Fictional People Who Were Based on Real People

[Mikado]

SHERLOCK HOLMES /Dr. Joseph Bell
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous supersleuth was based on his Professor (Joseph Bell) at the University of Edinburgh Medical School. Dr. Bell had a remarkable ability to quickly deduce a great deal about any patient.
For instance, the walk of a sailor varied vastly from that of a solider. If he identified a person as a sailor he would look for any tattoos that might assist him in knowing where their travels had taken them. He trained himself to listen for small differences in his patient's accents to help him identify where they were from. Bell studied the hands of his patients because calluses or other marks could help him determine their occupation.
These of course are the characteristics of Doyle's famous detective, there's even a physical resemblance!

[Zoneboy]

Dennis the Menace was based on creator Hank Ketcham's son. The story goes that Dennis was misbehaving one day and his wife said your son is a menace and that's how it all started.

[Mikado]

COUNT VLAD DRACULA/ Count Vlad Dracula (the Impaler )

The Transylvanian count who tavelled in the night to suck the blood of his victims was inspired by a real-life Prince who inhabited Transylvania ( in what is now known as Romania ) during the "middle ages" , and , while he may not have actually drunk human blood, he certainly enjoyed spilling it. He was best known for impaling his thousands of victims on large stakes....legend says he ate his dinner while watching his victims die. (Though, these claims were made by his enemies and may have only been propoganda). Ironically, while we might be horrified by his methods, in his native Romania, Vlad is considered a National hero, both for killing the Boyars ( Foreign Noblemen who taxed the peasants highly ) and for his fight to save Romania from his non-Christian neighbours, in a long guerilla war!

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Dennis the Menace was based on creator Hank Ketcham's son. The story goes that Dennis was misbehaving one day and his wife said your son is a menace and that's how it all started.

yup, unfortunately, being the model for the baddest kid in America caused a rift between Dennis Ketcham and his Father that never healed

[catlover79]

Hugh Wilson based WKRP In Cinncinati on his own radio experiences. Many of the characters were based on real people he worked with.

[OH Nuts!]

Citizen Kane was based, in large part, on the life of William Randolph Hearst.

[Mikado]

Hugh Wilson based WKRP In Cinncinati on his own radio experiences. Many of the characters were based on real people he worked with.

That one I didnt know

Citizen Kane was based, in large part, on the life of William Randolph Hearst.

Yup, and the giant fireplaces in the film, were actually based on those in San Simeon, the mansion he built for and lived in, with his mistress Marion Davies (Who was also parodied in the film, causing Hearst to do all he could to prevent the film's release).

[treky]

Dr. Richard Thornberger, who wrote the book MASH based the chatacters on people he had heard about, or served with, etc. when he served in a MASH unit in the Korean war.

(he hated the show, BTW. In fact; he wrote the sequels to the book as, I guess the right word would be, "attack" on the show)

[treky]

Originally Posted by Mikado

SHERLOCK HOLMES /Dr. Joseph Bell
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous supersleuth was based on his Professor (Joseph Bell) at the University of Edinburgh Medical School. Dr. Bell had a remarkable ability to quickly deduce a great deal about any patient.
For instance, the walk of a sailor varied vastly from that of a solider. If he identified a person as a sailor he would look for any tattoos that might assist him in knowing where their travels had taken them. He trained himself to listen for small differences in his patient's accents to help him identify where they were from. Bell studied the hands of his patients because calluses or other marks could help him determine their occupation.
These of course are the characteristics of Doyle's famous detective, there's even a physical resemblance!

I see you're another fan of "the dezian of Baker street"!)

[treky]

Bill Keane, who created THE FAMILY CIRCUS, based them on his own kids.

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by treky

Dr. Richard Hornberger, who wrote the book MASH based the chatacters on people he had heard about, or served with, etc. when he served in a MASH unit in the Korean war.

(he hated the show, BTW. In fact; he wrote the sequels to the book as, I guess the right word would be, "attack" on the show)

That was going to be my next entry ( But, thats all good )
Have you ever seen the pics of Dr Hornberger sitting in front of his tent in Korea?...it looked quite familiar, including the name on the door.....THE SWAMP!

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by treky

I see you're another fan of "the dezian of Baker street"!)

not really actually, i prefer the real Victorians to fictional ones

[APPLEI]

i read that Johnny Fontaines character from the Godfather was based on Frank Sinatra

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by APPLEI

i read that Johnny Fontaines character from the Godfather was based on Frank Sinatra

That's been the rumour for years, I dont know whether Mario Puzo ever actually admitted it, but, on the other hand, that likely wouldnt have been a good idea while Sinatra was alive!

[treky]

When the movie "THE NUTTY PROFESSOR" came out (the Jerry Lewis one) it was said that he based his alter ego, Buddy Love, on Dean Martin.