Did you ever go to school with anyone famous?

[Another Fan]

Whether it’s grade, high school, or college?

 

I went to high school with Jay Williams.  Former college basketball player of the year and Duke and now ESPN announcer.

 

 

Well he was actually a few years older than me but there was two years we intersected time there.  It was a Catholic school.  I hated the place and most other kids there.  I mean I never hanged or even met him but Jay seems a solid guy though.  I was impressed with him in the show Best Shot where he tried to mentor youth in the inner city.

 

I will just leave it as there are a lot of people imo in society that speak a good game but don’t actually gets hands on with trying to help.  It was a very good series 

 

 

Edited February 17, 2023 by Another Fan

[Just Jack]

One former high school classmate, went to Hollywood and became a minor actor.  He changed his first name though for some reason.  Used to be Ken. 

Alex Carl - IMDb

 

Another classmate was arrested and served time for credit card fraud.  He worked for a company doing returns, and I forgot the actual process he was doing, but he was somehow giving returns to his own credit card.  

Carrier employee charged with stealing $350,000 - syracuse.com

Edited February 17, 2023 by Just Jack

[BUFFALOKIE]

I was tight with Mikey Burnett up until I got married. He was/is a madman and a funny MFer. Lost a controversial decision from becomming the first UFC welterweight champ. I actually  called him a couple of weeks ago. Man it was fun to reminisce about the crazy ***** we did.

 

He was also a founding player on The Ultimate Fighter

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikey_Burnett

Edited February 17, 2023 by BUFFALOKIE

[Pete]

Jim Bell was on my HS football team.  He broke Herschel Walkers HS RB rushing record, was star RB at BC, then won SB ring 49ers rookie year as kick returner.

 

I played a few baseball games against Jeff Bagwell- he was a monster back then too.

 

My buddy Christian Anderson was lead in Broadways Rent- he was always class clown and hilarious 

Edited February 17, 2023 by Pete

[LeviF]

9 minutes ago, Pete said:

 

My buddy Christian Anderson was lead in Broadways Rent- he was always class clown and hilarious 

 

 

[Wacka]

Two people in my HS class, both lawyers. one good, one bad. The good one, became assistant Erie County DA.Lost in the primary  for county DA.

The  bad one, cheated clients out of close to $2 M. Caught and convicted. Served some time.  Last I heard of him  (during our 40th reunion) he was out on work release and drying cars at the car wash at a Delta Sonic.He was the guy who sold the house to Mario Williams of the Bills to pay off his swindled clients.

[muppy]

not me. But my daughter attended high school with the first Asian character in the Star Wars movie franchise.

Professionally she uses her full name Kelly Marie Tran. But back then she was just Kelly Tran. The character is Rose Tico. She was a very sweet girl and involved in drama and choir with my daughter.

 

 

Edited February 17, 2023 by muppy

[DrW]

One of my high school classmates was editor-in-chief of one of the largest regional newspapers in Germany. Earlier in his career, he had uncovered that a bomb attack on a German prison for which a left-wing terrorist group was blamed, had actually been the work of the German secret service.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celle_Hole

Edited February 17, 2023 by DrW

[PastaJoe]

I was a freshman at CBA Syracuse when Earl Belcher was a senior. He went on to be the 2nd highest basketball scorer in St Bonaventure history, and was drafted in the NBA. Walt Patulski and Marty Domres played football there but before my time.

 

I was at Marquette University when Glenn Doc Rivers played there. He went on to a long career as an NBA player and is still a coach. I missed Al McGuire and the national championship by 2 years.

[Augie]

On 2/17/2023 at 12:54 PM, Another Fan said:

Whether it’s grade, high school, or college?

 

I went to high school with Jay Williams.  Former college basketball player of the year and Duke and now ESPN announcer.

 

 

Well he was actually a few years older than me but there was two years we intersected time there.  It was a Catholic school.  I hated the place and most other kids there.  I mean I never hanged or even met him but Jay seems a solid guy though.  I was impressed with him in the show Best Shot where he tried to mentor youth in the inner city.

 

I will just leave it as there are a lot of people imo in society that speak a good game but don’t actually gets hands on with trying to help.  It was a very good series 

 

 

 

My brother-in-law a few hours away in Greenville, SC had kids in school with Zion Williamson. You had to buy season tickets to get into those private high school hoops games! 

 

On Prom night they had a bunch of kids over for a pool party. The doorbell rings, and Zion joins the party. His parents came to be sure this was a more wholesome environment than the first prom party.  (I freely admit I could fit into either party.) 

 

EDIT: To clarify, nobody I knew went on to be famous. But even better, some went on to be quite successful without being famous! 

Edited February 18, 2023 by Augie

[ExiledInIllinois]

My wife attended school in Lackawanna with Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. She still has her Grade 5 class picture with him in it. LoL...

She's the one,  first to left, first row kneeling with wings and goofy sweater. Hubba hubba! Pure class attracts class!😆 🤣 

 

I went to HS, graduated with:

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Strzelczyk

 

On football team with him.  Weird, I was lineman, he was wide receiver.  Pretty tragic with the CTE and death incident. Really good guy...

Edited February 18, 2023 by ExiledInIllinois

[mead107]

Just myself. 
 

[UConn James]

7 hours ago, muppy said:

not me. But my daughter attended high school with the first Asian character in the Star Wars movie franchise.

Professionally she uses her full name Kelly Marie Tran. But back then she was just Kelly Tran. The character is Rose Tico. She was a very sweet girl and involved in drama and choir with my daughter.

 

 

She got a lot of crap from “fans” even tho she wasn’t the one who wrote the dialogue / story or the spacecraft charge against Kylo Ren that was like 400 feet but lasted 10 minutes. I hesitate to say that Rian Johnson ruined the sequels, but… he did them no favors.

 

I had a gen-ed class at the U where I sat next to Sue Bird; most of the rest of the women’s team was also in the class, they won the national championship. Passed by many of the athletes at the time but just walked by, they were just trying to do school too. … Childhood best friend has been in several movies and shows. Not BIG parts, but decent, including scenes with ScarJo and Tom Cruise. Cool to see someone you know on the big screen.

[SinceThe70s]

 

Heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney grew up a couple of blocks from me but he's a few years older. I can remember him visiting the high school leading up to one of his title fights.

 

And I was in the same college graduation class as NHL Hall of Famer Adam Oates. A few other players had lesser success in the NHL including Sabres goalie Darren Puppa. I remember crossing paths with him once in an administration building and overheard someone tell him to make sure to let them know if he needed anything. Not sure why, but I didn't get a similar offer from the staff.

[Guffalo]

I went to college and played volleyball with George Santos, obviously I was the backup as his skill set was so incredible that he took up two positions on the court any time he was out there. Sadly he played in 26 of the 22 games we played, so I really never had a chance to show my stuff.

Edited February 21, 2023 by Guffalo

[muppy]

9 hours ago, UConn James said:

She got a lot of crap from “fans” even tho she wasn’t the one who wrote the dialogue / story or the spacecraft charge against Kylo Ren that was like 400 feet but lasted 10 minutes. I hesitate to say that Rian Johnson ruined the sequels, but… he did them no favors.

 

I had a gen-ed class at the U where I sat next to Sue Bird; most of the rest of the women’s team was also in the class, they won the national championship. Passed by many of the athletes at the time but just walked by, they were just trying to do school too. … Childhood best friend has been in several movies and shows. Not BIG parts, but decent, including scenes with ScarJo and Tom Cruise. Cool to see someone you know on the big screen.

I read about her catching flack for stuff beyond her control like you said but also a lot of racial hate. Haters are gonna hate. Poor girl. The internet can be vicious even cruel. I saw this cartoon recently and it fits. Shrug it off as best you can Kelly. That kind of speech is  routed in jealousy as far as Im concerned.

 

Random fact here but where I live borders on 2 high school boundaries. When the new Westview high school opened current junior and senior students got to choose which school they attended.  My daughter and Kelly chose Westview. The Queen and American Idol star Adam Lambert attended   Mt Carmel High a few years earlier which was the other choice. He also was a drama kid and was active with a group in Poway that my daughter was. Small world sometimes

 

Someone famous eh? Yeah OOF the guy in Colorado who dressed as Batman and entered the movie theater in Aurora CO? James Holmes . Westview class of 2006

 

daughter 2005 son 2007. Super smart guy went shizophrenic

 

 

Edited February 18, 2023 by muppy

[Another Fan]

11 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

My wife attended school in Lackawanna with Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. She still has her Grade 5 class picture with him in it. LoL...

She's the one,  first to left, first row kneeling with wings and goofy sweater. Hubba hubba! Pure class attracts class!😆 🤣 

 

I went to HS, graduated with:

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Strzelczyk

 

On football team with him.  Weird, I was lineman, he was wide receiver.  Pretty tragic with the CTE and death incident. Really good guy...

 

 

 

Even me someone who lives 400 miles away from Orchard Park recognized Mark's name.  It seems he always used to pop up in stories talking about Buffalo Bills fan behavior at and or around the Stadium 😂

 

 

 

I don't remember Justin.  Seems he had a very fascinating short life.  You might have just gave me something to watch some night this week that Concussion movie 

 

 

 

[Nextmanup]

Not sure how "famous" he is, but I went through high school at St. Joe's and graduated with Vaughn Parker in 1989.

 

He was an all NY State phenom football player; went to UCLA; got converted to OLman; drafted by SD Chargers; played for many years as the starting left guard for the Chargers.

 

I can still see him walking down the hallway at school, wearing khakis, a button down, and a tie...and being a head taller and way bigger than anyone around; he was like 6'4" and 280 as a teenager.

 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

I love some of these. Reminds me of my one buddy who went to school with all these x degrees of relations of semi-famous celebrities (for example, Terri Hatcher’s ex-husband and Marc Bulger’s sister-in-law). 

[Gugny]

11 hours ago, SinceThe70s said:

 

Heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney grew up a couple of blocks from me but he's a few years older. I can remember him visiting the high school leading up to one of his title fights.

 

And I was in the same college graduation class as NHL Hall of Famer Adam Oates. A few other players had lesser success in the NHL including Sabres goalie Darren Puppa. I remember crossing paths with him once in an administration building and overheard someone tell him to make sure to let them know if he needed anything. Not sure why, but I didn't get a similar offer from the staff.

I remember Adam Oates from his Adirondack Red Wings days. I’m pretty sure I was in 2nd or 3rd grade at the time. 

[Steve O]

53 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

Not sure how "famous" he is, but I went through high school at St. Joe's and graduated with Vaughn Parker in 1989.

 

He was an all NY State phenom football player; went to UCLA; got converted to OLman; drafted by SD Chargers; played for many years as the starting left guard for the Chargers.

 

I can still see him walking down the hallway at school, wearing khakis, a button down, and a tie...and being a head taller and way bigger than anyone around; he was like 6'4" and 280 as a teenager.

 

Definitely famous enough for this topic!

Especially considering...

51 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I love some of these. Reminds me of my one buddy who went to school with all these x degrees of relations of semi-famous celebrities (for example, Terri Hatcher’s ex-husband and Marc Bulger’s sister-in-law). 

Speaking of which, my nephews graduated from IHS in 2002 and 2004 and knew Rory McIlroy's wife, who graduated in 2003. 

 

 

[BillsPride12]

We didn't attend school at the same time but former UFC Light Heavyweight Champ Rashad Evans went to the same high school as me.  We were off by a few years but his brother was in school at the same time I was and I knew people that knew him.  I have met him once but it was years after high school was over.  When he won the UFC title it was a very big deal in my area.  

[SoTier]

As a grad student at Nebraska, I tutored Tom Ruud, the Bills #1 pick in the 1975 (19th overall), in American history.

[CookieG]

I nun who taught me in elementary school was the inspiration for The Penguin in the Blues Brothers.  I'm sure of it.

 

But then, I imagine most who went to catholic schools say the same thing.

 

 

[Teddy KGB]

Michael Cuddyer.    Mets and Rockies 

Plaxico Burress.       Steelers and Giants 

[Joe Ferguson forever]

1 hour ago, CookieG said:

I nun who taught me in elementary school was the inspiration for The Penguin in the Blues Brothers.  I'm sure of it.

 

But then, I imagine most who went to catholic schools say the same thing.

 

 

yeah, i had one who played guitar and sang to us.  Can't remember whether it was before or after the singing nun.  She was awesome.  Oh, and if you forgot your lunch she'd make you a pbj in the rectory.

Edited February 19, 2023 by redtail hawk

[major]

Ricky Williams. His girlfriend lived next door to me at one point. He was very reserved and had a lot of social anxiety when you tried to talk to him. I often wondered if he did so much marijuana to help with this issue 🤷🏻‍♂️

[GETTOTHE50]

Hugh Hefner’s son lived on my floor in college. He was a strange dude 

[BillsPride12]

1 hour ago, GETTOTHE50 said:

Hugh Hefner’s son lived on my floor in college. He was a strange dude 

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree 

[Nextmanup]

14 hours ago, CookieG said:

I nun who taught me in elementary school was the inspiration for The Penguin in the Blues Brothers.  I'm sure of it.

 

But then, I imagine most who went to catholic schools say the same thing.

 

 

That was definitely not your teacher! It was mine!  Sister Mary Gerald.

 

I was taught by a lot of nuns going back to about 1976.  The funny thing is, it was always the generation before me (i.e., parents and parents of friends) that talked about the "old days" when the nuns would straight up beat the crap out of kids!  My crew didn't do that.

Though I did have to do things like go stand in the corner facing it for like 1/2 hour...write things like "I will not throw things at my fellow students" 500 times on multiple sheets of paper, and we even were still doing the thing where you stand facing the chalk board trick and you had to touch your nose to the chalkboard for a while.

 

Without question, a good number of them were frustrated lesbians totally confused and unsure of how to deal with their own sexuality.  They end up hating themselves, and as a result, every thing around them.  

 

In fairness, you had the good ones, too, who actually wanted to be nuns, and were very spiritual people.

Sister Roberta, 2nd grade teacher, African American woman from South Carolina, remains the best teacher I've ever had, and I have a post-graduate education with lots of teachers.  And a genuinely beautiful person.

 

Sorry for this digression, but I just finished my morning coffee and I'm revved up.

 

 

 

 

[Johnny Hammersticks]

Not really famous I guess, but I went to HS with one of the “suitcase girls” from Deal or No Deal.  I think she’s still modeling.  She grew up down the street from me and I was good friends with her older brother.  I saw her at a wedding in California about 10 years ago.  Still absolutely gorgeous at 40.

 

https://instagram.com/mskellybrannigan?igshid=NDk5N2NlZjQ=

[Another Fan]

On 2/17/2023 at 11:26 PM, SinceThe70s said:

 

Heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney grew up a couple of blocks from me but he's a few years older. I can remember him visiting the high school leading up to one of his title fights.

 

And I was in the same college graduation class as NHL Hall of Famer Adam Oates. A few other players had lesser success in the NHL including Sabres goalie Darren Puppa. I remember crossing paths with him once in an administration building and overheard someone tell him to make sure to let them know if he needed anything. Not sure why, but I didn't get a similar offer from the staff.

 

This reminded me of one of the few times in high school I was in the same room with Jay Williams so to speak.  I got knocked out 1 week with the flu in high school and missed some of my midterm exams.  So with a doctors note I was able to get some of my exams re-taken in the library.  So who else is there but Jay this one day doing the same thing .  I just wonder now how he was able to get out of his Chemistry exam so to speak lol.  In retrospect it was kind of funny seeing him make a sign of the cross before he took his exams.  

 

From the little I saw of him he's not much different than how he is today on TV: very smiley and extroverted.  A topic for another thread but I dont think the core of people's personalities change all that much from when they are younger.

 

 

 

5 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

That was definitely not your teacher! It was mine!  Sister Mary Gerald.

 

I was taught by a lot of nuns going back to about 1976.  The funny thing is, it was always the generation before me (i.e., parents and parents of friends) that talked about the "old days" when the nuns would straight up beat the crap out of kids!  My crew didn't do that.

Though I did have to do things like go stand in the corner facing it for like 1/2 hour...write things like "I will not throw things at my fellow students" 500 times on multiple sheets of paper, and we even were still doing the thing where you stand facing the chalk board trick and you had to touch your nose to the chalkboard for a while.

 

Without question, a good number of them were frustrated lesbians totally confused and unsure of how to deal with their own sexuality.  They end up hating themselves, and as a result, every thing around them.  

 

In fairness, you had the good ones, too, who actually wanted to be nuns, and were very spiritual people.

Sister Roberta, 2nd grade teacher, African American woman from South Carolina, remains the best teacher I've ever had, and I have a post-graduate education with lots of teachers.  And a genuinely beautiful person.

 

Sorry for this digression, but I just finished my morning coffee and I'm revved up.

 

 

 

 

Ever see this movie?

 

 

Edited February 19, 2023 by Another Fan

[Just Jack]

5 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

I was taught by a lot of nuns going back to about 1976.  The funny thing is, it was always the generation before me (i.e., parents and parents of friends) that talked about the "old days" when the nuns would straight up beat the crap out of kids!  My crew didn't do that.

 

 

My wife was mentioning the other day how my Mom's and Aunts handwriting is so neat and similar, and hers is not. I said it's because when you went to Catholic school, the nuns were not allowed to smack your knuckles anymore with a ruler like they used.  

[Punching Bag]

I went to high school with Dina Corsetti who has been on Broadway and off Broadway for a number of years not always with credit.  She does musicals and non.  She has also done a lot of plays around the country including in Shakespeare festivals.  I worked with her on Man of La Mancha play, my favorite, in high school.  I do not know how active (pun intended) she is now but at last class reunion I went to many were talking about seeing her.

[Beast]

14 hours ago, GETTOTHE50 said:

Hugh Hefner’s son lived on my floor in college. He was a strange dude 

I don’t give a ***** how strange he was. I would have tried to make best friends with him and hope for an invite on break to Hugh’s mansion!

Edited February 20, 2023 by Beast

[GETTOTHE50]

17 minutes ago, Beast said:

I don’t give a ***** how strange he was. I would have tried to make best friends with him and hope for an invite on break to Hugh’s mansion!

he didn’t really have any friends. 

[yall]

Two of the founding members of Blue Oyster Cult went to my high school, but that was before my time.

 

Larry King's long time executive producer graduated a grade ahead of me. He also had a bit roll in one of the police academy movies.

[shrader]

Have a little fun and see if your school has a wikipedia page.  Mine has a notable alumni section and two people very clearly edited the page to list themselves.  It's hilarious.

[jayg]

High School:

Tim Legler/ NBA/ESPN

Debbie Matenopoulos/ Television host

 

College:

Andrew Winn/ Solo musician and band was Agents of Good Roots. He is also a friend of Dave Mattews. 

Stefan Lessard/ bassist for Dave Mattews Band.

 

Various band members of GWAR and Lamb of God.

 

Andrew and the GWAR guys are the only ones I actually know/knew.

 

Edited February 20, 2023 by jayg

[Johnny Hammersticks]

On 2/18/2023 at 7:26 PM, Teddy KGB said:

Michael Cuddyer.    Mets and Rockies 

Plaxico Burress.       Steelers and Giants 

Were you there when he shot his wiener off in the club?  😆