Compare Pics of Fact & Fiction
Hollywood loves a good story -- and it doesn't get any better than real-life drama unfolding before your eyes. From gangsters to rocks stars and everyone in between, well-done biopics have historically earned kudos and cleaned up at the Oscars. But casting the right star is half the battle -- just look at these side-by-side comparisons of the real people and the actors and actresses who played them.
AP / Universal / Getty Images / Bauer-Griffin
John Dillinger (L), Johnny Depp (R) in 'Public Enemies' (2009)
AP / Universal
Joan Jett (L), Kristen Stewart (R) in 'The Runaways' (2010)
Getty Images / Bauer-Griffin
Amelia Earhart (L), Hilary Swank (R) in 'Amelia' (2009)
AP / Fox Searchlight
Ray Charles (L), Jamie Foxx (R) in 'Ray' (2004)
Getty Images / Universal
Billie Holiday (L), Diana Ross (R) in 'Lady Sings the Blues' (1972)
Getty Images (2)
Andy Kaufman (L), Jim Carrey (R) in 'Man on the Moon' (1999)
Getty Images (2)
Charlie Chaplin (L), Robert Downey Jr. (R) in 'Chaplin' (1992)
AP / Everett Collection
Che Guevara (L), Benicio Del Toro (R) in 'Che' (2008)
Getty Images / IFC Films
Idi Amin (L), Forest Whitaker (R) in 'Last King of Scotland' (2006)
AP / Fox Searchlight
Reader Comments (20)
ROGER at 8:21AM on Jul 2nd 2009
HOW ABOUT FANNY BRICE/BARBRA STREISAND?
ROGER at 8:22AM on Jul 2nd 2009
WHERE IS FANNY BRICE/BARBRA STREISAND?
Brittany at 1:05PM on Jul 3rd 2009
WHERE IS BIGGIE/JAMAL WOODLARD?!?!?!
pat spaulding at 7:40PM on Jul 5th 2009
It doesn't make sense that Fanny and Barbra aren't the no. 1 comparisons. What's up???
amy at 9:39PM on Jul 5th 2009
eva peron looks like kelly ruthorford (gossip girl)
joe at 12:47AM on Aug 9th 2009
A movie about biggie should have never been made. That was a freakin joke....
D. at 3:59PM on Aug 9th 2009
Denzel as Steven Biko, Kevin Costner/Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp, Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos, Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman Capote, Tom Hanks as Charlie Wilson, Anthony Hopkins/Frank Langella as Nixon, Russell Crowe as Jeffrey Weigand just to name a few. I think the best resemblance from above were Sean Penn/Harvey Milke, RDJ/Charlie Chaplin, J-Lo/Selena and Jamie Foxx/Ray Charles.
Joe Hamilton at 9:19PM on Aug 12th 2009
What about Judy Davis as Judy Garland? I thought she did a super job playing one the 20th century's greatest filmstar. How could you guys leave that out???
Amanda at 8:15AM on Aug 19th 2009
What about David Ruffin/Leon in the Temptations movie.. uncanny!
larry murdock at 2:00AM on Aug 22nd 2009
warren oates made a hell of a better john dillinger than that twerp johnnie depp-stick to ed wood johhnie you were better there
Amanda at 4:14AM on Aug 22nd 2009
Half of the Public Enemies movie isn't even true, it's just crap Michael Mann made up! You read a book about John Dillinger and it's exciting and interesting; the movie was boring, and the acting sadly, was as poor as the lighting. Johnny Depp needs to make a movie about John Dillinger with his own production company that would actually tell the FACTS about Dillinger and his gang.
Peter Szczepanek at 6:14AM on Aug 23rd 2009
Look at Kurt Russel in Tombstone vs. actual photos of Wyatt Earp. Dead ringer.
Rutledal at 1:50PM on Aug 27th 2009
In the picture from "W" Brolin actually looks a little like Obama.
SHANE RADFORD at 12:19PM on Aug 28th 2009
James Brolin as CLARK GABLE!!!! Jill Clayberg as CAROL LOMBARD in 'GABLE & LOMBARD'.
sadgalinsd at 11:46AM on Aug 28th 2009
I wonder if Johnny Depp and John Dillinger are related. Even their EARS look alike! Scary! The chick playing Joan Jett needs more eye makeup!
Brenda at 12:44PM on Aug 28th 2009
What about Denzel Washington as "Hurricane." He should have won the Oscar.
sadgalinsd at 11:48AM on Aug 28th 2009
Also, the wig on the chick playing Joan Jett looks bad. They could have done a much better job casting her.
sadgalinsd at 12:04PM on Aug 28th 2009
Part of what I didn't like was the picture choices. There are some people, like JLo that look EXACTLY like the people they portrayed, but when you don't have a picture that looks almost the same, it takes away from it.
Kellie at 9:18AM on Aug 29th 2009
Gretchen Moll as pin-up queen Bettie Page in "The Notorious Bettie Page."
Thomas H. at 6:26AM on Nov 7th 2009
What about Eddie Murphy & Gumby? It's disgraceful that Eddie's portrayal of the pioneering claymation character was not represented here!