Five Popular Fictional Characters That You Didn’t Know Were Inspired By Real People
You will not believe us, if we told you that some fictional characters you love are inspired by real-life people that actually existed.
Despite being fictional, some literary and movie characters dwell in our hearts. But sometimes, your favourite fictional characters are not so fictitious after all. That's right! Even the infamous, grumpy potions masters was inspired by a living and breathing person who existed in real life. In the most literal sense, it can be referred to as the art of imitating life. Find out about five fictional characters that you didn't know were inspired by real people.
Tony Stark: Inspired by Howard Hughes, An Engineer
The Iron Man a.k.a Tony Stark, is an inventor, a wealthy billionaire, and a playboy. You know that this MCU superhero wears a mechanized suit of armour and saves the world. But did you know that Tony Stark was inspired by Howard Hughes? He was a pilot, a billionaire, and an engineer. He dated some of the most charming women in Hollywood, like Katharine Hepburn and Ava Gardner. Hughes, as an engineer, pushed the horizon of aerospace technology.
Severus Snape: Inspired by John Nettleship, J.K. Rowling’s Chemistry Teacher
Severus Snape is the most condemned yet loved professor in the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling drew inspiration for this character from John Nettleship, her chemistry teacher, and she adopted several characteristics from him to create the strict potions master, Snape. Eventually, the astonishing similarities of Nettleship with the long-haired professor was pointed out by many.
Norman Bates: Inspired by Ed Gein, a Sinister Mama's Boy.
Norman Bates from Hitchcock’s Psycho induced enough terror among the people, even as fiction. But the fact that this character is based on a real-life criminal named Ed Gein, makes it a lot more horrifying. Gein was a gravedigger and also a murderer, and had an undesirable obsession for his mother, just as Norman. Gein's horrific actions have inspired other horror films like The Silence of the Lambs and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Marie Laveau: Inspired by Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo Practitioner
Marie Catherine Laveau (1801-1881) was a prominent voodoo queen in New Orleans during the 19th century, just like the American Horror Story character Marie Laveau, played by Angela Bassett. The real-life Laveau was a multitasker – she worked as a hair-dresser for influential and wealthy families in the French Quarter and also practised magic and herbology.
Indiana Jones: Inspired by Roy Chapman Andrews, an Archaeologist
Indiana Jones is an archaeology professor who loves swashbuckling and treasure hunting. This fictional character was created by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, drawing inspiration from Roy Chapman Andrews, the archaeologist. Andrews gained celebrity-like fame in the 1920s after he discovered dinosaur eggs. His love for adventure inspired the creation of Indiana Jones.
