From celebrities getting Simpson-ized to all of the unique original characters, there are so many iconic characters who every fan has a different favorite of, but sometimes those two types of characters cross over. There are many iconic characters in the show who fans don’t even know are based on real people, and that’s simply because they seem too absurd to possibly be real.
Whether it’s parodying Austrian movie stars, real-life mobsters, or Budweiser’s marketing campaign, there’s so much history behind even the smallest of side characters, and that’s why The Simpsons is one of best shows to binge-watch on Disney+ right now.
Rainier Wolfcastle - Arnold Schwarzenegger
Rainier Wolfcastle is the movie star of the Simpsons universe in desperate need of his own spin-off show. But in actual fact, the character isn’t wholly original, as Wolfcastle is based on Arnold Schwarzenegger, the real-life action hero and former governor of Los Angeles.
They are both from Austria, both have distinctive accents, and more than any other character based on a real person, Wolfcastle and Schwarzenegger look almost identical. There are hints of other influences too, including Bruce Willis, as the fictional movie series that Wolfcastle stars in, McBain, is a clear parody of the Die Hard franchise.
Moe Szyslak - Rich Hall
As Rich Hall is a comedian who has been in the game for over 40 years, he is now well established as America’s most deadpan comedian. Though Matt Groening has never been on record as stating Hall was the influence for the grumpy bar owner, the comedian himself has said Groening told him exactly that.
And it’s as clear as day, as the resemblance between the two is uncanny, not only in looks but in how they act too. Hall’s on-stage persona when performing stand-up is that of a sulky, down-on-his-luck grump.
Fat Tony - Anthony Salerno
Being one of the most talked about gangsters of New York in the 1980s, Anthony Salerno has been depicted in TV and movies several times over at this point, with the most recent case being in Martin Scorsese’s gangster epic The Irishman.
However, none have been more subtle than Fat Tony in The Simpsons, even if they do have the same nickname. Salerno was the mob boss for the Genovese crime family and had his fingers in a lot of pies, mostly racketeering and loansharking, so there’s a rich history for the show’s writers to delve in to when it comes to writing for the sleazy cartoon mobster.
Mr. Burns - John D. Rockefeller
The hissing, plotting Mr. Burns is based on John D. Rockefeller, an oil tycoon and America’s first ever billionaire. It’s no surprise one of the greatest cartoon villains is based on the oldest member of America’s most hated family.
The Rockefeller family is often portrayed by the media as greedy, something that some of the family feel guilty about; which has even been the premise of certain episodes of The Simpsons, as Mr. Burns has often come off as sympathetic after his evil plots.
Dr. Nick - Dr. George Nichopoulos
Dr. Nick is one of the most beloved doctors on TV and how bad he is at his job is hidden by how endearing and excitable he is. However, the inspiration behind the character is pretty dark, as he’s based on the controversial doctor George Nichopoulos, who was Elvis Presley’s doctor.
The doctor was accused of prescribing too many drugs to the king of rock and roll in the final decade of the singer’s life, which explains the reason behind why Dr. Nick in The Simpsons is such an inferior doctor.
Krusty The Clown - Rusty Nail
The idea that people who act as clowns for a living are depressed and mentally unstable is a trope that has been repeated throughout movies and TV for decades now, whether it’s in Joker or Modern Family.
Yet there’s none more iconic than Krusty the Clown. However, Rusty Nail, the real-life TV clown on which the character is based, had no such problem, and the influence is more on the bizarre name and how he acted on-screen. The clown hosted children’s shows in Portland for 16 years, and Groening was one of his biggest fans.
Chief Wiggum - Edward G. Robinson
Chief Wiggum’s laziness and his love of donuts is why he could be best friends with Homer, but that isn’t exactly the influence the creators took from Edward G. Robinson, an American actor from the Hollywood Golden Age.
Not only has voice actor Hank Azaria himself stated Edward G. Robinson was the inspiration for Chief Wiggum’s voice, but it’s even clearly mentioned in an episode of the show that the actor is the influence for the character. In “Treehouse of Horror XIX,” Wiggum argues with the ghost of Robinson about who stole whose identity.
Mayor Quimby - Ted Kennedy
Being the younger brother of former President of the United States, Ted Kennedy is often cited as the inspiration for the mayor of Springfield. Not only do they share the same likeness, but the writers have often used the show as a platform to lampoon Kennedy’s political motivations and personal life.
As the youngest Kennedy is known for philandering and liberally spending tax-payers’ money, that is replicated with Quimby’s actions in the show. And, of course, they’re both from Boston.
Bumblebee Man - El Chapulin Colorado
Not everyone knows who Latin-American comedian Roberto Gomez Bolanos is, but he’s best known for the wacky TV character El Chapulin Colorado, which was extremely popular in Mexico.
The character was also the inspiration behind Bumblebee Man, the anxious but excited comedian in The Simpsons. El Chapulin has a tight body suit with antennas to look like a grasshopper, very similar to how Bumblebee Man looks.
Duffman - Bud Man
Though there have been many different Duffmen, as they seemingly keep dying over and over again, it’s all based on Budweiser’s mascot from 1969 and onwards. Budweiser has always embraced strange marketing, whether its the “Wassup” commercial or talking frogs, but Bud Man, who has a superhero look with a cape, is the most iconic.
Duffman is directly lifted from this, but also hilariously the opposite, as Duffman has an athletic body compared to Bud Man’s beer belly.