Bing Crosby and David Bowie bridge the generation gap with a hand shake during the taping of the television special 'Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas' in 1977. The two singers, of diverse styles, sang together on 'Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy.' The show was recorded just five weeks before Crosby's death on October 14, 1977. It was aired posthumously.

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Barack Obama and Denzel Washington -

US President Barack Obama shakes hands with Denzel Washington during the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in 2009 in Washington, D.C.

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Frankie Valli and Elton John -

Elton John and Frankie Valli shake hands at a 1975 party for the premiere of Ken Russell's film 'Tommy' in New York City.

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Michael Jackson and Ronald Reagan -

After lending his hit song 'Beat It' to a campaign against drunk driving, Michael Jackson was rewarded with a Presidential Special Achievement Award by US President Ronald Reagan in 1984. The pair, watched by First Lady Nancy Reagan, shake hands on the White House lawn.

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Queen Elizabeth II and Frank Sinatra -

Guest Frank Sinatra bows in deference as he is presented to a smiling Queen Elizabeth II at the 1958 London movie premiere of 'Me and the Colonel.' The film starred Danny Kaye and Curd Jürgens.

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Harry Belafonte and Martin Luther King -

Singer Harry Belafonte shakes hands with civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1964.

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Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson -

Jack Nicholson greets Adam Sandler at the after party following the Los Angeles premiere of Sandler's film 'Spanglish' in 2004.

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The Queen Mother and Sammy Davis Jr. -

The Queen Mother shakes hands with Sammy Davis Jr. as Jerry Lewis looks on during a meet-and-greet presentation at the Royal Variety Show in London in November 1966.

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Björn Borg and John McEnroe -

Björn Borg congratulates John McEnroe for his win at the US Open in 1981. It was McEnroe's third consecutive men's tennis singles title. The pair were great rivals on court, but the best of friends off it.

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Jim Brown and Muhammad Ali -

Former NFL superstar turned actor Jim Brown greets heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali at an event in New York City in November 1971.

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Bill Gates and Queen Latifah -

Microsoft's Bill Gates and entertainer Queen Latifah attend the Digital Entertainment Anywhere launch at the Shrine Auditorium in October 2004 in Los Angeles.

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Charlton Heston and Juan Carlos -

Charlton Heston shakes hands with Prince Juan Carlos, the future King of Spain, while filming 'El Cid' in the country in 1960.

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Harry Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle -

Escape artist Harry Houdini and Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle shake hands as Doyle prepares to depart for the UK on the SS Adriatic after his visit to the United States in 1922.

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Elizabeth Taylor and Josip Broz Tito -

Elizabeth Taylor with husband Richard Burton meets the President of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito, at his summer residence on Brioni island in August 1971.

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Martin Lawrence and Dennis Hopper -

Martin Lawrence poses with Dennis Hopper in 1994 during a get-together in Las Vegas.

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Adrien Brody and Jay Leno -

'Tonight Show' guest Adrien Brody greets host Jay Leno during a July 2004 recording of the program.

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Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King -

Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King shake hands after King defeated Riggs in straight sets to win the so-called "Battle of the Sexes" at the Houston Astrodome in 1973. Despite his age, 55-year-old Riggs still believed he could beat his 29-year-old opponent. King's win is considered a milestone in public acceptance of women's tennis.

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Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat -

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, US President Bill Clinton, and Palestinian political leader Yasser Arafat at the Oslo Accords signing ceremony in Washington, D.C. in September 1993.

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Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt -

Gracious in defeat, US President Herbert Hoover (left) shakes hands warmly with his successor Franklin D. Roosevelt at Roosevelt's inauguration in Washington, D.C in 1933.

Sources: (National Geographic)(Smithsonian Magazine) (Tennis Majors)

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Celebrity handshake moments

Entertainers using the world's most familiar greeting

04/01/21 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Greeting

A handshake is a globally widespread, brief everyday greeting or parting tradition, a clasping usually of right hands by two individuals. There's a lot that can be conveyed in a handshake. It's used in friendship, romance, and business, and commonly done while offering congratulations or expressing gratitude. In fact, a handshake is all about trust, respect, balance, and equality. The custom is not lost on celebrities, who are well known for theatrical over-expression, except perhaps when meeting royalty or a high-profile politician.

Click through this gallery for some nostalgic meet-and-greet moments between actors, entertainers, sports personalities, and more.