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Mark



Last Updated: 5/28/2009

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Status: Single
Country: US
September 6, 2009 - Sunday 

Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
Many of you reading this - as though there are many people reading it, which, sadly, I doubt - know I’m a professional actor.  That it is my livelihood.  That I have pursued this course for quite a long time.  I only mention it because this is a blog open to anyone, and someone may read it who doesn’t know I’m an actor, or doesn’t even know me.

On July 26, this year, I received an e-mail with the following message, from which I have deleted the name of the person sending it:

“Hello my name is ______________.Iam a fan Mark Chaet  .I enjoyed his work on the tv show called "Chicago Hope".The reason Iam writing is to ask for an autographed picture.I would like one got my collection.

P.S.Is there any charge for an autographe photo.
Thanks”

The only thing I changed in her e-mail was I inserted an underline instead of giving her name.  It is not my intention to embarrass her, or even to criticize her.

Here is my reply, minus two long sentences about my recent work, which I’ve probably already mentioned in previous blogs: and her e-mail account name replaced by an underline:

“Hi.  Thanks for your letter.  Wow, Chicago Hope was a long time ago.  Perhaps you saw it in reruns.  I notice your e-mail account name "________".  I did two episodes of The Nanny, perhaps you've seen those.

I'd be glad to send you a signed photo.  You'll need to give me an address to send it to.  No charge.”

She sent me her address, and I sent her an autographed headshot, using my agent’s office address as a return address - just to be careful.

So that was late July.  Yesterday (9/4/09), I received an e-mail from the same person:

“Hello my name is ______________.Iam a fan of Mark Chaet.I enjoyed his work on the tv show called "The Division".The reason Iam writing in to ask for an autographed picture.I would like one for my collection.

P.S.Is there any charge for an autographed photo
Thanks”

Hmmmm.  Is it possible this is someone who is writing to any actor with credits whose e-mail address she can find?  Might she be selling this photos on ebay?  I can’t find any reference to me on Ebay.  An autographed photo I sent out 20 years ago when I had a recurring role on General Hospital showed up for sale on Ebay a few years ago.  Price: $0.18.  I felt such pride.  At any rate, if Miss _______________ is doing that, in these difficult economic times, I don’t really feel any animosity towards her for it.  It’s a little bit of a ripoff, if that is what is going on.  My feelings, a little, and the postage and bother.

Mostly, I just find it interesting.  And if any of my fellow actors - or fellows who aren’t acting, have heard from her, I’d love to hear about it.
1:30 AM
 
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Joe O
Joe Ochman

 
It's a fairly common scam actually. These requests come all the time to a minor celeb friend of mine...always an obscure credit, pretty much the same deal. Then followed by more with other obscure credits when you've taken the bait. There are specific sites that sell the photos. Simply telling them to send a self addressed stamped envelope usually separates the real from the fake.

 
Posted by Joe O on September 6, 2009 - Sunday - 5:58 PM
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