Mike York was in line in front of me at a supermarket back around 2001 in Berkeley. Spike Jonze did that parody chocolate milk commercial with him way back in Goldfish, so I thought it might be funny to him if I started with "Hey! Didn't I see you in a commercial for that delicious Chocolate Pow?" Only I forgot the name and thought Jonze used the word Yoohoo instead of Chocolate Pow, so I say that to him instead. He gave me the most puzzled look, denied any involvement, and started laughing as he turned away and put his giant headphones back on. Had to awkwardly stand behind him in line, which is when it occurred to me that I mixed the names up.
Another time, Ed Templeton and his wife happened to be entering a mall as I was leaving in 2014. Random to see him there because it's the most expensive mall in Orange County. I was dressed kinda formal for work on my lunch break, and I must have looked like some random wealthy dude out shopping. So when they walk by, I said in the most casual tone "Hi Ed." He gave out this really confused, high-pitched "Uh, hi?!" As I was walking away, I actually heard Dianne whisper something like "He probably saw you on that TV show!" and they both started laughing and acting genuinely amazed that I recognized him. Little did he know I was shredding next to him at the skatepark a few days prior.
My first time in Barcelona I ran into Stevie Williams at MACBA. I cringe just remembering this one...I stupidly assumed it was his first time visiting, and thought I was being helpful by telling him what to look out for because of all the theft in the area. Me, from the mean streets of suburbia, giving advice to Philly native Stevie Williams on how to navigate those dangerous streets. Stevie was really gracious about, looking back. He even humored me a little bit, said something like "Oh yeah? For real?"