Did you know that these iconic TV show characters were based on real people?

List Hai Toh Hit Hai

Television shows from America have produced some memorable characters over the years. Their screen presence and unique personas have captured the imagination of viewers from across the globe, leaving an indelible impression. Interestingly, some of these characters are based on real people - people who inspired the writers while crafting their stories and characters. So for today’s List Hai Toh Hit Hai podcast we take a look at some of the most iconic TV characters based on people from the real world.
Television shows from America have produced some memorable characters over the years. Their screen presence and unique personas have captured the imagination of viewers from across the globe, leaving an indelible impression. Interestingly, some of these characters are based on real people – people who inspired the writers while crafting their stories and characters. So for today’s List Hai Toh Hit Hai podcast we take a look at some of the most iconic TV characters based on people from the real world. 

• Don Draper (Mad Men) – (Amazon Prime Video and LionsgatePlay)

Jon Hamm’s portrayal of Don Draper in the hit TV series Mad Men is one of the most recognisable faces on television. The 60s character is inspired by several individuals from the 60s advertising industry, but more specifically the man behind the popular Marlboro man cigarette advertisements, Draper Daniels. 

• Tony Sopranos (The Sopranos) – (Disney+ Hotstar)

The iconic HBO gangster crime drama about Tony Soprano titled, The Sopranos, is another legendary TV character that will go down in history as one of the most popular names in television. Essayed by the late James Gandolfini, the character is rumored to be based on real-life gangster Vincent Palermo. However, the Netflix documentary, Untold: Crimes and Penalties claim that convicted gangster James Galante is also an inspiration behind Tony Soprano.

• Villanelle (Killing Eve) – (Amazon Prime Video)

British actress, Jodie Comer, is quickly establishing herself as one of the most respected actors in the industry. Her portrayal of Villanelle in the hit TV series Killing Eve opposite Sandra Oh has earned her several awards including a Primetime Emmy. The series is based on the book Codename Villanelle, and according to Luke Jennings, the author of the book, Villanelle is based on Idoia López Riaño, a former hitwoman of a Basque separatist group called ETA from Spain. Nicknamed La Tigresa, Riaño is convicted of murdering up to 23 people in her heyday in the 90s.

• Vincent Chase (Entourage) – (Disney+ Hotstar)

HBO’s Entourage was a popular TV series chronicling the chaotic lives of Vincent Chase and his close friends in the glamorous world of LA, California. Played by Adrian Grenier, the character Vincent Chase is in fact loosely based on Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg. Wahlberg even makes a guest appearance in the series. 

• Omar Little (The Wire) – (Disney+ Hotstar)

Widely regarded as one of the greatest crime dramas of all time, HBO’s The Wire set the benchmark for the genre. One of its most memorable characters is Omar Little, a street-level armed robber who steals from drug dealers by pointing a shotgun at their faces. The fan-favourite character was played by the late Michael Kenneth Williams and is based on a real-life person named Donnie Andrews. Andrews spent 18 years in jail for armed robbery, murder, and other crimes, but now spends his time serving and aiding the local communities. 

• Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld) – (Netflix)

Seinfeld redefined sitcoms when it debuted in 1990. It paved the way for future hits such as Friends and How I Met Your Mother. While it is widely alleged that Jason Alexander’s character is based on Seinfeld creator Larry David, not many would be aware of the fact that Kramer is inspired by David’s old friend and neighbor, Kenny Kramer, who shared several identical character traits to Michael Richards’ portrayal of Cosmo Kramer.