Sometimes life can be just simply amazing. It was on February 14, 2012, that I was watching the film Raging Bull for about the third or fourth time, when I realized just how incredible it was. Yes, it was a pathetic Valentine’s Day…but it was an incredible film. This led me to do some research (okay, let’s be honest: I opened up Wikipedia) on Jake LaMotta, the subject of the film. I was quite amazed to see that this former World Middleweight Champion, who had been portrayed by my favorite actor Robert DeNiro as a self-destructive, violent man, who was his own worst enemy, was still alive! He was 90 years old at the time, but he was still alive.
Immediately my mind went to thoughts of the possibility of actually meeting this former legend, and now-legendary character in one of the greatest films ever made. I figured it was impossible. It would never happen.
But it was just a couple of weeks later that I saw that Jake LaMotta, along with actress Cathy Moriarty, who had played his wife Vikki in the film, had been scheduled to appear at the Chiller Theatre show in Parsippany, New Jersey on April 28, 2012. It was based on this appearance that I went ahead and made arrangements to attend the show and booked my flight.
Until the date arrived, I prayed that he’d make it until showtime. Turns out I needn’t have worried; he’s since made a second Chiller appearance a full year later, and is currently still thriving at age 92.
For being such a legend and somewhat of a rarity, I think I got off pretty easy with just paying $30 for the signed photo and an additional $20 for a photo with him. After we snapped the first photo, I asked him, “can you make a fist for another photo, champ?” He didn’t say a word the whole time, but he lifted his fist, and I had a photo with someone I’m extraordinarily grateful to have gotten the chance to meet in person. Such good fortune…
I’ve done a lot of bad things, Joey. Maybe it’s comin’ back to me. Who knows? I’m a jinx maybe. Who the hell knows?
Celebrity encounters from the Spring 2012 Chiller Theatre Show will continue…
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