Well, I also think it’s a factor that nobody can tell you a thing about Langdon, as there’s not a scrap of character development in the book. Everybody can describe Harry Potter or James Bond or Frodo in two or three words. They’re memorable characters. Langdon, despite appearing in a popular book, is not.
I couldn’t edit, so I’ll add: one of the most damning scenes in that great 60 minute teardown of The Phantom Menace is a scene where random people are asked to describe in a few words without reference to appearance, clothing, or hairstyle characters from the first Star Wars trilogy like Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Darth Vader. No problem. Then they were asked to do the same with prequel characters like Qui-Gon Jinn and Queen Amidala. Uh…
I’ve even seen a fragment of the movie, and I’m not sure who the character is you’re talking about. I’m guessing that it was the guy portrayed by Tom Hanks, but even if that’s correct, I don’t know that you could say I “remember the character,” since I couldn’t tell you anything at all about him except that he was portrayed by Tom Hanks.
There’s also Jack Ryan, protagonist of several Tom Clancy books, and portrayed on screen in four films by three different actors.
It helps Potter’s recognition that his name is in all the titles. It took me a few seconds to think “who’s that guy in The Hunt for Red October?”
I don’t think the shark counts as a “character.” Does it have any identifiable characteristics of personality, motivation, relationships or development that would distinguish him from other sharks? Being a particularly big and sharky shark doesn’t do it, IMO.
I would say Dorothy or Alice (which should be immediately recognizable to anyone who speaks English), but they are outside of the OP’s parameters.
Maybe Holden Caulfield? :dubious:
Dubious indeed–the chance that more people know HC than HP seems vanishingly small. Darth Vader is pretty great, though, given the technicality. “Appeared” in the OP is a little imprecise, but I think the best meaning of it is akin to “was published”. So Mr. Vader would win, most likely.
The best selling book in the series sold 44 million. 400 million includes books on Quidditch and such. The total number of people that have read a book in the Harry Potter series undoubtedly greater than 44 million, but greater than 80 million?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_books#At_least_100_million_copies
The 44 million number looked a little stale. I tried to find a more recent number and came across this list:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2009-12-23-bk-decade_N.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2009-08-03-twilight-series_N.htm
This raises the disturbing possibility that Edward Cullen may be the actual winner.
Wow, that 50-year cutoff really makes a difference! Other than the ones mentioned here already, the only one I could think of that might make a top 10 list would be the Vampire Lestat.
Harry Potter, easily. Simply by cultural osmosis, if nothing else, even if they haven’t read the books. Contrast that with this Langdon dude – whose name isn’t even remembered by people who’ve read the book!
I don’t think Edward from Twilight is as well known by non-readers. It does help that Harry’s name is in the book title, but I also think he’s just more of an iconic figure. In the public consciousness, young wizard who must save the world > 100+ year-old virgin stalker vampire.
With the novelization loophole mentioned above, Darth Vadar is certainly up there, and possibly Luke Skywalker too. Plus they’ve had several decades now to infiltrate our brains.
About the Davinci Code, I couldn’t have named the character despite having seen the movie and enjoyed it for what it was. Take that for what it’s worth.
I have to say I think Dio’s mention of Roger Rabbit is an interesting case, though I don’t think he’s as well known as he was 20 years ago.
Fleming’s first Bond novel, Casino Royale, was published in '53, missing the cutoff by 6 years. Otherwise I think he’s the only one that might be able to challenge Potter on this.
I’ve never even come close to reading a Harry Potter book or watching any of the movies, but I’m familiar with most of the characters and the plot on a rudimentary level. Names… Hermione, Ron, Draco, Snape, Dumbledore, Voldemort, Hagrid, the Hogwart wizard’s school… I’m familiar with all of these more than I should be considering I’ve never even cracked a dust jacket. I could probably give a simple description of each of the characters personalities and roles simply through cultural osmosis. I think that’s telling.
Potter easily takes a 50 year limit… If we had expanded it ten years Bond might eclipse him.
I think that Spiderman (first appearance 1962) is more famous by an order of magnitude.
The OP specifically excludes comics, he even mentions Spidey by name.
Read the the thread dude. 
nevermind!
Oh, wait, I didn’t spot that in the OP
I’m not sure Darth Vader is more famous than Harry Potter. I dont think theres very many people at all who know who Vader is, but not Harry Potter. But millions of children know Harry Potter but never heard of Darth Vaader
As disturbing a thought as that is, I don’t think it could be true. I feel like in my own experience, I hear more references to Harry Potter than I do to Twilight.
Which is a Good Thing.
Looking through the Top Selling Books list on the Wikipedia I see Charlotte from Charlotte’s Web; Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect from The Hitchhiker’s Guide series; Charlie Bucket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; The Berenstain Bears; Clifford the Big Red Dog; Fiver, Bigwig, and General Woundwort from Watership Down.
I don’t think sales figures are a very accurate measure of a character’s fame. They count for something, but if a character is truly famous then s/he should be known even to people who have never read the books or seen the film adaptations. A novel can also be a bestseller without having characters that are particularly memorable or that have much cultural impact.
Consider for example the question of which protagonist is more famous: Adso of Melk or Harry Potter. Can there be any doubt that Harry Potter is by far the better known of the two? I’ve read the book featuring Adso and seen the film version, but even I wouldn’t have known his name without checking. In fairness the more famous character from this book is probably William of Baskerville (whose name I did remember on my own), but even then I doubt the Average Joe/Jane could tell you who William of Baskerville was or what book he was in. Most people would probably guess (incorrectly) that he’s the estate owner in the Sherlock Holmes novel The Hound of the Baskervilles.
And yet according to Wikipedia The Name of the Rose (published in 1980) sold at least 50 million copies, several million more than the best-selling single Harry Potter title and at least 20 million more than Gone With the Wind or To Kill a Mockingbird. In terms of sales figures The Name of the Rose is in the same league as Anne of Green Gables, Black Beauty, and Heidi’s Years of Wandering and Learning (better known as just Heidi), but I don’t think there can be any doubt that these other books all have far more famous characters. (They are all too old for their fame to count for this thread, though.)
Hmmnnn. Willy Wonka? There’s a serious contender. Darth Vadar could be it though.
To give you an example of how upbiquitous he is: When the Celtling (3 years old) wants to be the scary person in a game of chase, she always makes a noise like Darth Vadar’s breathing. Coooooo-Keeeeeeee cooooo-Keeeeee! She can have no idea of why this is supposed to be scary.
Of course this always sounds to me like a long drawn out request for a cookie. Which means Darth Cookie Monster always wins, 'cause I end up gasping for breath on the floor it’s so funny!