The Andy Rooney thread ( http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages?msg=33333.1 ) got me wondering how many other celebrity woodworkers there are. I’m just curious. You never know when something like this could pop up in a Trivial Pursuit game. I’m not talking here of people that became celebritys through woodworking (Nawm, et al) but folks who are already well known but generally not known as being woodworkers. I’m also thinking contemporary – a lot of the founding fathers were woodworkers. Here’s the ones that I can think of:
Andy Rooney
Jimmy Carter
William Macy
Harrison Ford (although I think he might be better called a celebrity carpenter rather than woodworker)
Kevin Costner ?? For some reason I seem to recall reading something about him being a WW’er but when I tried Googling to check, I cant find anything.
Any others??
If you build it he will come.
Replies
Patrick Swayzee (sp?) was building costom homes until fairly recently, maybe he still does. The mandolin player from one of the bigger country bands makes furniture and has a pretty nicely set up shop. Aaron Tippin built his own house, log and/or timber frame style.
I saw a piece of furniture made by Tom Wodet of Gig Harbor in a previous issue.
Not positive if it's the famous one or not------ he didn't say if he would leave the light on for us.
Are you referring to Tom Bodette of Homer Alaska fame? He just sounds like a woodworker for some reason, although that's got to be a big heating bill for a shop up there!
wodet Bodette
somthin like that I remember it being the same name as the motel 6 guy
& I think I heard him on a radio show in alaska when I was doing a job up there.
Tom Bodett (sic) had a piece in the Reader's Gallery, or Current Work section of FWW a couple years ago.
Yeah I thought so now the question is it the same one from the motel 6 fame?
I thought that the little blurb even mentioned that fact. Though celebrity might be a stretch since I don't really know what he has done (in the public eye) outside of the folksy voice for those commercials. Maybe he owns the whole chain, who knows? No offense if you're lurkin' about these parts, Tom.
I found his website, with a bio at http://www.bodett.com/bio.htm
Turns out he was a house builder for years.
Dennis Elliot used to be the drummer for the band Foreigner, is a world class wood turner - amazing work.
-Paul
I really like Andy Rooney. It's taken me some time to come around to his furniture (see: FWW), but I have. It's his. All his. It ain't me, but it IS him. We should all have the intestinal fortitude to defy convention and build what we like the way we like it. Clunky legs and all.
I do like his side table with glass knob. Something beautiful going on with that piece. It's wrong, but it's beautiful.
Carry on, my curmudgeon brother from another mother.
The late David Brinkley of NBC news was a woodworker. I can't recall any of his furniture, but the doll house he made for his daughter stands out in my mind, as a masterpiece.
Rob Millard
I do not have pictures.. I made several Doll Houses for the girls in the neighbor hood some time ago... ( I ashed EDIT: (Asked?) the MOMS first if OK)They all about 25 plus these DAYS.. I wonder if they still got them?
Edited 12/22/2005 10:04 am by WillGeorge
When I was in Palm Springs a few years ago on business (really!) I went to the museum there and they had a room dedicated to George Montgomery (western movie star) and his furniture. He designed and manufactured a line or "Western" type pieces that looked very impressive. Quality stuff.
Martina Navratalova builds furniture and so does Mike Easley, the current governor of North Carolina.
Steve
You can add professional golfer Byron Nelson to the list of celebrity woodworkers. There was a piece in Golf Digest about 8 years ago showing some of his stuff.
Kell - wants to be known for his woodworking since he has no celebrity!
David Lynch, too. He was on the Tonight Show and was saying that when he reaches a point where he needs inspiration, he calls for a break and goes off to make something. He also makes a lot of prototype props for his movies.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
celebrity woodworkersI'm one.. I post in here when I have somethin' I like!
Hey Will,
What about me? I'm a legend in my own mind.
Cheers,
Ray
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