30+ Disney Characters We Didn’t Know Were Inspired by These Real People

While Rapunzel is known for her never-ending blonde locks, there’s no denying that she and brunette beauty Mandy Moore share some resemblance from Disney’s 2010 animated film Tangled. Moore was also unsurprisingly the voice actress.

Animators took Mandy’s facial features and light skin tone into account when drawing up the famous Disney lead character. Just look at their matching dreamy green eyes! If Mandy ever wanted to go blonde, we now know how it would look!

While Beauty and the Beast’s star Belle was voiced by Paige O’Hara, actress Sherri Stoner provided all the inspiration for her movements. This is because Disney is known to employ live-action models to help animators create realistic interactions.

Sherri has a pretty impressive acting history as she also helped inspire The Little Mermaid’s Ariel after swimming in a water tank. She later went on to become a writer and producer.

Princess Aurora is another legend from our fairytale dreams. So, it makes a lot of sense that her character was loosely inspired by fashion icon Audrey Hepburn. The animation team focused in on Hepburn’s trim physique when it came to sketching Aurora.

But, everything else about the Disney princess was inspired by live-action model Helene Stanley — from Aurora’s facial structure, to her dance moves and elegance. The side-by-side comparison here gives it away!

Actor Michael J. Fox was the initial inspiration for the title character of the 1992 Disney film Aladdin. However, while designing the characters in late production, the creators decided to make him look older. This meant that a young Fox no longer worked for the role.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, the then-chairman of Walt Disney Studios decided to appoint Tom Cruise’s character from Top Gun as the main inspiration as he had the mature look Aladdin’s character required.

Ariel, the red-headed beauty in the 1989 animation of The Little Mermaid was designed to look like actress Alyssa Milano. The producer even used teen photos of her in order to resemble her facial structure and small frame. However, Ariel’s iconic red hair was different to Alyssa’s.

This news all came as a shock to the actress who only found out after the producers released a sneak peek of the making of the film. Imagine having your own Disney character and not knowing? What an honor!

When Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released in 1937, it was not only the first animated film but the title character was Disney’s first princess. Marge Champion was only 14 years old when she was given the main role due to her dancing abilities and prestigious background.

The producers needed a girl who could act out the scenes in order to make the animation look more believable and since Champion grew up in an upper-class family, they thought she’d have the elegance of a princess.

Though The Incredibles’ director Brad Bird has never confirmed or denied the inspiration behind Edna Mode, fans enjoy playing the guessing game. The two most obvious contestants are actress Linda Hunt and costume designer Edith Head.

Though Edna’s character greatly resembles Hunt in size, facial features, and hairstyle, Edith Head takes the prize for most likely to be the inspiration. Besides the matching round glasses and bob cut, their occupations are also similar.

While Disney’s 1995 animated film Pocahontas is based on the real-life story of a Powhatan woman, the title character and female protagonist’s look was actually based on the voice actress, Irene Bedard.

And while college student Dyna Taylor also served as a live-action model for the character, she was not credited in the film. Taylor considered suing Disney after the film aired but, in the end, chose to stay silent. Pocahontas’ main inspiration, Irene, went on to play several Native American roles in other productions.

The Genie in 1992’s Aladdin was cherry-picked for actor Robin Williams. Disney really wanted him to voice the fictional Jinn so Williams was even allowed to improvise a lot of his lines. Instead of receiving a set script, for some scenes, he would simply get dialogue suggestions or topics.

So, while the character may not look identical to the American actor, Genie’s personality and sense of humor strongly resemble that of Williams.

Oftentimes, animators will base characters on the voice actor’s appearance and such was supposed to be the case for the four vultures from Disney’s The Jungle Book. However, between the Fab Four’s busy schedule and John Lenon’s opposition to the feature, they never actually did the job.

However, the character’s features remained unchanged. The final film has the vultures with mock-Liverpudlian accents singing the song “That’s What Friends Are For” with an influenced barbershop quartet as opposed to the Beatles.

One of Disney’s most popular villains is without a doubt Ursula from The Little Mermaid. What many don’t know is that the animation crew drew inspiration from a few famous faces including Joan Collins and drag queen Divine.

However, the two designs contrasted each other in a way, considering the different frames of Collins and Divine. In the end, then-Disney playwright and lyricist Howard Ashman decided on Divine’s inspired sketches.

The villain in the 2009 film The Princess and the Frog is none other than tailcoat-wearing Dr. Facilier. And while this antagonist got his dance moves from legendary jazz singer Cab Calloway and bears some resemblance to the master of the dead Baron Samedi, there’s more.

One of the biggest inspirations behind evil Dr. Facilier was none other than the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. While it required a lot of behind-the-scenes work to achieve this, Jackson’s influence is felt when the villain performs his numbers.

The Aristocats came out back in 1970 and one of the well-liked characters was Scat Cat, the trumpet-playing cat named after musician Scatman Crothers. However, what many didn’t know is that the Disney character was supposed to be voiced by Louis Armstrong.

This is why the cat has a gap in his teeth and even plays his instrument like Armstrong would have. Sadly, due to health reasons, Armstrong had to pass up the role but his influence remained.

Jessica Rabbit from the 1988 animated comedy Who Framed Roger Rabbit was designed to be the ultimate male fantasy. From her slick red hair and lips to her curvaceous frame, Jessica’s character is truly iconic and always a popular choice for costume parties.

Richard Williams who was the animation director behind the film revealed that while a few leading ladies influenced the character, the main inspiration was none other than “The Love Goddess” Rita Hayworth.

The classic fairytale film Sleeping Beauty was released in 1959 and is still talked about and watched today. What’s very interesting about the main villain Maleficent is that she’s based on the same actress who voiced Cinderella’s evil stepmother in the 1950 animated film.

Eleanor Audley not only voiced these famous scary Disney legends but her facial features, expressions, and gestures were all used as inspiration for the characters design. Thanks to these gigs, Audley was truly the “Queen of Evil” during the ’50s.

Kathryn Beaumont first appeared on screens in the 1948 film On an Island With You and after that, her career was solidified when she was chosen as the model for Alice for the animated film Alice in Wonderland (1951).

10-year-old Beaumont acted out scenes so that the animation would appear more realistic. Interestingly enough, she inspired the scene when Alice falls down the rabbit hole by jumping off a stool. How’s that for iconic?!

Another iconic character from the Alice in Wonderland motion picture is the Mad Hatter — from his larger-than-life personality to his grand gestures and traditional dress sense.

The famous actor and comedian Ed Wynn voiced the character. The movie’s creators then chose to base Mad Hatter entirely on him. Looking at the side-by-side comparison, you can see the uncanny resemblance!

Tallulah Bankhead was considered a blacklisted actress due to her crass and greedy personality. While this meant she may not have been suitable to voice Cruella, she was the perfect influence for her character.

In the final film, Betty Lou Gerson played the voice of the famous villainess and Marc Davis, the animator behind A Hundred and One Dalmatians, used Gerson’s cheekbone structure — but everything else about Cruella was Bankhead’s influence.

Christopher Robin Milne is the owner of the yellow bear that Winnie the Pooh is based on. His father, Alan Alexander Milne, is the author behind the whole media franchise so it’s befitting that Christopher remained the main source of inspiration for the film.

While Christopher never actually lent his voice to his inspired character, he did go on to become an author and bookseller like his legendary father. How’s that for a like-minded father-son duo?

The original design for the character of Scar was already in production long before Jeremy Irons was cast for the role in Disney’s The Lion King. The fearsome feline was supposed to be more muscular and pronounced but when Iron came onboard, changes needed to be made.

Iron’s facial traits and gestures were taken into account after the film’s animator, Andreas Deja, watched Irons’ previous performance in the motion picture Reversal of Fortune. 

The story of Peter Pan’s inspiration is an interesting one. The boy who never grows up was actually based on Bobby Driscoll, the 16-year-old voice actor and live-action model who plays him.

Walt Disney ended up complaining to the animation crew for copying Driscoll’s facial features so closely. He believed Peter Pan looked “too masculine” and “old” for his supposed age but the character remained as is.

The Princess and the Frog was the first Disney animated film to have an African-American princess. The lead character, Tiana, was based on Anika — the actress who voices for her.

When asked about what Rose thought about the similarity between them, she responded, “I had no idea that Tiana was going to look as much like me as she did and I was mind blown. I had no words.”

Fantasia is another Disney film released in 1940. Though it’s not as well known as the others, it still received positive reviews. Fans of the film will remember the nocturnal devil character that went by the name of Chernabog (translates to “black god”).

In order to give Chernabog a realistic appeal, the actor Bela Lugosi — who played Count Dracula in the 1931 film — was used as a real-life model. Though Fantasia’s director didn’t particularly enjoy Lugosi’s acting style, his looks are felt in the sinister character.

Like many other cases, the famous villain Captain Hook from the 1953 version of Peter Pan was based on the voice actor. Hans Conried modeled for the character and oftentimes in full costume because the animators used a lot more than just his facial structure.

Conried’s demeanor and even how the fabric of the clothes moved on him were analyzed. In the final film, the American actor and comedian was the main source of inspiration for the world’s most infamous pirate.

Tinker Bell is one of Disney’s most famous cartoons and is known to many as the unofficial face of The Walt Disney Company. When the animators were in the midst of designing the pixie, they looked for a real-life model to base her movements on.

They found dancer Margaret Kerry who spent six months acting out various scenes. She even used various props to make her performance more believable, such as holding a giant pair of scissors for the scene when Tinker Bell’s character is stuck in a drawer.

While we already know that Dr. Facilier was mostly inspired by the “King of Pop” himself, there was another musical legend in the mix — ladies and gentlemen, put your hands up for Usher!

Animator Bruce W. Smith revealed that he wanted the villain to have fluidity across the screen — just as the greats do when they dance. Because of this, he thought about MJ and Usher and how “they would sort of scurry across the screen.”

Jamie Foxx made Pixar history as the first Black lead when Soul came out in 2020. And while his character, Joe Gardner, is based on a real music teacher from Queens, the animators based his features on Mr. Foxx.

Again, given that Jamie voiced the character, this isn’t so surprising. And although the two aren’t identical, you can see for yourself that there’s a resemblance. Also, just look at their matching hats here!

It’s now become apparent to you that the legendary animated character of Jessica Rabbit wasn’t just based on one person. In fact, there were four inspirations behind her but Rita Hayworth is known to be the main influence.

Another Old Hollywood star that Rabbit resembles is none other than American actress Lauren Bacall. It’s believed that Bacall’s look was taken into great consideration by the animators. Can you see the resemblance here?

Wreck-It Ralph was a box-office success after grossing around $471 million worldwide. We bet the lead character played by comedian-actor John C. Reilly had a lot to do with the positive critical response.

Reilly and Ralph also have a lot in common, thanks to the animators. For example, both share untamed hair, quirky smiles, and high-rise eyebrows. It’s surprising to think that Reilly nearly passed up the role because he wasn’t sold on animation.

Pretty much everything about funny guy Jack McBrayer resembles his character from the Disney motion picture Wreck-It Ralph. Besides the obvious fact that McBrayer voiced the character, his appearance was also a strong reference.

Felix’s hairstyle, eyes, eyebrows, and facial features are all thanks to Jack. Don’t believe us? Take a look for yourself and decide. In our opinion, it’s another case of an uncanny resemblance!

When Frozen came out in 2013, the animation film sent the world into a frenzy and the fictional character of Olaf had a lot to do with it. The beloved snowman was voiced by American actor Josh Gad who later went on to star as LeFou in the Disney remake of Beauty and the Beast. 

And while Olaf and Gad are not identical twins, the two do still bear a resemblance, though we can’t quite put our finger on it. Any suggestions?

Everybody loves Maui, the character Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson voiced for Disney’s 2016 film Moana. However, what a lot of people don’t know is that the animators took inspiration from his grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia of Samoa.

Maivia was also a professional wrestler and tried his hand at acting in the 1967 Bond Film You Only Live Twice. Now, we can understand where Johnson gets the genes and talent from!

When Inside Out was released in 2015, it was another box office masterpiece and that is thanks to the incredible cast. Though, while you can see here that the character Sadness is fully blue and actress Phyllis Smith isn’t, the two do share some facial features and we’re not just talking about the glasses!

In fact, Smith resembles her character in the film more than a few of the other voice actors so that gives us another clue that Sadness was based on her.

The 1994 Oscar-winning film The Lion King had an A-list cast with actors such as Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, and of course, the hilarious Rowan Atkinson who played the red-billed hornbill character by the name of Zazu.

And while it’s a bit odd to say that Mr. Bean could look anything like a bird, the two do share similarities, the obvious commonality being the bushy eyebrows. But, some of their facial features also bear a resemblance.

The legendary Danny DeVito starred in the 1997 film Hercules and voiced for the part of Philoctetes, a half-human half-goat character. From the actor’s shorter height to some of his facial features, it’s obvious to tell the animators used DeVito’s appearance as inspiration.

DeVito is a very famous American actor, comedian, director, producer, and screenwriter, so it’s nice that he also added a voice actor to his already impressive and diverse acting resume.

The tear-jerker film Up went on to win two Academy Awards and racked in a whopping $735.1 million at the box office, so it’s safe to say the cast was well-chosen. While actor Edward Asner was the voice behind the main character, he was also the main source of inspiration.

Even though Carl and Edward’s glasses design differ, the two could easily be identical twins. After the film debuted, Asner received rave reviews for his impressive vocal performance.

Up’s antagonist Charles F. Muntz was voiced by Christopher Plummer. The character was a famous explorer who Carl Fredricksen and his wife Ellie admired until the movie starts to progress. While Plummer is a lovely chap in real life, there’s no denying the similarities between the two.

He was the clear inspiration for Muntz from his gray hair and Goutee styled beard to his mouth shape. It’s pretty incredible how Plummer’s kind face was turned into that of a villain but we can thank Disney’s animators for that.

Adriana Caselotti was one of the first-ever actors to become a character model and her job was to bring Disney’s first princess to life. And after looking at her in this side-by-side, you can see that Walt Disney hand-picked her.

Caselotti worked in an art studio for a period of time while animators watched her act out scenes. Her movements, facial features, and grace were all taken into account when designing the original Snow White beauty.

While we already know that Dwayne’s character Maui from Disney’s Moana is inspired by his grandfather, “The Rock” also influenced his character from the start of the production process. Originally Maui was even going to have his shaved head.

While they later decided to swop it for some thick long hair, Dwayne’s massive build and swagger were kept as is. You can even tell from the picture comparison that the two stand in a similar way.

While Eleanor Audley might not be a household name, she’s the live-action model behind Lady Tremaine in Cinderella, Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty, and the voice actress of Madame Leota from the Haunted Mansion.

Besides for Madame Leota, Audley had a great sense of inspiration over the characters and in particular, Cinderella’s cruel stepmother, which can be seen here with her hair and facial expressions. Audley was indeed the “Queen of Mean.”

Samuel L. Jackson’s famously said in the 2004 superhero movie The Incredibles, “Honey, where’s my super suit?” We hope this jogs your memory a bit! He later went on to voice the role of Frozone in the 2018 sequel.

And despite the character’s very long and narrow facial structure, his other features greatly resemble Jackson. Do you see it too? Wow, what an honor it must be to have your very own Disney animation who also just happens to be a superhero!

There’s absolutely no denying that the beautiful Esmeralda from the 1996 film The Hunchback of Notre Dame was inspired by her voice actress, Demi Moore. From her brown locks to her alluring facial features, we can spot the similarities from a mile away.

Though, if you didn’t recognize Demi’s voice as much when Esmeralda sings “God Help the Outcasts”, that’s because she got some help from a lovely singer by the name of Heidi Mollenhauer.

John Goodman scored the role of the kind llama herder Pacha in the 2010 film The Emperor’s New Groove and if it looks as if the character was made for him, that’s because he was.

John’s unique jawline, mouth shape, eyes, and nose were all taken into account by the animation crew working on this hit Disney motion picture. And since he did such a good job with his character, he worked with the media franchise again with Monsters, Inc.

While we’ve already mentioned that the desirable and glamorous Jessica Rabbit was inspired by a few Old Hollywood stars, we wanted to show you how. While Jessica’s face and gaze were inspired by Rita Hayworth and Lauren Bacall, her iconic hairstyle was all thanks to Veronica Lake.

Lake was very well-known for her peek-a-boo hairstyle, which she actually curated on the set for a movie by accident. The animator behind Jessica Rabbit loved the look so much that he made sure she had it too.

The legend goes that an animator drew up a cartoon of Walt — and Disney’s president liked it so much that he introduced him as a new character by the name of Mortimer Mouse. Possible clues include Mortimer’s thin mustache and frame, and the fact that Walt initially wanted Mickey Mouse to be called Mortimer.

Audiences first laid eyes on the mouse as Mickey’s rival for Minnie in Disney’s comic strips and then, in 1936, Mortimer Mouse starred in a short film entitled Mickey’s Rival.

The animated movie Wall-E came out in 2008 and many were left captivated by the title character despite his lack of dialogue. When creating him, the animation crew watched a Keaton and Charlie Chaplin film for nearly a whole year straight.

This was done in order to better understand how to show the character’s emotions and narrate without words. Because of this, it can be deduced that Wall-E is based on the legend known as Charlie Chaplin.