Categories: Stories

11 Real People Who Inspired Famous Movie Characters

Ever wonder how the creators of your favorite movies and tv shows come up with their characters? Well, they usually just draw from personal experiences and real-life people.

Here are a few of your favorite characters and the people who inspired them.

1. JABBA THE HUTT

Sydney Greenstreet was famous for playing selfish and greedy gangsters (like in “The Maltese Falcon”) — just like a certain space worm from “Star Wars.”

George Lucas actually told his designers to make Jabba the Hutt look “more alien and grotesque, just like Sydney Greenstreet.”

universeguide.com

2. URSULA

The evil sea witch from “The Little Mermaid” was pretty accurately based off a popular drag-queen from the 70s. Harris Milstead (better known as Divine) dressed in drag for the film “Pink Flamingos” (along with several others during his career).

flavorwire.com

3. SEVERUS SNAPE

Teachers often leave lasting impressions on students, and John Nettleship was no different. J.K. Rowling had Nettleship for a chemistry class in her youth and he inspired her to create Professor Severus Snape when writing the “Harry Potter” series.

cnet.com

4. TRAVIS BICKLE

The crazy Robert De Niro character from “Taxi Driver” was based off of Arthur Bremer. Bremer was an awkward loner (just like Travis Bickle) who tried to gain attention by assassinating George Wallace.

Just like Bickle, he ultimately failed and was sentenced to 53 years in prison.

timeout.com

1 of 3 Next

Show comments
Share
Published by

Recent Posts

test

test

4 years ago

‘The Little Rascals’: The ‘Our Gang Curse’ That May Have Haunted the Cast Throughout the Years

Hollywood “curses” are a strange thing as people tend to look at the collective deaths…

4 years ago

Florida Man Pays Utility Bills For Over 100 Families For Second Christmas In A Row

74-year-old Michael Esmond is putting on the Santa Claus gear this year once again as…

4 years ago

Orlando PD Donates Christmas Gifts To More Than 200 Kids In Need

Police officers from Orlando, FL donated and delivered Christmas gifts to more than 200 kids…

4 years ago

The 1965 Kecksburg Incident: What Fell Over Pennsylvania?

On December 9, 1965, a blue-tinged fireball streaked across the sky over Kecksburg, Pennsylvania. However,…

4 years ago

Why The Pandemic Helped Bring Back Sunday Family Dinners

Over years, less emphasis ended up placed on traditional Sunday family dinners. In those times,…

4 years ago