* Creator/HarlanEllison wrote in the intro for his book ''Strange Wine'' that he talked with Dan Blocker (Hoss from ''{{Bonanza}}'') about this phenomenon. Apparently, Blocker once had a woman come up to him in a supermarket and ask him about how Hoss was. When Blocker replied that he ''wasn't'' Hoss and Hoss was fictional, the woman said, "I know that, all I want to know is if he's alright!"
* Robert Young, who played ''Marcus Welby, M.D.'', often said that people would ask him for medical advice.
* People today associate actor turned U.S. Senator Fred W. Thompson with being tough on crime more because of his role as District Attorney Arthur Branch in ''Series/LawAndOrder'' than because of his career as an attorney and service as minority counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee.
* There are actually people who think Creator/StephenColbert really is that much of a [[StrawmanPolitical conservative whackadoo]], including the organizers (and attendees) of the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, who were, needless to say, relatively shocked when they found out otherwise. (Though apparently ''not'' George W. Bush, given the opening act.)
* Dennis Haysbert (who played President David Palmer on ''[[Series/TwentyFour 24]]'') tells a story about a couple of fans who freaked out when they saw him hanging out with actor Gregory Itzin (who plays President Charles Logan, [[spoiler: the man who ordered his assassination]], on the same show). The fact that the two actors are good friends apparently never occurred to anyone.
* The late David Jackson was once mistaken by a kid for Olag Gan, his ''Series/BlakesSeven'' character, while the actor was shopping in Harrods.
--> "Mum, he's got a [[RestrainingBolt chip]] in his head!"
* Infotainment shows constantly referred to the star of ''Series/GreysAnatomy'' as "Doctor [=McDreamy=]". Hey, you... yes, you the guy at ''Series/EntertainmentTonight''! He's got a name. It's Patrick Dempsey! He's only been a fairly well-known actor now for the last 20 years or so.
* David James Elliott was constantly referred to as ''{{JAG}}'' during the run of that show. The ''really'' stupid part being [[IAmNotShazam that wasn't his character's name]]... it was his character's ''job''. ''Series/EntertainmentTonight'' later did a story about Elliott joining the cast of ''Close to Home''. They still called him "{{JAG}}".
* In a guest appearance on ''TheTonightShow'', Jason Hervey, who played Kevin's bullying older brother on ''TheWonderYears'', said that a man once drove up beside him and demanded to know why "he" was always so mean to his brother and why didn't he pick on someone his own size?
** Another ''Wonder Years'' cast member, Alley Mills (Kevin's mother Norma), also a ''Tonight Show'' guest, said that a fan once asked her whether she was related to Jay Leno. When Mills asked what she meant, the fan explained, "Well, you're Kevin's mother, and Kevin looks like a young Leno, so..."
* A possibly apocryphal anecdote about Christopher Reeve: When the actor (before his accident) confronted someone trying to steal his bicycle, the thief panicked and said, "No, Franchise/{{Superman}}! Don't hit me!"
** ''Series/TheAdventuresOfSuperman'' star George Reeves had it rougher, as his younger fans would often try to test his invulnerability. The worst case was when a boy brought his father's gun to a set see if Superman was really bulletproof. Reeves convinced him to hand over the gun saying that the bullet would bounce off and hurt somebody else.
* In September 2008, when MichaelDouglas spoke at the United Nations about the U.S. financial crisis, a reporter asked him, "Are you saying, Gordon, that [[{{Greed}} greed is not good]]?" The actor replied, "I'm not saying that. And my name is not Gordon. [[WallStreet He's a character I played 20 years ago.]]"
** It was even worse than that; he was actually there to talk about nuclear proliferation. The reporters derailed it into a discussion of the financial crisis, just because they were talking to the guy who played Gordon Gekko.

to:

[[folder:Advertising roles]]
* In the 1970's, James Garner and Mariette Hartley did a number of commercials for Polaroid cameras. The way they played against each other, one would get the impression they were in fact a domestic couple, though this was never stated in the commercials. Mariette Hartley took to wearing these lettered sweatshirts that read "I am not James Garner's wife". Her baby has a shirt that read "I am not James Garner's child".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film roles]]
* A possibly apocryphal anecdote about Creator/ChristopherReeve: When the actor (before his accident) confronted someone trying to steal his bicycle, the thief panicked and said, "No, Franchise/{{Superman}}! Don't hit me!"
* In September 2008, when MichaelDouglas spoke at the United Nations about the U.S. financial crisis, a reporter asked him, "Are you saying, Gordon, that [[{{Greed}} greed is not good]]?" The actor replied, "I'm not saying that. And my name is not Gordon. [[WallStreet He's a character I played 20 years ago.]]" It was even worse than that; he was actually there to talk about nuclear proliferation. The reporters derailed it into a discussion of the financial crisis, just because they were talking to the guy who played Gordon Gekko.

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* MorganFreeman reported in an interview that in the press conference for ''DeepImpact'' (where he plays the President of the US), many reporters called him "Mr. President".
* In one of his books, Tim Allen mentions that while on a flight one of the pilots came back and asked for actual advice on [[HomeImprovement fixing up his home]]. Which just goes to show it's not just actors who play ''competent'' experts that have to deal with this.
* Creator/WilliamShatner:
** He was on a tourist cruise when another tourist fell into the water and began drowning. Like any normal human being, he stood aside while professional help was obtained. So many [[ViewersAreMorons people]] were staring at him, expecting him to act [[TheKirk the hero]] that he eventually [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive caved in]] to peer pressure and dived in after the struggling tourist. As any lifeguard will tell you, [[DontTryThisAtHome this is the worst thing you can do]]. Both Shatner and the original victim had to be rescued.
** Several pages on Priceline.com are written in first person in the voice of Shatner's "Priceline Negotiator" persona. The "terms and conditions" link at the bottom of the page is introduced with the text: "I'm not a lawyer (I [[BostonLegal played one on TV]]), but here is the legal information you need to know."
** He was traveling in Nepal, riding a little mountain pony up a steep slope. His group came upon a little hut/tea house and the old dude running the teashop looked at Shatner and said "Captain Kirk?". Turned out he had an ancient black & white TV, run off a truck battery and Star Trek was one of his favorite programs.
* Most SoapOpera actors say that this happens to them so often that they've become used to just going along with it.
** This trope is the measure Hispanic SoapOpera actors use to know how well they are doing in the role and how well the soap is going.
* At the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' 30th anniversary celebration, Joan Collins mentioned that whenever she was asked "Aren't you Alexis, that ''[[RichBitch bitch]]'' from ''{{Dynasty}}''?", she replied, "No, I'm Edith Keeler, Depression-era social worker from ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}''" ("The City On The Edge of Forever")
* In the 1970's, James Garner and Mariette Hartley did a number of commercials for Polaroid cameras. The way they played against each other, one would get the impression they were in fact a domestic couple, though this was never stated in the commercials. Mariette Hartley took to wearing these lettered sweatshirts that read "I am not James Garner's wife". Her baby has a shirt that read "I am not James Garner's child".
* There were stories back when ''TheWestWing'' was on that people around Hollywood started treating Martin Sheen like he was the President. The story goes that Sheen enjoyed this and began forming receiving lines, similar to what the real life President would do.

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* Children used to come up to [[Series/DoctorWho Tom Baker]] and ask him if he enjoyed travelling in time and could they come with him. (Apparently he used to play along with it rather than traumatize a young mind.)
** He also has said in interviews that once in a while men would try to pick fights with him, to show they were tougher than The Doctor, and he would have to talk them out of it.
* Dr Pepper has had some fun [[PlayingWithATrope playing with this]] lately in a series of commercials where celebrities Creator/NeilPatrickHarris, Gene Simmons, and Julius Erving tell us that we can trust them, because they're doctors. That'd be Dr. Doogie Howser (played on TV), Dr. Love (popular song), and Dr. J (nickname), respectively.
** Neil Patrick Harris also did [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TusJ8HSLaUs&feature=related this commercial for Old Spice]], claiming he "used to be a doctor for pretend."
* Rhys Darby has been asked on multiple occasions to manage peoples bands, where he's given a response along the lines of "First, my name is Rhys, second, I only play a manager on TV, and thirdly, not a very good one."
* When Christopher Moltisanti was "whacked" from ''Series/TheSopranos'', actor Michael Imperioli said that he had been receiving flowers as condolence - for his own death!
* A shoplifter once surrendered to uniformed actors on the set of ''HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'', believing them to be real law enforcement personnel.
* James Michael Tyler (Gunther on ''Series/{{Friends}}'') was yelled at by a woman on the subway for being partially responsible for breaking up Ross and Rachel.
* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'''s Tom Welling intervened and fought off men attempting to mug a woman. When she saw who had saved her, she reportedly said, "Wow, you really are Superman." She was kidding, but she apparently wasn't that far off.
* ''Franchise/StarTrek'': John de Lancie, the actor playing Q, said at one time that he was, more jokingly or more seriously, randomly asked by people on the street how is it to be an all powerful entity. Reportedly, he'd answer them "It's just a role".
** OTOH he tells an anecdote about being confronted by a big tattooed biker type who he was sure was going to mug him, at the very least:
*** 'Biker': "You're Q right?"
*** John (deciding his chances of survival are greater if he pretends to be omnipotent):"Um ... Yeah"
*** "Biker': "So can you bring dead people back to life?"
*** John: "Only if I like them"
*** 'Biker' grunts and walks off and John thinks 'Trekkies come in all forms.'
* Amy Adams told the story on a talk show about how a young girl recognized her as [[{{Enchanted}} Giselle]], and wondered why she was walking around as a regular person. Adams replied that she didn't want to draw attention to herself, and asked the girl [[YourSecretsSafeWithMeSuperman not to tell anyone.]]
* A similar story was told by SelenaGomez. A young fan came up to her and asked, "Alex? Is the magic real?" She asked him, [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve "Do you believe it's real?"]] He replied, [[TearJerker almost crying]], "Yes, I do believe it's real." She smiled and said, [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming "That's all that matters."]]
* Franz Xaver Kroetz who played gossip reporter "Baby Schimmerlos" in the German series ''Series/KirRoyal'' was asked by some newspapers to write columns for them and did so - despite the fact that he had no experience with this kind of writing and the result was... meager. Though Kroetz was an already a renowned playwright, they just overestimated his ability to write for them.

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* In a weird reversed example, ''Star Trek''[='s=] Grace Lee Whitney states in her autobiography that she sometime has difficulty differentiating reality and fantasy. For example, she recalls being disillusioned when she filmed an episode of TheWestern ''Bat Masterson'' and saw Gene Barry wincing in pain after stubbing his toe, despite the fact that any injury he sustained while in-character was OnlyAFleshWound. She also apparently tended to get so into roles that she started to forget it was fake. A therapist even told her that part of the reason she was so upset about being written out of ''Star Trek'' was because she had difficulty separating herself from Yeoman Rand.
* Ed Westwick gets a lot of disappointment from fans when they realise he's not as dark and brooding as his ''GossipGirl'' character. While he seems a bit tired of being mistaken for having the same faults as his character he has admitted that the line: "''I'm Chuck Bass''" usually works really well for him to pick up women.
* Malcolm Jamal-Warner, who played Theo on ''TheCosbyShow'', wrote in his autobiography that half his fan mail was addressed to his character's name, and kids would frequently ask to be adopted into his family so they could appear on the show.

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* People who do {{Video Review Show}}s in-character, such as WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic, have noted how often people think they are just like the characters they play.
* At the height of the show's popularity, so many people approached EdwardWoodward who played ''TheEqualizer'' for help that he started carrying leaflets for various organisations that could assist them. He would also top off about to expire parking meters and leave a "courtesy of The Equalizer" calling card on the car's windshield.
* When Ron Palillo of ''Series/WelcomeBackKotter'' died in 2012, at least two media outlets (''Radio/TheStephanieMillerShow'' and local {{UsefulNotes/Cleveland}} radio show ''Rover's Morning Glory'') referred to him only as Horshak (his character's name).
* David [=McCallum=] has studied so much forensic science during the 11 years playing Medical Examiner Ducky Mallard on ''NCIS'' that he has been invited to speak at conventions to ''actual'' medical examiners and coroners. Donald P. Bellisario (the creator and producer of ''NCIS'') has joked that he owes [=McCallum=] about five years' worth of back pay for being the show's unofficial scientific adviser.
* When he appeared on ''ILoveLucy'', George Reeves was only referred to as "Superman" so as not to break the illusion of younger viewers. Basically, to enforce this trope.
** George came this close to getting shot because a kid thought he was really Superman and the bullets from his dad's gun would bounce off him. George stopped him by citing the danger of a ricochet to innocent bystanders.
* Burt Ward was similarly not allowed to take any other roles while he was playing Comicbook/{{Robin}}, so as not to "dilute Robin's image", or something. He describes in his autobiography how he was approached for a role he desperately wanted but couldn't take due to this restriction. Every time he's seen the guy since then, the guy's said, "Burt, I wanted you for that role." You're not alone, buddy. The role in question? Benjamin Braddock in ''TheGraduate'', [[StarMakingRole the role that launched]] DustinHoffman's career.
* JohnBarrowman has recounted being accosted on the street by fans who insist that he ''is'' Captain Jack Harkness from ''Series/DoctorWho'' and ''Series/{{Torchwood}}''. One time on the Paul O'Grady show, he told of an occasion in which he'd played along, telling a little boy he'd been sent by the Doctor to find a Cyberman...
* John Hinckley, Jr., LoonyFan and probably the greatest example of a MisaimedFandom in history, thought assassinating RonaldReagan would impress 18-year-old JodieFoster, through some sort of confused combination of the plot elements of ''TaxiDriver''. (Mentioning this to Ms. Foster, by the way, is [[BerserkButton a supremely bad idea]].)
* Voice actor Creator/CrispinFreeman once [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvGRIV-N86Q recalled getting an email from someone asking for incestuous dating advice]] on the basis that, [[AngelSanctuary because he once voiced a character]] [[BrotherSisterIncest that was in love with his sister]], he must have a good deal of experience in screwing his sister in real life.
* TimCurry spent a long time after TheRockyHorrorPictureShow trying to distance himself from Dr, Frank-N-Furter. His "more rabid fans" is the reason Tim put on weight, tried to look more and refused to have anything to do with Rocky Horror until recently.
* Sir IanMcKellen has stated that, outside of his native British Isles, most fans recognize him as characters such as [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings Gandalf]]. In fact, when he came to New York to lend support post-911, a policeman actually smiled at him and said, "Thanks for helping out, [[Film/{{X-Men}} Magneto]]." Rather than be upset by it, he finds it an honor to be associated with such iconic characters.
** In fact, apparently when a reporter said "I don't know how to call you, [[KnightFever Sir, Sir Ian, Sir McKellen]]" his reply was "Call me Gandalf". (helps that he discourages being called "Sir Ian")

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* David Faustino was harassed on twitter by several ''TheLegendOfKorra'' fans based on some of his character Mako's actions/choices.
* On a special detailing Australian police shows John Wood tells a story of an incident that occurred during BlueHeelers: he was walking down the street one day and a crook climbs over a fence in front of him. The crook sees him and goes, "Oh shit, you're Tom Croydon," and bolts.
* When ''{{Dragnet}}'' was on TV, so many people came to the LAPD asking to meet Joe Friday that the desk people took to telling them it was Joe's day off. Jack Webb did get an LAPD funeral, though, and Friday's badge 714 was retired.
* Several fans have approached William Petersen on the golf course and tried to speak to him in sign language, not realizing that he only learned a little for one ''{{CSI}}'' episode.
* Although Gary Sinise is best known for ''ForrestGump'', he does relate a story about getting in a minor accident and how the other driver kept giving shocked reactions that indicated he was sort of blending Gary with his Mac Taylor character on ''{{CSI NY}}''.
* Ted Knight used to get irritated because people kept confusing him with his [[TheDitz ditzy]] Ted Baxter character on ''TheMaryTylerMoore'' show.
* Mia Kirshner told a story about how once when she was with some friends in a club in Vancouver, another girl came up to her and said "I hope you die." Presumably she was talking about [[TheScrappy Jenny Schecter]] from ''Series/TheLWord''. Mia Kirshner however would have none of that took the woman aside and explained, she (like the woman) was here to have fun, and she worked to make money. Jenny was a fictional character, and it was fine it she wanted her to die. It was not okay to want Mia herself to die, because that was hurtful. The woman was taken aback.

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[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV roles]]
* Robert Young, who played ''Marcus Welby, M.D.'', often said that people would ask him for medical advice.
* People today associate actor turned U.S. Senator Fred W. Thompson with being tough on crime more because of his role as District Attorney Arthur Branch in ''Series/LawAndOrder'' than because of his career as an attorney and service as minority counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee.
* There are actually people who think Creator/StephenColbert really is that much of a [[StrawmanPolitical conservative whackadoo]], including the organizers (and attendees) of the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, who were, needless to say, relatively shocked when they found out otherwise. (Though apparently ''not'' George W. Bush, given the opening act.)
* Dennis Haysbert (who played President David Palmer on ''[[Series/TwentyFour 24]]'') tells a story about a couple of fans who freaked out when they saw him hanging out with actor Gregory Itzin (who plays President Charles Logan, [[spoiler: the man who ordered his assassination]], on the same show). The fact that the two actors are good friends apparently never occurred to anyone.
* The late David Jackson was once mistaken by a kid for Olag Gan, his ''Series/BlakesSeven'' character, while the actor was shopping in Harrods.
--> "Mum, he's got a [[RestrainingBolt chip]] in his head!"
* Infotainment shows constantly referred to the star of ''Series/GreysAnatomy'' as "Doctor [=McDreamy=]". Hey, you... yes, you the guy at ''Series/EntertainmentTonight''! He's got a name. It's Patrick Dempsey! He's only been a fairly well-known actor now for the last 20 years or so.
* David James Elliott was constantly referred to as ''Series/{{JAG}}'' during the run of that show. The ''really'' stupid part being [[IAmNotShazam that wasn't his character's name]]... it was his character's ''job''. ''Series/EntertainmentTonight'' later did a story about Elliott joining the cast of ''Close to Home''. They still called him "{{JAG}}".
* In a guest appearance on ''TheTonightShow'', Jason Hervey, who played Kevin's bullying older brother on ''Series/TheWonderYears'', said that a man once drove up beside him and demanded to know why "he" was always so mean to his brother and why didn't he pick on someone his own size?
** Another ''Wonder Years'' cast member, Alley Mills (Kevin's mother Norma), also a ''Tonight Show'' guest, said that a fan once asked her whether she was related to Jay Leno. When Mills asked what she meant, the fan explained, "Well, you're Kevin's mother, and Kevin looks like a young Leno, so..."
* ''Series/TheAdventuresOfSuperman'' star George Reeves had it much rougher than Creator/ChristopherReeve, as his younger fans would often try to test his invulnerability. The worst case was when a boy brought his father's gun to a set to see if Superman was really bulletproof. Reeves convinced him to hand over the gun saying that the bullet would bounce off and hurt somebody else. When he appeared on ''ILoveLucy'', Reeves was only referred to as "Superman" so as not to break the illusion of younger viewers. Basically, to enforce this trope.
* In one of his books, Tim Allen mentions that while on a flight one of the pilots came back and asked for actual advice on [[Series/HomeImprovement fixing up his home]]. Which just goes to show it's not just actors who play ''competent'' experts that have to deal with this.
* Creator/WilliamShatner:
** He was on a tourist cruise when another tourist fell into the water and began drowning. Like any normal human being, he stood aside while professional help was obtained. So many [[ViewersAreMorons people]] were staring at him, expecting him to act [[TheKirk the hero]] that he eventually [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive caved in]] to peer pressure and dived in after the struggling tourist. As any lifeguard will tell you, [[DontTryThisAtHome this is the worst thing you can do]]. Both Shatner and the original victim had to be rescued.
** Several pages on Priceline.com are written in first person in the voice of Shatner's "Priceline Negotiator" persona. The "terms and conditions" link at the bottom of the page is introduced with the text: "I'm not a lawyer (I [[BostonLegal played one on TV]]), but here is the legal information you need to know."
** He was traveling in Nepal, riding a little mountain pony up a steep slope. His group came upon a little hut/tea house and the old dude running the teashop looked at Shatner and said "Captain Kirk?". Turned out he had an ancient black & white TV, run off a truck battery and Star Trek was one of his favorite programs.
* There were stories back when ''Series/TheWestWing'' was on that people around Hollywood started treating Martin Sheen like he was the President. The story goes that Sheen enjoyed this and began forming receiving lines, similar to what the real life President would do.
* People have often said "''Hello'', Newman" to Wayne Knight from ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' in public. He hates it now.
* ZacharyQuinto from ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' mentioned in an interview that he has walked into Starbucks before only to have the employees refer to him as Sylar.
* Children used to come up to ''Series/DoctorWho'''s TomBaker and ask him if he enjoyed travelling in time and could they come with him. (Apparently he used to play along with it rather than traumatize a young mind.) He also has said in interviews that once in a while men would try to pick fights with him, to show they were tougher than The Doctor, and he would have to talk them out of it.
* Rhys Darby from ''Music/FlightOfTheConchords'' has been asked on multiple occasions to manage peoples bands, where he's given a response along the lines of "First, my name is Rhys, second, I only play a manager on TV, and thirdly, not a very good one."
* When Christopher Moltisanti was "whacked" from ''Series/TheSopranos'', actor Michael Imperioli said that he had been receiving flowers as condolence - for his own death!
* A shoplifter once surrendered to uniformed actors on the set of ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'', believing them to be real law enforcement personnel.
* James Michael Tyler (Gunther on ''Series/{{Friends}}'') was yelled at by a woman on the subway for being partially responsible for breaking up Ross and Rachel.
* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'''s Tom Welling intervened and fought off men attempting to mug a woman. When she saw who had saved her, she reportedly said, "Wow, you really are Superman." She was kidding, but she apparently wasn't that far off.
* Ed Westwick gets a lot of disappointment from fans when they realise he's not as dark and brooding as his ''GossipGirl'' character. While he seems a bit tired of being mistaken for having the same faults as his character he has admitted that the line: "''I'm Chuck Bass''" usually works really well for him to pick up women.
* Malcolm Jamal-Warner, who played Theo on ''Series/TheCosbyShow'', wrote in his autobiography that half his fan mail was addressed to his character's name, and kids would frequently ask to be adopted into his family so they could appear on the show.
* At the height of the show's popularity, so many people approached Edward Woodward who played ''Series/TheEqualizer'' for help that he started carrying leaflets for various organisations that could assist them. He would also top off about to expire parking meters and leave a "courtesy of The Equalizer" calling card on the car's windshield.
* When Ron Palillo of ''Series/WelcomeBackKotter'' died in 2012, at least two media outlets (''Radio/TheStephanieMillerShow'' and local {{UsefulNotes/Cleveland}} radio show ''Rover's Morning Glory'') referred to him only as Horshak (his character's name).
* David [=McCallum=] has studied so much forensic science during the 11 years playing Medical Examiner Ducky Mallard on ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' that he has been invited to speak at conventions to ''actual'' medical examiners and coroners. Donald P. Bellisario (the creator and producer of ''NCIS'') has joked that he owes [=McCallum=] about five years' worth of back pay for being the show's unofficial scientific adviser.
* JohnBarrowman has recounted being accosted on the street by fans who insist that he ''is'' Captain Jack Harkness from ''Series/DoctorWho'' and ''Series/{{Torchwood}}''. One time on the Paul O'Grady show, he told of an occasion in which he'd played along, telling a little boy he'd been sent by the Doctor to find a Cyberman...
* When [[Series/{{Seinfeld}} Michael Richards]] got in trouble for [[NWordPrivileges his racial outbursts]] at a comedy club in 2006, people would refer to him only as Kramer and gave nicknames like "[=KKKramer=]". It got to the point that Kenny Kramer, the Kramer character's namesake, issued a statement saying he himself wasn't racist.
* On a special detailing Australian police shows John Wood tells a story of an incident that occurred during ''BlueHeelers'': he was walking down the street one day and a crook climbs over a fence in front of him. The crook sees him and goes, "Oh shit, you're Tom Croydon," and bolts.
* When ''Radio/{{Dragnet}}'' was on TV, so many people came to the LAPD asking to meet Joe Friday that the desk people took to telling them it was Joe's day off. Jack Webb did get an LAPD funeral, though, and Friday's badge 714 was retired.
* Several fans have approached William Petersen on the golf course and tried to speak to him in sign language, not realizing that he only learned a little for one ''Series/{{CSI}}'' episode.
* Although Gary Sinise is best known for ''Film/ForrestGump'', he does relate a story about getting in a minor accident and how the other driver kept giving shocked reactions that indicated he was sort of blending Gary with his Mac Taylor character on ''Series/{{CSI NY}}''.
* Ted Knight used to get irritated because people kept confusing him with his [[TheDitz ditzy]] Ted Baxter character on ''TheMaryTylerMoore'' show.
* Mia Kirshner told a story about how once when she was with some friends in a club in Vancouver, another girl came up to her and said "I hope you die." Presumably she was talking about [[TheScrappy Jenny Schecter]] from ''Series/TheLWord''. Mia Kirshner however would have none of that took the woman aside and explained, she (like the woman) was here to have fun, and she worked to make money. Jenny was a fictional character, and it was fine it she wanted her to die. It was not okay to want Mia herself to die, because that was hurtful. The woman was taken aback.

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[[/folder]]

[[folder:Voice acting roles]]
* Voice actor Creator/CrispinFreeman once [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvGRIV-N86Q recalled getting an email from someone asking for incestuous dating advice]] on the basis that,  because he once voiced a character in ''Manga/AngelSanctuary'' who was [[BrotherSisterIncest in love with his sister]], he must have a good deal of experience in screwing his sister in real life.
* David Faustino was harassed on twitter by several ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' fans based on some of his character Mako's actions/choices.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Videos]]
* People who do {{Video Review Show}}s in-character, such as WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic, have noted how often people think they are just like the characters they play.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Actors invoking or playing with this]]
* Creator/HarlanEllison wrote in the intro for his book ''Strange Wine'' that he talked with Dan Blocker (Hoss from ''{{Bonanza}}'') about this phenomenon. Apparently, Blocker once had a woman come up to him in a supermarket and ask him about how Hoss was. When Blocker replied that he ''wasn't'' Hoss and Hoss was fictional, the woman said, "I know that, all I want to know is if he's alright!"
* At the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' 30th anniversary celebration, Joan Collins mentioned that whenever she was asked "Aren't you Alexis, that ''[[RichBitch bitch]]'' from ''{{Dynasty}}''?", she replied, "No, I'm Edith Keeler, Depression-era social worker from ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}''" ("The City On The Edge of Forever")
* Dr Pepper has had some fun [[PlayingWithATrope playing with this]] lately in a series of commercials where celebrities Creator/NeilPatrickHarris, Gene Simmons, and Julius Erving tell us that we can trust them, because they're doctors. That'd be Dr. Doogie Howser (played on TV), Dr. Love (popular song), and Dr. J (nickname), respectively. Neil Patrick Harris also did [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TusJ8HSLaUs&feature=related this commercial for Old Spice]], claiming he "used to be a doctor for pretend."
* Creator/JohnDeLancie, the actor playing Q in ''Franchise/StarTrek'', said at one time that he was, more jokingly or more seriously, randomly asked by people on the street how is it to be an all powerful entity. Reportedly, he'd answer them "It's just a role". OTOH he told an anecdote about being confronted by a big tattooed biker type who he was sure was going to mug him, at the very least:
-->'''Biker:''' "You're Q right?"
-->'''John:''' (''deciding his chances of survival are greater if he pretends to be omnipotent''): "Um ... Yeah"
-->'''Biker:''' "So can you bring dead people back to life?"
-->'''John:''' "Only if I like them"
-->'''Biker:''' (''grunts and walks off and John thinks 'Trekkies come in all forms.''')
* Creator/AmyAdams told the story on a talk show about how a young girl recognized her as Giselle from ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'', and wondered why she was walking around as a regular person. Adams replied that she didn't want to draw attention to herself, and asked the girl [[YourSecretsSafeWithMeSuperman not to tell anyone.]]
* A similar story was told by SelenaGomez. A young fan came up to her and asked, "Alex? Is the magic real?" She asked him, [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve "Do you believe it's real?"]] He replied, [[TearJerker almost crying]], "Yes, I do believe it's real." She smiled and said, [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming "That's all that matters."]]
* Franz Xaver Kroetz who played gossip reporter "Baby Schimmerlos" in the German series ''Series/KirRoyal'' was asked by some newspapers to write columns for them and did so - despite the fact that he had no experience with this kind of writing and the result was... meager. Though Kroetz was an already a renowned playwright, they just overestimated his ability to write for them.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Inversions]]
* In a weird reversed example, ''Star Trek''[='s=] Grace Lee Whitney states in her autobiography that she sometime has difficulty differentiating reality and fantasy. For example, she recalls being disillusioned when she filmed an episode of TheWestern ''Bat Masterson'' and saw Gene Barry wincing in pain after stubbing his toe, despite the fact that any injury he sustained while in-character was OnlyAFleshWound. She also apparently tended to get so into roles that she started to forget it was fake. A therapist even told her that part of the reason she was so upset about being written out of ''Star Trek'' was because she had difficulty separating herself from Yeoman Rand.
[[/folder]]

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16th May '13 3:38:45 PM Morgenthaler

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Deleting misuse. This is about when the actors are mistaken for their characters.

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4th May '13 2:57:37 PM nombretomado

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17th Apr '13 1:19:21 PM Morgenthaler

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* Canadian actor Julian Richings starred in the Casper Van Dien sci-fi/action vehicle ''The Time Shifters'', in which he played a tourist from the future who went back in time to visit various mass disasters as an exotic form of disaster tourism. When Van Dien's character spots him onboard a plane, he immediately realizes that the plane is about to crash. As a result, anytime someone recognized Richings when he had to fly somewhere they would mildly panic, and he had to reassure them that nothing was going to happen to the flight. Nowadays, since his exposure on ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', people who recognize him instead go "hey look, it's [[TheGrimReaper Death]]!"
* Some people confuse JackGleeson for the detestable [[TheCaligula King Joffrey, Worst of His Name]] from ''Series/GameOfThrones'', sometimes even [[FanDumb to the point of harassment]]. Gleeson's [[RealLife/MeanCharacterNiceActor real-life personality couldn't more strongly contrast]] to Joffrey.
* Another [=GoT=] example: LenaHeadey, who portrays Cersei Lannister, recalls in some interviews that some people call her a bitch to her face because they found her character so unlikeable. Her notable earlier roles, such as Sarah Connor in ''Series/TheSarahConnorChronicles'' and Queen Gorgo in ''Film/ThreeHundred'', seem to have been forgotten.

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2nd Apr '13 11:23:09 PM rman

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30th Mar '13 7:01:30 PM LongLiveHumour

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29th Mar '13 2:46:31 PM LongLiveHumour