22 Actors Who Played ~Controversial~ People In Movies Or TV Shows

22-actors-who-played-~controversial~-people-in-movies-or-tv-shows

The resemblance is uncanny.

With so many wild stories today, many end up as the inspiration for plotlines in TV shows and movies. Often inspired by true crime or real-life scandals, actors are challenged to bring these infamous people to life onscreen — appearances included.

Close-up of a film clapperboard showing

Vlatko Gasparic / Getty Images

Dave Franco recently addressed comparisons between him and Luigi Mangione, the man accused in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. “I have never received more texts in my life about anything,” he said. “Anyone who has my phone number has reached out about it.”

Arturo Holmes / Getty Images, Curtis Means / Daily Mail / Bloomberg via Getty Images

While many fans have already cast Franco to play Mangione if a movie or series gets developed, there have been no official offers yet. Until then, here’s a look at some of the most ~controversial~ characters actors have played over the years, also inspired by real-life people:

And here are the real Menendez brothers:

Erik and Lyle Menendez in front of their Beverly Hills home.

Los Angeles Times / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

2. Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos in Monster:

Charlize Theron in

© Newmarket Releasing / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Aileen Wuornos:

Mugshot of Aileen Wuornos.

Florida DOC / Getty Images

3. Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer in Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story:

Evan Peters in

© Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Jeffrey Dahmer:

Mugshots of Jeffrey Dahmer.

Curt Borgwardt / Sygma via Getty Images

4. Amanda Seyfried as Elizabeth Holmes in The Dropout:

Amanda Seyfried in

Beth Dubber / © Hulu / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Elizabeth Holmes:

Elizabeth Holmes leaving federal court.

Michael Short / Bloomberg via Getty Images

5. Zac Efron as Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile:

Zac Efron in

© Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Ted Bundy:

Portrait of Ted Bundy in the 1970s.

Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

6. Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story:

Cuba Gooding Jr. in

Byron Cohen / © FX / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real O.J. Simpson:

O.J. Simpson in court.

Ted Soqui / Sygma via Getty Images

7. Joey King as Gypsy Rose Blanchard in The Act:

Joey King as Gypsy Rose Blanchard in

Brownie Harris / © Hulu / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Gypsy Rose Blanchard:

Gypsy Rose Blanchard on the red carpet.

JC Olivera / WireImage

8. Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in The Apprentice:

Sebastian Stan in

© Briarcliff Entertainment / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Donald Trump:

Donald Trump at an event.

J. Merritt / FilmMagic

9. Julia Garner as Anna Delvey in Inventing Anna:

Julia Garner in

Nicole Rivelli / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Anna Sorokin aka Anna Delvey:

Anna Sorokin in court.

Timothy A. Clary / AFP via Getty Images

10. Cameron Britton as Edmund Kemper Mindhunter:

Cameron Britton and Jonathan Groff in

Merrick Morton / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Edmund Kemper:

Edmund Kemper walking around.

Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

11. Kathy Bates as Delphine LaLaurie in American Horror Story: Coven:

Kathy Bates in

Michele K. Short / © FX Networks / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Delphine LaLaurie:

Portrait of Delphine LaLaurie.

IanDagnall Computing / Alamy Stock Photo

12. Taylor Kitsch as David Koresh in Waco:

Taylor Kitsch in

Miller Mobley / © Paramount Network / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real David Koresh:

A person with long wavy hair, glasses, and a neutral expression looks directly at the camera

IanDagnall Computing / Alamy Stock Photo

13. Sofía Vergara as Griselda Blanco in Griselda:

Sofía Vergara in

© Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Griselda Blanco:

Person holding a Metro Dade Police Department placard for a mugshot

IanDagnall Computing / Alamy Stock Photo

14. Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street:

A scene from a movie set in an office with a man in a suit enthusiastically leading a group of clapping colleagues

Paramount / ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Jordan Belfort:

Jordan Belfort at the premiere after party for

Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

15. Christina Ricci as Lizzie Borden in Lizzie Borden Took an Ax and The Lizzie Borden Chronicles:

Chris Reardon / © Lifetime Television / Courtesy Everett Collection, Chris Reardon / © Lifetime / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Lizzie Borden:

A vintage photo of a woman with curly hair in an ornate high-neck dress, exuding a formal, poised expression

IanDagnall Computing / Alamy Stock Photo

16. Clive Owen as Bill Clinton in Impeachment: American Crime Story:

Clive Owen in

Tina Thorpe / © FX / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Bill Clinton:

Bill Clinton in front of an American flag.

David Hume Kennerly / Getty Images

17. Josh Andrés Rivera as Aaron Hernandez in American Sports Story:

Josh Andrés Rivera in

Michael Parmelee / © FX / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Aaron Hernandez:

Aaron Hernandez sitting in court.

John Blanding / The Boston Globe via Getty Images

18. Elle Fanning as Michelle Carter in The Girl from Plainville:

Elle Fanning in

Steve Dietl / © Hulu / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Michelle Carter:

Michelle Carter sitting in court.

FAITH NINIVAGGI / MediaNews Group / Boston Herald via Getty Images

19. Wagner Moura as Pablo Escobar in Narcos:

Wagner Moura in

Daniel Daza / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Pablo Escobar:

Portrait of Pablo Escobar.

Eric Vandeville / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

20. Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding in I, Tonya:

Margot Robbie in

© A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Tonya Harding:

Tonya Harding ice skating.

Focus On Sport / Getty Images

21. Ross Lynch as Jeffrey Dahmer in My Friend Dahmer:

Jeffrey Dahmer in

© FilmRise / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Jeffrey Dahmer:

Jeffrey Dahmer in an orange jumpsuit.

Eugene Garcia / AFP via Getty Images

22. And finally, Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me If You Can

Leonardo DiCaprio in

© DreamWorks / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here’s the real Frank Abagnale Jr.:

Frank Abagnale Jr. in a suit and tie.

Najlah Feanny / Corbis via Getty Images

Which of these actors had the best performance? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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