Sam Perry: Oprah's "Mr. Man" Revealed, To Be On Show Friday

Oprah's random shoulder to cry on has been identified, and he'll be on her show Friday.

Oprah Winfrey said on her show Wednesday that she did not know the man whose shoulder she cried on during the Obama victory event Tuesday night in Chicago's Grant Park.

"I ended up, I don't know who this guy is," she said while showing a photo of her crying on a nearby celebrator's shoulder. "Friends called me around the country saying, 'Who is with you?' I go, 'I don't know him!' But he was very nice to me. At one point I was just sobbing on his shoulder, mascara everywhere. Anyway, thank you Mr. Man for letting me cry on your shoulder."

The Chicago Sun-Times Thursday identified the man as Silicon Valley resident Sam Perry, who was listed as Obama's communications director for the region:

Perry is apparently an Obama volunteer, listed as the communications director for Silicon Valley for Obama.

Giselle Schmitz, regional field director for the Obama campaign, described Perry as "a great guy" and "tremendous asset to the organization."

"He's a great, great supporter," she said. "He did a ton of work on the campaign."

Watch Oprah talk about her mystery man:

Comments

[SethBLiNK]

The whole time I was watching and wondering how did anybody get a better spot that Oprah?

[nellie]

I love that he was on Obama's staff. One more amazing surprise from this campaign. What a saga.

[SchmaltzyTheGolem]

Joe the Shoulder.

[DoUntoOthers]

That was absolutely brilliant!

[afgail]

Since the election, I've got music in my head and in my heart. The deep well of kinship of all Americans and a tenacious faith in the American dream fuel the spirit of the Obama victory.

[CitizenMother]

ShmalzyTheGolem:

Joe the Shoulder, brilliant, I second that.

Let's make sure this nomenclature is credited to you as it bops around the internet.

[frikarika]

lol, that is great.

[Rynox]

A+

[Evelyn]

In the City of Big Shoulders.

[SColbert]

Aww Mr. Man is so famous now. Colbert was saying how "Oprah hired a white man for the night to cry on''. It made me laugh.

[cynicone1]

might be her soulmate....ya never know

[SOOKOOYAH GURL]

The best thing that happened Tuesday night was when I saw a vagrant/homeless man and a Police officer chatting about Obama. I regret that I did not take a picture.

Obama = NO BOUNDRIES!!

[DieHardDemo]

That is simply beautiful!

[cmarmonhalm]

Actually I was hugging a complete stranger too! His name is Max and he's a law student here in DC. We were holding hands, hugging, and I was crying and he held me and I'd never met him before.

[cmarmonhalm]

That's so beautiful!!!

[twokidsonecat]

I wonder if Stedman was jealous?

[PDXTransplant]

Yal, because Stedman is 15 - you can't be serious.

[twokidsonecat]

Of course I'm kidding. You were supposed to chuckle.

[brooklyncitizen]

Have you seen Stedman? LOL
Mr.Man is ncie and all but...ehrmmm he's not Stedman.

[johnnygoodwud]

Obama did not have some hot shot v.i.p. area at the celebration, just all of us, together, the way it should be.

[Charity]

actually, on tv, oprah was interviewed standing in line for the security check for the "friends and family" section. which is why both she and mr. perry had some relation to the campaign, and why they both had a good place to watch president-elect obama.

[PeaceOnEarth62]

There were no strangers that night. They were all there as a unified family. I pray that these feelings grow as we become more comfortable with the new frontier.

[Fenianheart]

It occurred to me that despite all the fighting, we desire innately to be united. We just need the right leaders to encourage this. It was truly a beautiful day and I, too, hope that there are many more.

[Floridagirl1972]

You know when something as momumental like Prez Obama's election occurs there are no strangers. I went to 2 rally's in Fl and found myself holding onto, leaning on and hugging people I did not know. I feel that we were all one family. I am soooooooo proud of the USA.

[toocoldout]

Seeing the richest African American of all time & the most influential woman on the planet just down in the crowd with thousands of others was really cool. Despite the huge impact she had on the election, that night she was just an American, just one of the millions of people who worked their heart out to get this man elected. This image should be framed. It was a wonderful image of unity, regardless of race, wealth or fame. And I'm so glad a regular volunteer is getting the recognition he deserves.

[rowzeer]

My husband and I marveled at that....there were celebrities and dignitaries in the crowd with regular people as it should be.

[Groovyyaya]

I didn't believe it when I heard that celebs and dignitaries were doing that - it really must have been a bit freeing for them. At first I wanted to see more of them... but then, maybe it was nice there WEREN'T paparrazi following them.

All in all... they were no more powerful than anyone else on November 4th - we all had just one vote to give.

(OK... I would have freaked a little more than this guy apparently did... you feel someone on your shoulder, don't mind, but then out of the corner of your eye you see it is the other "O" - Oprah!)

[JeanPaulSatire]

What does it say about the magnitude of Obama's charisma and presence that those in the crowd were so focused on HIM that people who in other circumstances would draw their own crowds weren't even noticed?

[CitizenMother]

I agree, it was really fresh to see that Oprah was just in the crowd with random white dude/handy shoulder. Loved it.

[zbearlady]

Here is another shoulder of hope...hope for our children! This song/video was inspired by Obama. Please watch and enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gi3VNLhHq4

[swedishkiss]

Many people doubted Oprah would have any effect on the election with her endorsement, but I was confident she could make the difference.

Even though I rarely watch her show, I am a fan and I know millions of other women are too and she could make them understand Barack Obama would be an exceptional leader.

I am so happy and proud to be an American and I hope this feeling never leaves me or our country.

[Actionmac]

"I am so happy and proud to be an American and I hope this feeling never leaves me or our country."

x2

[Hare]

Looks like a good shoulder to cry on. He was just like oh, its Oprah, I better not say anything but she's ruining my nice shirt.

[filo]

I wonder if he will give her a bill for the dry cleaning?? lol

From what I have heard about him I doubt it but it would be funny>