40+ Surprising Fictional Villains Who Are Based on Real People

This article appeared in thefashionball.com and has been published here with permission.

Whether it inspired their storylines, their personality traits, their actions, or their looks, these villains from film and fiction were created to resemble some aspect of a real person! From Harley Quinn to Patrick Bateman, these bad guys, gals, and gators take their inspiration from real life. Funny, scary, or just plain weird, check out our comprehensive list of real fictional villains.

Matilda the Wicked Witch

Believe it or not, but the famed Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz is actually based on a real woman. In fact, she was based on none other than author L. Frank Baum's mother-in-law, Matilda Joslyn Gage.

While Matilda wasn't quite the green-skinned menace we know from the classic film, she was an outspoken activist and author at the time. She famously referred to her activist sisters as "witches on trial," which seemed to have inspired Baum.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Brodie

Robert Louis Stevenson's foray into horror with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has had an enduring legacy thanks to the dual personality of its main character. But, it might surprise you to learn he was based on a real person with a double life.

Deacon William Brodie was an esteemed member of Edinburgh's town council - during the day. At night, however, he put his craftsmanship and locksmithing skills to good use, by breaking into people's homes and stealing. He managed to lead this double life for 20 years before he was caught and punished.

Arleen Quinn

It's hardly a secret that many comic book characters have been based on real people, but learning about this one did surprise us. Originally just a one-off character, Harley Quinn - created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm - has gathered quite a dedicated fan base since her debut in 1992.

Did you know, however, that she was based on an actress friend of Dini? Arleen Sorkin, a soap opera star back in the day, appeared on Days of Our Lives in a jester costume for a certain scene. This was all the inspiration Dini needed, apparently. Sorkin later also voiced Harley.

The Divine Sea Witch

This one won't come as a shock to the dedicated Disney fans out there, but were you aware that the terrifying and fabulous Ursula from The Little Mermaid was based on Drag legend Divine?

Harris Glenn Milstead rose to fame in the '70s, thanks to his acting skills that came through his Drag persona. It's hard to miss how Ursula was based on the iconic performer. Unfortunately, Divine never got to see her animated version, as Milstead died a year before the film came out.