A Victoria man has a hobby of tracking down celebrities.
Nick CooknellB次元官网网址檚 ambitious goal of collecting autographs and photos from famous athletes, actors and musicians started around 2015 when DisneyB次元官网网址檚 The Descendents filmed in Greater Victoria.
He waited close to eight hours to get autographs with the cast, which included Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, Dove Cameron and Cameron Boyce.
Since then, heB次元官网网址檚 made some friends who work in local film crews and learned the ins and outs of finding visiting celebs in Greater Victoria and Vancouver.
Cooknell has collected 255 autographed CDs and 190 autographed movies. He keeps albums for all his celebrity photos, which include captures with Pamela Anderson, Riverdale star K.J. Appa, Steven Tyler, WWE star John Cena and even B次元官网网址淎llan from the A&W commercials.B次元官网网址�
Not to mention the celebrity dogs heB次元官网网址檚 met such as the canine actors for the movies Hachi and Underdog.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 almost like putting together a puzzle, trying to figure out where they are,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that he usually waits on film sets or outside concerts to meet stars B次元官网网址� sometimes spending hours in hopes heB次元官网网址檒l get a quick picture.
In fact, thereB次元官网网址檚 almost nothing that will stop the autograph collector. He walked up Bear Mountain when a snow storm stopped bus routes just to meet the Montreal Candi茅ns alumni. HeB次元官网网址檚 woken up at 3 a.m. to catch celebs on their way into set or has waited around until midnight in hopes of seeing a star.
B次元官网网址淚 guess you could say no weather or distance can stop me,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd even if I donB次元官网网址檛 get to meet the celebrities, getting a glimpse of them is sometimes enough for me. Especially if I can get a picture to prove it.B次元官网网址�
Cooknell has also met his fair share of athletes, including almost all of the Vancouver Canucks B次元官网网址� his favourite team.
B次元官网网址淚 met [Brock Boesner] three times before he actually started playing,B次元官网网址� he said.
CooknellB次元官网网址檚 most recent meet and greet was with actress Katie Holmes who is in Victoria to film the sequel for horror film, The Boy.
| Nick Cooknell (right) was nervous to meet actor Johnny Depp in Colwood in 2017 but said the actor was very friendly. (Courtesy of Nick Cooknell) |
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His favourite celebrity encounter was in 2017 when he met Johnny Depp while the actor was filming a scene for Richard Says Goodbye at the Hatley Castle in Colwood.
B次元官网网址淚 thought with how famous he is, he wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be as friendly. But he was really nice,B次元官网网址� Cooknell recalled.
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Another favourite for the celebrity-finder? Local and B.C.-wide personalities from Vancouver Island, such as TV and radio broadcasters and politicians like Premier John Horgan and B.C. Finance Minister Carole James.
CooknellB次元官网网址檚 next goal is to meet pop star Ariana Grande, who is performing in Vancouver in April during her world tour.
B次元官网网址淚 went to her concert last time she was [in B.C.] but I never got to meet her,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o that would be really cool.B次元官网网址�
Cooknell is working towards a career on film sets, and with his celebrity experiences, isnB次元官网网址檛 likely to get star-struck on set.
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nina.grossman@blackpress.ca
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