People Who Knew Celebrities Before They Were Big Explain What They Were Like

We all have to start somewhere, and that's even true for celebrities.

What's interesting is that the majority of people can go through life while continuing to be primarily the same person they were all along. But when it comes to celebrities, sometimes they totally change who they are when they find fame, or they fall short of the person we imagine them to be on-screen or on-stage.

Curious, Redditor T**tie_Tickler asked:

"People who knew celebrities before they made it big, who was it, and what were they like?"

Daveed Diggs

"I met Daveed Diggs when his band was opening for my favorite rapper before he was in Hamilton and blew the f**k up."

"It was my first concert in 13 years, finally out from under my abusive ex's thumb. Money was tight. I was sleeping in my car, but gosh dang it, this was my favorite rapper at a very small venue, and I was going!"

"I was in the back, nursing my drink and hanging out by the merch table (which Daveed was manning). We struck up a conversation, and he told me the headliner was also one of his favorite rappers ever. So we geeked out together over him getting to tour with/open for a role model of his. We kept talking until it was his time to get on stage, and I eventually made it to the front and lost my s**t at 'Body & Blood.' It was my first time hearing it, and it was so good."

"So they left the stage, and I was doing my best to keep my spot, but the bladder ain't so great three kids in, so I had to run and go to the bathroom. When I came back, the headliner was on and my short little a** was in the back, all sad."

"Daveed was back at the merch table again, and he stops me because my dumb drunk self was trying to climb on a barstool to see over the crowd. He said, 'Why aren't you up front? I thought he was your favorite rapper,' and I was just like, 'I HAD TO PEE!'"

"So Daveed took my hand, pulled me through the crowd, and just deposited me in front like 'There you go!!' and then just went back to the merch table."

"We talked a bit more after the show, followed each other on Twitter, and said good luck and goodbye."

"The next year, he was in 'Hamilton.' It couldn't have happened to a sweeter, more deserving person. I'm sure he wouldn't even remember that interaction now, but I had such a good time that night going to a concert by myself after a decade of abuse and a large part of that was due to Daveed."

"It was literally one of the most interesting things that was ever happened to me and one of the best nights of my life.

- allyrbas3

Keanu Reeves

"Keanu Reeves. I grew up in Toronto in the '80s, and he used to hang out at a divey pool hall in my neighborhood. For Torontonians who may remember, it was called 'Billiards' (creative, huh?) and was on Eglinton near Avenue road."

"We didn't run in the same circles of kids, but I remember he was one of the regulars I had met a few times. This would have been about 1985 to 1986, so I think he had already been on a Canadian TV show, but I never watched it, and he wasn't famous yet. He seemed like a good guy but we never interacted much."

- ImprovementFar5054

Derrick Waters

"I grew up with Derrick Waters from 'Drunk History.' He was possibly the most all-around genuinely nice dude at my school."

"While he definitely hung around with the cool kids and I was a first-class nerd, he was always friendly to just about everyone and one of those people that makes you feel like you've been the best of old friends every time you see them."

"'Drunk History' is hit and miss for me, but I love to see a genuinely good guy succeed."

- h4rlotsghost

LeBron James

"I grew up in the town where LeBron James is from. I never met him, but my older cousins went to his high school’s rival high school, so they’d see him at football games and obviously basketball games."

"My dad said he one time saw LeBron on the highway driving a massive, brand new Hummer. LeBron couldn’t have been older than 17 or 18, so he was just starting to get a little famous in the area, and my dad wondered where he got all of that money from while still in high school, lol (laughing out loud)."

- Emo-support-blanket

Grant Hill

"I went to college with Grant Hill as well as a couple of pretty legendary college basketball players that fans would still know."

"One day, I was waiting with some other guy I didn't know in an utter downpour to try to catch a bus from one campus to the other for class. The problem is, if the bus was too full, they wouldn't stop to pick you up, and that's exactly what happened."

"Moments later, a car pulls up, Grant Hill sticks his head out the window, and says to the other guy, who he obviously knows, and tells him to get in. I'm just standing there looking forlorn, and Grant looks at me and says, 'Hey man, hurry up, come get in.'"

"So that's the story of how a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame gave me a lift to class once."

- some_random_guy_u_no

Timothee Chalamet

"My best friend went to high school with Timothee Chalamet and they were friendly / friends."

"During freshman year of college (2013), she told me about her friend who she thought would be famous and how they used to watch his homeland episodes at his house, lol (laughing out loud)."

"A few years later, they ran into each other randomly in New York City, and he was super nice and caught up with her. He was still friends with some of their mutual friends from high school and was a genuinely good dude."

"Naturally in high school, he was really popular, and my best friend is a great judge of character, so that speaks volumes to me that they were friends!"

- sioflynn

Sabrina Carpenter

"My partner is from the same area as Sabrina Carpenter, and they went to school together when they were young."

"Sabrina always performed in the local talent shows, and it was pretty clear from early on that she was not on the same level as all the other kids."

- carolina_on_my_mind

"She comes from a family of artists. I did a play with her sister back in 2012, and her aunt plays Bart Simpson!"

- GoldAdi

"It's always remarkable when real talent stands out."

"It's like watching Michael Jackson perform with the Jackson 5; they are all talented but Michael was NEXT LEVEL. I'm not saying Sabrina is on MJ's level, but yeah, true talent is noticeable."

- LadysaurousRex

Jon Hamm

"Jon Hamm was in my theater company in the late '902. I directed him in a couple of plays. He was in the first play I ever directed."

"He was so nice, thoughtful, and charming, and everybody loved him. He’s the kind of actor you want as a director, as he takes direction well, makes big choices, has good instincts, and isn’t married to any choice. He genuinely does whatever will make the show better."

"He was a star on the stage, and we all knew he’d be a star if he ever got a shot. Plus, he was fun at parties."

- Lincoln624

Rhea Ripley

"WWE women’s champion, Rhea Ripley. We used to work together on independent wrestling shows when she started out. She was always fun to hang out with and super chill. Ironically, she hated wearing makeup because she thought it would be selling out and not metal."

"Everyone knew she was going to be a massive star, even when she was still an awkward teenager. The discussion was never if WWE would sign her; it was WHEN they would sign her."

- lg1106

Jelly Roll

"About 14 years ago, I was leaving my local Walmart in Yorktown, Virginia. As I pulled through the back of the parking lot to swing around and get gas, there was a beat-up old camper, probably 20 years old itself. Standing near the camper was this very large kind of grungy-looking guy (short hair, though) who had what looked like a CD jewel case in his hand."

"He waved me and my wife down. I slowed the car and rolled the window down to see if the gentleman needed help or anything, and he asked me if I was into country or rap music."

"I told him that I enjoyed them both, and he told us that he was just traveling up and down the East Coast, trying to get his music out there and asked if I would like to buy one of his CDs for 10 dollars."

"My wife and I had recently just had a baby and we were struggling to get by at the time. I informed him of this but told him that I wished him the best of luck and that we really hope that he makes it."

"He thanked me for my time and shook my hand and was extremely nice throughout the entire conversation."

"Before I rolled my window up I said, 'Just in case you ever make it big, what's your name?'"

"He replied, 'They call me, 'Jelly Roll.'"

"He was so nice, so kind, and was really just out there doing his thing by the bootstraps. Looking back, I really wish I had that 10 dollars on me so I could have got that CD of his. But I'm so happy he made it, knowing now where he came from and all of his struggles and seeing him work so hard to get where he is (first hand). We couldn't be happier for him."

- littletrevas

Jennifer Aniston

"I was friends with Jennifer Aniston before 'Friends.' She was a very sweet and cool girl, incredibly funny, and I'm not surprised talented."

"We were hanging out in her apartment when she got the call that she was up for a character on '21 Jump Street' (that never came to fruition). We used to play Wallyball (volleyball in a racquetball court) and I've been to many dinners and parties with her and her close circle of friends."

"It was pretty cool seeing her years later skyrocket to stardom on 'Friends.' I still have my personal phone book with her old number."

- dirtyfacedkid

Chris Stapleton

"I grew up with Chris Stapleton. He was the most popular kid in school but was super nice and a genuinely good guy."

"I went to one of his shows when he was just starting to blow up and talked to him afterward, and he was exactly the same. He seemed to be sincerely happy to see me and talked about a few old times before he had to go."

"I'm super happy to see him have so much success."

- NotBrianGriffin

Jennifer Lawrence

"Jennifer Lawrence. She was a neighbor and was in my stepsister's Brownies troop, and they went to school together. At one point, Jennifer was pet-sitting my goldfish, and she almost killed it."

- scubaninja24

"Not gonna lie, the goldfish thing tracks, lol (laughing out loud)."

- rekette

Brendan Fraser

"In my first job in Seattle, I knew Brendan Fraser a bit, before his fame."

"He was very friendly, humble, and sweet. He was also gorgeous, much more in person than on film."

- joemondo

"MORE GORGEOUS in person? Holy crap."

- moonkittiecat

"I don't know how I would have coped seeing Brendan Fraser during his 'Mummy' run if he was even hotter in person."

- New-Moose-6387

An Unending Cast

"I was in the same college class as John Mulaney. He was part of the improv troop and I used to go to his shows. He had a very similar shtick at 18 as he does now, sounding very corny and tight-laced and then being shockingly crass at times."

"Also in our class was Ramell Ross who was recently nominated for the Best Picture Oscar for Nickel Boys. He was on the basketball team but never got any court time. He was quiet, nice, and very smart, and we’re still friends."

"Brit Marling, creator of The OA, was also in our class but I don’t remember interacting with her."

"Actually, come to think of it, Ivanka Trump was also in our class freshman year before transferring out. She lived in the same dorm as Ramell and I and I saw her often."

- UncleSpanker

"Did you go to college in a sitcom?!"

- Rebornhunter

It's always nice to imagine that the singers and actors we most enjoy are as kind and charismatic as we think they are on stage, and when it's confirmed, it can be a validating moment.

While this might not be true of every celebrity, it's heart-warming to know that fame doesn't change everyone.