C.V. man makes career of booking impersonators

Oakland Tribune, Sep 3, 2007 by Karen Holzmeister

CASTRO VALLEY -- Stan Heimowitz goes looking for celebrities every day, but not with an autograph book and camera cell phone.

Look like the King of Rock 'n' Roll? Make yourself up to resemble the Material Girl? Have costume, will travel as Humphrey Bogart or the Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger?

Heimowitz is at the ready, contract in hand and events ready to book in the Bay Area, state and nation.

"I've sent Clint Eastwood to Central Park (in New York City) to hand out Emerald Nuts on New Year's Eve," Heimowitz reminisced last week in his Palomares Hills living room.

He's sent Bill and Hillary Clinton to awards banquets, Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison to a 65-year-old's birthday party in South San Francisco and Austin Powers -- complete with stretch limo and flashy babes -- to a corporate party at San Francisco's Pier 35.

Heimowitz isn't a political booker, channeler of departed souls or gofer for cinematic super spies.

He owns Celebrity Gems, a Castro Valley-based talent agency that provides celebrity impersonators, Las Vegas show acts, magicians, comedians and musicians for all occasions.

During the 20 years that Celebrity Gems has entertained and entranced people, Heimowitz's business -- with wife Barbara's help - - has grown to include publicity stunts, planned events, catering, memory books and gift baskets.

"Made You Look," the title of a book about celebrity impersonators, is Heimowitz's goal.

Heimowitz, 66, once portrayed a Secret Service agent for a political gig. Once was enough to don a dark suit, talk into a walkie-talkie and scan the room for bad guys, he joked.

"I couldn't go into a room and work a crowd of 150 people for two hours," he explained, referring to a Marilyn Monroe impersonator hired to surprise guests at a hotel cocktail party.

"She went up to people, bubbly and smiling," he recalled. "She sat on laps, entertained and moved on to the next group. I couldn't do that."

Maybe not, but Heimowitz does a pretty good job behind the scenes.

After 20 years on the job, he has compiled a list of some 2,000 individuals and acts. Animated and imaginative, the silver-haired former social worker customizes appearances for groups ranging from a couple of dozen to several thousand.

In the Bay Area, a two-hour meet-and-greet appearance by a Charlie Chaplin or Marilyn Monroe look-alike might cost between $300 and $500.

There aren't any Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin impersonators in the Sacramento area, but Heimowitz has sent his "A Night at the Sands" Las Vegas act featuring the characters up north, for fees and travel charges.

He often works with local talent when scheduling appearances in, for example, New York or Florida. However, the Clint Eastwood impersonator from Utah is popular and available to travel nationwide for fees and airfare.

The Bay Area is chock full of talent, Heimowitz said, including people who portray the popular Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe characters. A Chaplin impersonator from Santa Rosa has even appeared as the silent film star at Universal Studios, Hollywood.

Heimowitz also discovers talent right in his own backyard.

He spotted his barber, Al Proietti, as Charlie Chaplin in Castro Valley's annual Rowell Ranch Rodeo parade. Heimowitz booked Proietti for his first professional paid appearance.

Who's hot on the celebrity impersonator scene?

Elvis (always) and, in tune with the times, Jack Sparrow from "Pirates of the Caribbean," Heimowitz said.

Who's not? Britney Spears and Michael Jackson.

Want to check out the wonderful world of impersonators and look- alikes? Visit http://www.celebritygems.com.