'Rich' Simpkin & Celebrities

I first started meeting celebrities in 1988, when I used to wait for football players after the game. In 1989 my friend showed me a photo of her father with John Lennon & Yoko Ono taken in the 70’s in New Yorks Central Park. I remember thinking that that photo was priceless and it captured a moment in time. In 1990 I bought a camera and used to try to meet any celebrity that was in Sydney.
Since then I have met and have been photographed with over one thousand celebrities. I am frequently asked why I get my photo taken with so many different people.

My answer is that I like to get my photo taken with people who are going to be remembered in history. Like my friends father who got his photo taken with John & Yoko.
The photos that I have, are candid photos of celebrities taken with me from all walks of life, from Academy Award winners to Grammy Award winners, Pulitzer Prize winners & Nobel Peace Prize winners. They are not professional photo shoots set up by PA’s, PR’s or management. They are photos that capture a time when the particular celebrity transcends from the celebrity world into reality.
The photos below only represent a few of my photos. I hope that you enjoy them.

Audrey Hepburn Actress 1991

I met Audrey in Sydney when she was here as an ambassador for UNICEF. I rang UNICEF one morning and told someone that I wanted to meet Audrey Hepburn. The lady that I spoke to told me what hotel she was staying in but added that I better get to the hotel very soon as she was about to check out and leave the country. (How times have changed) I rushed down to her hotel and met her as she was leaving. She was very kind to me and gave me a few moments of her time. What a legend!

Sir Donald Bradman Cricketer 1995

This photo of me with Sir Donald is my favourite photo that I have with a celebrity. I was in Adelaide in 1995 to photograph the Grand Prix. I went to Sir Donald’s house and simply knocked on the door. A few seconds later a lady came to the door and asked if she could help me. I asked her if there was any chance of meeting Sir Donald Bradman. The lady asked me to wait a minute. A minute later Sir Donald Bradman came out of his front door. I almost fainted. I got my photo taken with him and took a few photos of him. These photos were to play a major part in the following year when I went back to his house and photographed him for the Australian Legends book.

Sir Donald liked the photos that I took of him in 1995 and invited me back in 1996. (Some things really do happen for a reason). For the full story on my meetings with Sir Donald Bradman please visit ‘Australian Legends’ on this web site

Michael Jackson Singer 1996

Michael was in Sydney in 1996 to do some concerts. The hotel was full of Jackson fans, twenty four hours a day. On the final day that he was in Sydney, I went down to his hotel wearing a casual suit and holding a laptop computer. I walked into the hotel and up to the first floor. Once there I sat down and worked on the computer. After thirty minutes or so, one of Michael’s security guards cleared the entire floor, he noticed that I was working on the computer and did not bother me. A few minutes later, Jackson walked out of the lifts and over to my direction, where there were a few children waiting with their parents to meet him.

Michael happily signed autographs for the children and posed for photos. After he had spent time with the children. I casually walked up to him and asked for a photo. Michael simply nodded his head and put out his arm so I could stand next to him. He walked down the stairs and signed as many autographs that he could for his devoted fans.

Tom Cruise & Nicole Kidman Actors’ 1996

When Tom & Nicole were married they would both visit Sydney every year.
In 1996 Tom & Nicole were in town for their usual Christmas break. I had tried before to meet them in 1990 but they would not stop for a photo. So when I received a phone call from a friend telling me that they were at Jane Campion’s house I thought I would drive past to have a look. When I got to the house there were a few photographers waiting down the street. When they left the house my friend and I asked them if we could have a photo taken with them, Tom said that if it was O.K with Nicole he would also do it. Lucky for us Nicole agreed to pose and we ended up with a great photo in between one of the most famous couples (at that time) in the world.

Kylie Minogue Singer 1998

I have been lucky to have met Kylie on numerous occasions, due to my involvement with Michael Hutchence. Kylie is always very good to her fans and usually always finds the time for autographs or photos. This photo was taken at Sydney airport in 1998. By 1998 I had had over 20 photos taken with Kylie and I wanted something different. I asked Kylie if I could get a photo with her giving me a kiss. She happily agreed to my proposal. She really is a true star.

Woody Allen Actor/Director 2001

I met Woody Allen in London when I was living there in 2001. I had read in one of the local papers that Woody was in town and staying at the Dorchester hotel.
My friend and I went to the hotel one afternoon and along with another two fans waited for Woody. After a few hours of waiting, Woody returned to the hotel and signed a few items for the other two fans. After he signed their autographs Woody started to walk into the hotel. Just as he approached the door his P.R said to him, ‘Woody these guys are from Australia, they just want a photo with you’ Woody turned around and posed for a photo with each of us. The strange thing was, that he never said a word to any of us.

Mel Gibson Actor/Director 2002

I first met Mel Gibson accidentally in 1989 near his house in Sydney. I asked him then if I could have my photo taken with him, but he turned down my request. Due to my work as a photographer I have met Mel Gibson on numerous occasions from 1990 onwards, but for some reason he would never pose for a photo with me.
My luck did change in 2002 when he was in Sydney to promote a movie. I was told by a photographer that Mel was having dinner at a restaurant. My friend and I waited for him to leave the restaurant and asked him for a photo. To my surprise he said ‘sure’ I was so taken back, that my friend had to literally push me.

David & Victoria Beckham, Soccer & Song 2003

In 2003 my girlfriend and I were having a holiday in L.A. on our last day we went to a hotel in Beverley Hills and simply waited in the lobby to see if we could ‘bump into’ any wandering celebrities. After 30 minutes or so the doors of the hotel opened and approximately 10 or so bodyguards walked into the hotel. At first I couldn’t see who they were protecting, but as they walked over to our direction I spotted ‘Posh n Becks’ Victoria walked into the hotels restaurant first, leaving David with no security.

I asked David for a photo and he happily obliged. Thirty minutes later Victoria walked outside, I asked Victoria if I could have a photo with both of them when they were leaving. She happily obliged. After two hours David and Victoria left the restaurant. Their security moved out of the way and David with Victoria walked straight over to us. They could not have been any nicer.

Al Pacino Actor 2004

I met Al Pacino when I was in Los Angeles filming a documentary about how I meet celebrities. My girlfriend who was also our cameraperson and my friend Grayem were waiting at Mr. Chow’s restaurant. Chows restaurant is where many of the world’s celebs go to dine. On this particular night Al Pacino turned up to have some dinner.
Lucky we were there when Pacino arrived; he posed for photos with myself, Grayem and about 2 other people that were waiting.

Within a short amount of time word had spread that Pacino was at the restaurant. When Pacino left, there were about 50 fans waiting for him. To his credit he handled the situation like a true professional. Pacino got into his car and signed autographs for over 10 minutes. When he left a few fans followed him in their cars, on their return the fans told the few of us that were still at the restaurant, that when Pacino stopped at the traffic lights the fans jumped out of their cars and asked him for photos and autographs. Pacino got out of his car and posed for photos. What a star!