Mark's Autographs: June 2016

Sunday, 19 June 2016

RIP Anton Yelchin

Very sad to hear of the sudden passing of the talented Anton Yelchin today. I had the opportunity to meet him a few years ago at the Toronto International Film Festival when he was there for the premiere of Only Lovers Left Alive. We met him coming off an early morning flight and he was clearly groggy but still took the time to sign for us and pose for pictures. A real class act.

TTM Success - Actress Danielle Brooks

Danielle Brooks is an actress best know for playing Taystee Jefferson in the Netflix series Orange is the New Black. In 2015, she made her Broadway debut portraying Sofia in The Color Purple which earned her a 2016 Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.

She signed the photo I sent her and returned it in my SASE in 17 days.

The address is no longer valid.

TTM Success - Dr. Hunter 'Patch' Adams

Dr. Patch Adams is a physician and social activist who founded the Gesundheit! Institute in 1971 with the goal of integrating traditional medicine with alternative medicine as well as performing arts, crafts, nature, agriculture, and recreation. One of the continued missions of the Gesundheit! Institute involves the concept of "humanitarian clowning", each year organizing a group of volunteers from around the world to travel to various countries where they dress as clowns in an effort to bring humor to orphans, patients, and other people. He was the subject of the 1998 comedy Patch Adams starring Robin Williams.

Dr. Adams is known for rarely signing autographs, so I didn't have high hopes for hearing back from him. However, after just 15 days, I received my photo back in my SASE with an inscription and his trademark # symbol. He also included a form letter explaining that he didn't sign autographs, but hand wrote at the bottom that he's not even sure why he signed my photo. Whatever the reason, I'm certainly glad he did!

Dr. Patch Adams
Gesundheit! Institute
122 Franklin St.
Urbana, IL 61801-1714
USA

In Person Success - Actor Graham Greene

Graham Greene is a Canadian actor who is best known for his role as Kicking Bird in the film Dances With Wolves for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He has also appeared in movies such as Die Hard with a Vengeance, The Green Mile, Twilight: New Moon, and Winter's Tale.

He was recently in Ottawa to receive the Order of Canada and signed an index card for me as well as posing for a photo.

TTM Success - Kevin and Grandma Lill Droniak

Kevin Droniak and his Grandma Lill are Youtube celebrities who first started posting videos, often of them driving around and talking, about 3 years ago. Their videos have been viewed millions of times. They're by far one of my very favourite Youtube channels!

I sent them 2 photos and they signed one and Kevin wrote a note on the back of the other. They returned them in my SASE in 138 days.

Kevin Droniak and Grandma Lill
PO Box 84
Stevenson, CT 06491-0084
USA

TTM Success - Tim Allen

Tim Allen is an actor and comedian who is probably best known for portraying Tim "The Toolman" Taylor on the TV show Home Improvement. He also stars in the sitcom Last Man Standing and starred in the Santa Clause movies and as Buzz Lightyear in the animated Toy Story films.

He signed the photo I sent him and returned it in 22 days.

Tim Allen
C/o Boxing Cat Productions
11500 Hart Street
North Hollywood, CA 91605
USA

In Person Success - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Ban Ki-moon is the current Secretary General of the United Nations, serving in the position since 2007. During his time as UN Secretary General he has made a number of issues key priorities, notably global warming and climate change and peace in the Middle East. Prior to his election as Secretary General he served as South Korea's Foreign Minister from 2004-2006.

A few months ago he visited Ottawa for meetings and I was able to get his autograph while he was here. He signed an 8x10 photo for me and a photographer who was there managed to capture the moment in a couple of photographs.

Sunday, 5 June 2016

TTM Success - Children's Author Beverly Cleary

Beverly Cleary, born 1916, is an author of fiction for children and young adults. One of America's most successful living authors, 91 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide since her first book was published in 1950. Some of her best known characters are Henry Huggins, Ramona and Beezus Quimby, and Ralph. S Mouse.

She won the 1981 National Book Award for Ramona and Her Mother and the 1984 Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw. For her lifetime contributions to American literature, Cleary received the National Medal of Arts, recognition as a Library of Congress Living Legend, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal.

When I first started collecting autographs when I was in high school Beverly Cleary was one of the first autographs I requested and I had just received a pre-printed response from her publishing company. I'm very excited to finally have her autograph in my collection!

She signed the photo I sent her and returned it signed in my SASE in just 13 days.

As Ms. Cleary is now 100 years old and the address I sent to is her personal home address, I'm choosing not to post it publicly. I will advise you though, it is possible to find it out there if you look hard enough!

In Person Success - Former US Senator Jim DeMint

Jim DeMint served as a Republican Senator for the state of South Carolina from 2005 to 2013 prior to serving in the Senate he was the US Representative for South Carolina's 4th Congressional District. He is a leading figure in the Tea Party Movement and currently serves as President of the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation.

He was in town speaking at a conference and signed a photo for me.