Just back from New York City (after an unexpected night's stay at the Airport Hilton in Atlanta) with lots of celeb photos and stories. Plus, I finally got to meet a long-time autograph friend, informer, and Guns-n-Roses fanatic, Bob Pivoroff. Watch for an update this weekend.

This past Friday, April 28, I made my annual visit to Ebertfest, Roger Ebert's overlooked film festival, at the Virginia Theater in Champaign, Illinois. Friday night's screening was Ripley's Game, starring Illinois native John Malkovich. I did manage to squeeze in a brief conversation with John during my attempts to get a photograph. Unfortunately, John just didn't want his picture taken.

However, Roger didn't disappoint. He's always accommodating to festival attendees and frequently roams the lobby and theater. If you see a silver Lexus SUV with the license plates MOVIES, that's Roger.

Marni Nixon, Audrey Hepburn's singing voice in My Fair Lady, was in the audience for the Ripley's Game screening. She had lots of compliments for the Ripley's movie score during the Q and A session that followed. My Fair Lady was screened the day before, with Marni sharing stories about the movie and her other "singing" roles in feature films. Marni's son is Andrew Gold of "Thank You For Being a Friend" one hit wonder fame.


Finally, I spotted Scott Wilson in front of the Theater as I was leaving. Scott is one of the stars of the early 1980's movie The Right Stuff. He was at the Festival as part of the next day's screening of Junebug, a movie he co-starred in with Amy Adams. This was Scott's second trip the Festival.

Periodically, I'll post some of my favorite photographs and stories from previous years.

I attended the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game last night in St. Louis. Chris Carpenter, the 2005 National League Cy Young Award winner, was the starter for the Cardinals. Even though he didn't have his best stuff, Carp managed to hang on for the win. This is a pic of us from spring training 2006. The photo was taken between practice fields 1 and 2 at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. I told him he was on my 2005 fantasy league team, and I thanked him for getting so many points for me. He grinned and said, "No problem."

Rhoda Morgenstern is alive and well! Valerie Harper was in St. Louis this past Sunday, April 23, 2006, at the Fox Theater in a performance of Golda's Balcony. She arrived via taxi and was in a rush because the taxi driver couldn't remember how to get to the Fox. Even though she was in a hurry, she was gracious and stopped to sign an 8 x 10 and pose for this picture. Valerie was more relaxed following the show and signed two programs from her performance.

Welcome to Kevin's Celeb Pics . . . specifically photographs of me, Kevin Eckhoff, with celebrities big and small! I obtain my photographs in Illinois and Missouri, in such locales as Springfield, Peoria, Bloomington/Normal, Chicago, and St. Louis. Plus, a yearly trip to New York City, adds to the collection. New York is the MECCA for celebs . . . heck, on my first visit, I ran into Penelope Cruz, Donald Sutherland, and David Bryan (Bon Jovi) within the first two hours!

I'll publish my most recent pics first, plus I'll add additional notes about the encounter.
Here's Bob Saget and Ozzie Smith at the Bob Costas Celebrity Gala for Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. The event was April 1, 2006, at the Fox Theater in St. Louis. Bob is always nice . . . my second time meeting him. Asked him about his new about his new movie, "Farce of the Penguins." Bob says he has lots of work to do, but hoped the movie would be released later this year. He signed a photograph of us taken last May in New York City (Note: In New York he was talking on the phone as he approached us . . . asked the caller to hold for a minute while he posed and signed . . . a class act!) Ozzie is always professional. He patiently posed for photos with several fans, but the Hall of Famer politely declined to sign autographs. Ozzie was behind the wheel of a very nice and very new maroon-colored Mercedes.