How synchronization changed technology forever
‘Mad Men’ producer Matthew Weiner admitted that the protagonist, played by Jon Hamm, was based in part on real-life figure Draper Daniels, who worked at a major advertising firm in the 1950s and was a heavy drinker and smoker.
The famed 1930s cartoon character was based on singer and actress Helen Kane, who had a similar “baby” style and who popularized what would become Betty Boop's catchphrase, “Boop-oop-a-doop.” Kane reportedly sued the creators over copyright infringement, but lost when it was revealed that Kane had stolen her act from Baby Esther, an African-American singer in Harlem.
The villain of the seminal horror film ‘Psycho’ was directly inspired by murderer and grave robber Edward Gein, who also had a deranged devotion to his mother.
Author Johnston McCulley's hero is likely based on Joaquín Murrieta, a Mexican miner who came to California in the 1800s. His wife was attacked and raped, but the police wouldn’t help him find justice, so he took justice into his own hands.
The character Charlie Chan is often poorly remembered for the white actors using yellowface, but the character was based on a real Chinese-Hawaiian policeman, Chang Apana, who was discovered by author Earl Derr Biggers when he read stories of Apana’s exploits in Honolulu newspapers.
Sources: (Brightside) (All That's Interesting) (Reader's Digest) (Buzzfeed)
The beloved detective was inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s professor, Dr. Joseph Bell, at the University of Edinburgh's school of medicine. Bell was reportedly skilled at analyzing patient backgrounds, and occasionally helped police as a forensic scientist.
'Scandal' protagonist Olivia Pope is based on real-life Washington D.C. crisis manager Judy Smith, who worked as George W. Bush's Deputy Press Secretary and handled major presidential scandals, even representing Monica Lewinsky during the Clinton-Lewinsky ordeal.
The cartoon bartender is reportedly based on Louis "Red" Deutsch, a real bartender in Jersey City who was prey to popular phone pranks by Bum Bar B*stards, a group of prank callers in the ‘70s. That’s what inspired Bart’s frequent prank calls to the bar.
The dorky kid next door in the literary classic was actually based on crime writer Truman Capote, who lived next door to author Harper Lee.
The Disney animators had reportedly originally based the villain on Joan Collins, but they went with iconic drag performer Divine instead. Indeed, what a fantastic choice!
Shailene Woodley’s character in the tearjerker book and film was actually inspired by the late YouTuber Esther Earl, who vlogged about living with cancer and was friends with the author John Green.
The main antagonist of the James Bond saga, Goldfinger is said to have been based on American gold mining magnate Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. who was reportedly close friends with Fleming and also loved gold.
It's not a stretch by any means, but Piper Chapman is based on Piper Kerman, who spent 13 months in prison after being involved in a drug-trafficking ring with her ex-girlfriend Cleary Wolters (who is also the inspiration for Alex Vause).
The age-old tale is said to have been based on 16th-century noblewoman Margarete von Waldeck, who lived in Bavaria near a mine that used child workers who were disfigured and called “dwarfs” as insults. She was reportedly poisoned by the family of a prince when they did not approve of her as his partner.
Lewis Carroll was a family friend of the young Alice Liddel, and it's said that the beloved tale began as a story for her. There are various links to Liddel in his novels like being set on her birthday, and a poem spelling out her full name in 'Through the Looking Glass.'
Hiram Bingham III was an explorer and Yale professor who inspired the character Indiana Jones. He was most famous for coming across the Machu Picchu ruins, and ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ offers him a nod as the first scene is set right next to the site.
Did you know Mary really did have a little lamb? Mary Sawyer was her name, and she reportedly brought the small lamb to class in a basket. The nursery rhyme was written by a child in her class, and then it was revised by another poet years later.
Elzie Segar created the iconic sailor cartoon character based on Frank Fiegel, a man from his hometown who was well-known for his corn cob pipe and eye patch, as well as his tendency to get into fights.
The show's creator revealed in 2015 that he loosely based Terrence Howard's character on music mogul Jay-Z.
A.A. Milne's beloved children’s stories in the whimsical Hundred Acre Woods started with his son, who was also named Christopher Robin. His son reportedly loved a real-life bear at the London Zoo whose name was Winnipeg, and thus Winnie and the rest of the gang were born.
The biggest diva of the Muppets actually began as "Miss Piggy Lee," which was a not-so-subtle homage to Peggy Lee. But for some reason the singer wasn't pleased with the pig (perhaps for obvious reasons), and the creators dropped the "Lee."
Milhouse Van Houten was modeled after the character Paul Pfeiffer from 'The Wonder Years.' They shared not only the same appearance, but the same purpose: to be the main character's best friend through thick and thin.
Disney's animated Captain Hook was modeled after American actor Hans Conried, who at first was only the voice actor, but whose vibrant performance inspired the animators to use his image as well.
P. L. Travers reportedly modeled Mary Poppins on her own “Aunt Sass,” who wasn’t as sweetly sentimental as the famous Disney portrayal.
Another Disney surprise is that the face of the animated mermaid princess was actually modeled on the face of Alyssa Milano when she was younger. The actress reportedly only found out after the film was released.
Truth is indeed stranger than fiction, so it makes sense that some of the most wildly imaginative works of fiction known to man today have borrowed heavily from real life.
From movie villains to literary heroes, animated TV shows to multi-million-dollar franchises, numerous characters have been inspired by quite surprising people. Click through to see the fascinating real-life counterparts to beloved figments of imagination.
The famed character portrayed by Alan Rickman was originally inspired by another intensely serious, ghostly-looking man with long black hair: J.K. Rowling's chemistry professor, John Nettleship.
Fictional characters inspired by real people
In these cases, art imitated life!
CELEBRITY Trivia
Truth is indeed stranger than fiction, so it makes sense that some of the most wildly imaginative works of fiction known to man today have borrowed heavily from real life.
From movie villains to literary heroes, animated TV shows to multi-million-dollar franchises, numerous characters have been inspired by quite surprising people. Click through to see the fascinating real-life counterparts to beloved figments of imagination.