# What Celebrities have wholly artificial public personas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696 "2006-04-21T22:08:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/81 "2006-04-25T21:59:28Z")
I’ve heard that Vincent Gallo, the Maddox of the indie film scene, known for his nihilistic and shocking writing and soundbites (trashing everyone he doesn’t like in the worst terms, having a huge ego, doing things like offering his sperm for sale and attempting to sell his services as a male prostitute) is actually a friendly and level-headed guy in real life. ---
**Author:** ![Agnostic\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Agnostic\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agnostic_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/82 "2006-04-25T22:28:22Z")
Since Richard Simmons name has not been mentioned, does that mean it is _not_ an act. _Shudder._ ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/83 "2006-04-26T00:10:44Z")
I think Charo is largely playing a character. I might start naming politicians - but it would move the thread to Great Debates! ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/84 "2006-04-26T01:00:25Z")
> [@Team of Scientists](#): > > He _does_ speak with a normal voice. I’m pretty sure he even used it in some TV show or movie…I’m thinking an episode of Law & Order or CSI for some reason. In an ep of “Tales From the Crypt,” also, in which he played a ventriloquist. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/85 "2006-04-26T01:07:33Z")
And I don’t think that Gilbert Gottfried used the Gilbert Gottfried “character” full time when he was a regular on SNL’s “lost” season. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/86 "2006-04-26T13:50:33Z")
I’m surprised that nobody has mentioned Eminem/Slim Shady/Marshall Mathers yet, though to be fair, he’s pretty up-front about the fact that his public persona is just an act. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/87 "2006-04-26T14:07:59Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Buster Keaton came across as a milquetoast in a number of his films, when he actually had a very deep, gruff speaking voice and was no milquetoast. Damn straight. Buster Keaton was a hell of an athlete and acrobat. The stunts he personally did for his movies required a degree of fearlessness that few possess. It is not coincidental that Jackie Chan cites Keaton as an influence. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/88 "2006-05-17T19:40:23Z")
> [@Stentor 2.5](#): > > I’ve heard that Carrot Top is well respected among comedians for his work ethic. He tours over three hundred days a year. My guess would be that he’s probably quite funny, it’s just that once you walk out on stage with a prop no one ever takes you seriously again. I also find it telling that most of the people who criticize him have never seen one of his shows. They just know that everybody else knows that he sucks. :rolleyes: I have seen several of Carrot Top’s appearances on TV. I find him quite unfunny. EXCEPT when he appeared on a celebrity edition of The Weakest Link. During her post-round taunting, host Ann Robinson asked CT, “Is that your real hair color or it from a can?” Carrot Top immediately deadpanned, “Carpet matches the drapes.” At which the normally ice-cold Robinson turned to the side, bent stiffly at the waist, and remained in that position for about 10-15 seconds, before rising, red-faced and ever-so-slightly grinning, to resume her torment of the other contestants. THAT made me laugh. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/89 "2006-05-17T19:52:28Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > > [@Stentor 2.5](#): > > > > I’ve heard that Carrot Top is well respected among comedians for his work ethic. He tours over three hundred days a year. My guess would be that he’s probably quite funny, it’s just that once you walk out on stage with a prop no one ever takes you seriously again. I also find it telling that most of the people who criticize him have never seen one of his shows. They just know that everybody else knows that he sucks. > > I have seen several of Carrot Top’s appearances on TV. I find him quite unfunny. > > EXCEPT when he appeared on a celebrity edition of The Weakest Link. > > During her post-round taunting, host Ann Robinson asked CT, “Is that your real hair color or it from a can?” > > Carrot Top immediately deadpanned, “Carpet matches the drapes.” > > At which the normally ice-cold Robinson turned to the side, bent stiffly at the waist, and remained in that position for about 10-15 seconds, before rising, red-faced and ever-so-slightly grinning, to resume her torment of the other contestants. > > THAT made me laugh. I have to back \*\*scotandrsn \*\* up on this one. I have seen Carrot Top Appearances and watched that god awful movie he starred in. He is not at all funny IMHO. For the Record, I liked Gallagher. I thought he was very funny. Besides the props that worked for him, he had some pretty good political satire in his Cable Specials. So it isn’t just the Props that make me dislike Carrot Top. It is that he is not funny most of the time. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Andrew\_Bug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andrew\_Bug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andrew_Bug)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/90 "2006-05-17T21:29:55Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > **Buster Poindexter** was actually an character created/performed by David Johansen, the former frontman of the punk rock group Television. Actually David Johansen fronted the New York Dolls, Television was with Richard Lloyd and Tom Verlaine. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/91 "2006-05-18T00:03:16Z")
Damn, I remember fondly the days when the only time you saw Paris Hilton’s name or picture was if you read _Town & Country_. I thought she was an idiot then… ---
**Author:** ![Mariemarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58f4c7/32.png) [@Mariemarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mariemarie)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/92 "2006-05-18T01:11:48Z")
[Chris Gaines](http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,4744,00.html) was a wholly artificial character created by Garth Brooks. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/93 "2006-05-18T07:27:05Z")
Crispin Glover seems to have the same personality as every creepy-ass character he plays. I _hope_ it’s an act. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/94 "2006-05-18T16:09:31Z")
Dick Vitale ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/95 "2006-05-18T16:32:23Z")
Yogi Berra is every bit as nice and lovable as his public persona. The only difference is he is smarter than he is generally known for being. I have yet to see anyone that has dealt with him say he was anything but a very nice guy. Those who know him well usually praise him and celebrate the fact he is Yogi and they got a chance to know him. He is one of the few people who knew Joe D for 50+ years and never got on his bad side. It was Joe in fact that convince George Steinbrenner that George needed to heal the rift and bring Yogi back to the Yankees. Ted Williams praised him heavily as both a person and a ballplayer. President Bush and Hillary Clinton have both called him a national treasure. Jim ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/96 "2006-05-18T19:03:59Z")
> [@mike1dog](#): > > How about Paulie Shore? I’m pretty sure nobody is that irritating in real life. Having worked for his mom, at the Comedy Store, I can assure you that yes he is. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/97 "2006-05-18T19:33:41Z")
> [@Leechboy](#): > > According to Wiki, Raymond Burr [fabricated a dead wife and child](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Burr#Relationships) to avoid being outed. Well I think it is fairly clear that Burr was gay I wouldn’t rely on Wiki for this sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![ThePylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@ThePylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThePylon)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/98 "2009-04-01T18:46:39Z")
eta - sorry, wrong thread…! ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/99 "2009-04-01T18:57:28Z")
Shoot it Wardell! Shoot it in the hai-yud!!! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696/100 "2009-04-01T18:57:56Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Yogi Berra is every bit as nice and lovable as his public persona. The only difference is he is smarter than he is generally known for being. > I have yet to see anyone that has dealt with him say he was anything but a very nice guy. Those who know him well usually praise him and celebrate the fact he is Yogi and they got a chance to know him. He is one of the few people who knew Joe D for 50+ years and never got on his bad side. It was Joe in fact that convince George Steinbrenner that George needed to heal the rift and bring Yogi back to the Yankees. Ted Williams praised him heavily as both a person and a ballplayer. President Bush and Hillary Clinton have both called him a national treasure. > > Jim Yogi sometimes came across as dumb because he has very little formal education, and sometimes mangles the English language. On the other hand, he’s always been a VERY sharp businessman, and he made millions through shrewd investments. We should ALL be as dumb as Yogi Berra! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-wholly-artificial-public-personas/353696.md?page=6)