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There's an old saying that truth is stranger than fiction, suggesting that reality itself can be more intriguing than anything made up. This may explain why authors often craft characters based on real individuals they've encountered—people whose eccentricities and remarkable traits are more captivating than any fictional creation. Here’s a list of some well-known fictional characters you might not have realized were inspired by real people.
10. Tintin
Some are only familiar with the adventurous reporter Tintin from the Steven Spielberg film that came out recently, but the character has actually been around since 1929, created by Belgian comic writer Hergé. Over 200 million copies chronicling Tintin's escapades have been sold, making him one of the most beloved and iconic comic characters in the world.
Even those who are well-acquainted with the comics might not realize the real-life inspiration behind Tintin. A Danish Boy Scout named Palle Huld, at just 15 years old, won a contest to reenact Phineas Fogg’s global journey from the novel Around the World in 80 Days. However, unlike Fogg, Huld only needed 44 days to complete the adventure. This feat occurred in 1928, less than a year before Tintin’s first appearance. Some speculate Tintin may have been inspired by another young adventurer, Robert Sexe, but a glance at Huld’s story makes it clear that he was likely the true-life model for Tintin.
9. Ebenezer Scrooge
John Elwes, an 18th-century politician, was known for his extreme frugality. Despite being extremely wealthy, he chose to live in a manner that would be considered destitute by modern standards. Elwes ate spoiled food and resided in abandoned houses rather than purchasing a home or eating anything remotely fresh. He inherited his wealth but refused to spend a penny, opting instead to live in poverty to maintain his fortune.
Elwes' eccentric lifestyle was an embodiment of miserly behavior, a trait that influenced Dickens in shaping the character of Scrooge, one of the most iconic figures in literature.
8. Severus Snape
Severus Snape, aside from the main protagonist, is arguably one of the most instantly recognizable figures in the Harry Potter series. A character enveloped in moral ambiguity and coldness, Snape quickly emerges as an adversary to Harry and his companions. The role was famously portrayed by Alan Rickman in the films. But surely, a character as potentially sinister as Snape, set within a fantasy universe filled with magic, could not have been inspired by someone in the real world, could it?
If you thought 'no way,' we have some news: Professor Snape was indeed inspired by a real-life person, John Nettleship. So, what could have led this man to inspire such a dark and complex character? Well, Nettleship was JK Rowling’s chemistry teacher. It makes sense, considering Snape’s role as the potion master at Hogwarts. Nettleship remained unaware of his connection to Snape until the films came out, when his students, along with his wife, realized the link. Interestingly, Rowling’s own mother had worked as an assistant in Nettleship’s department. It’s hard not to wonder how the professor, who passed away in 2011, felt when learning that Snape’s love for Harry’s mother had become part of his legacy.
7. Dirty Harry
Although you may not recognize the name Dave Toschi immediately, you've likely encountered his portrayal or inspiration in a variety of films. Toschi served as a detective in the San Francisco Police Department and was the lead investigator in the notorious Zodiac Killer case. His story was depicted by Mark Ruffalo in the film *Zodiac*, and Steve McQueen drew inspiration from him for the role of Bullitt. Even more notably, Toschi served as the basis for the iconic *Dirty Harry* character and film series.
If you're familiar with the original *Dirty Harry* film, you may be aware that the character was inspired by Toschi. Of course, liberties were taken to enhance his persona into the tough, no-nonsense figure portrayed on screen. The movie mirrors Toschi’s real-life involvement in the Zodiac investigation, with ‘Dirty’ Harry Callahan taking on the task of catching the elusive killer. Unfortunately, much like Toschi’s real-life experience, the case remains unsolved.
6. Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde’s *The Picture of Dorian Gray* is the sole novel authored by the famous wit, and it follows the tale of an extraordinarily handsome man who has his portrait painted. In a nutshell, Dorian strikes a deal to preserve his youth and beauty while the portrait grows old instead of him. This eerie and supernatural story is inspired by real-life events, with the character of Dorian Gray drawing from an actual person named John Gray.
John Gray was someone Wilde knew quite well—though, in simpler terms, he was one of Wilde’s many lovers. A poet, Gray moved in the same literary circles as Wilde and was admired for his striking good looks, often referred to as an ‘Adonis.’ Wilde didn’t change Gray’s surname but did switch his first name from John to Dorian, a choice rooted in historical significance. The Dorians were an ancient Greek tribe known for engaging in male-male relationships, which Wilde subtly referenced. When the novel was released, Gray was reportedly horrified, as it was evident that the character was based on him, which led to a rift between the two.
5. Norman Bates
Norman Bates, the central figure in Alfred Hitchcock’s *Psycho*, is best described as a deeply disturbed individual. Although Bates is a landmark horror character, you may not realize he shares a dark connection with other villains, like Leatherface from *Texas Chainsaw Massacre* and Buffalo Bill from *Silence of the Lambs*. Aside from being twisted murderers, all three characters were inspired by the same real-life person: Ed Gein.
Gein was a vicious murderer in 1950s Wisconsin, a 51-year-old handyman whose gruesome crimes included the butchering of women. Much like Buffalo Bill in *Silence of the Lambs*, Gein attempted to craft a 'woman suit' from their skin. Body parts were scattered throughout his farmhouse. The writer of *Psycho* lived less than an hour away from where these horrifying events took place and quickly began fictionalizing this chilling and brutal series of murders.
4. Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones, the legendary archaeologist and adventurer who relished abandoning his role as a college professor to embark on daring global adventures in search of lost treasures, is among the most beloved characters in film history. While his tales largely draw from early 20th-century serial adventures, believe it or not, Indy was also inspired by several real-life individuals. The exact adventurers who influenced him are uncertain, though it's likely that the character is a combination of several figures. One of the most significant inspirations is Hiram Bingham III.
Bingham, who served as a professor of Latin American history at Yale University from 1907 to 1915, is best known for rediscovering Machu Picchu. One connection between Bingham and Indiana Jones lies in the 1954 film *Secret of the Incas*, where Charlton Heston portrays Harry Steele, a character who explores the lost city of Machu Picchu. Steele was primarily inspired by Bingham, and the creators of *Raiders of the Lost Ark* have admitted that Indiana Jones was largely modeled after Harry Steele.
3. Sherlock Holmes
At first glance, the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and a medical lecturer might seem worlds apart. After all, Holmes is considered by many to be the greatest fictional detective of all time and is certainly the most iconic. However, when you take a moment to think about it, it makes perfect sense that Holmes was inspired by a highly intelligent and observant medical doctor. That doctor was Dr. Joseph Bell, a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh during the 19th century.
Dr. Bell was not only an acquaintance of Holmes' creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but also served as Doyle's clerk at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Bell was famous for his extraordinary ability to observe a person and immediately deduce things about them that seemed impossible to know—something that should sound familiar to anyone familiar with Sherlock Holmes' talents. Bell even provided assistance to the police on multiple investigations in Scotland, including the notorious Ardlamont Mystery, and later appeared as an expert witness in the related murder trial.
2. Zorro
Over time, Zorro has become a quintessential superhero figure in popular culture. This masked, sword-wielding, swashbuckling vigilante, created in 1919, has appeared in countless books, films, and television series. It may seem surprising, but the character of Zorro was indeed inspired by a real person named Joaquin Murrieta, who was also referred to as the Mexican Robin Hood.
Born in 1829, Murrieta had made his fortune as a gold miner in California before tragedy struck when American miners attacked and murdered his family. Unable to receive justice from the legal system, Murrieta turned to a life of vigilantism, ultimately becoming the real-life inspiration for the Zorro legend. He assembled a gang to take revenge on those who harmed his family, committing robbery and murder until the Texas Rangers hunted him down and killed him in 1853. After his death, Joaquin Murrieta's story spread, and he became a folk hero.
1. James Bond
It's almost unbelievable that James Bond, much like Indiana Jones, could have been inspired by a real person. Though the exact individual remains uncertain, several potential figures from Ian Fleming's time in British Intelligence have been suggested. The most plausible candidate is Forest Yeo-Thomas, a distinguished British spy during World War II, whose actions closely resemble the daring exploits of 007.
Yeo-Thomas undertook three daring parachute missions into occupied territory and directly reported to Winston Churchill. After being captured and tortured by the Gestapo, he was sent to a concentration camp, but managed to escape and return to Allied forces. Not long after, Fleming held a briefing about Yeo-Thomas' dramatic escape, which raises the possibility that the so-called 'White Rabbit' was one of the key influences behind James Bond, even though the two never collaborated during the war.
