The timing was odd, considering we hadn't really had much of a conversation prior to this exchange. Also, the defense was in the middle of presenting its case in an armed robbery trial.
"Can this wait until after the defense rests?" I asked.
OK, so that's not exactly how it played out. I was asked the question during a lull in the day's session.
No, I hadn't been told I look like Martin Scorsese. (I assumed he meant a much younger Martin Scorsese.) I hadn't really been told I look like any celebrity, up until that point.
But, strangely enough, virtually every year since, I've been compared to a different celebrity. They all have a somewhat similar profile: taller than me but dark hair, handsome face and, not insignificantly, black glasses.
A few examples:
- In 2014, I was told I look like John Oliver. That was the year that his HBO show, "Last Week Tonight," premiered. I should emphasize that I was told I look like him, not that I'm funny like him. Those are two very different things.
- In 2018, I was told I look like Mr. Bean (who, best as I can remember, doesn't wear glasses). This happened on the subway. The stranger also told me he thinks "Rat Race" is a funny movie, which I can't argue with, though if I were to tell someone they look like Rowan Atkinson, the first credit I would cite would be "Mr. Bean" the TV series, or the movie "Bean," or any other project with the word "Bean" in the title. I might actually cite "Johnny English" before I would cite "Rat Race."
- And this year I've been told I look like Waldo, which I wrote about recently.
But I've been compared more to Fred Armisen than any other celebrity. His name has come up many times over the years. I've actually seen him twice in person. The first encounter was sometime around 2009; he was leaving a Starbucks as I walking in. Our faces couldn't have been more than two feet apart. We made eye contact.
The second encounter was just a few months ago, at the airport. We were in the same terminal. Again, we made eye contact.
Two times, Fred and I have looked directly at one another. I know several people think I look like him, but now I wonder whether he's given any thought to whether he looks like me. Do celebrities wonder these sort of things? I wouldn't know, since I'm not a celebrity.
Perhaps at some point in our lives we'll cross paths again, make eye contact again — maybe even have a conversation and come to some sort of agreement on whether we look alike.
I could also ask him if he thinks he looks like Martin Scorsese, John Oliver, Mr. Bean or Waldo.
I could also ask him if he thinks he looks like Martin Scorsese, John Oliver, Mr. Bean or Waldo.
