Fans Who Have Become Stars
Usually, fans have to sit in the bleachers, far away from their idols and the spotlight. But every once in a while, a fan rises up to become as well known as whatever they are celebrating. Here is a short list of fans who have made it out of the stands and onto the field.
Henry Rollins
Heavily muscled rocker and spoken-word artist Henry Rollins has become so closely identified with '80s hardcore band Black Flag that it's easy to forget Rollins began as just another raised fist in the crowd at Black Flag concerts. The seminal punk band went through several lead singers, one of whom quit onstage during a performance, before they visited Washington, D.C., one night and met superfan Henry Rollins. He leapt up on the stage and took the mic, roaring Black Flag's lyrics with such gusto that the crowd went into a frenzy. The band knew they had found their frontman.
Vince Papale
Philadelphia Eagles fan Vince Papale didn't play football in college, since his college, St. Joseph's University, did not even have a football team. He was a track star instead, and went to work in a bar after graduation, where he would watch Eagles games on TV. When he was invited to try out for the Eagles' coach, he became the team's wide receiver at 30 years old. He was played by Mark Wahlberg in the 2006 film Invincible.
NFL Best Fans Ever
You can't get much more famous than TV icons such as Alf, Kramer, and Fonzie. This NFL Best Fans Ever commercial from the 2011 Super Bowl recast these stars as fans wearing the jerseys of different teams, getting ready for a Super Bowl party.
Eli Williams
Elvis fan Eli Williams won the 2009 Penticton championship for impersonating the King, and has played Presley in the biopic Elvis: That's the Way it Is. He currently plays shows in Las Vegas and is available for booking.
Ruth Plumly Thompson
Ruth Plumly Thompson, an avid reader and fan of L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz series, was already a published childrens' book author when she was approached to write for the series after Baum's death. Her contributions to the series, many of which have been reprinted by Del Rey Books, include Kabumpo in Oz, The Cowardly Lion of Oz, and Grampa in Oz. Her footsteps were later followed by an even more famous Oz fan: Gregory Maguire, author of the novel and musical Wicked.