Fighting game character designers have always been inspired by real life personalities, especially martial artists (in turn, making fighting games even more awesome). In other cases involving celebrities... it's simply a coincidence (or is it?). (Part 2)

  

Mads Mikkelson (As Le Chiffre) & Sergei Dragunov (Submitted by Jet3000)

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The main villain of the film Casino Royale (2006) known as Le Chiffre, played by Mads Mikkelson... and Dragunov from Tekken. If Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection didn't come out in 2005, I would've said that Dragnov could've possibly been inspired by Le Chiffre, since the Tekken developers have used real life actors as inspiration for characters in the past. On a side note, that wimp from the crappy live-action Tekken movie has nothing on Mads... this guy would make the perfect Dragnov.

 

Jacky Bryant & Sting (Submitted by Mike)

Sting (played by Feyd-Rautha from Dune) and Virtua Fighter's Jacky Bryant are both masters of hair gel. You might even say they have a similar facial structure.

  

K' & Mark Hamill (Submitted by Water_is_ever_flowing)

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This particular artwork of K' (drawn by Shinkiro) strikingly resembles a famous picture taken of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker from Star Wars. Since it is a rather famous picture, I can't completely rule it out as being intentional.

 

Sean Connery & Joseph Joestar

"I'm waiting to be impressed. . ."

 

Sean Connery & Heihachi (Submitted by Alex B.)

Can you imagine Heihachi with Sean Connery's accent?

  

Jinpachi Mishima & This Tamarin Monkey

You might think Jinpachi's beard is a bit ridiculous and "far fetched," but don't tell that to this tamarin monkey... you might hurt his feelings. Could Namco designers have seen a tamarin monkey at a zoo in Japan, and thought... "Hmm, this guy is totally Mishima". I suppose it's "possible"... but it could also just be a coincidence. In any case, when I'm rich I'm definitely getting a tamarin monkey as a pet and naming him Jinpachi Jr. And if you don't think this monkey is a celebrity, don't tell him that... you might hurt his feelings.

   

Everett McGill, Rutger Hauer & Bryan Fury

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Everett McGill is the badass from Under Siege 2, Rutger Hauer (as Roy Batty) is the badass from Blade Runner and Bryan Fury is the badass from Tekken. Any questions? For the record, Bryan Fury is said to be loosely based off of Roy Batty from Blade Runner.

 

Wesley Snipes (as Blade) & Raven

Saw this one coming did you? Raven's face and haircut was obviously inspired by Wesley Snipes as Blade... but that's where the similarities end. Raven's outfit and fighting style are completely original otherwise.

 

Dennis Rodman & Zack

Zack is clearly based on Dennis Rodman. Fun Fact: Rodman did the voiceovers for Zack in Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball.

 

Jennifer Lopez & Kitana (MK4)

No, I'm not saying Kitana's entire design is based on Jennifer Lopez... but Kitana's face, particularly in this Mortal Kombat 4 render, looks too strikingly similar to Jennifer Lopez to be a coincidence. Is that freakin' photoshopped? So what's more annoying... J-Lo's voice or Kitana's death scream?

 

Dee Jay & Barrack Obama (Submitted by Kaboom Kid)

MAXIMUM health care reform FTW! Hmm, I think Obama could rock Dee Jay's hairstyle rather nicely... not sure how that would go over with the press though.

 

William Shatner & Takuma (Submitted by Hanylokyman)

This particular Shinkiro artwork of Takuma Sakazaki (from KOF2000) closely resembles a young William Shatner. Is Shinkiro a closet Star Trek fan?

 

Renee O'Connor (as Gabrielle) & Sophitia (Submitted by Moro-chan)

Renne O'Connor (as Gabrielle in Xena: Warrior Princess) is nearly a spitting image of Sophitia from Soul Calibur. While it's "possible" that Namco's designers may have taken some inspiration from the costumes in the Xena series, somehow I doubt it.

 

Elton John & Kyosuke

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All Kyosuke has to do to get to Elton John's status is come out of the closet, score a Disney movie or two, and gain about 150 lbs.

 

Elias & Ozzy Ozbourne

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There's some irony in the visual similarities between these too... because Elias is a priest, while Ozzy, The prince of darkness, is quite the opposite.

 

Fallen Balrog & Marilyn Manson

Here's one for the TRUE Capcom fans. "Fallen" Balrog (Vega) is one of the bosses of Cannon Spike (a Capcom shooter featuring Charlie, Cammy, Mega Man, B.B. Hood & Arthur as playable characters). The resemblance of Fallen Balrog/Vega to shock rocker/artist Marilyn Manson is undeniable, and leads me to believe that a few Capcom designers were fans of Manson or at least inspired by him in some way. On an unrelated but interesting side note, Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada also said he's Manson fan. (I've been a fan of his music for a long time, as well.)

 

Iori Yagami & David Bowie (Submitted by Laure)

Bowie's hair when he was younger is strikingly similar to Iori's. They're also both rock stars and certainly both have their moments of being a bit... "weird" (in a good way, mostly). Other than that, I'm pretty sure it's a coincidence... although, there really could be some Bowie inspiration hidden in a few of those Iori artworks.

    

Ellen DeGeneres & King

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This is one of my favorite "separated at births" for some reason. King not only shares Ellen's facial structure, but also her hairstyle. It's also ironic how some people question King's sexual orientation as well.

 

Tom Cruise & Kim Kap Hwan

I know Shinkiro and other Japanese artists have looked to American celebrities for inspiration. That said, in certain artworks, Korean Kim Kap Hwan somewhat resembles a young Tom Cruise. The hairstyles are very similar, but I'm not quite convinced that it's intentional. Close call though.

 

Ken Masters & Owen Wilson (Submitted by Tony Tran)

Damn, Ken was Oooogly back in SF2 wasn't he? And Owen Wilson? No comment. Owen's first hollywood movie was in 1996... no way this was intentional.

 

Vice & Winona Ryder (Submitted by Signor Shiboigan)

The facial structures and hairstyles are on point! Winona Ryder was a pretty big star in the mid 90's so it's possible SNK took some inspiration for Vice's design in KOF 98... but I'm still going to rule this one a coincidence.

 

Algol & Wilhelm von Homburg (as Vigo) (Submitted by Kaboom Kid)

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Wilhelm von Homburg as Vigo in Ghostbusters II looks sort of like an older, "less powerful" Algol.

 

Ash & Alex Band (Submitted by Rafael Polo)

Alex Band from the band "The Calling" and Ash Crimson are both very feminine males. If they ever made a quality live-action KOF movie, Alex Band would make a convincing Ash.

 

Rock Howard & Thad Luckinbill (Submitted by run_away_to_saturn)

Thad Luckinbill from soap opera The Young and The Restless, sports a jacket that resembles Rock Howard's and is even borrowing Rock's (or Terry's) alternate color scheme. The only difference: Thad likes to tuck thumbs into his pockets while Rock likes to go with the fingers.

    

James Marsters & Geese (Submitted by Aeijei)

I suppose James Marsters could be a younger, slimmed down Geese... they've definitely got the same slicked back hair going on, and they can both come back to life after being killed. Btw, I actually met James Marsters in real life... he's a pretty nice guy.

 

Sarah Michelle Gellar & B. Jenet

Not the most obvious one, but I suppose Buffy looks like B. Jenet in a few shots... if you use your imagination.

 

Gackt & Kyo Kusanagi (Submitted by Buddha-kun)

On the left, Gackt, a famous J-rock idol... on the right, Kyo Kusanagi from KOF '99. Both of them are Japanese pretty boys. Even though Gackt is wearing an outfit similar to Kyo's in the picture above and launched his solo career in 1999, this is just a coincidence.

 

Ben Affleck & Dong Hwan (Submitted by Aeijei)

Well, they're both dorks... but Dong Hwan is a much better actor.

 

Jared Leto & Jae Hoon (Submitted by Aeijei)

Reaching a little bit perhaps. But you might say Jae Hoon from Garou: Mark of the Wolves and Jared Leto, the lead vocalist from the band 30 Seconds to Mars have similar hairstyles, but that's about it.

 

R. Mika & Baby Spice (Emma) (Submitted by G.A.B.D.)

Baby Spice should consider a professional wrestling career... she could be R. Mika's doppelganger. Besides the ridiculous pigtails and perhaps body type, there's not too much else in common.

 

Chris O'Donnel (as Robin) & Reiko

Live-action Robin from Batman & Robin (1997) looks to be ripped right off of Mortal Kombat 4's selection screen. Ironically enough, MK4 also came out in late 1997... was Reiko a last minute design by the MK team? I wouldn't be surprised. Another ironic tidbit: This resemblance was posted on TFG well before MK VS DC Universe was revealed. Too bad we couldn't see Reiko VS Robin in MKvsDC.

 

Laurence Fishburn (as Morpheus) & Darius

MK designers thought process on new MK character design: "Durrrr, The Matrix is coool, right? And Morpheus is cool. Hey I know! Let's dress up Morpheus in a ninja outfit and... new MK kharacter!" For the record: Morph-EUS is a cool character and Dar-IUS.... not so much. But hey, this was during the pinnacle of bad MK designs.

 

Fergie & Crimson Viper

C. Viper's face in the "original" SF4 artwork shares a striking similarity to the talent-less Fergie (Stacy Ann Ferguson) from the Black Eyed Peas. Thankfully, they changed up Crimson Vipers face in the final artwork... (Sorry Fergie). It's a close call, but I'm gonna go with coincidence on this one.

 

Robby Williams & E. Honda

I don't really know what this is doing here. . . But if you look E. Honda's face in Shinkiro's CVS2 artwork... well... Robbie Williams... maybe?

 

Bob & Fat guy on motorbike

Fat-guy-on-motorbike isn't really a celebrity... but he kinda is now. If only he was wearing Bob's colors, this would've had to have been intentional.

    

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