50 Celebrities That Lived Up To Their Reputation Or Failed Miserably, As Per Waiters

I randomly met Harrison Ford once in Colorado like ten or so years ago. Literally in line at a Barnes and noble. No one was even looking twice so I fonly asked "Am I crazy or are you Harrison Ford?" He immediately said "Can't it be both?" And slapped me on the shoulder as he checked out. He went to leave and turned me like in a "pic? Autograph?"type way without saying out and I just said no this was too cool so he just winked and left. I met Elizabeth Olsen 5 years ago at the airport in Atlanta. I had just finished basic so I was out of touch with the world for like 5 months. Had no idea it was her. Flirted and had a great time chatting. My flight boarded and then I saw her in one of the avengers trailers. Like a month or two later.

I worked in a green room before. I met Michael Moore. I asked him if he wanted anything to eat. He said "I'm good I already had my cocoa puffs this morning".

I believe this was around the time Sicko was coming out.

Michael Shannon came in, drank two gin martinis and a whole bottle of cab. Chatted everyone up, then told the whole restaurant goodbye when he left.

This was ten years ago, but Kirsten Dunst sent a friend in to tell us a big celeb was coming in and needed either a back entrance or a private table. Reese Witherspoon and Lenny Kravitz were both in the restaurant at the time sitting at normal tables.

Beyonce didn’t say much but was polite, Jay Z was also nice, they had to leave because people swarmed them while they were trying to eat. It was nuts seeing people run in the restaurant SOBBING trying to get to her.

I’ve waited on James Marsden multiple times on two different coasts and he’s so nice, super charming and hilarious.

I have so many more, but really only two experiences where a “celeb” was mean and neither of them were very famous at the time.

I had T.J. Miller come into my bar when I ran the bar at the best fine dining restaurant at town. Super nice guy, was on a FaceTime with his wife or girlfriend most the meal telling her about the city. He came in an complimented my martini skills and that he appreciates a bartender that stirs a martini. Very generous with all the workers who wanted a brief chat after his meal.

Jonathan Frakes of Star Trek fame came in to the restaurant I work now. I dropped off his drinks and made a brief comment about loving his work, especially his directing on the latest season of Picard, and told him if he needed anything to let me know. He was beyond gracious, and took time to talk to the workers who were fans after his meal as well. He had a few people at the bar send him drinks as well and be personally went over and thanked them and had a quick chat.

Happy to have both my experiences as good ones.

Not a server, but I met Chuck Norris at a ski lodge in Utah one time. He's shorter than I imagined. He skis very fast. I'm a former racer, and I couldn't keep up with him. Nice guy, and he did not whoop my a*s, just for the record.

Tracey Ullman, Michael J. Fox, John Carroll Lynch, Frank Langella, Jane Curtin

They were all polite and respectful and their celebrity was ignored, except John Carroll Lynch. As a character actor who probably doesnt get recognized as often, I think he actually appreciated when I complimented his work. Also, he was eating alone, so we chatted a bit.

My old roommate served Obama once during his presidency. He had to be vetted by the secret service and he was the only one allowed to handle his food or drinks.

I live near a mall, and when it got a new flagship store Shirley Jones came to promote th le grand opening and came to stay at the hotel connected to the restaurant I work for. The first night she was frustrated, but once we got her set up with a couple Stolli martinis she was so nice and charming. She signed autographs for the line cooks and other staff, always tipped well, and was pretty normal really.

Also, same job. Jerry Springer came into eat. He was all by himself reading a book so i didnt realize at first who he was. This was also well after his show quit running so he was quite older. I talk to the kitchen and say "this dude looks just like Jerry Springer" so they all start sneaking peaks at him. When i delivered his dinner I just asked flat out if he was Jerry Springer, and he said yes, i said that was cool and left him to eat. He was just a normal guy, tipped well.

William Shatner

We offered him one of our private rooms and he declined stating he’d like to dine amongst the people. He then refuses any request at meeting him by both customers and staff. I don’t blame him for not wanting to be interrupted but then take the private room? He was over all very rude.

We have an older server in his 70s that is obsessed with Star Trek. Like wears Star Trek cufflinks and makes constant references. My boss asked Shatner for an autograph for his employee and he refused. My boss then chased down his limo and would not let him leave without an autograph for the coworker. I’m glad he wasn’t there to see his hero treat people so poorly.

I served in the airport so I saw a few. Andre 3000 is the only one I waited on. He's a vegetarian so he ordered mozzarella sticks and the veggie burger. I advised against it but he insisted. At the end he tipped me $40 and told me he should have listened about the burger. It is indeed awful.

I have waited on John Travolta many times over the years sometimes with his family but mostly just him and another person. Super nice guy! Always friendly and happy. Kelly was super nice as well

I’ve met and served a few, none of the people I met were rude some were off putting but still respectful.

Ron Perlman: he ordered a expensive tequila neat, I brought him the wrong one and was super embarrassed he was nice about it though! He talked to me about different tequilas and all that. He tipped me $100 on $350-360? I was working at 2 restaurants (same style) downtown at the time. He saw me at the other place the next morning working brunch, he recognized me and remembered my name. He said I had worked a lot and one day it would pay off. I then saw him again smoking outside a cigar shop downtown and he offered for me to sit and smoke with him it was his last day in town, I was on the way to work so I couldn’t. That was the last time I saw him 🥲

Micheal Shannon: he wasn’t rude at all but very short and quiet spoken. He was intimidating, always played backgammon and guarded his food while he ate.

Judy Greer: her and her husband were super nice and asked me about myself and said they loved the town we were in. I saw her thrifting a few days later at a local shop which I thought was cute.

We’ve had several celebrities at my work- mostly actors but a few musical artists as well. They have pretty much all been polite but clearly wanted to fly under the radar and not have extra attention drawn to themselves. We’ve also had a few internet “celebrities” and they have all mostly sucked. Influencers, who half of us don’t even recognize nor give af who they are, act more entitled entitled than any actual famous person I’ve ever served.

Mark Ruffalos parents live in my teeny tiny hometown in Southern Maine. May 1000 local pop. His mom is an artist.
He visits them on Thanksgiving, etc. The second somebody spots him in town, everybody knows. We all tend to leave him alone, as he's with his family.
Anyway, I'm standing at the cellphone carrier I work for, I get a text that Dr Banner is at the Red Cup(coffee), heading my way.
I sold him a charger. He was very quiet, shorter than youd think and dressed in chic hobo. Kept the customer copy of the receipt that he didn't want, brought it to my bfs son. Told him the Hulk came into my store today.

Lenny Kravitz. Lenny Gorgeous Kravitz. We were having a conversation and when familiar words were spoken in natural conversation, we simultaneously recognized them as a Beatle lyrical phrase, and we both started singing it. Such a memorable moment.

I waited on Dave Matthews. He's very nice. This was in Charlottesville, VA, where he's from and unfortunately he was swarmed leaving. But I did everything I could to keep it from happening during his meal. Everyone that asked, I said it wasn't him. I kinda helicoptered near his table, it was a booth next to the empty bar, so I could keep watch without being a bother to him and his wife. I had to chase off two other people walking up to his table. Tipped 50%.

This didn't happen to me but multiple friends of mine and I just love the story so much... Danny McBride. This was also in Charlottesville on the downtown mall which is essentially 8 or so blocks of shops and restaurants. Danny hit a *bunch* of restaurants that night. He basically ordered some food, ate, then would go and drink with the kitchen staff and then leave. He did this all the way down the mall, happened to at least three people I know from different restaurants.

Not a restaurant, but I checked Joey Fatone into the hotel I worked at. He was really really nice. I told him he was the first celebrity I’ve ever met and he said, “Aw man that sucks.” Which made me sad lol.

Worked at a fancy hotel for a while. My girlfriend dropped off food to Dave Chapelle and the room stunk like weed. I waited on Mathew Broderick and Sara Jessica Parker who were super nice, and their children were extremely polite and well behaved. I didn’t interact with him but the front desk had high praises for Chadwick Bosman.

Worked at a Convention Center:

Lou Ferrigno at a Bob Evans - sweetest guy you'd ever meet. Mainly just ate Breakfast.. talked to a few people. Took a few pics with waitresses and a couple kids. Mainly people just let him eat which I thought was pretty cool. Hung out for a few after he was done though. GREAT guy

Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Randy Savage Holiday Inn/.SW Convention center Steakhouse - Hogan was a bit of a stuffy jerk, but not "bad" in any way. Nash and Savage were absolutely HILARIOUS.. Nash missed his mark doing comedy

Jewel Front Desk, same Hotel - If I never meet this **** again, I won't have to wrap my hands around her throat and strangle her. It's probably a good idea. because WOW.. words cannot express the entitlement.

Puddle of Mudd/same hotel, bar - Had NO clue "who they were".. nor much cared. Almost got fired for calling the lead singer who I STILL don't know his name a whiny little b***h. Acted like he was too good to be there or "talk to the help". IS a whiny little b***h. The other two were band I guess, and acted like normal guys. Pretty casual and funny, tbh.. we were having a great time til he waltzed in. Still wanna choke him.

Jeff Dunham/same - ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS. Down to Earth, genuine guy. Man had me in stitches. Got up and walked up to his own room to go get Walter and bring him down because some girls from a wedding were asking him to. Used to have a picture of Walter and I at the bar before a house fire

Ernie Banks/when I first started there - was older at the time.. but the sweetest man in the world. We were hosting the East Coast All Star awards ceremony. Signed a jersey I was allowed to wear for it that I won at their silent auction. (his) To this day is one of my greatest treasures. Eyes welling up just writing this.. honor of a lifetime.

Jack Roush and their team -
I honestly had no idea who they were.. and didn't until after months of knowing them.
Regular, blue collar, blue jean and T Shirt wearing guys. I knew him as "Jack" and had no idea who they were.. just that they tipped amazing, were beyond friendly.. helped clean up after themselves and even pre-bussed their OWN tables (HUGE ones at that.. "small" groups were 25+) and each group would tip on their own, then Jack would leave a tip for everyone as well. Damn near floored me to find out who they were one day talking to a front desk girl. Nicest people one could ever ask for.

Ozzy Osbourne backstage
* Owner of the Hotel also owned the Rosemont Horizon at the time, and I got to bartend there occasionally and get passes. This is the one that sticks out more than all the rest combined though.
- Tried to pick a fight with the security (literal fist fight) because they were trying to usher fans OFF backstage. Ozzy got VISIBLY pissed about it and laid into them for DARING to do such a thing.. and proceeded to spend EXTRA time with the group after the fact.. (few hours if I remember properly.. which I was in a fecking dream, so I may not..lol!!!) individually talking to each person. genuinely wanted to hear about YOUR life and talk about it.. seemed fascinated by it. Impossible experience to live down. Zakk Wylde, Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman and David Draiman were also in said crowd. Draiman was another one.. absolutely amazing guy.. down to earth.. and fun to talk to.
I HIGHLY recommend "meeting your idols"

The Coup de grace though was George Carlin at the same bar/hotel.
Came in twice. Didn't drink, but was hanging out with one of his crew that did. They seemed like old friends. "Mike" is all I can remember of it, though
Not ONLY remembered my name more than a year later.. but made a comment to the other guy as they were walking in the second time "funniest bartender in the world". Pretty sure the Busboys had to pick my jaw up off the floor. Is EXACTLY the way he is on stage.. he was just the guy that HAD to ask the stupid questions no one else had the balls to ask out loud. Guy had such a magnetic personality it wasn't even funny... could walk up to anyone in the world and strike up a conversation. Did me the ABSOLUTE honor of walking behind the bar and pouring a drink while I sat with his friend and a waitress took the pic. Is probably the thing I miss the most from said house fire. Had it lacquered and framed on a piece of oak by a neighbor.

James Mardsen filmed those Mazda alien car commercials right outside my town. He was super nice and him and a small party came to the restaurant I worked at, everyone was in a frenzy but I was just trying to serve and seat people, boss made me ask him if he was gonna want the buffet or menu since I was the hostess but also buffet server, since we closed it at 9 and James came in a 8:56pm. He wouldn't answer to his name and so I tried to tap his elbow as he was walking and he immediately whipped around and said "please don't grab me" then kept walking. I don't think he knew I worked there until I had to follow them to their table. He looked concerned until I explained " HI! Sorry I'm the hostess and I was just trying to get your attention to ask if you guys were gonna want menus or our buffet? I'm so sorry for tapping you earlier, I was just told to ask" he looked SO relieved when he realized I wasn't just following him around 🤣🤣🤣🤣 he even took a picture with me before I went home for the night. Super friendly and I will always be embarrassed for him thinking I was a crazy fan 🤣🤣

Patrick Dempsey - very approachable and kind. Amazing blue eyes in person.