famous person autographsserve two determination . They can render tangible validation you once captured the attention of a famous someone , and they can beprofitableif you opt to resell them to collectors . ( In 2014 , someone who really lovedCharles Dickenspurchased a signed written matter ofA Tale of Two Citiesfor nearly $ 400,000 . ) Either way , there ’s usually a feeding fury for them when celebrities maltreat out in public .
But not everyone with a recognizable fount is consonant to putting penitentiary to paper . Take a spirit at eight citizenry who usually opt out of scribbling something on a serviette . ( This list is n’t to imply those named never mark , only they ’ve express a desire not to . )
1. William Shatner
The 91 - yr - oldStar Trekactor — and late Blue Origin blank space traveller — will usually hap up John Hancock solicitations unless he ’s appearing at a conventionalism . After some fans deem the policy rude , William Shatnerexplained his abstract thought in a 2018 Twitter thread : “ If I ’m out and about with house or waiting for a plane and I do it for one [ person ] , an instant short letter [ of ] 50 forms , ” hewrote . “ So if I say no to No . 1 or No . 21 it ’s the same — I’m a jerked meat . So to save time the result is no . There ’s a prison term and piazza for everything and conventions are that place .
One fan necessitate Shatner if there was ever a well time to ask him while out in public . “ No , ” he replied .
2. Bryan Cranston
Breaking BadstarBryan Cranstonis one of telly ’s most beloved personalities , but the tsunami ofBreaking Badmerchandise and accompanying pleas to have them personalized eventually wore the histrion down . “ After 18 years of signing everything for fans , I ’m retiring , ” hesaidin 2018 , go out the room access slenderly undefended for “ selfies . ”
Cranston still come out tractable to signing during pre - plotted events . In spring 2022 , he andBreaking Badco - star Aaron Paulpromotedtheir Dos Hombres tequila by doing bottle signings .
3. Steve Martin
Steve Martin , who is pull ahead over a new generation of fans thanks to the success of Hulu’sOnly slaying in the Building , once devised a clever way of life of avoiding John Hancock seekers without make them find disoriented . In the 1980s , Martin handed out business cards thatread : “ This certifies that you have had a personal confrontation with me and you find me tender , polite , intelligent , and shady . ”
Actor Jonah Hill adopted a exchangeable scheme . In 2015 , a fanreportedthat Hill handed him a card that read : “ I just run across Jonah Hill … and it was a total disappointment . ”
4. Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr , who was the drummer forThe Beatles , is arguably one of the most famous the great unwashed on the planet — which make demand for his touch apprehensible . Yet Starr has hold up an edict first announced in 2008 that he wouldnevergrant an John Hancock request because he ’s uncomfortable with people profiting from them . ( He made theannouncementin a video , in which he said “ I ’m admonish you with pacification and erotic love ” that he would no longer sign up any mail service sent to him . ) “ I do n’t inscribe , ” he said in 2016 . “ All autographs are on stuff that I ’ve ( done ) . One of my paintings or something I ’m involved with , and it goes to charity . It does n’t just go out there for other people to trade . ”
Beatle bandmate Paul McCartney deal the sentiment in 2021,tellingReader ’s Digestthat he “ wo n’t typically do the photo thing these day ” and favour conversation over an John Hancock .
5. Bruce Campbell
The cult star ofThe Evil Deadfranchise makes frequent appearances at conventions , where he will happily sign paper or posture for pic . ButBruce Campbelldoesn’t appear to have much sake in sign somethingsentto him . “ I want to poke holes in the Hollywood myth that it means something , ” hesaidin 2000 . “ I often get people sending 3 x 5 index cards for me to sign , which means multitude are just collecting them . I will often do conventions so I can meet the people . I prise them and want to blend with them . I think that ’s the good data format to do autograph . I do n’t like the impersonal side of renown . Overall I hope people will understand . People are putting multitude in the public eye on base which just is n’t right . ”
6. Billie Eilish
The singer said she cease signing autograph in 2019 after fanatical autograph seekers made her uncomfortable . “ It ’s something that I do n’t do because I used to , but I realise all anyone did was trade everything that I signed , so I stopped doing that , ” shesaid . “ It was kind of like a insurance of mine that I do n’t . ” Once , when Eilish opted not to sign , fans begin hiss her . “ The fact that people can change over up like that , damn . They wait outside for you and then right away they do n’t get what they require and they boo you , and f***ing curse at you . I ’m like , ‘ Bro , I ’m 17 . ’ ”
7. Greta Garbo
It ’s obviously backbreaking to snag the signature of Greta Garbo , who died in 1990 . But even at the height of her fame , Garbo was not complicit in demand for her attention . The actress reportedly refused all autograph request and ignored all her fan post . Onetheoryis that she hated her own script . Owning to its scarceness , a Garbo autographfetched$5355 at a 2021 Bonhams vendue . It was made out to her interpreter , Sven - Hugo Borg .
8. Bonus: Joaquin Phoenix
The Oscar - winning superstar ofJokermay not have a hang - up about autographs , but he is loath to picture . Phoenix toldPlayboy[PDF ] that a woman once came up to him in a fund and ask for a picture . “ I said , ‘ You know what ? I do n’t do that , but thanks so much for coming up … We chatted a bit . It was fun . Then she went and bought her thermionic vacuum tube socks , and I purchase my stupid little sweat pants , and that was it . ”
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