MARK CURRY

Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles, CA

October 26, 2000

Photo credit: Mark Curry

It was about 9:20 on a Thursday night at the United terminal at LAX. I was headed to Vegas but my plane was delayed and a friend was waiting with me at the gate. (This was pre- 9/11 when people did that sort of thing.)

To help pass the time, we were people-watching and were sure that, eventually, someone would walk by who we knew personally. Within minutes, an airport shuttle cart drove up and stopped right in front of us. Actor and comedian, Mark Curry stepped off. Neither of us knew him personally but we both recognized him from his starring role on the 90's sitcom 'Hangin' with Mr. Cooper.' He was tall, dressed in all black, and wearing sunglasses--looking like a big shot. He hopped off the cart and hurried toward his gate. I didn't want to keep him from his plane, so I didn't follow.

But he came back. This time he was headed toward the escalator going down. I grabbed my camera. As he passed, I politely said, "Excuse me."

He flippantly waved his hand above his head without looking at me, said, “Hi,” to the air, and after a few more steps, he started down the escalator. It was rude. He seemed too cool to pursue and my plane was due soon, so I let him go.

Once on the escalator, however, he turned around and waved me over to follow him. That was nice. My friend said she'd watch my stuff, so I rushed over and down the escalator stairs to meet him. Over his shoulder and not looking at me, he asked my name.  I told him and began my pitch. “So, this is a little weird, but I have this celebrity photo album...” He seemed annoyed and still wasn't looking at me. “It's just a bunch of pictures of me taken by celebrities.” I touched his shoulder, hoping to break his icy composure. "Will you take my picture?" I asked. The guy in front of him started to laugh. Mark, tonight's unusually stoic comedian, realized he must have missed something so he replayed my comment in his mind.

“Wait, you want me to take a picture of you?” he asked. It was crystalizing in his mind. He immediately ripened into a lively participant, actually made eye contact, and gladly said, “Okay! Cool!! I've never heard that before.” 

Once we reached the ground floor I handed him my camera. He glanced around our bland location searching for a good backdrop, and then he said, “How about over here by the baggage claim sign?” Happily, I said, “Whatever you think; you're the artist.” That response taunted him to get more creative. He looked around and pointed to the area between the two escalators. “Oh, or there. Get up there.” Jumping up was a challenge as both of the handrails I was using to stabilize myself were in motion. My hands were constantly being thrust forward so it took a couple of tries but I made it. 

He took a picture. Thinking that was the end, I hopped down and walked over to him, but no. He’d just started to get in the groove. He directed me to, “Run back up the escalator,” but as we walked closer to scout the location he dropped my 35mm camera. “Oh! I'm sorry,” he said. I picked the camera up and we both saw that the back had opened a little. I was hoping just one of these pictures would survive but in my head, I reasoned that either way, it is all part of the story. We discussed how the film may have been exposed but he encouragingly said, “Well, it didn't open too much.” I closed the camera but didn't think to advance the film before I handed it back. Then I ran up the escalator until he yelled, “There! Now! Turn around.” I turned around and casually rode back down while he took a photo. 

The woman who was riding the escalator behind me followed me off and kindly said, “Would you like me to take a picture of the two of you?” He quickly responded, “No. She just wants me to take one of her!!” He was laughing.

Then he turned to me and whispered, "I got her in the shot too." So sneaky, Mr. Curry. I thanked him and we started to return to our respective gates, but I quickly realized I didn't know how to get back upstairs. Once stuffy, this kind, playful man spent a few minutes helping me find an elevator. I thanked him again and we continued our separate ways.

I am grateful I had a friend to watch my luggage, happy that I didn't miss my plane, and elated that Mr. Curry made time for some pre-flight folly. That's the most fun I've ever had in an airport, Mark, thanks for hangin' with me!

Days later I dropped off the roll of film to be developed. When I received the envelope of photos back, I was happy to find the first photo but when I looked for the second photo, I couldn't find it. They hadn't printed it because "It was an overexposed negative," the tech said. I said, "Oh. Well, I'd like that one printed, too, please. In fact, I'd like two copies." I didn't expect him to understand, but he did it. Thanks, confused tech guy!

Overexposed negative credit: Mark Curry