The best-known literary inspiration might be Alice Liddell, who, at the age of 10, met Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (under the pen name Lewis Carroll). Dodgson became quite close with the Liddell family, especially young Alice, for whom he wrote the original story. The author took countless photographs of the young girl before abruptly breaking off his friendship with the family in 1863, when Alice was 11 years old.

J.K. Rowling based everyone's favorite Slytherin Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series, on one of her former teachers, John Nettleship, who was surprised to learn of his role in the literary juggernaut. Nettleship, who passed away in 2011, was quoted as saying he was "horrified" when he heard what he'd inspired, saying, "I knew I was a strict teacher, but I didn't think I was that bad."

Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize–winning novel Beloved based her main character, Sethe, an escaped slave who (spoiler alert!) killed her two-year-old daughter rather than see her snatched back to the plantation, on a slave named Margaret Garner, who fled from Kentucky to Ohio when one of the coldest winters in recorded history froze the Ohio River solid enough to serve as an escape route. She too did indeed kill her daughter, and when captured, was in the process of killing her other children in order to spare them a life of slavery.

The Fault in Our Stars is a tear-jerker, and become nearly unbearable when you learn that Hazel was inspired by an girl named Esther Earl, diagnosed with terminal cancer when she was 13. Earl met the author, John Green online and the two began a correspondence, and later met at a convention. While Hazel isn't meant to literally be Esther, it's clear she is the basis for the character, and one reason why Green's portrayal of Hazel is so moving, and so real.

Did not know any of these

Hester Prynne, the central character of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic The Scarlet Letter, was inspired by a real person: Elizabeth Pain, a woman who had a child out of wedlock and was later accused of murdering that child. Although acquitted, she was convicted of negligence and sentenced to pay a fine and to receive a flogging

Both the "criminal" Jean Valjean and and Inspector Javert in Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, were inspired by Eugene Francois Vidocq. In his life, Vidocq started out as the protagonist, escaping prison and going on the run for several years as a factory owner and businessman before becoming his own antagonist. Making a deal with authorities, Vidocq would go on to use his criminal-wiles in order to hunt down and capture other criminals.

In Charles Dickin's A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge who is visited by three ghosts in order to learn the true meaning of Christmas was inspired by an even more miserly man, a Member of Parliament named John Elwes. Elwes inherited his uncle's fortune and took up his eccentric behavior

Robert Bloch's psychological horror novel Psycho, (and Hitchcock's film version) gave us creepy Norman Bates, who was inspired by real life murderer and grave robber Ed Gein, who led a dual life as a handyman and a crazy person who spent his time trying to make clothing and furniture out of the skin of women who reminded him of his mother. He also inspired the character of Buffalo Bill in Silence Of The Lambs

Knew about none of these

Iron Man, also known as Tony Stark, is based on Howard Hughes; the connection makes a little more sense when you consider that Iron Man made his debut in 1963, when Hughes was still years away from his sad end. Back then, he was the eccentric, outspoken billionaire who invented technologies in a variety of fields.

Popeye the Sailor Man was created by Elzie Crisler Segar, who lived in Chester, Illinois, where a man named Frank "Rocky" Fiegel lived. Fiegel chomped on a pipe, wore a jaunty hat, and was constantly fighting with anyone who looked at him funny, often taking on multiple opponents. Fiegel is widely believed to be the inspiration for Popeye, and his grave even features an image of the character.

Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee wanted a newspaper editor character that was just a mean ol' cuss. He wanted this character to be a cantankerous jerk that would ride his employees, stiff them on pay, and be an overall obnoxious egotist. So naturally, Lee based the character J. Johah Jameson on himself.

Wonder Woman's creator, William Moulton Marston – the same man who invented the lie detector – took inspiration from two of the most important women in his life to create the superheroine. The first was his wife, Elizabeth, and the second was his research assistant, Olive Byrne.

Did not know about any of these

In the 2006 blockbuster The Departed, Jack Nicholson plays the role of a ruthless Irish mob boss, Frank Costello. Costello controls the Boston underworld. This character is based on James "Whitey" Bulger, a notorious gangster. In 1999, Bulger was named by the FBI as their second most wanted man, behind only Osama bin Laden.

In the 2004's The Terminal, a man becomes trapped in New York's JFK Airport when he's denied entry into the US. Viktor Navorski, played by Tom Hanks, can't return to his home country, either. A military coup took place while he was in the air. His country is no longer recognized, making his passport invalid. And so, Navorski is forced to live inside the airport. The film, as well as the character itself, is based on the story of a Mehran Karimi Nasseri, an Iranian refugee. Being expelled from Iran after protesting against the Shah, Nasseri sought asylum in Britain. But during his layover in Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, his papers were stolen. Nevertheless, he boarded a plane to London but was promptly returned to Paris. Since he legally entered France, and no longer had a country of origin, Sir Alfred Mehran (as he became known) became a permanent resident of Terminal 1.

Even if you've never seen the 1989 Disney film The Little Mermaid, you've probably seen the evil sea witch Ursula somewhere on the internet. But what most people don't know is that she was actually inspired by Harris Glenn Milstead, a real person who gained fame in the 1970s and '80s. Harris was better known by his stage name, Divine. He performed as an actor on both stage and screen. His most notable characteristic, however, was the fact that he was a drag queen.

Johnny Fontane is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novel, The Godfather, and subsequent movie adaptations. Godson to Don Vito Corleone, Fontane is a famous singer and film star who needs the help of the family in order to launch his career. The line about the "offer he can't refuse" was used in reference to Vito getting Fontane out of an ironclad contract.. Although never confirmed, Mario Puzo also never denied that this character was based on singer Frank Sinatra

Drew Barrymore's character in 50 First Dates, was based on an English woman by the name of Michelle Philpots was in a motorcycle accident in 1985, shortly before she met future husband, Ian. Five years later, she was involved in another serious car accident. Together with the previous one, she was afflicted with a rare form of anterograde amnesia. In 1994, Michelle was diagnosed with epilepsy as a result of her head injuries. Ever since, she's struggled to form new memories. Every morning her husband, who she only remembers as her boyfriend, presents her with their wedding album and answers whatever questions Michelle might have. She leaves herself Post-It notes on the refrigerator, and all sorts of other helpful tips she might need throughout the day.

Knew none of these