It makes sense that some of the most crazily inventive works of fiction currently known to man have largely borrowed from real life since truth is, after all, stranger than fiction.
Numerous personalities have been influenced by some surprising people, including literary heroes, animated TV characters, cinematic villains, and multimillion dollar franchises. See the fascinating real-life equivalents of cherished fictional characters by clicking through.
Fictional Characters That Were Inspired By Real People
Olivia Pope from ‘Scandal’
The protagonist of “Scandal,” Olivia Pope, is modeled after Judy Smith, a real-life crisis management in Washington, D.C. Smith handled significant presidential controversies while serving as George W. Bush’s deputy press secretary and even defended Monica Lewinsky during the Clinton-Lewinsky controversy.
Olivia Pope From ‘Scandal’
Betty Boop
The famous cartoon character from the 1930s was modeled after singer and actress Helen Kane, who shared the same “baby” aesthetic and coined the line that would become Betty Boop’s catchphrase, “Boop-oop-a-doop.” When it was discovered that Kane had copied her act from Baby Esther, an African-American singer in Harlem, she was said to have sued the creators for copyright infringement but lost.
Betty Boop
Norman Bates from ‘Psycho’
The serial killer and grave robber Edward Gein, who also had an insane devotion to his mother, served as the direct inspiration for the antagonist of the groundbreaking horror movie “Psycho.”
Norman Bates From ‘Psycho’
Miss Piggy
The biggest diva of the Muppets originally started out as “Miss Piggy Lee,” which was an overt nod to Peggy Lee. However, the vocalist wasn’t happy with the pig for some reason (perhaps due to obvious reasons), so the writers omitted the “Lee.”
Miss Piggy
Lucious Lyon from ‘Empire’
In 2015, the show’s creator admitted that Jay-Z was a loose inspiration for Terrence Howard’s character.
Lucious Lyon From ‘Empire’
Zorro
The protagonist in Johnston McCulley’s book is probably inspired by Mexican miner Joaqun Murrieta, who immigrated to California in the 1800s. The police refused to assist him in bringing charges against those who attacked and violated his wife, so he decided to pursue justice on his own.
Zorro
Alice from ‘Alice in Wonderland’
The renowned narrative is claimed to have started as a story for young Alice Liddel, whose family knew Lewis Carroll. His books have several connections to Liddel, including the fact that they are set on her birthday and include a poem in which her complete name is spelled out.
Alice From ‘Alice In Wonderland’
Captain Hook from ‘Peter Pan’
Hans Conried, an American actor who initially provided the voice for Disney’s animated Captain Hook but whose energetic performance encouraged the animators to incorporate his image as well, was the inspiration for the character.
Captain Hook From ‘Peter Pan’
Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones was influenced by the adventurer and Yale professor Hiram Bingham III. His claim to fame was discovering the Machu Picchu ruins, and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” pays tribute to him by placing the opening sequence exactly adjacent to the location.
Indiana Jones
Milhouse from ‘The Simpsons’
Paul Pfeiffer, a character from “The Wonder Years,” served as the inspiration for Milhouse Van Houten. They were similar in appearance, but they also had the same goal: to stick with the main character through good times and bad.
