Best known accidentally-famous person

In My Humble Opinion
1

Who is the best known person who is best known entirely by accident? That is, someone who woke up one morning as an absolutely non-famous non-well-known civilian, and then in the course of their everyday life, they ended up totally randomly becoming a very familiar name to millions of people across America (or across the world)?

For purposes of this thread, I am NOT talking about “famous-for-being-famous” people like Gabors or Kardashians. They clearly actively sought out fame, even if one wishes to insinuate that they don’t deserve it.

And for this thread, I’m also somewhat arbitrarily excluding Rodney King, Treyvon Martin, and other people involved in controversial violent crime/police encounters. Not because I don’t think they fit, but because I don’t want the thread to just turn into another rehashing of a hot-button topic.
So I have two nominations:
(1) Abraham Zapruder. His name is forever linked with the biggest conspiracy theory in US history, despite his having done absolutely nothing to in any way every seek fame or notoriety

(2) Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger. Did his job well, even heroically, but is famous basically for a basically unique set of freak circumstances. (Has any other airline pilot EVER become famous for making a difficult landing?)

2

Monica Lewinsky

3

Typhoid Mary.

4

Ronald Goldman

5

Divine Brown

6

Erwin Kreuz. A tourist traveling from Germany (West Germany at the time) took a flight that had a refueling stop in Bangor, ME en route to San Francisco. He left the airport in Bangor, and asked a taxi driver to bring him to the Golden Gate Bridge.

7

Amerigo Vespucci

8

Jonbenet Ramsey

Damn, didn’t read the fine print. I withdrawal Jonbenet & nominate Grumpy Cat (although he’s not a person, so probably disqualified too)

9

Tawana Brawley

10

Who?

Good call.

Who?

If you have to provide a link, you know I haven’t heard of him. Awesome story though.

Why accidentally famous?

Who?

Obviously the “who” comments were pre-google reactions. I was familiar with Brown and the Brawley case, just the names themselves didn’t register.

11

Steve Bartman (if the name is not completely familiar. he’s a Cubs fan).

12

Sam Wurtzebacher

13

You know Abraham Zapruder even though you may not immediately recognize the name. He is the person that happened to be filming when JFK was shot. Hence the infamous “Zapruder” film that has been replayed so many times that it is likely one of the most viewed video clips in history.

There are lots of “internet celebrities” that meet these criteria. Charlie of “I bit your finger” fame was just a baby and no one ever expected that clip to go viral.

The same is true with the “Firestarter girl”. Her parents just thought it was a funny picture but it became a meme.

14

Joe the Plumber

The guy who filmed the Kennedy assassination. I know, it’s easy to confuse him with all the other Zapruders out there…

15

The Virgin Mary

16

No wikipedia entry. Any connection to Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher?

17

That was no accident!

18

Roe and Wade. And Brown, of Topeka.

For full name identity, there’s Harvey Milk… Anne Frank. Alexander Selkirk (aka Robinson Crusoe). Lisa Gherardini (aka Mona Lisa).

19

The problem with Internet memes is that few people know the names behind them. How many people know the real name of the Star Wars Kid?

Apparently, Joe the Plumber’s real first name is Samuel.

Here’s a classical example: Simon of Cyrene, the stranger in the crowd who carried the cross for Jesus.

20

Well, not on God’s part. But He chose her. The people on this list are (for the most part) famous because of the actions and choices of others.