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Summary
While it was not uncommon formovie role to be name after famous people , it was not often that it happened the other manner around . Looking back on one-time picture , it was very trouble when a even character with a seemingly peanut name terminate up with a deed of conveyance that later became insanely recognisable . While these were merely coincidences at the time , iconic name such as Homer Simpson or genuine - life celebrities like Tom Hardy have shared a title with fictional motion-picture show characters in movie that were made direction before their names became promptly relate with them .
Of course , there were some example wherecharacters were cite after famous people by choice ; examples admit David Herman as Michael Bolton inOffice Spaceor even Michael Cera as George Michael on the TV showArrested Development . But other metre , the similarities were alone accidental and only look strange in hindsight when rewatching the picture geezerhood later . It ’s truly shameful how many movie characters were accidentally move over famous name , and nowit ’s unacceptable to watch those movies without think about different hoi polloi or character entirely .
11Ward Bond as Bert & Frank Faylen As Ernie
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Cast
Frank Capra ’s classic Christmas film tells the taradiddle of George Bailey , a small - town concern and class homo who , after a series of personal and business losses , seek to leap off a span on Christmas Eve . Bailey is stopped before he can chute by Clarence , an angel who wishes to show him how much impingement he has had on those around him for keep him from killing himself . Jimmy Stewart star as George Bailey , with a further form that includes Donna Reed , Lionel Barrymore , and Henry Travers .
The holiday classicIt ’s a Wonderful Lifehas gone down in history as one of thegreatest Christmas picture ever made , but upon rewatching it , looker may notice two characters who voice oddly familiar for different cause . That ’s becauseGeorge Bailey receive two men whose name calling by and by became known by children worldwide : the constabulary policeman Bert and the taxicab driver Ernie . This seemingly insignificant second was notable because , 23 year later , Bert and Ernie became iconic Muppet characters on Jim Hensen ’s children ’s amusement showSesame Street .
hatful of people have noticed this connexion , and it became an urban fable that they were given these names as an intentional reference toIt ’s a howling Life . However , Jerry Juhl , one of the originalSesame Streetwriters , insist that the character were in no way connect ( viaSF Gate . ) Juhl said they confirmed this withSesame Street’sfirst producer , Jon Stone , who reiterated that the characters ' names were “ purely coinciding . ” Sadly , this was never confirmed by Muppet creator Henson during his life-time .
10Raymond Burr As Steve Martin
Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956)
In the human race of colossus movies , no brute was more famous than the Nipponese building - destroying kaiju Godzilla , and in the globe of American funniness , no personality was more acclaimed than the actor and comic Steve Martin . While logical system would point to that being where the comparison terminate , for viewers who watched the re - emended American variant ofGodzilla , King of the Monsters!Steve Martin was also renowned for a different grounds . That ’s because the main character in thisGodzillamovie was also named Steve Martin .
InGodzilla , King of the Monsters!An injured American reporter named Steve Martin was brought to Tokyo , where he recalled a serial publication of cataclysm because of the ocean demon Godzilla . While the actorSteve Martin was not cognize for his role in monster movies , he has been part of many acclaimed comedies such asThe Jerk , Plans , Trains and Automobiles , andCheaper by the Dozen . Martin did not come in from the sea like the terrific Nipponese monster , but he certainly made a splash on the funniness setting , as he ’s recall as one of the greatest unrecorded performer ever .
9Michael Murphy As Detective Shaft
Brewster McCloud (1970)
Some names have become so placeable that it ’s hard to tie in them with anything else , and this was sure enough the subject for Detective Shaft . This name would go most people to imagine the private detective John Shaft from the Blaxploitation seventies film series with an iconic funk soundtrack by Isaac Hayes . However , the truth was that just one year before the handout of the firstShaftmovie , there was also a different Detective Shaft played by Michael Murphy in the black comedyBrewster McCloud .
This was not even where the similarity terminate , asboth Detective Shafts showcased a fondness for turtlenecksdespite possess no intentional connection to one another . The most famous edition of Shaft was played by Richard Roundtree in the Blaxploitation movie , and this rendering of the character came from Ernest Tidyman ’s original 1970 novel . While it was nothing more than a conjunction , it ’s still surprising to watch that both Shafts were excogitate in the accurate same year .
8Donald Sutherland As Homer Simpson
The Day of the Locust (1975)
There ’s almost nobody on the planet today who , after hearing the name Homer Simpson , wo n’t think of the yellow - skinned , doughnut - feeding , beer - drinking Springfield resident fromThe Simpsons . However , before the animated serial air in 1989 , if somebody hear that name , their first cerebration would probably be Donal Sutherland ’s character fromThe solar day of the Locust . In this satirical historic drama , Sutherland played Homer , a muffle accountant who hunger after the aspiring actress Faye Greener .
Groening ’s father ’s actual name was Homer , and his female parent was Margaret , with two younger sisters who were named Lisa and Maggie .
While this connection matt-up like too much of a co-occurrence , the renovate version of Homer Simpson was not bring up after Sutherland ’s grapheme . That ’s becauseThe Simpsonscreator Matt Groening key Springfield ’s most ill-famed family after his relative . Groening ’s male parent ’s real name was Homer , and his mother was Margaret , with two vernal sisters who were named Lisa and Maggie . For those watchingThe Day of the Locusttoday , Homer ’s role can palpate quite jarring as the name has become so iconic , but the connexion was not knowing .
7Nick Castle As Michael Myers
Halloween (1978)
Halloween is a horror film released in 1978 that centers on the fictitious township of Haddonfield , Illinois , as a block out serial killer terrorizes it . Over a decade after the brutal execution of Judith Myers by her crony , Michael , Michael escapes from the local Sanitarium to remain his silent cleanup spree- with teenaged Laurie Strode being his new likely victim .
The brooding , unstoppable , almost superhuman sequential killer whale Michael Myershas disseminate care into the hearts of repugnance viewers since the release ofHalloweenin 1978 . As a deranged murderer who stopped at nothing to take out his victims , for more than four decades , Myers has led theHalloweenfranchise across picture show , novel , and games . However , after the Canadian comedian Mike Myers found mainstream credit onSaturday Night Liveduring the tardy eighties , it became difficult to view these slasher repugnance film without also think aboutWayne ’s World , Austin Powers , andShrek .
While watching today , some viewers may wonder if there was alink between the killer Michael Myers and the worker Mike Myers , although there was never any connectedness between the two . However , this has not discontinue multitude from jest about similarities and how easily consultation members can confound these diametrically pit personality . Edgar Wright ’s movieBaby Driverhighlighted the confusion when the thief accidentally woreAustin Powersmasks for their rip-off instead ofHalloweenmasks that featured Michael Myers .
6Noah Hathaway As Harry Potter Jr.
Troll (1986)
Troll is a comedic fantasy / horror film written by Ed Naha and directed by John Carl Buechler that focus around a strange round that inhabits a San Francisco apartment complex in the 80 . When the Potter family make a motion into their Modern flat , the youngest daughter is attack by a Troll with a magical ring that allows him to take on her form . One by one , he begins to transform several tenant of other apartments into various fairy story creatures and their domiciles into exuberant environment . Finally , Harry Jr. start to discover the change and seeks assistance from a nearby witch to stop the strange series of events . Troll went on to spawn two additional sequel , and rumors still circulate surrounding an animated serial that was initially expect to plunge in 2018 .
There once was a world dwell by secret magic , grand brute , and a immature male child named Harry Potter , but this was not the same one thought up by J.K. Rowling and change by reversal into a multi - billion - buck franchise . This was because in 1986 , the sour fantasy comedyTrolltold the story of the Potter family line , which starred Noah Hathaway as Harry Potter Jr. and Michael Moriarty as Harry Potter Sr . As a story need witches and dark-skinned magic , it ’s impossible not to make comparisons to Rowling ’s World of Witchcraft and Wizardry , although she has never citedTrollas an influence .
“ In John ’s opinion , he create the first Harry Potter . J. K. Rowling say the estimate just came to her . John does n’t think so . ”
Custom image by Yalin Chacon.
However , Trollproducer Charles Band has not remained still about the joining betweenTrollandHarry Potter(viaMJ Simpson ) as , in an interview , he commented on the “ strange connection , ” stating that not just the name but sure view predatedHarry Potterby “ many , many years . ” TheTrolldirector John Carl Buechler ’s producing cooperator Peter Davy also hinted there was some bad blood about the connections ( viaHollywood News ) , express , “ In John ’s opinion , he create the first Harry Potter . J. K. Rowling allege the idea just came to her . John does n’t conceive so . ”
5Peter Gallagher As John Mullany
Sex, Lies and Videotape (1989)
Sex , Lies , and Videotapewas an sovereign dramatic play by Steven Soderbergh that won the Palme d’Or at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival . At 26 years old , Soderbergh was then the new solo director to win the honor . As a highly influential flick , Sex , Lies , and Videotapehelped revolutionize indie filmmaking during the 1990s and signaled the dawn ofa new era of Gen - X managing director tackling provocative contemporary themes .
WhileSex , Lies , and Videotapewas notable for its astounding critical eclat and long - lasting legacy , it also featured a extremely intimate name , as Peter Gallagher played John Mullany . At the fourth dimension of its release , this was just an inconsequential title , but in the yr since , the real John Mulaney , who has a slightly different spelling , has become a successful stand - up , doer , and writer . The connection would not have been find at the time , as Mullaney was just seven years old , but as Soderbergh has revealed , he ’s publish a continuation ( viaVariety ) ; the coincidence may stand out if Gallagher repeat his use .
4Bruce Willis As Tom Hardy
Striking Distance (1993)
Striking Distancesadly did not rank among thebest Bruce Willis action movieoutings during the 1990s , but for those look for a no - nonsense thriller , it more than does the job . With Willis as Detective Tom Hardy , a man who end up fighting against his own crime syndicate in the pastime of justice , it ’s insufferable not to observe that he shared his name with an actor who would later become one of the world ’s biggest headliner . With a tolerate cast that let in Sarah Jessica Parker and John Mahoney , Striking Distancewas no chef-d’oeuvre but deliver the goods in entertainment value .
Looking back onStriking Distancetoday , it ’s comical to witness scenes like a law police officer asking Willis ’ character , “ Tom Hardy ? You ’re famous , right ? ” It seemed he had no estimation just how correct he was . The veridical Tom Hardy would make his film debut in Ridley Scott’sBlack Hawk Downeight years subsequently , in 2001 . After that , Hardy became a household name with roles in Christopher Nolan movies and franchise likeMad MaxandVenom . This control Hardy ’s now far more recognizable than the same - named character reference inStriking Distance .
3Mark Harmon As Jack Black
Magic in the Water (1995)
Although by 1995 , the comedian and musician Jack Black had already take form his band Tenacious D and shoot on several minor movie roles , he was not nigh well - know enough to avoid accidentally partake his name with a fictional movie character . That ’s why , that same yr , Mark Harmon played a character named Jack Black in the lackluster family dangerous undertaking fantasy movieMagic in the Water . With a plot that followed two sibling who discovered a mysterious sea wight , Magic in the Waterreceived overwhelmingly disconfirming reviews .
WhileMagic in the Waterwas faltering in 1995 , the actual Jack Black was only getting bulge out , and the following year , Black win prominent supporting parts inThe Cable GuyandMars Attacks!before assure his breakout role inHigh Fidelity . Over the past 30 year , Magic in the Waterfell into obscurity , and during that same time , Jack Black became a notable name . With starring roles inSchool of Rock , Kung Fu Panda , and multitudinous others , the echt Black has become infinitely more famous than theMagic in the Watercharacter .
2John Travolta As Tom Hardy
Basic (2003)
With the dismission ofBasicin 2003 , Bruce Willis was not the onlyPulp Fictionactor who later make for a character identify Tom Hardy , as this forgotten mystery - action thriller asterisk John Travolta as a character with that same name . Directed byDie Hardfilmmaker John McTiernan , Basicwas a convoluted mystery that bombed at the box office and was pick apart for its multiple twist termination . WhileBasicwas notable for reunite Travolta with hisPulp Fictionco - wiz Samuel L. Jackson , there was little interest beyond this .
free just as the real Tom Hardy was start to make a name for himself , Basicpossessed none of the compelling natural action bang that Hardy was lead off to contribute to the screen . unhappily , Basicwas the last film made by director McTiernan , who subsequently found himself in legal troubles with the FBI ( viaGame Rant . ) While the real Hardy ’s career would go on to bigger and better heights in the years following the release ofBasic , the same can not be allege for some of its mold and crew member .
Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film tells the story of George Bailey, a small-town business and family man who, after a series of personal and business losses, attempts to jump off a bridge on Christmas Eve. Bailey is stopped before he can jump by Clarence, an angel who wishes to show him how much impact he has had on those around him in order to keep him from killing himself. Jimmy Stewart stars as George Bailey, with a further cast that includes Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, and Henry Travers.
Troll is a comedic fantasy/horror film written by Ed Naha and directed by John Carl Buechler that centers around a strange troll that inhabits a San Francisco apartment complex in the 80s. When the Potter family moves into their new apartment, the youngest daughter is attacked by a Troll with a magical ring that allows him to take on her form. One by one, he begins to transform several tenants of other apartments into various fairy tale creatures and their domiciles into lush environments. Finally, Harry Jr. starts to notice the changes and seeks help from a nearby witch to stop the strange series of events. Troll went on to spawn two additional sequels, and rumors still circulate surrounding an animated series that was initially expected to launch in 2018.
