14 Fictional Characters Based on Real People

Have you ever found yourself intrigued by the possible real-life origins of your favorite fictional places or characters? I certainly have. While life doesn’t always mirror art, it’s fascinating to discover how art often mirrors life, with many fictional characters in movies and novels inspired by real people. 

Prepare to be amazed by the surprising backgrounds of these fictional characters, from the legendary MI6 British spy to a well-known, spunky Muppet character. 

1. James Bond

It’s been common knowledge for a while that the great novelist Ian Fleming drew inspiration from at least one, if not a few, WWII British spies when he created his suave and charming character, James Bond. During WWII, Fleming commanded British Naval Intelligence. He worked closely with Admiral John Godfrey, head of the Naval Intelligence Division. 

According to different reports, Agent 007 was the combination of Admiral Godfrey and Gus March-Phillips, a Major in the British Army No. 62 Commando, also known as the Small Scale Raiding Force (SSRF). 

2. Alice (Alice in Wonderland)

Lewis Carroll’s timeless tale, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, has seen numerous adaptations, yet Disney’s animated classic remains iconic after 72 years. The story’s origin lies in Carroll’s friendship with the Liddell family, especially their daughter Alice. During rowing trips, Carroll entertained the children with fantastical stories.

One golden afternoon, inspired by Alice, he spun a whimsical tale about a girl who discovers Wonderland down a rabbit hole. Captivated, Alice implored Carroll to write it down, creating a beloved literary masterpiece that continues to enchant generations.

3. Sherlock Holmes

Scottish writer Arthur Conan Doyle created the beloved character of Sherlock Holmes in the first publication of A Study in Scarlet in 1887. However, in 1892, he released the first of the detective series, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. 

Doyle notoriously modeled Holmes’s methods and mannerisms on those of Dr. Joseph Bell, his University of Edinburgh Medical School professor. Conan Doyle specifically took inspiration from Bell’s method of diagnosing a patient’s disease.

4. Popeye

Popeye the Sailor Man came from the imagination of comic creator Elzie Crisler Segar and has been seen in comic strips, books, and depicted in cartoons and movies throughout the decades. But did you know that the spinach-loving, Olive Oil-obsessed sailor was based on a real man from Segar’s hometown of Chester, Illinois? 

A man named Frank “Rocky” Fiegel is claimed to have been the real-life inspiration for the Popeye character. He had a prominent chin, a muscular physique, a distinctive tube, and a prone and agile fist-fighting ability. Fiegel died on March 24, 1947.

5. Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver)

Taxi Driver, a classic film by Martin Scorsese, is renowned for Robert DeNiro’s iconic improvised line. Its main character, the disturbed Travis Bickle, was inspired by Arthur Bremer, who kept a journal of his troubled thoughts, dubbed “An Assassin’s Diary.” Screenwriter Paul Schrader used Bremer’s writings to shape Bickle’s introspection. Bremer infamously attempted to assassinate George Wallace, leaving the politician paralyzed.

Unlike Bickle, Bremer worked odd jobs and faced legal consequences, starkly contrasting with Bickle’s portrayal. This connection adds a chilling layer to the film’s alienation and societal disillusionment exploration.

6. Christopher Robin

Christopher Robin is a fictional character who is a leading voice of reason in A.A. Milne‘s beloved children’s stories that included the honey-loving, mischievous Winnie-the-Pooh, sweet Piglet, and a slew of other animals are the basis of the stories in the classic children’s books Winnie-the-Pooh first published in 1926 and The House at Pooh Corner in 1928. The character was based on the author’s young son. 

In the stories, Christopher Robin is usually the voice of reason and the character who can be relied on to help the animals out of the often amusing and sometimes dangerous predicaments they find themselves in. He is also a character in the verse collections When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six.

7. Dirty Harry

In 1971, Clint Eastwood introduced the world to one of his and Hollywood’s most iconic characters, Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan, in the action thriller Dirty Harry. Callahan is the definition of a loose cannon: a tough and cynical police officer who is not above pushing the limits of the law to bring in San Francisco’s criminal element.

Armed with a steely demeanor and his infamous .44 Magnum, Callahan is on the hunt for a serial killer. In the real world, the SFPD was on the hunt for a serial killer as well: the infamous Zodiac Killer. The character is based on real-life Detective David Toschi, who led the charge in looking for the serial killer.

8. Miranda Priestly (The Devil Wears Prada)

Meryl Streep, celebrated as one of the greatest actresses of all time, delivered an iconic performance as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada. Based on Vogue’s formidable Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour, Priestly commands authority with her sharp demands and formidable demeanor. 

Known as “Nuclear Wintour” for her influence in fashion and publishing, Wintour initially had reservations about the film but later appreciated Streep’s portrayal. Despite early reluctance from some designers, the movie became a cultural touchstone, showcasing both Streep’s talent and Wintour’s lasting impact on the fashion industry.

9. Jay Gatsby

If you attended high school in the United States, you undoubtedly read the classic American novel The Great Gatsby by author F. Scott Fitzgerald. The protagonist of the book is Jay Gatsby. A wealthy man living in Long Island throws lavish parties and refers to people as “Old Sport.” 

However, are you aware of who Fitzgerald based this infamous character on? He was widely believed to be modeled after his enigmatic and wealthy neighbor, Max Gerlach. He was rumored to have made millions as a gentleman bootlegger after serving in the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.  He was notorious for spinning myths about himself, such as being Oxford-educated and never wearing the same shirt twice. Due to the stock market crash of 1929, he lost his fortune and died penniless and blind after a failed suicide attempt. 

10. Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones might just be the most iconic adventurer of any genre in cinema. He wields a whip, has the best name ever, and travels around the world, fighting bad guys and uncovering historical treasure. The only person that’s more bad*ss than Indiana Jones might be the real-life person he’s based on: Hiram Bingham III. 

Although Bingham was not a trained archaeologist like Indiana, he was a lecturer at Yale University and an explorer. He never found the lost ark like Jones did in Raiders of the Lost Ark, but he did rediscover the forgotten Inca city of Machu Picchu, which was a remarkable feat in the early 1900s.

11. Norman Bates (Psycho)

Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller masterpiece, Psycho, drew inspiration from the novel of the same name, but its chilling character, Norman Bates, was rooted in a real-life horror. Ed Gein, notorious for his disturbing crimes, shared eerie parallels with Bates, including an unsettling fixation on his mother and a gruesome collection of human remains. Gein’s macabre home yielded shocking discoveries—skulls and clothing crafted from human flesh. 

These grisly details captivated Robert Bloch, who penned Psycho, forever linking Gein to cinematic and literary horror icons like Buffalo Bill and Leatherface. Gein’s crimes left an indelible mark on American culture, inspiring terror and fascination alike.

12. Buffalo Bill (Silence of the Lambs)

The terrifying serial killer Buffalo Bill in the 1990s thriller Silence of the Lambs was based on the real-life deranged and evil Gary Heidnick, who kidnapped, tortured, and ultimately killed several women during his reign of terror.

Every bit as twisted as the fictional character that still haunts me to this day, Heidnick enslaved his victims, forced them to torture each other, and even ground up one of his victim’s body, mixed it with dog food, and forced the others to consume the mixture—truly, the stuff of nightmares. 

13. Miss Piggy

Bonnie Erickson designed and built the uniquely funny and bold Miss Piggy in 1974 for an early Muppets television special produced by legendary Jim Henson, and she has taken a spot in all of our hearts since. But who did Erickson model the infamous Kermit-loving puppet after?

Her mother lived in North Dakota, where Peggy Lee sang on the local radio station before she became a famous jazz singer. When Miss Piggy was first created, she was called Miss Piggy Lee—as both a joke and an homage. Lee is known for her independence, and Piggy is undoubtedly the same. But as the puppet’s fame grew, nobody wanted to upset the singer, so the character’s name was shortened to Miss Piggy.

14. The Dude (The Big Lebowski)

The Coen Brothers’ comedic gem, The Big Lebowski, features Jeffrey Lebowski, nicknamed The Dude, a laid-back bowler with a penchant for White Russians. Inspired by real-life film producer Jeff Dowd, who not only shared the nickname but also enjoyed the same cocktail, the character’s persona and habits reflect Dowd’s casual attitude and love for the drink. 

Their encounter during the promotion of the Coen Brothers’ debut film, Blood Simple, left a lasting impression, shaping The Dude into a beloved and iconic cinematic figure.