11 Fictional Film Characters Who By chance Have The Similar Identify As Well-known Folks

Whereas it was not unusual for film characters to be named after well-known individuals, it was not usually that it occurred the opposite approach round. Wanting again on previous motion pictures, it was very distracting when a daily character with a seemingly insignificant identify ended up with a title that later turned insanely recognizable. Whereas these had been merely coincidences on the time, iconic names similar to Homer Simpson or real-life celebrities like Tom Hardy have shared a title with fictional film characters in movies that had been made approach earlier than their names turned readily related to them.

After all, there have been some situations the place characters had been named after well-known individuals deliberately; examples included David Herman as Michael Bolton in Workplace House and even Michael Cera as George Michael on the tv present Arrested Growth. However different instances, the similarities had been fully unintended and solely appeared unusual in hindsight when rewatching the film years later. It’s really surprising what number of film characters had been unintentionally given well-known names, and now it’s unattainable to observe these motion pictures with out enthusiastic about completely different individuals or characters fully.

11 Ward Bond as Bert & Frank Faylen As Ernie

It’s a Great Life (1946)

The vacation basic It’s a Great Life has gone down in historical past as one of many best Christmas motion pictures ever made, however upon rewatching it, viewers might discover two characters who sound oddly acquainted for various causes. That’s as a result of George Bailey encountered two males whose names later turned identified by kids worldwide: the police officer Bert and the taxicab driver Ernie. This seemingly insignificant second was notable as a result of, 23 years later, Bert and Ernie turned iconic Muppet characters on Jim Hensen’s kids’s leisure present Sesame Road.

Loads of individuals have observed this connection, and it turned an city legend that they got these names as an intentional reference to It’s a Great Life. Nonetheless, Jerry Juhl, one of many unique Sesame Road writers, insisted that the characters had been under no circumstances linked (through SF Gate.) Juhl mentioned they confirmed this with Sesame Road’s first producer, Jon Stone, who reiterated that the characters’ names had been “purely coincidental.” Sadly, this was by no means confirmed by Muppet creator Henson throughout his lifetime.

10 Raymond Burr As Steve Martin

Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956)

On the planet of monster motion pictures, no creature was extra well-known than the Japanese building-destroying kaiju Godzilla, and on this planet of American comedy, no persona was extra acclaimed than the actor and comic Steve Martin. Whereas logic would level to that being the place the comparability ended, for viewers who watched the re-edited American model of Godzilla, King of the Monsters! Steve Martin was additionally well-known for a special motive. That’s as a result of the primary character on this Godzilla film was additionally named Steve Martin.

In Godzilla, King of the Monsters! An injured American reporter named Steve Martin was dropped at Tokyo, the place he recalled a sequence of disasters attributable to the ocean monster Godzilla. Whereas the actor Steve Martin was not identified for his roles in monster motion pictures, he has been a part of many acclaimed comedies similar to The Jerk, Plans, Trains and Cars, and Cheaper by the Dozen. Martin didn’t come from the ocean just like the terrifying Japanese monster, however he definitely made a splash on the comedy scene, as he’s remembered as one of many best stay performers ever.

9 Michael Murphy As Detective Shaft

Brewster McCloud (1970)

Some names have turn into so recognizable that it’s onerous to affiliate them with anything, and this was definitely the case for Detective Shaft. This identify would lead most individuals to think about the non-public detective John Shaft from the Blaxploitation Nineteen Seventies movie sequence with an iconic funk soundtrack by Isaac Hayes. Nonetheless, the reality was that only one yr earlier than the discharge of the primary Shaft film, there was additionally a special Detective Shaft performed by Michael Murphy within the black comedy Brewster McCloud.

This was not even the place the similarity ended, as each Detective Shafts showcased a passion for turtlenecks regardless of having no intentional connection to at least one one other. Probably the most well-known model of Shaft was performed by Richard Roundtree within the Blaxploitation film, and this model of the character got here from Ernest Tidyman’s unique 1970 novel. Whereas it was nothing greater than a coincidence, it’s nonetheless shocking to be taught that each Shafts had been invented in the very same yr.

8 Donald Sutherland As Homer Simpson

The Day of the Locust (1975)

There’s nearly no one on the planet immediately who, after listening to the identify Homer Simpson, received’t consider the yellow-skinned, doughnut-eating, beer-drinking Springfield resident from The Simpsons. Nonetheless, earlier than the animated sequence aired in 1989, if any individual heard that identify, their first thought would seemingly be Donal Sutherland’s character from The Day of the Locust. On this satirical historic drama, Sutherland performed Homer, a repressed accountant who lusted after the aspiring actress Faye Greener.

Whereas this connection felt like an excessive amount of of a coincidence, the animated model of Homer Simpson was not named after Sutherland’s character. That’s as a result of The Simpsons creator Matt Groening named Springfield’s most notorious household after his family. Groening’s father’s actual identify was Homer, and his mom was Margaret, with two youthful sisters who had been named Lisa and Maggie. For these watching The Day of the Locust immediately, Homer’s character can really feel fairly jarring because the identify has turn into so iconic, however the connection was not intentional.

7 Nick Fortress As Michael Myers

Halloween (1978)

The brooding, unstoppable, nearly superhuman serial killer Michael Myers has unfold worry into the hearts of horror viewers for the reason that launch of Halloween in 1978. As a deranged assassin who stopped at nothing to take out his victims, for greater than 4 many years, Myers has led the Halloween franchise throughout movies, novels, and video games. Nonetheless, after the Canadian comic Mike Myers discovered mainstream recognition on Saturday Evening Reside in the course of the late Nineteen Eighties, it turned tough to observe these slasher horror motion pictures with out additionally enthusiastic about Wayne’s World, Austin Powers, and Shrek.

Whereas watching immediately, some viewers might surprise if there was a hyperlink between the killer Michael Myers and the actor Mike Myers, though there was by no means any connection between the 2. Nonetheless, this has not stopped individuals from joking about similarities and the way simply viewers members can confuse these diametrically opposed personalities. Edgar Wright’s film Child Driver highlighted the confusion when the thieves unintentionally wore Austin Powers masks for his or her heist as an alternative of Halloween masks that featured Michael Myers.

6 Noah Hathaway As Harry Potter Jr.

Troll (1986)

There as soon as was a world populated by secret magic, improbable beasts, and a younger boy named Harry Potter, however this was not the identical one thought up by J.Okay. Rowling and was a multi-billion-dollar franchise. This was as a result of in 1986, the darkish fantasy comedy Troll instructed the story of the Potter household, which starred Noah Hathaway as Harry Potter Jr. and Michael Moriarty as Harry Potter Sr. As a narrative involving witches and darkish magic, it’s unattainable to not make comparisons to Rowling’s World of Witchcraft and Wizardry, though she has by no means cited Troll as an affect.

Nonetheless, Troll producer Charles Band has not remained silent in regards to the connection between Troll and Harry Potter (through MJ Simpson) as, in an interview, he commented on the “unusual connection,” stating that not simply the identify however sure scenes predated Harry Potter by “many, a few years.” The Troll director John Carl Buechler’s producing companion Peter Davy additionally hinted there was some animosity in regards to the connections (through Hollywood Information), stating, “In John’s opinion, he created the primary Harry Potter. J. Okay. Rowling says the thought simply got here to her. John does not suppose so.”

5 Peter Gallagher As John Mullany

Intercourse, Lies and Videotape (1989)

Intercourse, Lies, and Videotape was an unbiased drama by Steven Soderbergh that received the Palme d’Or on the 1989 Cannes Movie Competition. At 26 years previous, Soderbergh was then the youngest solo director to win the award. As a extremely influential movie, Intercourse, Lies, and Videotape helped revolutionize indie filmmaking in the course of the Nineties and signaled the dawning of a brand new period of Gen-X administrators tackling provocative modern themes.

Whereas Intercourse, Lies, and Videotape was notable for its astounding vital acclaim and long-lasting legacy, it additionally featured a extremely acquainted identify, as Peter Gallagher performed John Mullany. On the time of its launch, this was simply an inconsequential title, however within the years since, the true John Mulaney, who has a barely completely different spelling, has turn into a profitable stand-up, actor, and author. The connection wouldn’t have been observed on the time, as Mullaney was simply seven years previous, however as Soderbergh has revealed, he’s written a sequel (through Selection); the coincidence might stand out if Gallagher reprises his position.

4 Bruce Willis As Tom Hardy

Putting Distance (1993)

Putting Distance sadly didn’t rank among the many greatest Bruce Willis motion film outings in the course of the Nineties, however for these searching for a no-nonsense thriller, it greater than does the job. With Willis as Detective Tom Hardy, a person who ended up preventing in opposition to his family within the pursuit of justice, it’s unattainable to not discover that he shared his identify with an actor who would later turn into one of many world’s largest stars. With a supporting solid that included Sarah Jessica Parker and John Mahoney, Putting Distance was no masterpiece however succeeded in leisure worth.

Wanting again on Putting Distance immediately, it’s humorous to witness scenes like a police officer asking Willis’ character, “Tom Hardy? You’re well-known, proper?” It appeared he had no thought simply how appropriate he was. The true Tom Hardy would make his movie debut in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down eight years later, in 2001. After that, Hardy turned a family identify with roles in Christopher Nolan motion pictures and franchises like Mad Max and Venom. This ensured Hardy’s now much more recognizable than the same-named character in Putting Distance.

3 Mark Harmon As Jack Black

Magic within the Water (1995)

Though by 1995, the comic and musician Jack Black had already fashioned his band Tenacious D and brought on a number of minor film roles, he was not almost well-known sufficient to keep away from unintentionally sharing his identify with a fictional film character. That’s why, that very same yr, Mark Harmon performed a personality named Jack Black within the lackluster household journey fantasy film Magic within the Water. With a plot that adopted two siblings who found a mysterious sea creature, Magic within the Water acquired overwhelmingly unfavourable opinions.

Whereas Magic within the Water was faltering in 1995, the precise Jack Black was solely getting began, and the next yr, Black gained outstanding supporting components in The Cable Man and Mars Assaults! earlier than securing his breakout position in Excessive Constancy. Over the previous 30 years, Magic within the Water fell into obscurity, and through that very same time, Jack Black turned a notable identify. With starring roles in College of Rock, Kung Fu Panda, and numerous others, the real Black has turn into infinitely extra well-known than the Magic within the Water character.

2 John Travolta As Tom Hardy

Primary (2003)

With the discharge of Primary in 2003, Bruce Willis was not the one Pulp Fiction actor who later performed a personality named Tom Hardy, as this forgotten mystery-action thriller starred John Travolta as a personality with that very same identify. Directed by Die Laborious filmmaker John McTiernan, Primary was a convoluted thriller that bombed on the field workplace and was criticized for its a number of twist endings. Whereas Primary was notable for reuniting Travolta along with his Pulp Fiction co-star Samuel L. Jackson, there was little curiosity past this.

Launched simply as the true Tom Hardy was starting to make a reputation for himself, Primary possessed not one of the compelling motion thrills that Hardy was beginning to convey to the display. Sadly, Primary was the final movie made by director McTiernan, who later discovered himself in authorized troubles with the FBI (through Recreation Rant.) Whereas the true Hardy’s profession would go on to larger and higher heights within the years following the discharge of Primary, the identical can’t be mentioned for a few of its solid and crew members.

1 Joseph Gordon-Levitt As Chris Pratt

The Lookout (2007)

The Lookout was a extremely fashionable and compelling motion noir categorized by advanced, thrilling, and real looking characters. Nonetheless, wanting again on The Lookout immediately, it’s unattainable to not be distracted by Joseph Gordan-Levitt’s character, who was named Chris Pratt. On the time The Lookout was first launched, the true Chris Pratt had secured only a few minor roles in motion pictures and on tv, however within the years since, he rose to prominence taking part in Andy Dwyer on Parks and Recreation and joined huge franchises like The Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World.

Whereas The Lookout was value trying out for its improbable crime story a few once-promising athlete caught up in a significant heist, audiences ought to put together themselves for numerous references to the identify Chris Pratt, as Levitt’s character was referred to lots within the film. Because the directional debut of Scott Frank, The Lookout was among the best movies of 2007. Throughout that very same time, the true Pratt was starting to safe extra outstanding roles, like Che Cook dinner within the teen drama The O.C.

Sources: SF Gate, MJ Simpson, Hollywood Information, Selection, Recreation Rant