11 Fictional Movie Characters Who Accidentally Have The Same Name As Famous People

May 5, 2024, 12:10 p.m.

Movies

11 Fictional Movie Characters Who Accidentally Have The Same Name As Famous People

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Summary Not just fictional characters, but also real-life celebrities later shared iconic names with movie characters.

Famous names like Steve Martin, Tom Hardy, and Chris Pratt were originally associated with fictional characters.

Sometimes intentionally, sometimes accidentally, famous names are given to movie characters, leading to surprising connections.

While it was not uncommon for movie characters to be named after famous people, it was not often that it happened the other way around. Looking back on old movies, it was very distracting when a regular character with a seemingly insignificant name ended up with a title that later became insanely recognizable. While these were merely coincidences at the time, iconic names such as Homer Simpson or real-life celebrities like Tom Hardy have shared a title with fictional movie characters in films that were made way before their names became readily associated with them.

Of course, there were some instances where characters were named after famous people intentionally; examples included David Herman as Michael Bolton in Office Space or even Michael Cera as George Michael on the television show Arrested Development. But other times, the similarities were entirely accidental and only appeared strange in hindsight when rewatching the movie years later. It’s truly shocking how many movie characters were accidentally given famous names, and now it’s impossible to watch those movies without thinking about different people or characters entirely.

11 Ward Bond as Bert & Frank Faylen As Ernie

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

It's a Wonderful Life Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available 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. Director Frank Capra Release Date January 7, 1947 Cast James Stewart , Thomas Mitchell , Lionel Barrymore , Donna Reed , Henry Travers Runtime 130 minutes

The holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life has gone down in history as one of the greatest Christmas movies ever made, but upon rewatching it, viewers may notice two characters who sound oddly familiar for different reasons. That’s because George Bailey encountered two men whose names later became known by children worldwide: the police officer Bert and the taxicab driver Ernie. This seemingly insignificant moment was notable because, 23 years later, Bert and Ernie became iconic Muppet characters on Jim Hensen’s children’s entertainment show Sesame Street.

Plenty of people have noticed this connection, and it became an urban legend that they were given these names as an intentional reference to It’s a Wonderful Life. However, Jerry Juhl, one of the original Sesame Street writers, insisted that the characters were in no way connected (via SF Gate.) Juhl said they confirmed this with Sesame Street’s first producer, Jon Stone, who reiterated that the characters' names were “purely coincidental.” Sadly, this was never confirmed by Muppet creator Henson during his lifetime.

10 Raymond Burr As Steve Martin

Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956)

In the world of monster movies, no creature was more famous than the Japanese building-destroying kaiju Godzilla, and in the world of American comedy, no personality was more acclaimed than the actor and comedian Steve Martin. While logic would point to that being where the comparison ended, for viewers who watched the re-edited American version of Godzilla, King of the Monsters! Steve Martin was also famous for a different reason. That’s because the main character in this Godzilla movie was also named Steve Martin.

In Godzilla, King of the Monsters! An injured American reporter named Steve Martin was brought to Tokyo, where he recalled a series of disasters caused by the sea monster Godzilla. While the actor Steve Martin was not known for his roles in monster movies, he has been part of many acclaimed comedies such as The Jerk, Plans, Trains and Automobiles, and Cheaper by the Dozen. Martin did not come from the sea like the terrifying Japanese monster, but he certainly made a splash on the comedy scene, as he’s remembered as one of the greatest live performers ever.

9 Michael Murphy As Detective Shaft

Brewster McCloud (1970)

Some names have become so recognizable that it’s hard to associate them with anything else, and this was certainly the case for Detective Shaft. This name would lead most people to imagine the private detective John Shaft from the Blaxploitation 1970s film series with an iconic funk soundtrack by Isaac Hayes. However, the truth was that just one year before the release of the first Shaft movie, there was also a different Detective Shaft played by Michael Murphy in the black comedy Brewster McCloud.

This was not even where the similarity ended, as both Detective Shafts showcased a fondness for turtlenecks despite having no intentional connection to one another. The most famous version of Shaft was played by Richard Roundtree in the Blaxploitation movie, and this version of the character came from Ernest Tidyman’s original 1970 novel. While it was nothing more than a coincidence, it’s still surprising to learn that both Shafts were invented in the exact same year.

8 Donald 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, won’t think of the yellow-skinned, doughnut-eating, beer-drinking Springfield resident from The Simpsons. However, before the animated series aired in 1989, if somebody heard that name, their first thought would likely be Donal Sutherland’s character from The Day of the Locust. In this satirical historical drama, Sutherland played Homer, a repressed accountant who lusted after the aspiring actress Faye Greener.

Groening’s father's real name was Homer, and his mother was Margaret, with two younger sisters who were named Lisa and Maggie.

While this connection felt like too much of a coincidence, the animated version of Homer Simpson was not named after Sutherland’s character. That’s because The Simpsons creator Matt Groening named Springfield’s most infamous family after his relatives. Groening’s father's real name was Homer, and his mother was Margaret, with two younger sisters who were named Lisa and Maggie. For those watching The Day of the Locust today, Homer’s character can feel quite jarring as the name has become so iconic, but the connection was not intentional.

7 Nick Castle As Michael Myers

Halloween (1978)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Halloween is a horror film released in 1978 that centers on the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois, as a masked serial killer terrorizes it. Over a decade after the brutal murder of Judith Myers by her brother, Michael, Michael escapes from the local Sanitarium to continue his silent killing spree- with teenage Laurie Strode being his new potential victim. Director John Carpenter Release Date October 27, 1978 Cast Donald Pleasence , Jamie Lee Curtis , Tony Moran , Nancy Kyes , P.J. Soles , Kyle Richards , Charles Cyphers Runtime 91 Minutes

The brooding, unstoppable, almost superhuman serial killer Michael Myers has spread fear into the hearts of horror viewers since the release of Halloween in 1978. As a deranged murderer who stopped at nothing to take out his victims, for more than four decades, Myers has led the Halloween franchise across films, novels, and games. However, after the Canadian comedian Mike Myers found mainstream recognition on Saturday Night Live during the late 1980s, it became difficult to watch these slasher horror movies without also thinking about Wayne’s World, Austin Powers, and Shrek.

While watching today, some viewers may wonder if there was a link between the killer Michael Myers and the actor Mike Myers, although there was never any connection between the two. However, this has not stopped people from joking about similarities and how easily audience members can confuse these diametrically opposed personalities. Edgar Wright’s movie Baby Driver highlighted the confusion when the thieves accidentally wore Austin Powers masks for their heist instead of Halloween masks that featured Michael Myers.

6 Noah Hathaway As Harry Potter Jr.

Troll (1986)

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buy Not available Not available Not available 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. Director John Carl Buechler Release Date January 17, 1986 Cast Noah Hathaway , Michael Moriarty , Shelley Hack , Jenny Beck , Sonny Bono , Phil Fondacaro Runtime 82 minutes

There once was a world populated by secret magic, fantastic beasts, and a young boy named Harry Potter, but this was not the same one thought up by J.K. Rowling and turned into a multi-billion-dollar franchise. This was because in 1986, the dark fantasy comedy Troll told the story of the Potter family, which starred Noah Hathaway as Harry Potter Jr. and Michael Moriarty as Harry Potter Sr. As a story involving witches and dark magic, it’s impossible not to make comparisons to Rowling’s World of Witchcraft and Wizardry, although she has never cited Troll as an influence.

“In John's opinion, he created the first Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling says the idea just came to her. John doesn't think so.”

However, Troll producer Charles Band has not remained silent about the connection between Troll and Harry Potter (via MJ Simpson) as, in an interview, he commented on the “strange connection,” stating that not just the name but certain scenes predated Harry Potter by “many, many years.” The Troll director John Carl Buechler’s producing partner Peter Davy also hinted there was some animosity about the connections (via Hollywood News), stating, “In John's opinion, he created the first Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling says the idea just came to her. John doesn't think so.”

5 Peter Gallagher As John Mullany

Sex, Lies and Videotape (1989)

Sex, Lies, and Videotape was an independent drama by Steven Soderbergh that won the Palme d'Or at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. At 26 years old, Soderbergh was then the youngest solo director to win the award. As a highly influential film, Sex, Lies, and Videotape helped revolutionize indie filmmaking during the 1990s and signaled the dawning of a new era of Gen-X directors tackling provocative contemporary themes.

While Sex, Lies, and Videotape was notable for its astounding critical acclaim and long-lasting legacy, it also featured a highly familiar name, as Peter Gallagher played John Mullany. At the time of its release, this was just an inconsequential title, but in the years since, the real John Mulaney, who has a slightly different spelling, has become a successful stand-up, actor, and writer. The connection would not have been noticed at the time, as Mullaney was just seven years old, but as Soderbergh has revealed, he’s written a sequel (via Variety); the coincidence may stand out if Gallagher reprises his role.

4 Bruce Willis As Tom Hardy

Striking Distance (1993)

Striking Distance sadly did not rank among the best Bruce Willis action movie outings during the 1990s, but for those looking for a no-nonsense thriller, it more than does the job. With Willis as Detective Tom Hardy, a man who ended up fighting against his own family in the pursuit of justice, it’s impossible not to notice that he shared his name with an actor who would later become one of the world’s biggest stars. With a supporting cast that included Sarah Jessica Parker and John Mahoney, Striking Distance was no masterpiece but succeeded in entertainment value.

Looking back on Striking Distance today, it’s funny to witness scenes like a police officer asking Willis’ character, “Tom Hardy? You’re famous, right?” It seemed he had no idea just how correct he was. The real Tom Hardy would make his film debut in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down eight years later, in 2001. After that, Hardy became a household name with roles in Christopher Nolan movies and franchises like Mad Max and Venom. This ensured Hardy's now far more recognizable than the same-named character in Striking Distance.

3 Mark Harmon As Jack Black

Magic in the Water (1995)

Although by 1995, the comedian and musician Jack Black had already formed his band Tenacious D and taken on several minor movie roles, he was not nearly well-known enough to avoid accidentally sharing his name with a fictional movie character. That’s why, that same year, Mark Harmon played a character named Jack Black in the lackluster family adventure fantasy movie Magic in the Water. With a plot that followed two siblings who discovered a mysterious sea creature, Magic in the Water received overwhelmingly negative reviews.

While Magic in the Water was faltering in 1995, the actual Jack Black was only getting started, and the following year, Black gained prominent supporting parts in The Cable Guy and Mars Attacks! before securing his breakout role in High Fidelity. Over the past 30 years, Magic in the Water fell into obscurity, and during that same time, Jack Black became a notable name. With starring roles in School of Rock, Kung Fu Panda, and countless others, the genuine Black has become infinitely more famous than the Magic in the Water character.

2 John Travolta As Tom Hardy

Basic (2003)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director John McTiernan Release Date April 18, 2003 Cast John Travolta , Connie Nielsen , Samuel L. Jackson , Tim Daly , Giovanni Ribisi , Brian Van Holt Runtime 98 minutes

With the release of Basic in 2003, Bruce Willis was not the only Pulp Fiction actor who later played a character named Tom Hardy, as this forgotten mystery-action thriller starred John Travolta as a character with that same name. Directed by Die Hard filmmaker John McTiernan, Basic was a convoluted mystery that bombed at the box office and was criticized for its multiple twist endings. While Basic was notable for reuniting Travolta with his Pulp Fiction co-star Samuel L. Jackson, there was little interest beyond this.

Released just as the real Tom Hardy was beginning to make a name for himself, Basic possessed none of the compelling action thrills that Hardy was starting to bring to the screen. Sadly, Basic was the last film made by director McTiernan, who later found himself in legal troubles with the FBI (via Game Rant.) While the real Hardy’s career would go on to bigger and better heights in the years following the release of Basic, the same cannot be said for some of its cast and crew members.

1 Joseph Gordon-Levitt As Chris Pratt

The Lookout (2007)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director Scott Frank Release Date March 9, 2007 Cast Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Jeff Daniels , Matthew Goode , Isla Fisher , Carla Gugino , Bruce McGill Runtime 99 minutes

The Lookout was a highly stylish and compelling action noir categorized by complex, exciting, and realistic characters. However, looking back on The Lookout today, it’s impossible not to be distracted by Joseph Gordan-Levitt’s character, who was named Chris Pratt. At the time The Lookout was first released, the real Chris Pratt had secured just a few minor roles in movies and on television, but in the years since, he rose to prominence playing Andy Dwyer on Parks and Recreation and joined massive franchises like The Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World.

While The Lookout was worth checking out for its fantastic crime story about a once-promising athlete caught up in a major heist, audiences should prepare themselves for countless references to the name Chris Pratt, as Levitt’s character was referred to a lot in the movie. As the directional debut of Scott Frank, The Lookout was one of the best films of 2007. During that same time, the real Pratt was beginning to secure more prominent roles, like Che Cook in the teen drama The O.C.

Sources: SF Gate, MJ Simpson, Hollywood News, Variety, Game Rant