very special moment. I'll also never forget how absolutely lovely and gracious Marian Seldes was the few times that I met her. Each of the times I had the opportunity to speak to her she clasped my hand in hers and looked so deeply into my eyes that I felt like there wasn't another soul in the room. She gave her absolutely undivided attention to every interaction. She was just as charming and gracious and genuine as could be. |
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| re: Most Gracious... Lena Horne and Marian Seldes | |
| Posted by: kieran 02:44 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: Most Gracious... Lena Horne and Marian Seldes - SCH 01:43 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| Definitely Seldes - and Irene Worth. | |
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| Very nice - Estelle Parsons actually started up a conversation with me | |
| Last Edit: PlayWiz 02:22 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 02:18 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: Most Gracious... Lena Horne and Marian Seldes - SCH 01:43 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| Estelle Parsons started talking to me in an elevator on the way up to see my old excellent voice teacher years ago. I had pushed the button to my teacher's floor, and she said "You're going to that man up there?... You're a singer!. I said "Yes, and you're an actress"... (minipause)... "A famous actress!". I got a little understated "Yes" from her. Then I smiled, and we started talking about something or other. I remember either that time after my lesson or another time she said hi and was very happy playing with her grandchild down in the lobby. She seemed like a very nice and down to earth lady. | |
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| THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL | |
| Posted by: peggylopa 08:06 am EDT 03/23/22 | |
| In reply to: Very nice - Estelle Parsons actually started up a conversation with me - PlayWiz 02:18 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| Waiting for the Ladies Room at intermission, the woman in front of me turned and I realized it was Shirley Knight. She looked at me and smiled, so I thanked her for her wonderful work. She touched my hand and thanked me. She immediately took the attention off of herself, and told me how excited and proud she was that her daughter Kaitlin was starring in the show. So very gracious!! | |
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| re: Billy Porter (and the most and least gracious "stars" I ever met) | |
| Posted by: portenopete 11:40 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter (and the most and least gracious "stars" I ever met) - toros 11:20 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| "I'm willing to give them all the benefit of the doubt..." That's how I feel. I forgot I'd had a chat with Cherry Jones after DOUBT and she was so gregarious and unpretentious. I got to spend an afternoon doing a scene in a movie with Miss Bacall and she was mistakenly under the impression that I was more of a somebody than I was and she was pretty pleasant to me, but everyone else on set found her a challenge. I really regret not peppering her with more questions about her career but I was deeply intimidated. But I still think it's cool I got to sit in a director's chair next to Lauren Bacall (and her dog) sitting in their director's chairs! |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: portenopete 10:47 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - lonlad 09:25 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| I agree. I met him once at a VoiceOver tryout and he could not have been more gracious and friendly. | |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: BruceinIthaca 07:38 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - KingSpeed 06:20 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| Nice! | |
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| At least you tried | |
| Posted by: dramedy 05:11 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: Billy Porter - oz2252 12:31 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| You’d probably regret not saying anything. And you don’t know what was going on in his mind at the time. I’ve only had two times when I recognized someone (Lenard Nimoy and Henry winkler) and both gave me that look of don’t even think of talking to me before I even considered saying anything. Needless to say, I kept on walking. |
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| re: At least you tried | |
| Posted by: swoozie 10:26 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: At least you tried - dramedy 05:11 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| Agreed. You would have regretted not saying anything. I am also extremely shy and walked up to Sara Bareilles (Practically shaking) during a preview of Waitress and told her how much her song BRAVE meant to me. She was absolutely lovely (as expected) and asked me a few questions about myself. Sometimes meeting heroes is great, sometimes not. |
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| re: At least you tried | |
| Posted by: AlexanderKat 04:40 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: At least you tried - swoozie 10:26 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| I was entering the theatre at the same time as Michael Ball was as they were scanning our tickets. I offhandedly said to him that I had waited four years for a DVD of his from Amazon. to be available He answered he'd hope that it was worth the wait and we both went our own ways. During intermission in the lobby, I was shocked when he and his friend walked up to me and my partner to chat. He said they were both in town to film segments for a theatre program series he hosted in England. I had a fun time asking him questions since I'd just seen CHITTY CHITTY the evening before which he had starred in when it played in London. We spoke about the London production and what he jokingly referred to as "the real star" of the show THE CAR. He thought the Broadway production did an even better job of it. He and his mate couldn't have been nicer. A lovely man. And call it "theatre magic" but we bumped into each other the very next night at a performance of DESSA ROSE. | |
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| re: At least you tried | |
| Posted by: mattyp4 11:40 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: At least you tried - dramedy 05:11 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| It's funny-- my old roommate has a little Henry Winkler story from a bunch of years ago that is like the polar opposite of your experience. They were about to pass each other on a crowded street. He saw him recognize her-- her eyes lit up-- but before she could say anything he pointed at her & gave her a big joyous wave & said hello. That was it. But it made her day & she was happy to talk about that little NYC encounter for years. Just goes to show that we shouldn't judge these celebrities by one singular encounter. As other people have pointed out, if they come off as "rude" it could be that they are just having a bad day. So just know that Henry Winkler probably isn't the a**hole that you always assumed he was! |
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| Henry Winkler. | |
| Posted by: portenopete 03:43 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: At least you tried - mattyp4 11:40 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| I have only ever gotten the impression that Henry Winkler is the loveliest, most affable guy. Even at the height of Happy Days fame I've only heard great stories. Jerry Stiller did the same thing to myself and a couple of friends at a cafe downstairs from the Beacon Hotel. It was 1994 and I guess he was at the height of his Seinfeld fame and we sighted him but we were trying to be cool but he caught our gaze and said "Hi, guys! How ya doing?" With some people it might have felt like a deliberately aggressive hello as if to say "You want a piece of me? You want a PIECE of me?!?" (to quote one of his funniest moments) but he just seemed like a genuinely personable mensch. |
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| re: At least you tried | |
| Posted by: JohnPopa 09:48 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: At least you tried - mattyp4 11:40 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| I know a couple people who have seen shows where Winkler was seated around them and each said he was very outgoing and chatty (before the show and at intermission, of course.) Granted, this was in the last 15 years or so, not at the peak of his fame. | |
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| I didn’t think he was bad | |
| Posted by: dramedy 12:31 am EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: At least you tried - mattyp4 11:40 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| It’s his private time and he didn’t want to be bothered. I get it. Same with nimoy, it was intermission and he didn’t want to be bothered on his time off. | |
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| re: At least you tried | |
| Posted by: StageLover 06:40 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: At least you tried - dramedy 05:11 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| I got that look once from Sally Field, after an evening at the LA Music Center. It could've froze water. | |
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| re: At least you tried | |
| Posted by: portenopete 03:45 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: At least you tried - StageLover 06:40 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| I'd expect her to be quite friendly, but whatever :). | |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 02:35 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: Billy Porter - oz2252 12:31 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| That’s terrible. I have a nicer Billy Porter story’s from 27 years ago. I was a big fan from his performance in Grease. I saw him on the street downtown and told him how much I loved his performance. At the time, he was doing Merchant of Venice at the Public. He offered me free tickets. Then, after the show, he took more e out for dessert. A few weeks later, we had lunch. Some time later, he had returned to Grease while his solo album was out. I met him at the stage door and told him I was going to get his album. He said “you’re doing it right now.” He walked me over to Virgin and waited while I bought his album. I thought it was hilarious. Since then, I’ve seen him around a couple times but it’s been awhile now. My husband saw him on the street a few years before Kinky Boots. Billy told him he was really depressed at the state of his career. He had nothing going. We were happy when it took off for him. I was so looking forward to Kinky Boots but ended up not liking it at all. Still, I wanted him too win the Tony and was happy when he did. | |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: twsct 01:27 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: Billy Porter - oz2252 12:31 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| I suggest before meeting Billy Porter you research the protocols of how to act/behave when meeting Queen Elizabeth, this is what Billy expects of people in his presence. | |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Last Edit: PlayWiz 01:11 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 01:10 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: Billy Porter - oz2252 12:31 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| As an invited guest, with every right be at that event, you chose a good time to approach someone, not interrupting. It's certainly not like you did anything wrong. From your description, he looked you over and... it says more about him than it does you. It sounds like you are respectful from your description and that you were dissed. Keep trying to connect though. There are nice folks, bigger names than him who I've met and talked with at such events. One even gave me an agent referral (unsolicited, mind you) from a party! Sorry about your experience. | |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: BruceinIthaca 02:28 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - PlayWiz 01:10 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| I tend not to approach celebrities, out of shyness and a kind of respect (and I'm not talking about the kind of event where you have both been invited and, presumably, there is an expectation of social politeness). One time I i was leaving a theatre after a performance; the woman sitting next to us who nodded apologetically as she checked her phone and then got up and made way, looked familiar. I blurted out, "Are you Kate Burton?" She looked puzzled but averred she was and we had a nice chat. She invited my husband and me to be her guests at a dress rehearsal for "The Dead." It's not like we became best friends forever, but she was thoughtful and genuine. I'd always liked her onstage--now I knew she was a decent, kind person. And she did a hell of a job as Gretta in "The Dead"! The funniest I ever saw was at "The Testament of Mary," when I was walking onstage during the pre-show (when the audience was invited to examine the shrine). A tall, familiar, beautiful older woman was walking my way. Two matrons standing in front of me buzzed about who she was. As she passed, one turned to her and said, "Are you Dorothy McGuire?" The woman, startled, said, "No! Isn't she dead." "For some years, now, Miss Burstyn," I said. We smiled and each walked on our way. |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 05:21 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - BruceinIthaca 02:28 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| I'm sorry but until Pose, Billy Porter was not a celebrity. He was a well known-to-theater-people Tony winner, and before that just a working actor (which he still is). So prior to being a famous TV and red-carpet and social media star, he was by no one's definition a "celebrity" that one should treat as a celebrity. But unless you're Oprah ... if you're at a party for a theater show that people are invited to by those involved, you should not expect anyone to treat you like you're above everyone else and not approach you or speak to you if they don't already know you. It doesn't sound like he was being hounded by random fans on the street here. Who knows what was going on in his head that moment or that night... but if what was described is accurate, this was on Billy... who was definitely not a celebrity at that time... if that even should matter (which I do think depends on the situation). |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: tedlefdes 10:50 am EDT 03/23/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - Chazwaza 05:21 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| Thirty years ago, Billy won the Male Singer category for the 1992 season of Star Search hosted by Ed McMahon, less than a year after completing his conservatory training at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama; his performance starts at 7:17 in the attached | |
| Link | Star Search 1992 Finals winner |
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| Just a working actor? | |
| Last Edit: KingSpeed 05:52 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 05:47 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - Chazwaza 05:21 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| Billy was absolutely a celebrity before Pose. In addition to his high profile theater gigs, he made several appearances on Rosie and The Tonight Show. He released an album and one of the songs “Love Is On The Way” was on the soundtrack for “The First Wives Club” and it got radio play. He also had principal roles in the movies “Twisted” and “The Broken Hearts Club.” He was also a guest on Oprah in 2005. Then his career did slow down before hitting with Kinky Boots which led to Pose and a revival of his career. | |
| Link | “Love is on the Way” |
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| re: Just a working actor? | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 08:08 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: Just a working actor? - KingSpeed 05:47 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| Apologies, and all due respect to you and Billy.... but nothing you've said in this post comes close to convincing me that he was at the level of "celebrity" prior to Kinky Boots. But even with Kinky Boots, starring in a hit show or even winning a Tony, your level of fame can be pretty contained compared to the kind of "celebrity" that would be expecting to be treated like a movie star with fans and paparazzi around them often. I've worked with and interacted with an truly massive number of theater stars and tv stars and movie stars, both the ones I'd call "celebrities" and ones that are like Billy pre-Kinky Boots and also post Tony win but pre-Pose. I don't think any of them, including the true A-listers I've worked with, would do what that post describes Billy doing at that private party to someone invited to be there. | |
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| re: Just a working actor? | |
| Posted by: BruceinIthaca 07:45 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: Just a working actor? - KingSpeed 05:47 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| Well, a celebrity to pretty small demographic, I'd say. I always thought him talented--loved him on the revival CD of "Grease." But I found his acting wooden and pretty one-note on "Pose" (a show I was not all that fond of--and I did love "Paris is Burning" and had friends who died of AIDS, as well as some (hurrah) who continue to live thirty years later to tell the tale, so it's not like I have no consciousness about the issues). That he won an Emmy for it didn't surprise me--awards often go to a person for what their role or show signifies at that moment in the culture, as much as anything. I think he was known primarily by show queens and fans of indie gay movies (I am both). So, depends on where you draw the line at celebrity. Heck, I know someone who goes by the name C-List Actor" on a website and he is heralded as a celebrity there (and is well-liked, including by me.) | |
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| re: Just a working actor? | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 07:52 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Just a working actor? - BruceinIthaca 07:45 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| That’s sweet, Bruce. Makes my day. | |
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| re: Just a working actor? | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 05:54 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: Just a working actor? - KingSpeed 05:47 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| Another fun link when he was in the closet but very much a well known singer. | |
| Link | Show Me |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: AlexanderKat 04:49 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - BruceinIthaca 02:28 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| My most memorable encounter with someone I'd always enjoyed was with Joan Rivers. It was back in the seventies and I approached her to ask if a TV movie she had written titled, "The Girl Most Likely To..." would be repeated on TV. She loudly replied, "Write those sons of bitches at ABC! Since Stockard Channing has been signed to star in a film with Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson (THE FORTUNE) the network has decided to hold back on repeating the movie for whatever reasons." I mentioned to her that I had made reservations to see her at Ye Little Club in Beverly Hills the following week and was looking forward to seeing her. She told me to mention a very simple name when I was being seated at the club. I said okay I'd remember it yet she literally hit me in the arm and said, "Write it down! Write it down! which I of course did. As soon as I was seated at the club, a bottle of champagne arrived compliments of Ms. Rivers. After the show, the waiter told us Ms. Rivers had taken care of the check and invited us backstage to say hello. Standing in her dressing room were dear Florence Henderson and smarmy Roddy McDowell (who also did the slow Porter head-to-toe routine). Ms. Rivers was seated at her vanity table and asked me to sit in a chair next to her. She was full of questions and wanted to know all about me. I mentioned I was born and raised in NY and she lit up and said, "A New Yorker!, I knew there was something about you I liked." She couldn't have been more gracious and kind. A truly wonderful evening. So to the OP, my advice is to continue letting people you admire know how much you've appreciated them. Hopefully, the unpleasant Porter experience was simply a case of "one bad apple don't spoil the whole darn bunch." |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Last Edit: mikem 11:56 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| Posted by: mikem 11:54 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - AlexanderKat 04:49 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| My general stance is not to say anything to people who probably spend their whole day being stopped and recognized, but I might say something complimentary to someone who probably hardly gets recognized at all. I happened to be sitting behind John Doyle at the theater one day, at a production he was unaffiliated with, and before the show, I told him how much I admired his production of Sweeney Todd, which was playing at that time. He was very gracious. When I apologized for bothering him, he said something along the lines of, "Why would it bother me to have someone say nice things about my work?" Of course, if you're someone like Daniel Radcliffe or Hugh Jackman, where people are looking for your attention all day long, that probably gets old. But before Pose, Billy Porter was not getting stopped regularly on the street outside of the theater district. And before Kinky Boots, he probably wasn't getting recognized regularly in the theater district, either. But even if he had been, he still didn't have any reason to be so rude as he was to the OP. oz2252, I'm sorry that happened. As others have said, that episode is much more about him than about you. |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: mattyp4 11:46 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - AlexanderKat 04:49 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| That story was INCREDIBLE!! You're very fortunate. Thank you for sharing with us! | |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: DistantDrumming 06:54 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - AlexanderKat 04:49 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| I'm enjoying reading about all of these celebrity encounters -- positive and negative. But yours was especially lovely, A'Kat! What a wonderful memory you must treasure to this day! | |
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| re: Billy Porter | |
| Posted by: ms721 03:33 am EDT 03/23/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - DistantDrumming 06:54 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| a number of years ago (pre-pandemic, but during/post kinky boots, i think), i was walking down 8th ave towards 43rd street and noticed a pair of gorgeous shoes. since the person was right next to me at the light and was not with anyone i could see or on a phone or anything, i said something "gorgeous shoes". didn't get a thank you or a polite nod, but rather a look that seemed to imply i was something that disgusting that crawled on their pretty outfit. it wasn't until after they had walked away that i even realized it was Mr. Porter. |
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| re: this story about Joan Rivers | |
| Posted by: Guillaume 06:09 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Billy Porter - AlexanderKat 04:49 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| is one of the most touching things I've ever read on this board in many years of reading posts. What a wonderful story; she was such a great classy lady. | |
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