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It's a fascinating feeling to see an old classmate become a celebrity

CaptainKashup

CaptainKashup

Banned
May 10, 2018
8,313
I mean, it's not a celebrity but my father is considered as one of the very best, if not the best specialist in aerospace worldwide.
He's regularly asked for counsel by the French Minister of Military, the ESA and the NASA. He had multiple meetings at the Élysée over the years.
In 2017, I went to the International Bourget to work as his photographer for his journal. It was wild and unreal to meet the heads of ESA, NASA and a bunch of other very important people, to see them talking to him like friends.

It probably doesn't really belong in this thread but still, it's always a bit unreal to think that my dad is kind of a big shot.
 
Cat Party

Cat Party

Member
Oct 25, 2017
10,403
The few people I knew from high school who went on to be marginally well known all deserved it.

The sad thing is that my high school is somewhat famous for having (at least at one time) the highest number of graduates who went on to die in Iraq.
 
Reticent Rhino

Reticent Rhino

Member
Oct 28, 2017
40
Not quite what you're asking but...

I watched a recent-ish horror movie the other day, and afterwards I went to wikipedia to look up the critical reception and so on, and just out of curiosity I clicked on the lead actor's page because the name sounded vaguely familiar so I wanted to see what else he was in.

He's not an A-lister, but he also plays the main character in a Netflix adaptation of a very well-known property, and some parts in other shows.

I start reading his wiki page and notice it says he was born in the next city over ("oh he's from around here?") and my eyes glance over at the sidebar and notice we're only a month apart in age. I read on: "[Actor] grew up in [my hometown]" and it suddenly clicked that I went to high school with him.

He absolutely did not stand out at all in high school (be it academically, athletically, or even just socially; like, he was so average he was practically invisible). He hadn't even crossed my mind since then, to the point that literally seeing his name didn't even register anything; it was only after seeing that line about where he grew up that I made the connection and remembered him. That's what makes this whole thing so weird for me. (I looked up an interview and he says he took up acting in college, which explains why I don't remember him being into it in high school, and physically he beefed up and grew a beard so that explains why I didn't recognize him from his looks)
 

Deleted member 33412

User requested account closure
Banned
Nov 16, 2017
516
Tokyo
A girl I knew, not well mind you, became a Tik Tok star in Saudi Arabia of all places. She now has close to a million followers. Pretty crazy as this all happened in the space of a year.
 
Bing147

Bing147

Member
Jun 13, 2018
3,689
There's only three people I knew in high school with who turned into anyone that anyone might have heard of.

Guy I used to wrestle a lot in high school ended up getting drafted in the third round of the NFL draft. Didn't make the team though, bounced around on practice squads for a few years. Thickest person I ever wrestled, I literally couldn't move him. I was all state and still felt like a child being manhandled by an adult. I did survive six minutes with him multiple times though, something very few people could say.

Another guy I went to high school with who was a nice guy (we're still Facebook friends) is a pro poker player. He's not super famous, but he does have a bracelet and almost 1.5 million in career earnings according to a poker database.

The last person I knew is a girl who worked as a model for a few years who was on the reality TV show "I Want to Work for Diddy". She retired from that a few years ago, moved to Arizona, got married and had a kid. Works as an agent now, also still Facebook friends.
 
Cantaim

Cantaim

Member
Oct 25, 2017
33,316
The Stussining
For like one year I went to the same high school as Megan Jovon Ruth Pete (Megan Thee Stallion). Didn't ever talk to her but I do remember she bullied one of my friends in high school on a somewhat frequent basis. I still remember finding out in class that she had a youtube channel where she uploaded her music. gave it a listen and I didn't think it would go anywhere.

As you could imagine I was really shocked when I found out just a few years later she became a rather big rapper lmao. Anyway Pearland high school represent!
 
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Hoa

Hoa

Member
Jun 6, 2018
4,295
Fuck names, some folks need to just

tenor.gif


and enjoy the stories
 
Double 0

Double 0

Member
Nov 5, 2017
7,430
In the US, not much outside of my basketball team getting their asses whooped on a regular basis by Geno Auriemma's son's team.

Nigeria wise? My second uncle was on this year's Time's 100. And I met him on my Grandma's birthday celebration last year.
 
piratepwnsninja

piratepwnsninja

Lead Game Designer
Verified
Oct 25, 2017
3,811
Not a classmate, but through an extended family marriage, former Steelers backup QB, Mike Kruczek, is my cousin.
 
Devil

Devil

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,656
Yeah, was in the same class with a guy who is now one of the most popular comedians in my country. He's not funny at all though. Like most German comedians. Old photos of my school class are now even weirder to look at with that famous guy being there as a kid.
 
Kain

Kain

Unshakable Resolve - One Winged Slayer
The Fallen
Oct 27, 2017
7,599
Doggg said:
I grew up with someone who is now a successful director. Honestly, I can't watch this person's films. Too much enmity there. I'll say this person's quite popular on Era, so it's hard for me to see those threads here.
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Mmmmm it's not JJ Abrams then
 
Yams

Yams

Member
Oct 25, 2017
10,841
Wait until someone you dated in college becomes a movie star or porn star. That shit is weird as fuck.
 
CloudWolf

CloudWolf

Member
Oct 26, 2017
15,593
Unless it's about someone's father or something, I don't get why people are doing this 'let's describe the person vaguely and not name names'-thing. I mean, there's no way that Tom Cruise is going to give a shit if someone on this forum says 'Yeah, Tom Cruise babysat me.'

I don't know anyone who became famous, unfortunately. Would've been cool.

Cow Mengde said:
Wait wait wait! You dated Margo Robbie?
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I once made a joke to an Australian friend of mine that all Australians know each other (don't remember the context of the joke) and said "Yeah, you probably hung out with Margot Robbie or something" and he looked at me and said "Actually, yes, we were in the same class in high school."
 
Strax

Strax

Member
Oct 28, 2017
2,280
I was a pretty promising soccer player when I was younger so I met a lot other promising soccer players that are now (or were) professionals for clubs like Olympiacos F.C., Liverpool, Everton and Real Sociedad and many other smaller clubs.
 
Vault Boy

Vault Boy

Member
Nov 2, 2017
2,393
This happened to me as well.

I dated a guy in high school and things were going pretty well, but he was a skater boy. All of my friends stuck up their nose at him, and to my credit I did ignore them, but I just don't enjoy being a part of that culture, so eventually I got tired of it and said see you later, boy. In my youthful haste and because my head was up in space, I decided that he just wasn't good enough for me.

I eventually regretted this decision, because in his heartbreak over our relationship ending, he gave up skating anyway and began to practice full time on a musical instrument. Now, 5 years later, he's a superstar. I saw him on TV and felt a wave of sadness as I watched him on stage in front of a large crowd, slamming on his guitar.

I have many regrets, and wish that I had seen the man that boy could be.
 

rinse82

Member
Jul 30, 2018
131
Someone from my high school now produces music for all the big artists (Bieber, Taylor, Post Malone, Travis Scott, The Weeknd)
 
Trup1aya

Trup1aya

Literally a train safety expert
Member
Oct 25, 2017
21,323
Yeah it is fascinating it's a joy to see. I've known people who've grown to be music producers(friend of the family), nfl players (relative), and an actress(classmate). My wife went to school with someone who grew to be a big R&B star.
 
Sovan Jedi

Sovan Jedi

Member
Oct 30, 2017
452
Southampton, UK
My female head of year at our school was Natalie Dormer. It's kind of funny seeing her on the big screen snogging Captain America, among many other roles she's had.
 
Bigjig

Bigjig

Member
Jun 4, 2018
1,210
A classmate of mine went on to become a pretty well known Australian Rules football player, which I guess is the Australian equivalent of going to the NFL. Guy was a bit of a prick though so whatever lol
 
teruterubozu

teruterubozu

Member
Oct 28, 2017
7,852
Shared a few bong rips with Ben Affleck in college, he was my friend's roommate. I was floored when he got up to accept an Academy Award for the screenplay for Good Will Hunting. Made me feel like a total slacker.
 
Jag

Jag

Member
Oct 26, 2017
11,669
I worked with Judd Apatow in Highschool at our local radio station. He was a year older than me. I also knew Idina Menzel from HS, although she was younger. Sue Bird also grew up near me, but I didn't know her.
 
WedgeX

WedgeX

Member
Oct 27, 2017
13,168
CloudWolf said:
Unless it's about someone's father or something, I don't get why people are doing this 'let's describe the person vaguely and not name names'-thing. I mean, there's no way that Tom Cruise is going to give a shit if someone on this forum says 'Yeah, Tom Cruise babysat me.'

I don't know anyone who became famous, unfortunately. Would've been cool.


I once made a joke to an Australian friend of mine that all Australians know each other (don't remember the context of the joke) and said "Yeah, you probably hung out with Margot Robbie or something" and he looked at me and said "Actually, yes, we were in the same class in high school."
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It's more about poster's own privacy. Even things like high schools can be identifiers and not everyone wants to put themselves out there like that.
 
Zombine

Zombine

Member
Oct 25, 2017
13,231
WedgeX said:
It's more about poster's own privacy. Even things like high schools can be identifiers and not everyone wants to put themselves out there like that.
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Yeah. As I mentioned earlier if you say you went to school with ___, it's info that can be located online and it starts to hit close to home especially if there is an online yearbook. Not everyone wants others to know that sort of sensitive information.

I have an uncle who was a regular on a popular comedy show and people who have pretty prolific jobs in the entertainment industry in my life, but that's about all you'll get out of me. 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
Akabeko

Akabeko

Member
Oct 27, 2017
817
No one super famous that I'm aware of. One friend had had a few minor roles in TV shows. Another had a small part in the movie Rushmore.

My wife went to school with Kelly Clarkson. My mom went to high school with Tony Danza.
 

Deleted member 41178

User requested account closure
Banned
Mar 18, 2018
2,903
I had a similar experience where I had no idea that I went to school and was friends with someone who became a celebrity until I saw them appear on an advert for a UK TV drama.

Then found out he was married/divorced and had a kid with a celeb that we all had a crush on when we were at school. It blew my mind!
 
Pineapple Taco

Pineapple Taco

Member
Nov 16, 2017
1,735
My mother in law taught Clark Duke when she was a teacher. My wife occasionally talks to his brother Chandler. They were better friends when they were kids.
 
shnurgleton

shnurgleton

Member
Oct 27, 2017
15,864
Boston
I was in a band with a guy who was in the band IAN SWEET

I bought a Famicom from videogaming's Tim Turi in a gamestop parking lot in Minneapolis
 

Deleted member 24079

Banned
Oct 29, 2017
3,287
Oh I was in high school with a semi famous Christian rapper for about a year. He has that album with the balloons and the shopping cart. I think it's NF is his stage name. I didn't talk to them so it doesn't really make me feel anything. Got a lot of free concerts which was really cool of them.
I feel jealousy when I think about those who are famous at my age but then again I like being a nobody with my own circle to "influence".
Besides all that awaits you with fame is losing fame and becoming irrelevant and that's tough. It's like being popular in high school and having that as your life for a long time. Horrible
 
nanskee

nanskee

Prophet of Truth
Member
Oct 31, 2017
5,069
Went to highschool with the guy who's in the band The Chainsmokers
 
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