“Walking Dead” star Norman Reedus is such a cult megastar that he had to pull some cloak-and-dagger moves to be able to have a party for his photo exhibit and accompanying book.
“The ‘Walking Dead’ fandemonium is very real, and there would be no way to get [his guests] in one room” if the public caught wind that he was hosting a celebration, said a source.
So to avoid “fan craze,” paparazzi scrums and roaming gangs of autograph seekers, Reedus waited a month after the actual opening to have a bash for his “In Transit” exhibit at New York’s Soho Grand.
It opened Jan. 31, but the “Walking Dead” star celebrated the opening in secret on Wednesday.
A smooth operation was especially vital, an insider told Page Six, since Reedus had 500 guests to move through the 200 person room where his shots are displayed throughout the evening.
Reedus brought out an old-school, Downtown New York crowd which included Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, actor Dean Winters, model Kelly Bensimon, Reedus’ ex-partner Helena Christensen and their son Mingus Lucien, who was overheard talking about landing his first acting gig. Reedus’ current partner Diane Kruger, was unable to attend because she’s away shooting a project, we hear. And despite wanting to keep the party “under wraps,” spies caught a socialite fashion scribe crashing the joint.
Reedus’ “Transit” exhibit documents photos of his time in New York City in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Inside the bash, Miss Guy deejayed as Reedus boozed and schmoozed with guests like Harry, who was overheard telling him to “keep his summer open” for her 80th birthday celebration. (The Blondie singer’s milestone birthday is July 1).
After a two hour intermission – and dinner break for Reedus – guests reconvened at the hotel’s Club Room, where DJ Aku spun and Dianne Brill held court with The Muses in a booth. Michele Hicks and Orville Peck also made the rounds at the event sponsored by Bailey 1922 and Hendricks Gin. Additionally, Reedus celebrated his longtime event producer pal’s birthday, Liz Vap, with a special birthday cake.
His “In Transit” exhibit is on display until Feb.26.
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