# Any TV Shows That Feature Fictionalized Versions Of Living Persons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 23, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581 "2018-12-23T19:32:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/61 "2018-12-26T10:04:22Z")
_Born Free._ ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/62 "2018-12-26T11:30:15Z")
Australian crime series _Underbelly_ has many real living people in it - excluding the ones who die graphically during the series, which are also numerous. The first series was set around 2000 or so, and most of the people who were still alive by the last episode, are alive now. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/63 "2018-12-26T14:42:52Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Nitpick: It’s Chiles, not Childs. 😉 Damn. I’ve had it wrong all these years. He was portrayed by Phil Morris, son of actor Greg Morris. And he did a damn fine job. Good thing they called for Phil Morris. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/64 "2018-12-26T15:15:13Z")
The Real O’Neals was originally loosely based on Dan Savage though it morphed along the way into the show it became. It’s Like You Know… starred Jennifer Grey playing Jennifer Grey. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/65 "2018-12-26T15:24:01Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > “[Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068072/?ref_=nv_sr_2)” included childhood versions of Bill Cosby and his brother Russell, as well as, supposedly, other kids from their neighborhood. Back when everybody loved Bill Cosby. In a similar vein, Bobby Generic of Bobby’s World was based on creator Howie Mandel, who voiced him. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/66 "2018-12-26T15:36:22Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > He also played Adam West on an episode of Big Bang Theory. Big Bang also had James Earl Jones & Carrie Fisher in one episode, a recurring role for “evil” Wil Wheaton, Brent Spiner, and the best of all, Mark Hamill. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/67 "2018-12-26T15:57:16Z")
[the Partridge Family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cowsills). ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/68 "2018-12-26T15:59:25Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Big Bang also had James Earl Jones & Carrie Fisher in one episode, a recurring role for “evil” Wil Wheaton, Brent Spiner, and the best of all, Mark Hamill. And Walter Cronkite played himself in a cameo on the Mary Tyler Moore show against a star-struck Ted Baxter. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/69 "2018-12-26T17:16:06Z")
The very first American TV sitcom, 1947’s _Mary Kay and Johnny_, was about an attractive, young. newly-married couple named Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns. The show was created by and starred an attractive, young, newly married couple - Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/70 "2018-12-26T18:05:32Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Damn. I’ve had it wrong all these years. > > He was portrayed by Phil Morris, son of actor Greg Morris. And he did a damn fine job. Good thing they called for Phil Morris. Phil Morris on Jackie Chiles: https://www.youtube.com/embed/AHS0nPB_Cl8?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLONSEFHCEgW33vnk0IRydWO1u6SfNb5sW&start=244 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/71 "2018-12-26T18:45:40Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > It’s Like You Know… starred Jennifer Grey playing Jennifer Grey. And was an attempt to recreate _Seinfeld_ which was based on … ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/72 "2018-12-26T22:34:23Z")
Is [Entourage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entourage_(U.S._TV_series)) too obvious to mention? Every. single. episode had at least one actor/director/other playing hirself. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2018, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/73 "2018-12-27T00:08:35Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > George Steinbrenner, not George Costanza. Larry David voiced Steinbrenner on early episodes, but later Steinbrenner himself made a cameo. > [@terentii](#): > > Jason Alexander started out doing a Woody Allen impression, but as time went by he based George Costanza more on Larry David, mainly because of Larry writing so much of his material. I saw a clip from _ **Curb Your Enthusiasm** _ the other day where they were arguing about this, with Larry saying something like “Don’t tell me I couldn’t have you do that. Exactly the same thing happened to me!” > > If you watch the behind-the-scenes videos from \*\*\*Seinfeld \*\*\*on YouTube, the actors talk a lot about how their different characters developed. Specifically, it was the second season episode, “The Revenge”, where George quits and Jerry suggests he pretend it never happened. Jason Alexander said no one would do such a thing and Larry told him that \*he \*had done it when he was a writer on Saturday Night Live. That was when Jason realized George \*was \*Larry, so he changed how he was playing him. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2018, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/74 "2018-12-27T11:10:44Z")
Walter O’Brien claims this about _Scorpion_, the show where “Walter O’Brien” is a genius who hacked his way into NASA as a kid and has since used his high-IQ talents to help the authorities solve problems in general and catch criminals in particular. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/75 "2018-12-27T12:36:30Z")
At least one episode of **Murphy Brown** had a fictionalized George HW Bush. At least one episode of **The Twilight Zone** had an actor playing Nikita Krushchev. **The Wire** had the real-life Gary D’addario as a desk sergeant, an actor playing Gary D’addario, and a guest appearance of Detective Munch, who was based heavily on Gary D’addario. At least one of those should qualify. **The Beatles** (1965, animated) used uncredited voice actors to play the Fab Four; Lance Percival and Paul Frees were two of them. Paul Frees was also in the **Jackson 5ive** cartoon, but not as one of the Jacksons (also played by voice actors). It’s unclear whether some of the **Harlem Globetrotters** played themselves in the cartoon about them. IMDB credits Rudy Clark and Meadowlark Lemon as actors, but other actors–notably Stu Gilliam, Eddie “Rochester” Andeerson and Scatman Crothers–play their teammates. **King of the Hill** had a non-speaking version of Gov. Ann Richardson in one episode. Has **South Park** been mentioned yet? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2018, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/76 "2018-12-27T12:45:23Z")
\*\*SNL \*\*has been mentioned. Once, they had Robert Urich guest host–as Burt Reynolds. I guess this was around '81 or '82. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2018, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/77 "2018-12-27T14:12:39Z")
George H.W. Bush on the Simpsons. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2018, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/78 "2018-12-27T14:40:32Z")
Michelle Obama played herself on an episode of NCIS. The episode concerned aid to military families, which she supported. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2018, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/79 "2018-12-27T15:01:47Z")
The above post made me remember Nancy Reagen’s anti-drug appearance on Diff’rent Strokes. To quote Sheldon Cooper: What? I have an eidetic memory. Sometimes it’s a curse. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581/80 "2018-12-27T15:39:34Z")
How about _The Waltons_ although only one of the characters had any real fame. Not sure if one-off cameos should qualify [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-that-feature-fictionalized-versions-of-living-persons/826581.md?page=5)