are they based on a true story welcome
to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
characters you didn’t know were inspired
by real people
before we begin we publish new videos
every day so be sure to subscribe for
more great content for this list we’ll
be looking at popular movie characters
who are believed to be based on
real-life individuals while extensive
liberties are given when it comes to
creating a fictional character these
picks were at least rooted in history
helping them become the characters we
know love and sometimes fear number 10
Indiana Jones from the Indiana Jones
franchise based on Hiram Bingham the
third for many the name Indiana Jones is
synonymous with the rugged whip-wielding
archaeologist adventurer from the
landmark franchise of the same name
while many people have been said to be
the characters inspiration one of the
most surprising that he’s reputedly
based on is the famed American lecturer
and eventual rediscover of Machu Picchu
Hiram Bingham although George Lucas and
Steven Spielberg took great liberties in
fleshing out Indiana Jones’s adventures
binghams ruddy fedora wearing look as
well as his love for the sanctity of
exploration made him a perfect candidate
for the indy we know so well though we
highly doubt fame have ever got launched
from a nuclear blast site while hiding
inside a fridge
number nine Ursula from The Little
Mermaid based on divine I can’t stand it
it’s too easy a Disney character
associated with 1970s exploitation
cinema preposterous digging deep into
the mythology of character origins film
buffs have happily drawn comparisons
between the curvy and malicious sea
witch Ursula from The Little Mermaid
with controversial cross-dressing drag
queen divine I watched that embarrassed
to be white the most noticeable
resemblances can be found in John Waters
1988 musical comedy hairspray but any
one of Divine’s shocking roles is fair
game enough to capture Ursula’s
aggressively sultry character whether
it’s the form-fitting gown the sassy
voice or the trademark sashay
reminiscent of the glam Queen it’s a
clear reminder that Disney doesn’t
underestimate the importance of body
language when it comes to thinking up
their characters
number eight Johnny Fontane from The
Godfather
based on Frank Sinatra being associated
with the Mafia is never really a good
thing especially when it’s made apparent
that said connections helped further
your career such was the case for Frank
Sinatra when the portrayal of Mafia
owned character Johnny Fontaine in The
Godfather seemed to hit a little too
close to home if I had this part in the
picture you know it puts me right back
up on top again
well Godfather author and screenwriter
Mario Puzo never stated that Fontaine
was based on old blue eyes the parallels
between the mob-related backstory of the
fictional crooners career and Sinatra’s
seemed very obvious
this was enough for Sinatra to attempt a
shutdown of production with backing from
the italian-american civil rights League
as well as to give veiled threats to
break Mario Puzo’s legs I’ll do anything
for my godfather you know that number
seven lieutenant Vincent Hanna and Neel
McCauley from heat based on detective
Chuck Adamson and Neel McCauley don’t
let yourself get attached to anything
you are not willing to walk out on in 30
seconds flat if you feel the heat around
the corner 1995’s epic team-up of Robert
De Niro and Al Pacino in the movie heat
a daring heist thriller featuring
intense action sequences almost seemed
too good to be true however more charm
lay in the intricate handling of the
respective roles of villain and hero for
the two oscar-winning actors the film is
loosely based on a 1960s investigation
and pursuit of a real-life thief named
Neel McCauley by Chicago PD officer
Chuck Adamson many details from the film
including the famous coffee shop scene
featuring the two iconic characters
really happened and was added in
courtesy of Adamson who served as a
technical adviser to director Michael
Mann during heats production where do
you say I buy you a cup of coffee
number six Travis Bickle from taxi
driver based on Arthur Bremer
while taxi driver has the legacy of
being one of the influences for the
assassination attempt of President
Ronald Reagan it’s less widely known
that the film’s antihero Travis Bickle
is based off another would-be assassin
Arthur Bremer an unemployed criminal
with severe issues shot and wounded
Democratic presidential candidate George
Wallace after a failed attempt at
assassinating Richard Nixon in 1972
screenwriter Paul Schrader didn’t
deviate too far from Bremer in his
characterization of the taxi driving
vigilante similarities include Bremer’s
relationship with an underage girl
pornographic obsessions as well as an
abnormal haircut that inspired Bickle’s
eventual mohawk look at the film’s
conclusion number 5 Francis Frank
Costello from the departed based on
James Whitey Bulger on people on and
dying for minami main aside from sharing
a name with a famed Italian American
Mafia don the departed’s Frank Costello
played too terrifying perfection by Jack
Nicholson is a fictional portrayal of
famed Irish American gangster Whitey
Bulger I ask the questions I got the
answers for money known for his short
temper and violent retribution to those
who cross him Bulger ruled Boston with
an iron fist
using his politically allied brother and
connections with the FBI to gain higher
clout as well as become a working-class
icon in his neighborhood bottom line is
Bulger has to be caught and the sooner
the better this has gone on long enough
director Martin Scorsese fused william
monahan script with many similarities to
the Beantown gang boss most notably his
alliance with corrupt law officials and
the feds don’t laugh this ain’t reality
TV number 4 Dirty Harry Callahan from
the Dirty Harry franchise based on Dave
toski you’ve got to ask yourself one
question do I feel like
well do you punk yes one of Americans
most badass movie cops is based on a
real man renowned in San Francisco even
before the release of the first Dirty
Harry film detective Dave toski received
national attention for his investigation
into the Zodiac killer case from the
late 60s to the early 70s while he was
heavily scrutinized for the unsolved
cases film producers saw an image of a
worthwhile investigator in toski
inspiring them to base their unorthodox
Magnum wielding 1971 antihero Dirty
Harry Callahan on him where’s the girl
despite Dirty Harry’s obvious nod to
toski the real-life detectives use of
quick draw pistol holsters was first
mimicked by Steve McQueen three years
earlier in the film bullet is so
whatever you want but don’t sell it here
tonight
number three Jeffrey the dude Lebowski
from The Big Lebowski based on chef Dowd
you got the wrong guy I’m the dude man
ever watch The Big Lebowski and mused
aloud I think I know someone like the
dude and as a matter of fact so did the
Coen brothers when they came up with his
wacky bowling obsessed stoner turned
dimwit detective in their 1998 cult
classic that or his dude nasur dude er
or you know el duderino if you’re not
into the whole brevity thing the dudes
nickname and political resume we’re both
appropriated from film producer and
former member of the Seattle seven Jeff
tout whose energetic and peculiar
lifestyle inspired the character that
would go on to launch a cult phenomenon
yeah maybe they don’t take me seriously
you know oh and why would you take
somebody seriously who doesn’t know what
day it is
among other past issues have real like
people in the big lebowski is the dude’s
short-tempered buddy Walter Sobchak who
is based on movie director John Milius
you had to at some point in it be
convinced that you had lost your sanity
otherwise you weren’t really directing
number two Apollo Creed from the rocky
franchise based on Muhammad Ali
[Applause]
the eccentric Apollo Creed’s served as
the main opponent for underdog Rocky
Balboa in the first two Rocky movies the
epic faceoff depicted in the films were
actually fictional retellings of an
actual fight between world champion
boxer Muhammad Ali and the relatively
unknown brawler Chuck Wepner actor Karl
weathers expertly adapted Ali’s unique
mannerisms and ability to provoke his
opponents through rhythmic trash talk
and while Rocky Balboa himself is an
amalgamation of both Chuck Wepner and
lifelong Ally rival Joe Frazier it’s
fairly obvious that weathers omage to
the people’s champion was one for the
books
before we unveil our top pick here are a
few honorable mentions you little son of
a bitch let this be a reminder to you
all that this organization will not
tolerate failure
[Music]
number one Norman Bates from psycho
based on Ed Gein we all go a little mad
sometimes sometimes a villain comes
along that is so creepy you hoped they
could never really exist film goers in
1960 must have been thinking this upon
seeing Alfred Hitchcock’s controversial
psycho in which he introduced the cinema
goers to Norman Bates
a lonely serial killer with severe mommy
issues who enjoy stabbing women in
showers
shockingly enough Bates was based on
notorious real-life killer
Ed Gein along with his complex
psychological problems he killed at
least two women and robbed graves
using the skins to create a woman suit
following the death of his mother
something about his eyes that bothered
me I didn’t feel like he was a person I
would trust Dean would later serve as an
inspiration for other chilling
fictitious serial killers including
Leatherface and Buffalo Bill it rubs the
lotion on its skin or else it gets the
hose again do you agree with our picks
check out these other great clips from
watch mojo and subscribe for new videos
every day
[Music]
to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
characters you didn’t know were inspired
by real people
before we begin we publish new videos
every day so be sure to subscribe for
more great content for this list we’ll
be looking at popular movie characters
who are believed to be based on
real-life individuals while extensive
liberties are given when it comes to
creating a fictional character these
picks were at least rooted in history
helping them become the characters we
know love and sometimes fear number 10
Indiana Jones from the Indiana Jones
franchise based on Hiram Bingham the
third for many the name Indiana Jones is
synonymous with the rugged whip-wielding
archaeologist adventurer from the
landmark franchise of the same name
while many people have been said to be
the characters inspiration one of the
most surprising that he’s reputedly
based on is the famed American lecturer
and eventual rediscover of Machu Picchu
Hiram Bingham although George Lucas and
Steven Spielberg took great liberties in
fleshing out Indiana Jones’s adventures
binghams ruddy fedora wearing look as
well as his love for the sanctity of
exploration made him a perfect candidate
for the indy we know so well though we
highly doubt fame have ever got launched
from a nuclear blast site while hiding
inside a fridge
number nine Ursula from The Little
Mermaid based on divine I can’t stand it
it’s too easy a Disney character
associated with 1970s exploitation
cinema preposterous digging deep into
the mythology of character origins film
buffs have happily drawn comparisons
between the curvy and malicious sea
witch Ursula from The Little Mermaid
with controversial cross-dressing drag
queen divine I watched that embarrassed
to be white the most noticeable
resemblances can be found in John Waters
1988 musical comedy hairspray but any
one of Divine’s shocking roles is fair
game enough to capture Ursula’s
aggressively sultry character whether
it’s the form-fitting gown the sassy
voice or the trademark sashay
reminiscent of the glam Queen it’s a
clear reminder that Disney doesn’t
underestimate the importance of body
language when it comes to thinking up
their characters
number eight Johnny Fontane from The
Godfather
based on Frank Sinatra being associated
with the Mafia is never really a good
thing especially when it’s made apparent
that said connections helped further
your career such was the case for Frank
Sinatra when the portrayal of Mafia
owned character Johnny Fontaine in The
Godfather seemed to hit a little too
close to home if I had this part in the
picture you know it puts me right back
up on top again
well Godfather author and screenwriter
Mario Puzo never stated that Fontaine
was based on old blue eyes the parallels
between the mob-related backstory of the
fictional crooners career and Sinatra’s
seemed very obvious
this was enough for Sinatra to attempt a
shutdown of production with backing from
the italian-american civil rights League
as well as to give veiled threats to
break Mario Puzo’s legs I’ll do anything
for my godfather you know that number
seven lieutenant Vincent Hanna and Neel
McCauley from heat based on detective
Chuck Adamson and Neel McCauley don’t
let yourself get attached to anything
you are not willing to walk out on in 30
seconds flat if you feel the heat around
the corner 1995’s epic team-up of Robert
De Niro and Al Pacino in the movie heat
a daring heist thriller featuring
intense action sequences almost seemed
too good to be true however more charm
lay in the intricate handling of the
respective roles of villain and hero for
the two oscar-winning actors the film is
loosely based on a 1960s investigation
and pursuit of a real-life thief named
Neel McCauley by Chicago PD officer
Chuck Adamson many details from the film
including the famous coffee shop scene
featuring the two iconic characters
really happened and was added in
courtesy of Adamson who served as a
technical adviser to director Michael
Mann during heats production where do
you say I buy you a cup of coffee
number six Travis Bickle from taxi
driver based on Arthur Bremer
while taxi driver has the legacy of
being one of the influences for the
assassination attempt of President
Ronald Reagan it’s less widely known
that the film’s antihero Travis Bickle
is based off another would-be assassin
Arthur Bremer an unemployed criminal
with severe issues shot and wounded
Democratic presidential candidate George
Wallace after a failed attempt at
assassinating Richard Nixon in 1972
screenwriter Paul Schrader didn’t
deviate too far from Bremer in his
characterization of the taxi driving
vigilante similarities include Bremer’s
relationship with an underage girl
pornographic obsessions as well as an
abnormal haircut that inspired Bickle’s
eventual mohawk look at the film’s
conclusion number 5 Francis Frank
Costello from the departed based on
James Whitey Bulger on people on and
dying for minami main aside from sharing
a name with a famed Italian American
Mafia don the departed’s Frank Costello
played too terrifying perfection by Jack
Nicholson is a fictional portrayal of
famed Irish American gangster Whitey
Bulger I ask the questions I got the
answers for money known for his short
temper and violent retribution to those
who cross him Bulger ruled Boston with
an iron fist
using his politically allied brother and
connections with the FBI to gain higher
clout as well as become a working-class
icon in his neighborhood bottom line is
Bulger has to be caught and the sooner
the better this has gone on long enough
director Martin Scorsese fused william
monahan script with many similarities to
the Beantown gang boss most notably his
alliance with corrupt law officials and
the feds don’t laugh this ain’t reality
TV number 4 Dirty Harry Callahan from
the Dirty Harry franchise based on Dave
toski you’ve got to ask yourself one
question do I feel like
well do you punk yes one of Americans
most badass movie cops is based on a
real man renowned in San Francisco even
before the release of the first Dirty
Harry film detective Dave toski received
national attention for his investigation
into the Zodiac killer case from the
late 60s to the early 70s while he was
heavily scrutinized for the unsolved
cases film producers saw an image of a
worthwhile investigator in toski
inspiring them to base their unorthodox
Magnum wielding 1971 antihero Dirty
Harry Callahan on him where’s the girl
despite Dirty Harry’s obvious nod to
toski the real-life detectives use of
quick draw pistol holsters was first
mimicked by Steve McQueen three years
earlier in the film bullet is so
whatever you want but don’t sell it here
tonight
number three Jeffrey the dude Lebowski
from The Big Lebowski based on chef Dowd
you got the wrong guy I’m the dude man
ever watch The Big Lebowski and mused
aloud I think I know someone like the
dude and as a matter of fact so did the
Coen brothers when they came up with his
wacky bowling obsessed stoner turned
dimwit detective in their 1998 cult
classic that or his dude nasur dude er
or you know el duderino if you’re not
into the whole brevity thing the dudes
nickname and political resume we’re both
appropriated from film producer and
former member of the Seattle seven Jeff
tout whose energetic and peculiar
lifestyle inspired the character that
would go on to launch a cult phenomenon
yeah maybe they don’t take me seriously
you know oh and why would you take
somebody seriously who doesn’t know what
day it is
among other past issues have real like
people in the big lebowski is the dude’s
short-tempered buddy Walter Sobchak who
is based on movie director John Milius
you had to at some point in it be
convinced that you had lost your sanity
otherwise you weren’t really directing
number two Apollo Creed from the rocky
franchise based on Muhammad Ali
[Applause]
the eccentric Apollo Creed’s served as
the main opponent for underdog Rocky
Balboa in the first two Rocky movies the
epic faceoff depicted in the films were
actually fictional retellings of an
actual fight between world champion
boxer Muhammad Ali and the relatively
unknown brawler Chuck Wepner actor Karl
weathers expertly adapted Ali’s unique
mannerisms and ability to provoke his
opponents through rhythmic trash talk
and while Rocky Balboa himself is an
amalgamation of both Chuck Wepner and
lifelong Ally rival Joe Frazier it’s
fairly obvious that weathers omage to
the people’s champion was one for the
books
before we unveil our top pick here are a
few honorable mentions you little son of
a bitch let this be a reminder to you
all that this organization will not
tolerate failure
[Music]
number one Norman Bates from psycho
based on Ed Gein we all go a little mad
sometimes sometimes a villain comes
along that is so creepy you hoped they
could never really exist film goers in
1960 must have been thinking this upon
seeing Alfred Hitchcock’s controversial
psycho in which he introduced the cinema
goers to Norman Bates
a lonely serial killer with severe mommy
issues who enjoy stabbing women in
showers
shockingly enough Bates was based on
notorious real-life killer
Ed Gein along with his complex
psychological problems he killed at
least two women and robbed graves
using the skins to create a woman suit
following the death of his mother
something about his eyes that bothered
me I didn’t feel like he was a person I
would trust Dean would later serve as an
inspiration for other chilling
fictitious serial killers including
Leatherface and Buffalo Bill it rubs the
lotion on its skin or else it gets the
hose again do you agree with our picks
check out these other great clips from
watch mojo and subscribe for new videos
every day
[Music]
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