Nicest celebrities to work with

I had a customer in my store (1996 - 2006) who did 'lighting' for major concerts in the New England area (mostly Boston, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun). The one name he always said as far as 'the nicest' to work with was Olivia Newton-John, hands down. As he used to say, 'She lets me and my crew do our job, and gets the f--- out of the way.' He also said she took the time to get to know every crew member by name, and would send out for dinner for them every night of her concerts. After the show, they would head backstage and there would be a 'buffet' for everyone to enjoy from the finest Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Seafood, etc. restaurant in town. As he used to always say, 'She didn't have to take care of my guys, but she made sure she did.'

Aside from ONJ, the other performer he adored - believe it or not - was Streisand. He said she was just as kind as ONJ, but more hands on. He didn't mind, because she knew about lighting and shadows, and what lighting she looked better in at certain spots on the stage, etc. She made his job easier for him, as she gave him directions and he just assembled. He said she also took care of him and the crew with an envelope 'to split' at the end of the night.

He also loved working with Donna Summer, and explained he worked with her from the 'early years' when she was just getting started doing concert tours in the mid-70s, and he was just starting his career as an apprentice in stage lighting under his uncle. I remember him saying 'it was all new to both of us back then, but we did it'. He said the fact that they both came from the Boston, MA area (she was a few years older than he) also helped form a trust between them.

He DID NOT like working with Mick Jagger or Bette Midler. He never got into much details, but said each one was a nightmare to work with. He also didn't like Marie Osmond (she and Donny would do Christmas shows in smaller venues in my area each December). He said Donny was a great guy, but Marie was a terror - even Donny couldn't stand her off-stage.

He purposely stayed away from all the 'younger talent' - the pop tarts and 'hip hop' performers who toured at the time. In a nutshell, he told me he had gotten 'burned' financially from them one too many times. So he stayed with the performers who had been around since the 60s and 70s.

In 2006-07 he packed up and went to Vegas to work on 'residencies'. I missed having him in my store (he was rather easy on the eyes for someone in his 50s) and he would always drop off free tickets to me if he had access to them (that's how I saw ONJ for free so many times when she played the casinos). I've often wondered what he's doing these days (he must be in his 70s now).

Keanu Reeves

Ellen DeGeneres. We're all one big happy family...

Well, I wouldn't say I "worked" with her, but I was a supervisor (glorified manager of cater waiters) at a few big fundraiser events years ago, and Renée Zellweger was really so sweet. Everyone said the same thing. A few of the other asshole actors there were so over the top with the dismissal of guys and demands, etc. We joked like Renée was about to help clear the tables she was so nice. I will never forget it.

Bernadette Peters

Laura Linney

Julianne Moore, seriously

Megan Hilty

I’ve heard nearly universally, Beyonce Knowles-Carter.

Timothee Chalamet

Thank you, R1! You are such a good writer.

I always like hearing the tales and anecdotes from your store days.

Vanessa Williams is always tops on these lists.

I'm not surprised to hear Marie Osmond is nasty, I've read similar accounts over the years. I know she was in a bad marriage for a long time but some of the stories date back to the 70s before she was even married. Usually people with over-the-top personalities and always joking like her are fake as hell.

Never heard anything bad about Brooke Shields.

A very close family friend has a full-time job, and has worked on film and TV productions for over 20 years. Like R1, my friend rarely discusses the horrid ones, and when she has she never names names. But she goes on about the good ones (Michael B. Jordan now specifically requests her when he's filming locally; apparently he's super-professional, but kind, patient, and very funny. I don't know why but that kinda surprised me.)

But her absolute 100% fave is Willem Dafoe; friend cannot say enough great things about him, which makes me happy because I'm a huge fan.

I'll see if I can think of any others.

Stephen Colbert- gave me the full DVD set of, "Strangers with Candy" when I told him I never saw it. One of the wittiest people that I've ever met.

Vera Farmiga

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Patrick Wilson

Colin Farrell

Keanu is especially nice to anyone who comes up to him/or yell at him that they're a fan. He's pretty quiet with the crew.

Here's another story about Donna Summer...

In late July,1991, my friend and I went to see her at a fairly new outdoor theater called 'Great Woods' in Mansfield, MA. It was my friend's 30 birthday so that was my gift to her. The show was supposed to start at 8 pm, with comedian Tommy Davidson from 'In Living Color' to open the show with his comedy act (he was very popular back then and opened for many concerts). At 8 pm, there's no Tommy - but Donna Summer comes out on stage with no music. The audience cheers and when she gets everyone to quiet down, she explains that Davidson was supposed to open the show, but his train from NYC is late, so he's going to close the show after she sings and tells us we better stay for his act because he's very funny !

She performs for about 45 minutes, then says she just got word from off-stage that Davidson has made it to the theater and he's ready to go on. She says 'I'm going to step off for a little while, and give the stage to Tommy right now because he took a train from New York City to Providence, and then a cab from Providence to here just to make us laugh! " She welcomes him on stage, they hug, and he does his comedy for about 30 minutes or so (and the guy is on top of his game, not missing a beat - one of the best comedy acts I've seen). When he's done, he tells us Donna is coming back out in a few mintes, and then breaks down in tears.

He tells the audience that he's worked with many singers before, and due to different travel circumstances, he's been late to the show before. He tells us never in his career has anyone been as generous as Summer - stopping her concert to let him do his act (and he's sobbing on stage). Most will tell him to go home. He reminded us what a professional and classy woman Summer was - and he'll never forget it. The audience is stunned, and then breaks out in a standing ovation. Summer comes back out, they embrace again, and she finishes the concert - another 45 minutes or so. At the end, when she takes her bows, she calls Davidson out to the stage again, and everyone cheers. (I must say it was one of the best concerts I have ever been to, and my friend and I loved the set-up: Music / Comedy /Music.

The very next morning, Davidson takes out a half page ad in just about every newspaper in the Boston / Providence area, thanking Donna Summer for letting him perform with her. Under a beautiful photo of her, he gives a brief description of what had happened, and how she let him do his act in the middle of her concert. "There's no one nicer than Donna Summer in the music industry " he writes at the bottom of the ad.

Here it is 34 years after, and I remember this like it was yesterday. I still have the ad Davidson put in the paper - I cut it out and it's in my 'Mistaken Identity' CD booklet.

Cher

I know someone who does work for Chelsea Handler and adores her.

Bonnie Hunt

Tea Leoni

Everyone loves working with Rory O'Malley.

I believe I've told this here before.

By far the nicest celebrity I've worked with is Ann-Margret. She was in my city for a few weeks rehearsing Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and I took care of her while she was in town. She was kind, patient, and grateful for everything. She invited me and family members to the show and greeted us backstage and took us on a tour of the facilities. She posed for many photos with us. I had many interesting conversations with her. She was absolutely lovely.

I was an absolute fucking pleasure all the God-damned time for reasons that are well known to my minions.

It's off-topic but I'd love to know which actors were dismissive assholes to your cater waiters, r4

[quote] Cher

Cher is a retarded, elderly prostitute.

Weird Al (seriously - so nice)

r9 a friend of mine worked with Vanessa Williams on a project years ago and he said she was absolutely lovely.

Emma Thompson Jeff Bridges

(I've worked with both of them.)

Tyrone Power

A late publicist friend said his favorite celebrities he dealt with were Valarie Harper (again)...and Vanessa Redgrave.

Steve Buscemi

As I have said on DL before...Lynda Carter when she played Wonder Woman. The TV series was taped at Warner Bros where I worked as a computrr geek.

One time she was playing a scene in our computer room. Our computer was part of the story and showed up on screen now and then.

After the scene was taped, Lynda met all the people in the department including kids of the workers. She was very nice going around to individuals and talking with them.

my stepdad worked with the irish girl group b*witched and said they were super nice

r22 Jason Bateman was... unpleasant and unfriendly. He wasn't outwardly hateful but he just acted like anyone that wasn't a celebrity wasn't even worth acknowledging in any way. I didn't recognize other people at his table - maybe spouse, managers, they were all fine.

Alan Ruck (Succession, FB's Day Off) was so strangely smug and condescending. The weirdest thing was that most people had no idea who he even was.

But, back to this thread... a few others that were at events that were super nice/friendly/outgoing - John Legend and kooky wife, Emma Watson (Harry Potter) was very sweet,

[quote] Ellen DeGeneres. We're all one big happy family...

Let's be kind to each other...

Tori Amos. Never heard a bad word from anyone, ever. She is very pleasant to fans too.

[quote] He DID NOT like working with Mick Jagger or Bette Midler. He never got into much details, but said each one was a nightmare to work with. He also didn't like Marie Osmond (she and Donny would do Christmas shows in smaller venues in my area each December). He said Donny was a great guy, but Marie was a terror - even Donny couldn't stand her off-stage.

None of this surprises me. Sounds like Jagger is as intolerable as his dance moves.

This is going back a very long time, but I used to do catering for concerts and all the stories are mostly true. Raucous behavior, outlandish demands for the sake of making outlandish demands (the story of brown M & Ms being removed for Van Halen is apocryphal), cigarette butts in food, copious booze, substances consumed. Whatever. I did especially like preparing everything for Heart -- they were grateful, kind, and relatively normal. They were also anxious to perform well and give the people their money's worth. A nice note: their parents traveled with them (at least for a bit). They were also very nice and ate the meals with the roadies. Now, roadies can be tough and demanding and just as temperamental as the bands, but everyone was on their best behavior at the dinner table with Mr. & Mrs. Wilson.

I've shared this story before and I'll share it again.

One of the nicest celebrities I ever met was about 25 years ago, in my store when actor Rob Schneider was in town for the whole summer. His fiancée was getting her degree at an art college in my city, and they relocated there for the summer - in a condo right across the street from my business. At first, I didn't make a big deal about him when he came into my store and shopped around. I think it was his fourth or fifth visit in which I finally acknowledged who he was. The poor guy was very lonely - his fiancée was in school 24/7 that summer, working on her projects to get her advanced degree (I never met her). He was charming, polite, funny, nice - once he became comfortable, he would hang around most of the day in my store (it was summer, business was slow, and the few customers in and out didn't notice or bother him).

At one point, I gave him my phone number (there were no cell phones back then) and told him if he wanted to grab dinner with me and my friends some night, to call me - I was usually doing something. Wednesday nights were usually 'Mexican night' and my two friends and I always went to this Mexican restaurant not too far away. I promised him we weren't crazy fans - we were his age, and seemed like we had a lot in common.

Sure enough, my friends canceled our Wednesday night plans the following week, but he called to see if he could join us. Without thinking, I just said, "Oh sorry, we canceled for tonight" and that was that. I didn't think of offering for just the two of us to go out to dinner - I just hung up after he said, "OK". When I told my two friends they were angry - said I should have made the plans and they would've rearranged their schedules to make sure our Wednesday dinner happened after all (how did I know ?).

I must say, back then in his mid-30s Schneider was a cute guy with a very hot body under his tee shirts and shorts. He didn't come across as 100% straight to me - he was a bit flirty, but I ignored him. I probably should have done a one-on- one dinner with him.

Malcolm McDowell. Friendly, chatty with everyone and absolutely lovely. On the flip side, Jill Hennessey (who?) from Crossing Jordan was a nasty, smug twat. But absolutely stunning in person.

[quote]I've shared this story before and I'll share it again.

I remember your story. Thanks for sharing again.

r37, that is interesting- he's supposedly a horror to work with. But most comedians are- they're very troubled people.

[quote] But most comedians are- they're very troubled people.

Am I really that funny though?

From personal experience ....

Viola Davis

Matt Bomer

Whoopi Goldberg (a very long time ago) but truly the kindest person I ever met.

Hate to say it, but Will Smith. He treats his makeup/hair team like gold- we were doing reshoots for, "After Earth" in Utah, and he had a picnic dinner with entertainment on Friday night. Then on the weekend, we had a choose your own adventure - horseback riding, yoga, whitewater rafting, and other activities. It was a big crew too- like 20-30 people.

Conan. Thread closed. I've known people who've worked with him in New York and LA and only glowing reports about him and the workplace he fostered. One who still works with him said that they saw another side of him during the fires. So many people lost their homes including Sona and he had just lost both parents. Nonetheless, my friend said he was "a fucking rock" and never saw so much strength and leadership. He kept the work force together in a manner he'd never seen.

She gets a bad rap on here but Sarah Jessica Parker. I’ve worked with her off and on for years and she’s the real deal. She gets to know her crew and she takes care of them. She knows everyone’s names and she’s involved and approachable. I would work with her again in a heartbeat.

From the old days - Jimmy Stewart and Gregory Peck were both known to be great guys

People who worked with Linda Darnell said she was a doll. Very kind.

I know someone who is a totally normal person, not in the “biz”, who has known RuPaul for a long time and loves him. I’ve always found that surprising. He seems like the type who would only like other famous people.

Ellen DeGeneres, for sure. She’s so kind, caring and generous and not narcissistic at all. Everyone loves Ellen, America’s favorite aunt.

I've worked with a lot of Broadway actors over the years, and they are universally easy to work with. When there's an exception, it really stands out. I've told the stories here before...

On the other hand, my uncle spent his career as a stage hand, doing tours, concerts, opera, and some film/tv. He loved working with Jerry Lewis, who could be a total asshole to everyone else, but was always a sweetheart to the crew who worked for him. He also loved to work with Charles Nelson Reilly (who directed operas) because he was always prepared and practical. He loved Beverly Sills, and always had her over to dinner when she was in town. He also said Barbra Streisand was great to work with. She was absolutely professional at all times, and treated the crew well. He said that in theaters the stage managers would make a backstage call of "Battle stations!" whenever Kathleen Battle entered the theatre, as she was such a bitch that anyone no active onstage would hide in their dressing rooms. She was once in SF and called her agent in NY to have him call the driver of her car and tell him where she was going -while she was in the car with the driver!

Patti Lupone. Until she puts on her Buffalo accent.

I have a friend Rob who was romantically involved with one of LuPone's assistants back in 2019. One night, the three of us went out to dinner in the fall of 2019, and I met the new guy for the first time. He was one of the nicest people I've met, and quite handsome and sexy, too. I had no idea what he did for a living (he just said he worked behind-the-scenes in Broadway theaters) until the end of our dinners.

Jay told me he was one of her assistants (I believe she had three or four at the time) and he had been working with her since she had returned from London in 1994 - so 25 years. She had such a horrible experience the previous twelve months, she decided to start 'fresh' when she returned to the states, and part of that was hiring 'new faces on her team'. He knew someone who was able to arrange an interview, and that's how he got the position. Jay said she had her 'off days' on occasion (who hasn't?) but nothing over-the-top. He really loved working for her. He said he learned a lot from her - business lessons and life lessons. If she was not nice to work for, he wouldn't have stayed with her for so many years (so he said). My friend Rob met this guy when he wanted an interview with Lupone that he was doing for a theater magazine - that's how they became involved, as Jay handled all the arrangements.

When I met him, she was due to return to B'way in March in the 'Company' revival. I told him I was planning to return to NYC in late April / early May for business. He promised me tickets to 'Company' and possibly ask Lupone to join us for dinner. (I remember him saying, 'she'll get a kick out of you'). I was looking forward to it.

Then COVID happened.

[quote] From the old days - Jimmy Stewart

Except for that whole racism thingy.

I work in music. Half of my career at high level positions at large indie record labels, and then into management. My favorite artist I worked with was Mavis Staples. In fact, she's quite possibly the best human I've ever met. Tom Waits was very nice too, but eccentric. Tom's son was my intern at the label I worked at for a time too - such a nice kid. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova from The Swell Season (who won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 2008) are also quite a pleasure.

Early in my career I had artists touring with Rage Against The Machine. I became friendly with Tom Morello after being at quite a few of the shows. He's the best. Super nice, VERY approachable. Years later I would encounter him at various events, and he would remember my name, and would always say hi.

Chester Bennington from Linkin Park was also very gracious after I kind of made an ass out of myself. I was working at a management company at the time, and I saw him in the lobby of our office. He looked familiar but I couldn't place him. So I just assumed he was another manager, agent, or label person. I asked him "Have we worked together before? I feel like I know you from somewhere." He shook his head and said "I don't think so. I'm in a band." I replied "Oh cool, which band?" thinking it was some developing artist. He paused for a second and sheepishly said "Linkin Park." I was fucking mortified. He kindly smiled and said "Don't worry, it happens all the time."

Lastly, Cameron Diaz. She was/is married to my boss at the time, and would come into the office a couple times a week. She was just super cool to me. We would talk about our cats,, food, cars, and my love life. She tried to set me up with her personal trainer. I had been over to her house (Once owned by Candy Bergen) after it had been remodeled. She made dinner (with the help of one of her staff) for some of the team, and a band I was working with at the time. I really liked her, and it's the only thing I miss about working for that company.

r44, Conan paid all of his crew a living wage during the pandemic, I believe for 3 months. I think Netflix might have paid for a month on some shows, but no other production company did that.

Oh, I have another one! Lionel Richie. He was the father in law of my other boss at the management company I worked for. He arrived at our small-ish holiday party, and the room was full of starstruck people - these are seasoned executives. He just has a magnetic personality. After about an hour, I introduced myself and told him I admired his work. Then I told him I was a HUGE Motown fan and music business historian, and was curious why he moved from Atlantic to Motown. We talked for a good 30 minutes about Berry Gordy, Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler, Al Bell, et al. About what the music business was like back then. I was just fascinated. Then my boss comes over (I think concerned I was monopolizing Lionel's time) and Lionel exclaimed "Keep this guy around, he's a good one!" I beamed, and I feel like it's still a proud moment in my career.

R54, as I understand it, he paid them all their regular salaries during the pandemic.

My former roommate had occasion to work with Sheryl Crow at his then job and said she was great, very grounded.

I've not had professional dealings with any celebrities myself (unless one prominent painter who was a witch with a capital B to a freelancer I worked with counts), but of the ones I've met personally Raymond Bourque and Andy Hallett impressed me the most as genuinely warm and friendly people.

R55 Did he mention his time spent with Miss Ross ?

My brother was photographer Matthew Rolston’s assistant for years and he said Oprah was amazing and generous. Every shoot she had a major breakfast set up, gourmet lunch and then champagne and dinner buffets after. She knew everyone’s name and radiated kindness (his words).

I did a good bit of extra and stand-in work in the 90s and early aughts. The two that stand out to me the most are Debi Mazar and Bradley Whitford. Debi was charming, funny and loved to just hang out with us during resets and meal breaks. Just a class act all around. Whitford was just really cool and gracious for the single day I was his stand-in for setting up shots. He asked me a lot about my day job, and we talked about first aid and CPR for kids. I worked for the Red Cross at the time and was a certified instructor, while he had a young kid at the time. Just a really great guy (and easy on the eyes).

R52 - he was a racist? Details, please!

Back in the late 90s Valerie Harper had some business dealings with the company I was working for at the time and she came in often over a period of several weeks. She was truly one of the loveliest people I have ever encountered. Just a kind and very friendly and personable woman.

A friend of mine worked for Jagger (and all the Stones) for years and really appreciated it - they were reliable, professional, good employers. Jagger was exacting but not a jerk.

r59, had a friend (gay white guy) who did Oprah's makeup for a short time after her guy retired. He had told me that he had to rush to Santa Barbara from L.A. for a last minute call, and I said, "I'm sure it's worth it, she's loaded." He replied, "She's only paying me $150." I yelled at him, "WTF, you know you're better than that! You do a ton of black celebs (Holly Peete, Raven Simone, Lela Rochon, Mary Wilson) -you're worth at least $1000!". He said sheepishly, "She told me that I was lucky that I was doing OPRAH and it would be known that I did her".

She let him go shortly after that.

R36 here, and as I mentioned I worked in catering for concerts at a mid-sized city's two venues. I need to clarify that I set up stations for them, providing dressing room equipment, and making sure all the contracts' riders were met. As such, I didn't "work with" them, just provided a service and tried to be invisible when I was in the room with them. We kept that to a minimum. Since the theme is "nicest" I'll go with:

Miss Ross: a bit scattered but she said thank you many times to all who waited on her hand and foot.

Pat Benatar: down to earth, and her guitarist (husband, I think) was super hot.

ELO: nothing outrageous, but I got the feeling that they had absolutely no idea where they were.

Pablo Cruise (opening act for Fleetwood Mac): party guys, seemed to view the venue as a small club, just guys having fun.

Mikhail Baryshnikov: outside our normal contract as a special event, but so intense and so intensely sexy.

Rolling Stones: super-high security, and as a lower level person I did not get the "all access" badge, but backstage only. My manager said they were kooks.

Hugh Jackman

R16 - Yes - I've heard that a lot about Chelsea Handler and what a giving, fun and warm, caring person she is.

Then she gets on stage and you're like - who is THIS bitch?

She's totally different in real life - every one that has worked with her has said this - even on her own late night show when she had it.

Bernadette Peters. An absolute joy. An absolute light.

R36 - a small note about Van Halen's request for specific-colored M&M's. If it wasn't there, it was a visual sign that all of the safety items and other procedures they listed may not also have been checked and verified.

So for them, it was an easy way to see if they followed everything in the instructions. I believe that part was buried in the contract/documentation.

If the M&M's weren't the right way, the crew set afoot to double-check everything.

Kate Mulgrew

John Lithgow

Tyne Daly

Billy Crudup

Blythe Danner

Martin Short

Judith Light

Tony Danza

Kristin Chenoweth

Bobby Cannavale

Annette Bening

Mario Cantone

Valerie Harper (RIP)

Faye Dunaway

Sissy Spacek was sweet and kind to the crew during a charity video shoot years ago. We were waiting around and she asked everyone what they’d been up to and had they watched any good movies lately. She was lovely.

Kevin Nealon is a super nice guy, maybe a little aloof, but it comes with the territory. I met him backstage at a comedy club years ago when I filled in on audio. He made a point of telling everyone “good job” after the show.

I also met Brett Butler when I was writing for my college newspaper. This was right before “Grace Under Fire” happened. We had a long talk about growing up down south and how she was sorry she didn’t finish college. She was gracious to everyone and seemed clearheaded and focused. When I heard stories about her drug use it made me sad.

I was just reading about Alan Alda and what an asshole he was toward Madeline Kahn when they made “Betsy’s Wedding.” Up yours, Alan.

Janet Jackson. I saw her at the Ames, Iowa annual state fair eating several corn dogs (concurrently) as she tried to sing her hits. She gave me her autograph but begged me to provide the proceeds to her since her music career is...well, you know. And then she walked over to the Baja Fresh table.

You’re doing too much R73.

R73 thinks he's me. There's only one...

My friend who lives on the Vineyard gave me a call this morning. Apparently, some MSNBC hosts were on / off the island this past week, for some kind of event going on in Oak Bluffs (where she lives). Jonathan Capehart, Rachel Maddow, Chris Hayes and Lawrence O'Donnell were there as of yesterday morning, though the first sightings of them were Tuesday. Some were doing daytrips, others were staying overnights.

Capehart was staying at rental two houses down from her and she ran into him the other day, walking her dog and he was getting back from a walk on their street - he bent down to pet her dog. She said they chatted for a short while - she told him she watches him all the time on 'The Weekend' - and he couldn't have been any nicer or more gracious. She said he's better looking in person in a tee and shorts than on TV. Keep in mind my friend is very social and outgoing - especially with kind strangers - so it didn't surprise me when she told him she was having a few friends over for a clambake that evening, and he was more than welcome to join them. He thanked her, but told her his friend 'Sunny Hostin' from 'The View' was arriving later in the day, and he had made previous plans with her for dinner. (She doesn't follow 'The View' but she knows who Hostin is as she has family who lives in OB). Capehart told her he was coming back next week to co-host a fundraiser event with Sunny for her sorority, so maybe they can make dinner plans next week (he's staying in the same house).

Yesterday morning, she was standing right behind Lawrence O'Donnell in line for coffee at a local coffee shop. He had on sunglasses, a fisherman's hat, shorts and a Patritos tee - trying to be 'unrecognized'. A woman came up to him while he was in line, and asked for his autograph, and he said, 'Please ma'am, I'm on vacation with my family. I'm not here for work.'

I don't get why people want autographs. Especially in today's society.

Plus, who the hell carries around a pen and paper?

What does one do with an autograph, anyway?

R78 Depending on how popular the celebrity is, they later sell it. There are serious collectors of autographs, still. It's a business which I don't think is going away too soon. Prices vary depending on the celeb, whether they're deceased, and if it's personalized. Most celebrities won't personalize the autograph for you - they just sign their names. A personalized autograph brings in more money.

I’ve met many celebrities, and the thought of asking for an autograph has never entered my mind. What’s the point?

I did get backstage to meet the Go-Go’s years ago, and I wore my vintage concert t-shirt from when I’d seen them in the 80s and got them all to sign it. They were ALL nice, even Belinda, “Bitchlinda” troll.

Timothy is not only nice he’s a bisexual whore too.

Who's Timothy?

I also don't understand autographs because anybody could sign anything and how would you know it's not really that celebrity who signed it? I could get a magazine with Bradley Cooper on the cover and write "Dear (my name) thank you for giving me the best blowjob ever. Love, Bradley Cooper" and claim it was his autograph. How would anyone really know?

[quote]R71 Faye Dunaway — (signed) Faye Dunaway

Could you leave, please? You’re right in my eyeline.

Linda Ronstadt

Josh Groban is surprisingly nice and grounded, given how many fraus throw themselves at him.

Not. Nathan. Lane.

R80 The 'point' is explained in the post above yours. There has always been a marker for autographs, and it's quite the lucrative business for dealers / sellers / buyers. It's not for everyone, but there are those who make a nice chunk of change off of it. Ask anyone who 'stage doors' and waits for a 'celebrity' to leave the Broadway theater and sign their Playbill, which they received for free at the theater. Ask anyone who has caught a flyball at a baseball game and got it signed by the batter, or anyone who had their baseball cards signed.

R83 Collectors aren't that stupid.

How would they really know it's not the actual autograph?

[quote]R87 Not. Nathan. Lane.

I was backstage when he threw a folding chair across his dressing room while screaming at the stage manager.

Aluminum on cinder block is quite loud.

I had a friend who sadly just died this year who was an entertainment journalist for years. He told me the nicest celebrities he ever interviewed were by far Angela Lansbury and Julie Andrews. He said he also very much liked Henry Winkler, Carol Burnett, and Heather Locklear.

I believe it, R91.

[quote]R93 I believe it

The audience had been quiet that night and an exasperated Lane ended the show by ad libbing, “Let’s all go home and pretend tonight never happened.” Blackout.

The stage manager came tearing backstage from the booth and lit into Lane with “That was COMPLETELY unprofessional” and Miss Lanie in high dudgeon started shrieking and then that chair was THROWN.

A few more (I don't think have been mentioned and maybe some are not famous enough to matter):

Michael Urie

Donna McKechnie

James Naughton

Sharon Gless

George Chakiris

Candice Bergen

Austin Pendleton

Lucie Arnaz

John Glover

It's funny to me that Meryl Streep's name has not come up on this thread or on the "Difficult" actors thread. Funny in that I'd think she'd have a strong enough personality in working conditions that would create more of an impression.

Has anyone ever heard anything, yea or nay?

Loretta Young.

Michael Douglas

I have a friend who once dated Streep's only son Henry for a while in high school, r96, and she said Streep was unbelievably nice and down-to-earth. I can't say what she's like to work with, though.

R91 was that allegedy during Addam’s Family. The streets said that show was a war zone backstage

When I worked with Nathan Lane he was as good as gold -quiet, patient, and totally professional. I can't say the chair incident never happened, but I can say it never happened around me.

Hugh Grant said he loved working with Streep

I've never heard an actor who worked with her, speak against Streep. But I guess she's also not someone who will necessarily get to know all the crew's names.

I told this story before, but a friend who is a neighbor of Streep in Pasadena was invited to a dinner party at her house. He got there early with a bottle of wine. Meryl opened the door and she had her hair in a kerchief and she was vacuuming. Friend was flabbergasted and said "honey go upstairs and get ready, I'll finish vacuuming."

Did Streep abandon Connecticut after the Streeplets flew the nest and the divorce was finalized?

A very good friend of mine was an entertainment journalist for many years at Conde Nast. When House of Cards premiered in 2013, he interviewed Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright together. They were doing a lot of press, and none of his colleagues heard anything bad about them - easy interviews and they seemed very pleasant and accommodating.

AS soon as they met him, he could tell it was trouble. He said the two of them moved their chairs far apart (they met in a hotel lounge in the early morning when no one was there) and the two wouldn't even look at each other. He would ask a question, and the two of them took turns answering - when KS answered, RW would either roll her eyes, or yawn while he was talking. When RW was talking, Spacey would adjust himself in his chair and have his back turned toward her as he played on his phone. At times, they contradicted each other - for example, a question was asked, RW would answer, then KS would respond, 'That's odd. I remember that incident very differently...' This would upset RW.

My friend said this was one of the strangest interview experiences he ever had with celebrities.

R72 here. I just asked a friend the same question, since he worked as a caterer on Chicago and LA productions.

He LOVED Nora Dunn. Says she was kind to everyone and so damn funny. The younger people on set loved her.

Danny DeVito is another favorite of his.

He worked on Wildcats, the Goldie Hawn movie, when he was in college. He liked Goldie, didn’t like Woody Harrelson, and thought Wesley Snipes was so handsome.

I'd heard that some of Streep's Connecticut neighbors referred to her as "that nasty woman," but I've never heard a bad word about her from anyone in the industry or any fans that have met her at an event. If she has an asshole side, she appears to be quite good at keeping it locked down in professional situations.

[quote]and thought Wesley Snipes was so handsome.

He is indeed in person. He came in to my store a few times when he was filming a movie in my city. Not the friendliest guy, but when he was in the store, I think every male customer - gay or straight - was walking around with a boner in their pants, including me.

John Larroquette

[quote]R100 was that allegedy during Addam’s Family. The streets said that show was a war zone backstage

No, this was an Off Broadway musical just before he hit it big. [italic]In a Pig’s Valise [/italic]with a score by Kid Creole.

That story makes me like Robin Wright even more, r106.

Doris Day loved working with Rock Hudson, James Garner, and Jimmy Cagney

She said Cary Grant was distant

Tracey Ullman all the way!

R50 I probably don't understand the joke, but what do you mean by "puts on her Buffalo accent"--?

R70 I didn't work with him but I hung out with him in Williamstown and James Naughton was a very nice guy. Dana Reeve, same.

Adam Sandler. A million times over.

Hate his movies, love him.

R108, that’s total bullshit. She lives nearby (not sure if she’s still around) but her rep has been stellar up here.

Maybe the people telling me that rumor were wrong about it. I've never met the woman, nor heard any horror stories with details.

R119 So you just made it up.

We might not want to be so casual with peoples’ reputations. Just saying.

Small Meryl story: years back, the hostess of a local Litchfield County restaurant said Meryl had just been in. There is no cell service there so Meryl came to the hostess stand and was apologetic while asking if she could possibly borrow their phone for a very quick call. The hostess told us, I mean, cripe, it was Meryl so she could do whatever she wanted, but she was so unassuming and just lovely. No entitlement there.

She’s also been spotted bagging her own groceries at LaBonne’s market.

I agree about James Naughton. I think my first-ever Datalounge post, oh so many years ago, was about meeting him at the theatre after a performance of Chicago. I was there with a friend who was dating one of the chorus boys, so we were hanging out afterward. When Naughton came out to go home I gathered my courage and told him that back in his Planet of the Apes days he was my first childhood crush. Instead of being taken aback, he gave me a hug and said, "Aw, thanks," or something like that. I was ten feet off the ground -both for the hug and the acceptance.

Nathan Lane is simply not funny. He is one these people who need to project funniness and thus are unfunny.

I worked with Brooke Shields and she was absolutely lovely and completely professional.

If we throw in Broadway performers, Gwen and Chita were very much beloved by the people they worked with.

Rachel Reilly

[quote] We might not want to be so casual with peoples’ reputations. Just saying.

Absolutely! What do people think this is: some sort of gossip forum?

I had a very pleasant time interviewing Joan Collins. She couldn't have been nicer.

r123: Thats a very astute observation. Lane is always "on".

[quote]Nathan Lane is simply not funny. He is one these people who need to project funniness and thus are unfunny.

Try working with him. You'll soon find out just how unfunny he can be.

[quote]Nathan Lane is simply not funny. He is one these people who need to project funniness and thus are unfunny.

This is a perfect description of how I always felt about Tim Conway. He would take hackneyed material and pummel away at it until it became torture to watch. I stopped watching the Carol Burnett show once he became a regular.

R131 Remember on The Carol Burnett Show, it was always his skits that would make Harvey Korman (and sometimes others) bust up and laugh? I always assumed they were fake laughing because they felt sorry for him. (I'm totally serious. I was a kid).

What a great reaction, R132. Carol Burnett claims to this day that their constant breaking each other up was never intentional. I never believed her. They began to do it more and more until it was pretty much constant, because her audiences apparently found it hilarious. I found it unprofessional and tiresome. Carol Burnett was very talented in her own right and certainly had the concentration not to break up. She and the others were doing it deliberately because audiences seemed to enjoy it. Carol Burnett was talented, but she didn't always have the best taste, and many of her old sketches are unwatchable now. Also to this day, she maintains that Tim Conway was the funniest man she ever worked with. Maybe she's just being defensive because she knows he was a hack.

I watched The Carol Burnett show for two reasons: Lyle Waggoner and Ken Berry's ass.

Ken Berry was such a square.

Add Robin Williams to the list of those who was always "on."

God I hated him.

R135

[quote]Add Robin Williams to the list of those who were always "on."

I never found those stream of consciousness rants he would always do on talk shows funny or entertaining in the least.

Meghan MyFather McCain is a joy to work with. A joy. She's thoughtful, understanding, gracious and engaging with her hired help. I encourage everyone to grab the opportunity to work for her and join me, if you have the chance. Trust me, I speak from years of experience.

Nobody knows who the fuck Megan McCain is except fat fraus and a few old queens who watch that shit henfest show.

The only ones who don't know who McCain is are part of Generation Alpha.

No r141.

Lorne Michaels was not a fan of The Carol Burnett Show.

R125, I never met Verdon, but I met Chita a few times. As kind and as warm and happy as it gets. Or got, in this case.

John Kander, sweet man Liza Minnelli, very kind to me Lansbury, accessible elegance Donna Murphy, very kind and quite friendly Julie Andrews, very funny and gracious Audra McDonald, classy, kind, professional, appropriately guarded

I’ve worked with Kathy Bates a couple of times at events, and she couldn’t be more normal and nice.

I haven’t worked with her, but I did meet Delta Goodrem after two performances of “Cats” nearly a decade ago. She couldn’t have been more gracious with those who waited at the stage door.

At the second performance, she actually recognised us during the curtain call and smiled and waved.

Nathan Lane seems like the type of "comedian" that lives or dies based on the material (written by others, of course).

Sally Fields said that James Garner was the best kisser she'd had. No receipts, just something I remembered.

I've read from many people who have worked with her that Kylie Minogue is wonderful. She treats everyone with kindness and respect, from fellow celebrities to the crews who help put together her shows.

R143 Lorne is a conservative brownnoser who gets by on goodwill from the first five seasons. A LOT of people have stories, but many are being kind due to his standing in the business for now.

And Burnett at least knew when to pull the plug. Talk about pummeling something until it became torture you watch, SNL is the textbook definition of that. There going to be having Lorne's memorial at 30 Rock. Watch.

I had heard that when Lorne didn't like something the original cast did, he started humming the Laugh-In theme.

R147. You’ve just defined “actor,” as if there is something dishonest about performing the words of others. Granted, he may not provide attribution for the jokes and stories he tells on talk shows, but his delivery is so consciously performative that you know much or most of it has been prepared in advance. He’s a comic actor not a stand-up comedian (most of whom also have writers to some extent).

[quote]Add Robin Williams to the list of those who was always "on." God I hated him.

Super weird that you posted this--I was JUST talking to ChatGPT yesterday about how unfunny and downright exhausting I've always found his schtick. I was watching Robin talk to Charlie Rose about his movie One Hour Photo and Charlie was CRYING laughing at literally everything Robin said as I sat here completely stone-faced and befuddled as to what exactly was so funny. Robin always seemed so manic and DESPERATE to be the center of attention which I find obnoxious and annoying. You could tell the director was annoyed with Robin too and it took all the energy he had to fake a half-smile as Robin dominated the 35-minute interview with his childish antics.

R148 I believe she said that when Howard Stern interviewed her.

F I E L D

NO ESS NO PLURAL

Sally Field shilled toxic/crippling Big Pharma drugs to old people. Fuck her.

R34 "Tori Amos. Never heard a bad word from anyone, ever".

Tori was being interviewed on a UK C4 Sunday chat show trying to say how her dad took her to gay clubs to gig (perhaps not realising himself). The total twat presenter/jumped-up sports pundit Tim Lovejoy cries - "that's so hilarious with The Village people all around singing YMCA".

Tori was speechless, stopped talking and glared at him for the homophobe he his.

R157, what an idiot. That's such a stupid comment. Tori has always come across as a genuine ally and friend to gays despite (or maybe because of) her Christian upbringing. At the same time, as you mentioned, her dad was bringing her to gay bars, so I wonder how genuinely religious her family was.

r136,r138, r153:

He was UNBEARABLE for all the reasons you all cited.

Of course, since his death he has been canonized as a spokesperson for depression, and "Oh-how-we-miss-his-magic" blather.

I have no idea how people don't mute the tv when watching more than five minutes of Mork and Mindy. Completely unbearable. I do like his acting in dramatic roles like Jumanji, Good Will Hunting and Law and Order: svu.

Robin Williams' antics always wore me out, but he was an extremely talented dramatic actor and was apparently beloved by everyone who worked with him. I've only heard stories about how kind and helpful he was to people.

I worked with Alan Cumming on a police procedural he did for CBS, and he was the sweetest man. Down to earth, funny, and a joy to be around.

Earlier today I posted about Robert Loggia on the "other" thread as one of the nicest celebrities I worked with. He replaced Rip Torn, who was one of the nastiest, on a TV pilot (unsold) I was on. But Loggia was a true gent, and very sexy even in older age (this was in the late 90s). Also, one of the nicest - Jill Clayburgh - who played his wife.

RIP to both of them.

And also James LeGros, who happened to be Robert Loggia's son-in-law. Sweet and adorable, should have a bigger career.

I can't believe people are still calling her Sally Fields.

^^People are fucking morons.

I always thought Robin Williams was totally unfunny. I sat there watching Johnny Carson laughing so hard at him and was baffled.

My friends all thought he was hilarious. If I even hinted for one second he wasn't a total comic genius, they would think I had lost my mind. "Come on, What about when he said...? So it was one of the times I just gave up and went along. "Wasn't Robin Williams amazing on Carson last night? I laughed till I almost pissed myself." "Yeah, oh, yeah, he was great..."

Nathan Lane on late night talk shows comes across as Bob Hope circa 1968—rattling off written material filled with current references you wonder if he even understands—and just as unfunny. As noted above, he is an actor, usually comic, not a stand-up comedian. He should ditch this routine and come on as himself. I imagine he could be interesting just as Nathan Lane and, though notoriously glum, probably even get a genuine laugh now and again.

Nathan Lane has been a miserable alcoholic for many, many years.

I've mentioned this on another thread, but I work in the sports industry, and these are some folks who stood out to me:

1) Steph Curry - an absolute sweetheart. Genuinely nice guy.

2) Brock Purdy - shy, but very nice to everyone.

3) Kristie Yamaguchi - so nice and respectful. Looks absolutely amazing at 54.

3) Draymond Green - every bit the dick you'd expect him to be.

R147 I thought Lane was quite good in “Only Murders in the Building.”

More modulated than usual.

He was fairly good in a dramatic hardboiled police detective role in that Penny Dreadful spinoff series, too. Not what I was used to seeing from him, but comedic actors tend to make the switch to good dramatic roles more often than the reverse.

[quote]I can't believe people are still calling her Sally Fields.

Fucking idiots!

W. C. Field

What's yer problem??

[quote]R161 Robin Williams' antics always wore me out, but he was an extremely talented dramatic actor

He’s good in his unbilled cameo in DEAD AGAIN (1991)

Wasn’t he a Juilliard drop out? I wonder why he left.

Robin Williams' comedy always made me cringe, but he was selected by Johnny Carson as a guest (with Bette Midler) on his last show. That's something.

R176 I didn't get either choice. Yes, Bette sang him off beautifully but I didn't know there was any connection to either her or Robin.

R177, Here's Robin's first appearance with Johnny Carson. I just watched Bette's second appearance with him, where he told her she'd be a star.

Robin Williams Makes an Insane First Appearance | Carson Tonight Show

[Quote]Yes - I've heard that a lot about Chelsea Handler and what a giving, fun and warm, caring person she is.

[Quote]Then she gets on stage and you're like - who is THIS bitch?

I also know someone who has worked with Handler and has said the same. She's basically the opposite of Ellen DeGeneres in that her act is being a biting, boozy, dumb cunt, but behind the scenes she's a lovely, warm, deeply loyal person.

When I learned this it finally made sense why she had so many super close friendships with A-list celebs who seemed like they shouldn't even be giving her the time of day.

R179, I also found Chelsea really funny when she would comment on political things. I generally don't find her funny but she was when discussing Trump. The fact that she's the opposite of Ellen makes me like her even more.

I never thought Robin or Whoopi were funny and I loathe their comedic movies. However, I think both are exceptional dramatic actors and Whoopi was definitely Oscar worthy in The Color Purple.

Whoopi was also very believable in Girl, Interrupted

Was Whoopi deserving of her Oscar for Ghost?

R183 No, but that's a whole other thread.

R183 The imbecile Sara Haines seems to think so, and reminds us all every chance she gets on 'The View' each day. Lest we forget.

Ghost was a piece of shit. Demi Moore looked like a little boy with that haircut.

no longer with us, but Joan Rivers. I dealt with her a few times.. always professional, polite, direct.. no drama and a very intelligent woman.. rest in peace.

R187, I know people who dealt with her and Edgar on Fox's Late Show and unilaterally say they were the most miserable people ever. They burned their bridges with Carson and NBC and decided they needed to burn them with Fox and everyone associated with them.

just goes to show, r188, we are all different in different situations. I dealt with her in the early 2000;s so those days of the fox show were well behind her.

Robin Williams' antics always wore me out...

Period!

A friend was getting a divorce waaay back in the day and she had the same attorney as Robin Williams. He tended to leave as she was coming in. This was when his marriage to the ballerina ended. She said he was really quiet, really sad, and just mumbled thanks to the staff as he’d leave each time.

R183 Not really, but they threw her a bone because of the travesty of her losing for "The Color Purple."

R186, I really hated that short haircut too even though many think it was "iconic". It made her look like she had Peter Pan syndrome or something.

R169, have you ever met Blake Griffin? I don’t follow sports at all, but I love that guy. He’s so fucking hot.

R194 I have not, unfortunately.

I would love to have seen Whoopi win the Oscar for The Color Purple but she lost to Geraldine Page who was also deserving not to mention a brilliant actor.

Did you also hate the short haircut on Louise Brooks?

R194 Hot damn, that guy is gorgeous ! Does he need a 'personal assistant' to draw him his bath ? I'm available.

[quote]I was backstage when he threw a folding chair across his dressing room while screaming at the stage manager. [quote]

Many comedic actors have a very somber to sullen off stage presence.

As the saying goes "Miss Ball is not funny at home"

[quote]R197 Did you also hate the short haircut on Louise Brooks?

Louise Brooks was incandescent.

Just about any movie star before 1970 was nicer to work with than anybody today. I was just thinking about what nice people Paul Newman and Robert Redford were. They really gave back too. And their kids didn’t insist on becoming models and actors.

R196: Geraldine Page was a totally, unwatchable hambone in "Trip to Bountiful".

R201, assholes existed back then, too

It was easier to get away with shit in the pre-tabloid, pre-internet era

[quote]My friend who lives on the Vineyard gave me a call this morning.

I hope if your friend sees Alan Dershowitz, she screams "PEDO!" at him (or Perv, Creepy- that works too!)

R202 Was this the general opinion, or just yours?

Not R202 but Page has always been a ham. Cicely Tyson did the same role and defined it.

[quote] Geraldine Page was a totally, unwatchable hambone in "Trip to Bountiful". [quote]

Disagree, the CHARACTER was a ham bone, a child in an elderly woman's body. Page was fearless and accurate in her pretty fucking brilliant portrayal

Love Keith Richards.

Lilian Gish originated the role on TV in 1953 (with Eva Marie Saint)

....

I was just going to post..........you can be certain in the original 1953 teleplay Miss Lillian Gish was anything but hammy.

Actually, speaking of Lillian Gish, she very much belongs amongst the "nicest celebrities" and that's saying something with her pedigree. I can't remember ever hearing a word against her, even from Bette Davis.

R99, did your friend ever tell you about Henry's cock? He's the only of Meryl's brood who's actually sexy.

I just looked up pictures of Henry Wolfe - Is Robert De Niro his real father? He's the spitting image of him, and no resemblance at all to Streep's husband.

Just sayin'...

r186 Ghost was not a piece of shit and Demi did not in fact resemble a little boy.

Jim Parsons is a Texas gentleman.

It doesn't matter how nice you are if you smell like a goat.

The greatest of all time?

[quote] Was Whoopi deserving of her Oscar for Ghost?

In all honesty, yes.

Whoopi’s comic performance and the odd couple chemistry with Patrick Swayze is what makes the movie worth watching.

Miss Eugene Daniels is in the house ! My friend from Martha's Vineyard says Eugene Daniels has been there this week at a free public forum. Last night, Daniels headlined a panel under the theme of 'Guardians of Truth: Protecting America’s 4th Estate in an Era of Crisis'. She said he was very nice, the panel was very informative, and later he posed for photos and chatted with the audience members (including her). He was very polite, and kept thanking everyone for 'getting away from the beach and joining us' at this lecture on one of the hottest days of the summer. She took a number of photos with him, all dressed in beige (signature look with the turtleneck and jacket). I have to say, he looks incredibly good up close in those photos. I'd do him in a heartbeat if I was out there.

Jim Parsons and David Hyde Pierce.

Sean Hayes, less so.

R221, is Sean Hayes notoriously difficult?

He’s kind of a cunt, you can tell from that awful podcast he does with the other two cunts.

[quote]R220 He looks incredibly good up close in those photos. I'd do him in a heartbeat if I was out there.

But… the man is married (?)

R220 I just can't with her Jheri Curl hair.

More queen than Bey herself. I’ll stick to watching him on WWiR.

P.S. he’s a terrible leader at the WHCA—spineless