When I lived in NYC, I worked at
Zabar's - an Upper West Side gourmet / specialty food store. This is the setting for most of the famous people I've encountered.
David Bowie - a true gentleman. He accepted a CD demo from the band I was in at the time, and also autographed the book I was reading. He was with Iman but she was in another part of the store, so I didn't get to meet her, but would have liked to.
Art Garfunkel - down to earth cat.
Paul Simon - down to earth cat.
James Taylor - He had a broken arm at the time and I asked him for his autograph anyway for my friend Alice who adores him. JT willingly scribbled out a nice message to Alice and her husband hates me (feigned) to this day for being able to give her that gift - which still hangs on her wall.
Tracey Ullman - so friendly.
Geena Davis - sweet.
Tony Randall - As polite and gentlemanly as one would expect. RIP
Robin Williams - Asked him for his autograph for my ex girlfriend. I said: 'My ex-girlfriend Lisa would kill me if I didn't get your autograph for her.' He wrote: 'Dear Lisa -
don't kill him. He got the autograph!' He was making a movie at the time in which he spoke Russian and was trying out lines on some of the employees we have who were from there. He had the whole place entertained.
Bruce Willis - animated and more down to earth than one might expect.
Cindy Crawford -
Cindy Lauper -
Mary Lou Henner -
Laurence Fishborne - jackass. Refused an autograph request from a co-worker. I told him to quip, 'Oh sorry, I thought you were Samuel Clemens, a
real star.'
Woody Allen - I didn't meet him but he did wander through the store (a site which he used repeatedly in his films) with his hands forming a picture frame, as though he was looking through a camera. (No joke.)
Tiny Tim - a very large man. RIP
Conan O'Brien -

Max Weinberg (Drummer for the E-Street band) - down to earth as you could possibly be. Met backstage at Conan O'Brien taping. (NBC.)
Patty Scialfa -

Backstage on Springsteen's 'Born in the USA' tour. Melted my heart. A wonderful woman. I like to tell myself she was flirting with me, via the little

she drew on my tourbook.
Clarence Clemons - an awesome cat. Backstage on Springsteen's 'Born in the USA' tour. RIP
Rupert Holmes (Pina Colada song) -
Jane Pauley -
Diane Sawyer -
Lauren Bacall -
Lauren Hutton -
Carole King -
Meatloaf -
Jimmy Gnecco - (Singer / guitarist from the band: OURS). Met downstairs at the Chicago House of Blues after Ours opened for The Wallflowers. This story is for another day - but suffice to say he is a pretty goddamn awesome cat.
A band I was in was on the same bill as 'Our Lady Peace' at CBGB's back in the 90's. Henry Rollins and Iggy Pop were in the audience, but it's not fair to say that I actually encountered them. Our Lady Peace band members were dicky.
Adam Yauch / MCA - (Beastie Boys) Another band I was in played a party in Soho - he showed up and drank himself into a stupor. He asked where I was from. When I replied 'Iowa' he kept repeating 'Ireland??' Nice enough guy though.
Lou Reed - we passed each other on a Monday morning crossing Broadway. I looked up and recognized him, which he must have noticed from my face. I didn't bother him - but as we passed just lightly patted his shoulder to say 'I love you man.'
Okay, that was really dumb, but I was star-struck.
Sorry for the long post, once I started this it triggered my memory.