The Real People Who Inspired Timeless Fictional Characters

It’s easy to forget that people rarely invent fictional characters out of the blue. They’re typically influenced by a real person in one way or another. Whether it’s their appearance, mannerisms or personality, people who create fiction take the aspects of real-life people in order to create a character of their own. Here’s a list of fictional characters you would’ve never guessed was based on a real person. Killer Ed Gein was the inspiration behind three horrifying villains.

Hiram Bingham III Was The Ultimate Explorer Before Indiana Jones

Photo Credits: Harry Ward Foote / Wikipedia

Before Indiana Jones, there was Hiram Bingham III. Bingham was an American explorer, academic, and politician. Although not a trained archeologist, he was a Yale professor teaching South American history in the early 1900s. It was during his time at Yale that he also discovered the lost Incan city of Machu Picchu.

The discovery of the city has been considered one of the most significant discoveries of the 20th century. Because of Bingham’s discoveries, adventures, and life, he has been credited with inspiring the character Indiana Jones, who was also a history professor, and a great explorer. They also wore strikingly similar hats.