I used to work at a chain coffee shop in Santa Monica CA. There were a lot of celebrities that used to come in since I suppose a lot of them live around there or have things to do or errands to run around there. Most of them just wanted to not be noticed at all and, if someone recognized them, most times they were a little embarrassed, but nice about it.

However I’ll never forget how much of an asshole Jean Claude Van Damme was. He came in and ordered a drink as I was working the register. We were instructed not to accept bills over $50 because obviously that would take up almost all of the change in the till. Mr. Van Damme ordered a $4 drink and wanted to pay with a $100 bill. I asked him if he had a smaller bill because I could not accept a $100 bill.

He proceeded to scream in my face and make a scene about how shitty this coffee shop was. He told me to fuck off and take his bill. I said I was sorry, but that I would get reprimanded by my manager if I did that, and that he would leave me without any change for the other customers. He yelled at me to tell my manager to fuck off and said he didn't want his order any more. Then he gave me the finger, turned around, and left.

I had dealt with many assholes and weirdos at that job, but never anyone like that guy.

Celebrities whom I remember were notoriously nice: Tim Meadows, Johnny Rotten (who didn't buy anything and just wandered in looking for his wife), Anthony Kiedis, and Nicholas Cage (who didn't know what chai was and asked if you could get it with chocolate).

I don't know if those celebrities are always nice people, but they were nice when I encountered them at least.