# Best known accidentally-famous person
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [May 13, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547 "2017-05-13T18:15:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/1 "2017-05-13T18:15:18Z")
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?)
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### Author:  [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/2 "2017-05-13T18:28:15Z")
Monica Lewinsky
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### Author:  [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/3 "2017-05-13T18:47:16Z")
Typhoid Mary.
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### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/4 "2017-05-13T18:51:50Z")
Ronald Goldman
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### Author:  [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/5 "2017-05-13T19:03:18Z")
Divine Brown
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### Author:  [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/6 "2017-05-13T19:07:22Z")
[Erwin Kreuz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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.
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### Author:  [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/7 "2017-05-13T19:09:02Z")
Amerigo Vespucci
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### Author:  [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/8 "2017-05-13T19:22:26Z")
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)
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### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/9 "2017-05-13T19:26:55Z")
Tawana Brawley
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### Author:  [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/10 "2017-05-13T19:49:21Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#):
>
> Abraham Zapruder
Who?
> [@RobDog](#):
>
> Typhoid Mary.
Good call.
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#):
>
> Divine Brown
Who?
> [@boffking](#):
>
> [Erwin Kreuz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_Kreuz)
If you have to provide a link, you _know_ I haven’t heard of him. Awesome story though.
> [@Telperion](#):
>
> Amerigo Vespucci
Why accidentally famous?
> [@Annie-Xmas](#):
>
> Tawana Brawley
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.
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### Author:  [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/11 "2017-05-13T19:52:11Z")
Steve Bartman (if the name is not completely familiar. he’s a Cubs fan).
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### Author:  [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/12 "2017-05-13T20:03:56Z")
Sam Wurtzebacher
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### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/13 "2017-05-13T20:07:42Z")
> [@Riemann](#):
>
> Who?
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](https://www.google.com/search?q=firestarter+girl+meme&tbm=isch&imgil=5CGsaHYivw6AZM%253A%253BVf88oodBmgR1GM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.refinery29.com%25252F2016%25252F07%25252F116732%25252Fwho-is-disaster-girl-meme&source=iu&pf=m&fir=5CGsaHYivw6AZM%253A%252CVf88oodBmgR1GM%252C_&usg=__Is9_DudC0M9E13U7VC7aiIBJunY%3D&biw=1229&bih=607&ved=0ahUKEwjm5unz1e3TAhXM6YMKHcWSDgIQyjcIQw&ei=dmcXWebTKMzTjwTFpboQ#imgrc=5CGsaHYivw6AZM:)”. Her parents just thought it was a funny picture but it became a meme.
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### Author:  [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/14 "2017-05-13T20:09:27Z")
Joe the Plumber
> [@Riemann](#):
>
> > [@MaxTheVool](#):
> >
> > Abraham Zapruder.
>
> Who?
The guy who filmed the [Kennedy assassination.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq1PbgeBoQ4) I know, it’s easy to confuse him with all the other Zapruders out there…
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### Author:  [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/15 "2017-05-13T20:09:54Z")
The Virgin Mary
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### Author:  [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/16 "2017-05-13T20:10:18Z")
> [@eschereal](#):
>
> Sam Wurtzebacher
No wikipedia entry. Any connection to Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher?
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### Author:  [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/17 "2017-05-13T20:12:23Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#):
>
> The Virgin Mary
That was no accident!
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### Author:  [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/18 "2017-05-13T20:16:19Z")
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).
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### Author:  [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/19 "2017-05-13T20:18:30Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#):
>
> 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](https://www.google.com/search?q=firestarter+girl+meme&tbm=isch&imgil=5CGsaHYivw6AZM%253A%253BVf88oodBmgR1GM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.refinery29.com%25252F2016%25252F07%25252F116732%25252Fwho-is-disaster-girl-meme&source=iu&pf=m&fir=5CGsaHYivw6AZM%253A%252CVf88oodBmgR1GM%252C_&usg=__Is9_DudC0M9E13U7VC7aiIBJunY%3D&biw=1229&bih=607&ved=0ahUKEwjm5unz1e3TAhXM6YMKHcWSDgIQyjcIQw&ei=dmcXWebTKMzTjwTFpboQ#imgrc=5CGsaHYivw6AZM:)”. Her parents just thought it was a funny picture but it became a meme.
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?
> [@kk\_fusion](#):
>
> No wikipedia entry. Any connection to Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher?
Apparently, Joe the Plumber’s real first name is Samuel.
Here’s a classical example: [Simon of Cyrene](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_of_Cyrene), the stranger in the crowd who carried the cross for Jesus.
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### Author:  [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-accidentally-famous-person/786547/20 "2017-05-13T20:20:52Z")
> [@Procrustus](#):
>
> That was no accident!
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.
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