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->''"Lo, praise of the prowess of people-kings\\
of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,\\
we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!"''
-->-- ''Literature/{{Beowulf}}''

People ought to remember TheHero. His heroic deeds, particularly a HeroicSacrifice, should be commemorated in story, song, and art.

And they frequently do, and they frequently are.

Not always -- being forgotten is one threat of WhatYouAreInTheDark -- but often. Some, indeed, become a LivingLegend. The heroes can [[GlorySeeker encourage themselves with the thought of getting it]], they can inspire themselves with the examples they have heard of, [[HundredPercentHeroismRating they can actually receive it]], they can [[ThinkNothingOfIt be embarrassed]] [[HumbleHero by it]], or it can be a convenient source of [[AllMythsAreTrue legends to be true]].

May be regarded as DueToTheDead.

A character who is famed in story may easily become ShroudedInMyth, through GossipEvolution, but it can also be InfallibleBabble, and usually is unless we have direct access to the events being told. TheMagnificent results when the hero gets a byname describing his deed; BadassBoast, when he can reel it off himself. Compare SelfMadeMyth.

Contrast TheGreatestStoryNeverTold and DudeWheresMyRespect. Indeed, this may lead up that, as the character learns that fame is fickle, or that the good opinion of people of good character is better than the opinions of the crowd.

Heroes in love with InHarmsWay often long for this as well. Conversely, heroes seeking out HomeSweetHome may dislike it and [[ThinkNothingOfIt actively avoid it]] because it interferes with getting and staying home.

Note that the CoolSword, CoolHorse, castles, battlefields, etc. can also be Famed In Story. It's a contributing factor to coolness. Such a weapon is a LegendaryWeapon.

The full {{Stock Phrase|s}} is typically rendered "famed in story and song", and seems to be particularly common in Celtic language songs, poems, and works describing them. SuperTrope of NewsTravelsFast and AccidentalCelebrity. Related to PropagandaHero. Usually involves some form of CharacterShilling. See TheDreaded for the fear-based equivalent. When this transpires between Volumes 1 and 2, see LegendaryInTheSequel. See SmithOfTheYard for celebrity detectives. See FameGate for the gaming equivalent.

----
!!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Anime/{{Albegas}}'': PlayedForLaughs. The popularity of the SuperRobot Albegas results in dedicated fans creating the "Albegas encyclopedia". It is a bestseller and contains details such as the combining of Albegas, the strategy the Dellingers up to that point, and it's pilots. However, it doesn't mention the Gori-Robo, causing Goro to get angry and complain about the lack of respect he gets.
* In ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', the [[BadassCrew Band of the Hawk]] became Midland's national heroes through their efforts in the One Hundred Years' War against the Tudor Empire. After their banishment and eventual [[spoiler: demise during the Eclipse, which was deemed as a mysterious disappearance by the populace]], the people never forgot their actions and only hoped for the Hawks to return to save their kingdom from a new threat.
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
** The most famous captain of the current generation is Byakuya, even commoners in the Rukongai know who he is. Ginjou explains it's because his extremely high social rank combines with his extremely high military rank to make him far more well-known than any "normal" captain or high-ranking aristocrat would be by themselves. Byakuya himself once implies that this creates an enormous pressure on him to be the role-model that all Soul Society must look to.
** When Ichigo first arrives in Soul Society, he discovers that just mentioning he was trained by someone called Urahara sends shock-waves through his listeners. Not only was Urahara someone who was infamous for being an exiled captain (later proven to have been framed by Aizen), but his long conflict with Aizen and his status as the most intelligent person alive means that not only has everyone heard of him, but everyone relies on him -- even the people who don't want anything to do with him need his help. He's even a legend among the [[PraetorianGuard Royal Guard]].
---> '''Urahara''': "Hello, everyone! Calling all Captains of the Gotei 13! And their respective Lieutenants, of course! This is Urahara Kisuke! Some of you may not have met me or be familiar with my name but I hope you'll forgive me if I skip the introductions..."
---> '''Shinji''': "Heh. As if anyone wouldn't know your name, dumbass!"
* [[PrivateDefective Kogoro Mouri]] of ''Manga/CaseClosed'' has gotten the reputation of a GreatDetective after one season on the strength of OlderThanTheyLook Conan [[TeenGenius Edogawa's]] behind-the-scenes work and is often recognized by face or name by those around him. Frequently, when Kogoro's name and/or vocation enters conversation, it will provoke reactions of shock in the (not-yet-known-to-be-a) murderer (and/or others with something to hide). Although Kogoro almost never notices, Conan usually does—and this is often his first clue that something is amiss.
* In ''Manga/ChronoCrusade'', Mary Magdalene (not the Biblical character, but an orphan named after her) is a PostHumousCharacter who is ''very'' well-known among the ChurchMilitant exorcists for her legendary holy powers and graceful demeanor, and is brought up enough that her name is practically an [[ArcWords Arc Word]].
* ''Anime/{{Daltanious}}'': Kento Tate is hailed as hero not by his fellow Earthlings, but various planets in the galaxy for piloting [[SuperRobot Daltanious]] and becoming an IconOfRebellion against the Zaal's tyranny. The fame gets to his head and he acts as smug as possible at every chance he gets.
* Kazuya Ryuzaki of ''Anime/{{Daimos}}'' is famed as hero amongst the kids of Japan for piloting a SuperRobot that protects the Earth amongst the invading [[AngelicAliens Baam-seijin]]. One episode centers around a blind boy excited to be in the presence of Daimos, putting his own life in danger just so he could be a part of the action. Kazuya is shocked, but makes sure the boy is able to experience the battle in his own way, even if he can't see it.
* In ''Manga/DarwinsGame'', from almost the beginning of his involvement in the titular game, Kaname caught the attention of the player-base for defeating famous players, and his fame just kept growing.
* In ''Manga/DetectiveSchoolQ'', Morihiko Dan's exploits as a detective is so famous, that he has the same privilege as an officer. The students from the Detective Academy he founded are given similar privileges, and showing that to the officer in charge of the case grants the student immediate access to case.
* Mr. Satan from ''Anime/DragonBallZ''. Sure, the audience knows he's a FakeUltimateHero who's lucky to survive the stuff he puts himself through, but for the people of Earth he's their greatest champion and savior. They named a city after him, the entire World Martial Tournament centers around him to the point he can skip the elimination round, something no other champion before him could do, and gets military support with just asking. His fame does come in handy during the final story arc.
* The ''Manga/FairyTail'' Guild in the country of Fiore. They pride themselves on being one of the most known guilds around.
* In ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', Kenshiro never hesitates in saying he follows the path laid by those before him when about to instill an ass-kicking on someone. Specifically, Rei, Toki, and Raoh will always be shown.
* ''Manga/HonooNoAlpenRose'': Leonhardt Aschenbach. He is so famous that when Martha (an InnocentFlowerGirl from rural Switzerland) names great composers from Austria, she names him amongst Bach and Mozart. [[spoiler: It turns out that he is Jeudi's childhood friend who had eyes for her and knew her before she lost her memories.]]
* In ''Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka'', Onizuka isn't well-known outside the UsefulNotes/{{Bosozoku}} community, but to them he's a ''legend''. Even in ''Manga/GTOTheEarlyYears'', he was so notorious as the strongest fighter in Shonan that people were constantly challenging him. He also set a record of '''185 mph''' in a motorcycle race.
* The ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' franchise, thanks to the large number of works and sidestories, have quite a few examples of this trope. Among the first being Amuro Ray in ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'', which is also deconstructed given that his fame as a war hero and Newtype (thanks to the events of the original ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'') also makes him a danger to TheFederation, leading to him in a GildedCage.
* In ''Literature/LogHorizon'', Shiroe discovers that the Landers have kept chronicles on the Adventurers from when the world was a game and view their past raids as feats of heroism. Ri Gan and Kinjo both refer to Shiroe as "the Archmage of the Tea Party".
** Debauchery Tea Party as a whole was fairly famous within the gaming community, and among Landers, due to its achievements without ever becoming a formal guild. The guild leader William was a fanboy who resented them for disbanding before he had a chance to join.
* In ''Anime/LoveLiveSunshine'', μ's and A-Rise are considered two of, if not ''the'' most legendary school idol groups. There is no school idol group that has not heard about either of them.
* The title character of ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' had achieved this by the time of the ''A's'' to ''[=StrikerS=]'' [[ComicBookAdaptation supplementary manga]], with tales about her reaching legendary status, with all that it entails.
--> '''Subaru:''' [[ContinuityNod By the time she was nine years old, she was already AAA Rank and had solved an interdimensional crisis case. And she managed to stop a dangerous weapon said to be impossible to destroy!]] \\
'''Teana:''' [[CassandraTruth That just sounds like a rumor]]. What kind of [[ImprobableAge nine-year-old]] [[LampshadeHanging was she]]?
** To give you an idea: Nanoha Movies exist ''in-universe''. Unfortunately, these are also TSAB propaganda, so certain characters don't get de-famed in-story even if they really, really deserve it -- such as Admiral Graham and his involvement during Book of Darkness incident.
** Hayate Yagami is shown to be similarly famed as the "[[RedBaron Living Lost Logia]]" and the one who felled the [[LostSuperweapon Saint's]] [[CoolStarship Cradle]]. A group of {{Big Bad Wannabe}}s in ''Manga/MagicalRecordLyricalNanohaForce'' who were planning to escape from captivity were [[TerrorHero immediately disabused of all notions of it]] when they learned that ''she'' was their captor's commanding officer, and were surprised that the rookies holding them didn't know of her fame.
* Many heroes in ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' are famous to varying degrees but All Might is the most famous. And Midoriya's 1-A Class becomes well known after they successfully repelled a villain ambush during one of their classes, leading the media and the public to pay more attention to them during the Sports Festival.
* All of Ala Rubra in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', but especially Negi's father, Nagi Springfield. One of the background shots in the Ostia festival shows that there's at least one movie that details their exploits.
** Negi himself is getting to this point in the Magic World under the guise of "Nagi", because of his resemblance to his father, and because he goes and fights in a massive Tournament.
* ''Franchise/OnePiece'':
** Gold Roger is well known as the "King of Pirates" and is the famous pirate in the series' world, even as a PosthumousCharacter.
** The Straw Hat Pirates become increasingly famous as the story goes on, eventually hitting the point where the mere mention of their names strikes fear into most pirates, criminals, and citizens. Bounties serve the general story purpose of making sure that all of the setting's pirates are well-known.
** Straw Hat crewmember Brook becomes a more traditional celebrity during the TimeSkip, becoming the famous musician "Soul King", who nobody realized was a pirate. Once the truth is found out, his new wanted poster is simply just a flyer for one of his concerts.
** Each of the Four Emperors are amongst the most famous pirates in the world (though Shanks and Whitebeard are the only ones who seem to have respect). The Shichibukai and Admirals are more in line with being TheDreaded since while they're famous, not a single one is treated with admiration except Jimbei or Aokiji, who both eventually quit.
* ''Literature/RebuildWorld'': For Akira, this happens differently between hunters, and [[WrongSideOfTheTracks in the slums]].
** [[GossipEvolution Rumors spread]] based on the first set of LostTechnology relics Akira discovers, speaking of a kid striking it rich, which leads to other hunters trying to find and interrogate or follow him to find more. After a while this leads to Alpha having Akira bring relics he had saved up at home with him to practice in a picked clean ruin, before doubling back and selling them, to lead such hunters on a WildGooseChase.
** Specifically in the slums, Akira develops a reputation as TheDreaded as a result of decimating a gang in self-defense when they try to steal his relics, and then takes over the gang with Sheryl while [[MakeAnExampleOfThem making gruesome examples]] by doing things like dragging a man he killed through the streets. Eventually a KnowledgeBroker spreads word how he let a pickpocket get away with stealing from him as part of her plans, making Akira be seen as a PaperTiger. Akira being a SlaveToPR about this motivates a RoaringRampageOfRevenge and footage of him winning a DavidVersusGoliath fight on foot against a MiniMecha restores his reputation.
* In ''Manga/TheRedRangerBecomesAnAdventurerInAnotherWorld'', Misty Rose is (in)famous as [[RedBaron "the Demon Swordsman"]] for his personality and incredible power, defeating numerous high-level dungeons on his lonesome and slaying fearsome beasts like dragons without outside aid.
* ''Manga/RoosterFighter'': Due to Ibokura's livestreams, Keiji actually gets known as a hero.
* ''Anime/RurouniKenshin'': Kenshin is best remembered as Hitokiri Battousai, and the revelation of who he is enough to make a cold-blooded killer break into a sweat.
* From the very beginning, ''Franchise/SailorMoon'''s title character is so popular with the public that throughout the series you can see plushies, figurines, and even costumes made in her likeness (along with the other Senshi). Her predecessor, [[Manga/CodenameSailorV Sailor V]], is even more legendary, being greatly admired as a heroine of justice; she is talked about frequently before she is formally introduced, and there was even an ''anime'' being made about her. When Sailor Venus, who is Sailor V herself, finally joins the team, Sailor Moon is a full-blown FanGirl of V's.
* In ''AudioPlay/SaintBeast'', everyone in heaven knows of [[TheHero Judas]], even if they've never seen him. He needs no introduction whenever he meets someone new.
* Lina Inverse goes beyond world-renowned in ''Literature/{{Slayers}}''. In the anime, she finds out several of the epithets people know her by, which she's none-too-pleased with as they make her sound more like a blood-crazed psychopath than a great and wise mistress of arcane forces (to be fair, they're more accurate than her own self-image). One that particularly irks her is "Dragon Spooker" because supposedly dragons will step aside and let her pass mid-rampage rather than risk dealing with her. Then, later, a dragon in the middle of a town-destroying rampage catches a glimpse of her face and tries to nonchalantly make an escape...
* Pharmacist Garak from ''Manga/SnowWhiteWithTheRedHair'' is very well known and famous in pharmacist, botanist, and other academic circles and when Shriayuki and Ryuu are sent by her to Lyrias the other researchers are vocally and rudely disappointed the pharmacists from the capitol don't include Garak herself. Once Suzu points out just who [[ChildProdigy Ryuu]] is though they change their tune and immediately all rush to discuss some of his research with him, at which point Ryuu flees.
* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'': Kamina is '''never''' forgotten by Simon, his friends or the remaining ''entire human race''.
* In ''Anime/YuGiOh'', [[TheHero Yugi Muto]] becomes world-famous as the "King of Games" after winning the Duelist Kingdom and Battle City tournaments, and before that has already made a name for himself by being the first duelist to defeat [[TheRival Seto Kaiba]]. When the KC Grand Championship comes around, he's quite embarrassed at the size of his fanbase.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Asian Animation]]
* In ''Animation/BreadBarbershop'', Bread Pitt is known both within Bakery Town and out for his haircutting skill, and many people from both backgrounds have gotten their haircut from him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fairy Tales]]
* In ''Literature/{{Schippeitaro}}'', the young man will adventure until he gets this.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': : Dr. Ishirō Serizawa is posthumous regarded the world over as something of a legend, following his HeroicSuicide to revive Godzilla.
* Cole [=MacGrath=] and Delsin Rowe are both recognized as major influences behind the present day hero society that now exists in ''Fanfic/InFamousHeroAcademia'', with Cole being seen as the "father" of Pro Heroes and Delsin Rowe being an influential figure for Pro-Quirk advocate movements. Outside of those two, Zeke Dunbar also became a leading figure for people accepting "Conduits," with his contributions being highly valued to the point where his work is thought to be the reason why the term "Conduit" ultimately began to fade out of use.
* Clan Gully after they saved [[spoiler: Baron Beltorey]] in ''Fanfic/TheTaintedGrimoire''. He is an influential person.
-->'''Beltorey''': This incident is going to spread like wildfire, and whether for better or worse, this small [[note]] The official number then[[/note]] eight-person clan is now officially on the map.
* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has most of the heroes being pretty famous, with Harry's fame steadily growing, thanks to his 'great deeds'. Harry, for his part, would much rather that it didn't, and finds it both embarrassing and aggravating -- though he isn't shy of using it when he needs to, especially since part of that reputation is as TheDreaded ApocalypseMaiden.
* ''Fanfic/DigimonTrinity'': The original Digidestined[[note]] Tai, Sora, Matt, Mimi, TK, Izzy, Joe, Kari, Davis, Yolei, Cody, and Ken[[/note]] are noted to be as such from the first chapter.
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' fanfic ''Fanfic/{{Gemini}},'' the [[InvertedTrope inversion]] is PlayedForDrama. One of the things that worries VillainProtagonist Captain June Harper at the beginning of the story is the fact that the people holding her ''haven’t'' heard of the Time Agency despite their base being built so close to a Time Rift.
* In ''Fanfic/AHeroForged'', Luz quickly becomes the talk of the town due to how out-of-nowhere her debut is, becoming famous across the Isles as the "Iron Witch."
* This is a cause for some miscommunication in ''Fanfic/FourArmedBride''. Looma admits that she thought Ben would have had numerous lovers by this point because he is a famous hero known throughout the galaxy. Her forwardness throughout the story was motivated by the belief that Ben had already taken lovers before due to his status.
* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/34988074/chapters/87137299 The Miraculous Tales of Consistent Narrative and Characterization]]'': Unlike in canon, the [[WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug the kwamis]] and their history of picking choosens to use their powers are not only known to the general public, but they are outright worship as gods.
* In ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'', Apple Bloom became this in the [[BadFuture Dark World]] by working for years to free [[VideoGame/StoryOfTheBlanks Sunnytown]] from their curse and ''succeeding'' (it helped Discord cursed her the same way, [[spoiler:though Applejack [[MercyKill broke the curse after she succeeded by her request]]]]). For this act, she's remembered as Saint Applebloom of Sunnytown, especially by her descendants. [[spoiler:Applejack recently gave her another boost of fame for revealing her spirit helped free her from Discord's control.]]
* ''Fanfic/ANewChanceSeries'': After gaining [[OlympusMons Latios and Latias]] as Pokemon and using the former in the Johto Silver Conference, Ash gains the fame, fans ([[FanBoy especially Max]]) and recognition he failed to achieve in canon, with rivals and enemies alike knowing him as the kid with the Latios.
* ''Fanfic/TheTwilightChild'': Happens when the Mane Six travel to Canterlot for the Hearth's Warming play. An angry stage director confronts them when they arrive, but quickly changes tack when he realises who they are, or who Fluttershy and Rarity are, at least. He then allows them full reign in "his" theatre. [[DramaQueen Rarity]] takes [[TyrantTakesTheHelm full advantage of this]].
* After winging both Karasuba and Akitsu in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11121640/5/Birds-of-a-Feather Birds of a Feather]]'', Minato gains a reputation as the Demon Tamer Ashikabi who "battled Karasuba across the city for three days and three nights before emerging victorious and taking her as his woman".
* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'': The Straw Hats were infamous already in canon, but thanks to [[spoiler:the SBS]], their public connection is a lot more personal and in-depth.
* ''Fanfic/TheLoneTraveler'': The eponymous traveler moves around the multiverse, to various different universes at different times. Due to the time travel component, he finds out about his legend ''long'' before he has personally done many of the things that earned it.
* In ''Fanfic/DoctorInTheUnderworld'', although the Tenth Doctor only learns of the Corvinus vampires and lycans during this encounter, coven historian Andreas Tanis and the ancient immortal Alexander Corvinus have already read about his appearances across history, to the extent that Alexander has hacked UNIT files to learn more about the Doctor’s true nature. Tanis observes that the Doctor has such a lethal reputation that his current ally Selene should be grateful the Doctor doesn’t consider her an enemy, while Alexander notes that it’s an honour to meet the Doctor after reading about him for so long.
* ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'': As always, Regional Champions are given high praise and booking. Eagun is also mentioned in a similar light.
** [[TheHero Ash himself]] has managed to earn some fame after the Battle Dome Tournament and his gym battle with Erika. After his performance in the Fuchsia Tag Tournament, it seems it'll keep growing even more. However as shown during his fight with Janine, this isn't necessarily a good thing as it makes it easier for people to plan against him.
* After the events of [[spoiler:''Greater Good'', the ''Fanfic/AllGuardsmenParty'' become known as heroes among both the Tau and human populace.]] Although for them it is also the case of YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame.
* ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku'': Aside from the obvious Pro Heroes, Izuku is secretly famous throughout Japan as the alien whose spaceship crashed at Mt. Fuji fifteen years ago. Countless tourists flock to the crash site in hopes of catching a glimpse of the big, green monster man they believe him to be (and possibly capturing him by beating him into submission with sticks sold by nearby vendors). Izuku is understandably unhappy with this "fame" and doesn't like talking about it. By the 30th century, he's famous for a much different reason: being Superman.
* ''Fanfic/LifeOreDeath'' portrays Robin [[RedBaron the Boy Wonder]] as this, being an inspiration to a generation of sidekicks, as well as one-half of the "Wonder Twins" when he teamed up with Wonder Girl.
** [[OriginalCharacter Ferris]] becomes this in Season 2, due to her part in stopping the Disappearance Disaster.
* ''Fanfic/CrimsonAndEmerald'': Tenya Iida, Izuku Midoriya, Shouto Todoroki, and Fumikage Tokoyami become widely known as the Hosu Quartet.
* In ''Fanfic/AmazingFantasy'', Izuku becomes a local celebrity as "Prowler Kid" for running in to help an injured [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Peter]] when no one else would (albeit while all of the Pro Heroes had their hands tied by the bomb Prowler embedded in Mount Lady's neck). He's frequently stopped on the street for photos by people who recognize from the live television broadcast of the event. He's unnerved by his fame more than anything, as he spent his whole life feeling invisible as the only Quirkless kid he knew when he wasn't being mocked or beat up.
* In ''Fanfic/{{Juxtapose}}'', Izuku becomes this after [[spoiler:he becomes the co-winner of the Sports Festival alongside Hitoshi.]] He soon finds that he's being stopped on the street by near-strangers who treat him like an old friend. He's flattered at first, but he becomes increasingly uncomfortable as people keep coming up to him and tries to shirk away from his new fame to no avail. It gets even worse after [[spoiler:Izuku performs life saving surgery on All-Might after the attack on Mustafu]].
* In ''Fanfic/ADropOfPoison'', Naruto ends up famous several times over by the end of the Chuunin Exams. First, he and his two infiltrator clones are well known for their efforts in the Sand-Sound Invasion. Second, Naruto's clones in Konoha became famous as the Doukeshi (clown) ANBU division, again for efforts during the Sand-Sound Invasion. Thirdly, Naruto's clones outside Konoha are famous as the Torasen and/or Hidden Spirit Village: a powerful mercenary group known for predominantly using clones which is famous enough that Mei Terumi requests their aid in the Kiri civil war.
* The first time Izuku shifts into his Ragnarök form in ''Fanfic/TheNorseHeroFenrir'', it was an accidental maneuver in reaction to a mugger shooting his mother in a public place. Videos of this transformation went viral on the internet, becoming famous as the "Demon Werewolf." Even four years later in his time at UA, people still recognize Ragnarök whenever they see it for the first time in-person.
* ''Fanfic/TinSoldiers'' deals with some of the results of Steve Rogers being this in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse. Most notably, he has a large online fandom. The other Avengers are also mentioned to a lesser degree, as are Pepper Potts, Peggy Carter, and the Howling Commandos.
* Izuku in ''Fanfic/SwitchTheColors'' ends up developing a Creator/{{Banksy}}-[[ArtImitatesArt esq]] identity as "The Might", having created some rather popular street art at the expense of a few All Might billboards.
* ''Fanfic/{{Deadshots}}'': The fic upgrades Ty Lee and her sisters to this. She is one of seven identical septuplets who all survived to be healthy teenagers, and their mother survived giving birth to them. As the author notes, that's happened less than ten times in recorded history in the real world with modern medicine; in the comparatively more primitive ''Avatar''-verse, that's the kind of thing that would be hailed as a miracle.
* In ''Fanfic/WhenReasonFails'', among U.A., Izuku is well-known due to something about him causing Himiko, a known killer, to not kill ''him'' like her other victims. Later feats, such as being the first person who Tsuyu spoke to, only boost it. [[spoiler: Turns out that even Decay's sensei knows of him and his strange nature. Izuku becoming one of UA's Warlords by discovering and claiming the Special Exclusion Zone three weeks into his Candidacy, a frankly ludicrous feat when even if one is successful, it should have taken a lot more time than that, cements it.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda1'', the Furious Five are legendary kung fu masters famed across China. At the end of the film, the title character himself becomes a legend as the Dragon Warrior.
* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMusicOfTheVampire'': Scooby and the gang. [[spoiler:After getting caught, the villain explains that he lured them into the town because scaring people with their reputations would have increased the popularity he hoped to obtain with his hoax.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'', Donkey Kong is popular with the residents of the Jungle Kingdom thanks to being a WarriorPrince and is implied to be respected outside of it, given Peach thinks Mario agreeing to fight him is a mistake.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', both Comicbook/{{Superman}} and Comicbook/{{Batman}} are famous superheroes, and much discussed. Indeed, one of the main themes of the film is the public's perception of the two, and their perception of each other, compared to the truth of who they really are as people. This means that they're also ''infamous'' in-story, as well - Superman's methods and motives are continually questioned, and Batman is a figure of mystery and [[HorrifyingHero terror]]. By the end of the film, and in ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'', public opinion is firmly on Superman's side, after [[spoiler: he [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifices]] his life to stop Doomsday]].
* In ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', Batman [[spoiler:takes the blame for Harvey Dent's murders]], and is subsequently hated by the people of Gotham. In ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'', he gets his good name cleared, and in the end [[spoiler:a statue of him is erected]].
* The protagonist of ''Film/EyesOfLauraMars'' is a successful photographer whose work is displayed in large galleries, who is surrounded by reporters and photographers at public events, and who is about to publish a coffee table book of her work.
* ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'':
** ''Film/GhidorahTheThreeHeadedMonster'': The Shobijin who act as Mothra's heralds have by this time become celebrities, appearing on television programs and acting as ambassadors to the outside world.
** ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'': Teenager Madison Russell has apparently become this in the five years since ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'', due to her mother's infamous hotly-debated legacy and her father being Monarch's new director.
* ''Film/TheHungerGames'': Katniss Everdeen becomes one of the biggest celebrities in Panem.
* ''Film/IndependenceDayResurgence'': It's implied that Russell from the [[Film/IndependenceDay first film]] is remembered as a hero for [[spoiler:his HeroicSacrifice that ultimately saved the world]] twenty years on, as his name is seen engraved on the rebuilt Washington Monument along with the names of others who died.
* The main premise of ''Film/MyNameIsNobody'', where Beauregard is the most famous gunslinger of the West. This is actually a nuisance for the hero, as he constantly has to be cautious and sort some other people's problems out. In the end, he even fakes his own death just to retire.
* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'': Because of the general lack of SecretIdentities, a lot of superheroes are also celebrities.
** ''Film/IronMan'' ends with Tony Stark revealing his secret identity in a press conference. ''Film/IronMan2'' and ''Film/IronMan3'' deal with the benefits and consequences of that decision. While all of the good will and support he generates as Iron Man makes him wildly popular, it also attracts just as many people who hate him. Plus, his enemies know exactly where he lives.
** ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' touches on how the main characters have become famous or infamous due to their exploits in their previous movies. For instance, Tony Stark refers to [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Captain America]] as "a living legend who kind of lives up to his legend."
** PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' and ''Film/AvengersEndgame''. In the former, Tony mentions that he and Hulk have Ben & Jerrys flavours named after them. In the latter, a group of kids ask Bruce for a selfie but don't recognize Ant-man, who he's sitting with. Also, Thor uses his status to scare off a kid that was bullying Korg in ''VideoGame/{{Fortnite}}''.
** ''Film/BlackWidow2021'': Yelena calls out Natasha for living as a celebrity with the Avengers while her and the other Widows were still living in the shadows as hired mercenaries.
** ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' is about the downsides of this. After Mysterio revealed Peter's SecretIdentity and framed him for murder at the end of [[Film/SpiderManFarFromHome the previous movie]], the entire world is split down the middle on those who support him and those who think he's a public menace. The constant attention ruins his civilian life and hurts the people closest to him.
** In ''Series/{{Hawkeye|2021}}'', Clint is constantly perturbed by his celebrity status. He hates random people recognizing him on the street, because he was trained to be a spy and assassin - not someone to look up to. On a sillier note, there's a Broadway musical titled ''Rogers'' about Steve Rogers' life that also features the other main Avengers ([[InUniverseFactoidFailure and Ant-man for some reason]]).
* The ''Film/MysteryTeam'' was once a well-respected and popular part of their town.
* ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'':
-->'''Norrington:''' You are without a doubt the ''worst'' pirate I have ever heard of.\\
'''Jack Sparrow:''' But you ''have'' heard of me.
* Liz from ''Film/PoorPrettyEddie'' is a successful singer. When Eddie sees her signature, he says, "I've seen you on TV!" This is part of the reason he becomes obsessed with her, as he believes she will make him a famous singer.
* ''Film/{{Purgatory}}'': It ''is'' the Wild West. Still, Sonny can recognize many of the townsfolk from dime novels he's read about them.
* Robin and the Merry Men are this by the end of ''Film/RobinHood1991''.
* ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'': Yogurt!
--> '''Yogurt:''' ''(In Mel Brooks' best [[AlterKocker Yiddish accent]])'' You heard of me?
* [[spoiler:Captain Dax]], at the end of ''Film/StarshipTroopers2HeroOfTheFederation''. Played for irony, as [[TheEmpire the Federation]] trumpets him as the champion of the very ideals he was shown to be very cynical towards in life.
* ''Film/{{The Viking|1928}}'': Before Leif Ericsson even appears in the movie, he is already mentioned as "the famous Leif Ericsson" in a title card, and when he finally appears on screen, a title card introduces him as "famed throughout the North for his strength, courage and justice." Shortly after, King Olaf honors him by proposing a toast to him, and later comments on Leif's plan of exploring the sea west of Greenland that such a voyage "would be an adventure worthy of you, Leif Ericsson!". No solid explanation for ''why'' Leif is so famous is given, as all this takes place ''before'' Leif makes his famous discovery.
* ''Film/WildInTheStreets'': Even before Max Frost gets involved in politics, he's a massively successful multimillionaire rock star who owns 14 interlocking businesses.
* ''Film/XMenApocalypse'': Mystique has gained a positive reputation amiong humans and mutants around the world thanks to her actions in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfAminaAlSirafi'': Stories of Amina's exploits as a pirate adventurer have spread across the seas, growing to [[ShroudedInMyth outlandish magnitude]] -- contrary to rumor, she isn't a sorceress with golden fangs. Her reputation can be a great help in recruiting crew from the wrong side of the law, but forces her to take great care to avoid the authorities.
* ''Literature/TheAfterward'': Kalanthe, Olsa and the other seven companions are famous in the book, given they're the heroes who banished the evil Old God from the world. They were awarded by the king of their native country Cadrium publicly, which spread their fame, and many ballads about them are mentioned (usually quite romanticized).
* In Creator/JohnHemry's Literature/PaulSinclair novel ''Against All Enemies'', Paul Sinclair is told that his superior officer is intimidated by him, owing to his reputation for IncorruptiblePurePureness.
* In Creator/ConnieWillis's ''Literature/AllClear'', the men working at making Hitler think that Calais is the attack point are given instructions after D-Day after the observation that the rest of the army will get credit; they will be covered up.
* In ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', the heroes exploit this: although they were careful to never mention the thief or what he stole [[SpeakOfTheDevil by name]] for a time, they get all the minstrels to start telling certain stories. This creates such a clamor that the bad guy can't pick them out of the crowd.
* Mary "Jackie" Faber, aka ''Literature/BloodyJack'': the common seamen of the Royal Navy call her "Puss-in-Boots", consider her a good luck charm, and practically worship the deck she walks on. Her fame becomes even more widespread once her friend Amy starts publishing her adventures.
* Patrick [=McLanahan=] from Creator/DaleBrown books experiences both this and TheGreatestStoryNeverTold. While he is recognised as a hero for such events as the counterattack against the [[MakeTheBearAngryAgain American Holocaust]], there are also many of his world-saving missions that the public will never know about until he's dead if not years after due to being black ops.
* ''Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex'': [[TheProtagonist Touma Kamijou]] begins as a non-entity, but as word spreads of the power he holds in his right arm, [[AntiMagic Imagine Breaker]], he slowly become a figure of dread among both Magic and Science's sides of the world. By the time ''New Testament'' rolls around, entire magical organizations are utterly terrified of Touma showing up, while in Academy City he's earned a solid reputation as the guy who will [[SpannerInTheWorks wreck your plans]], [[WorldsBestWarrior punch the daylights out of you]]... [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and]] [[CluelessChickMagnet steal your girlfriend]].
* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''Literature/ChroniclesOfChaos'' novel ''Fugitives of Chaos'', Grendel talks of how Hesiod wrote of his mother and is not surprised that Amelia is shy about meeting her, her being famous and all.
* In ''Literature/CodexAlera'', Aldrick ex Gladius often serves as TheDragon for whichever character is currently in control, and not as a clear antagonist on his own, but he is legendary throughout Alera for his famed skill with the sword. His duel with Araris Valerian, also legendary because of his skill, is still being talked about ''fifteen years later''.
* In Creator/RobertEHoward's ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'' story "Literature/RedNails", Valeria "of the Red Brotherhood, whose deeds are celebrated in song and ballad wherever seafarers gather." Also, Conan himself is hardly immune to this.
** The very first Conan story written, "Literature/ThePhoenixOnTheSword," opens with an epigraph from an in-universe historical text called The Nemedian Chronicles, which reads in part, "Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled feet."
** In ''Literature/TheHourOfTheDragon'', he makes good use of his reputation from his days as a corsair.
* A major theme of Creator/BenCounter's ''Literature/DaemonWorld''. The narrator recounts legends rather than tell the straight story of anything. (Partly because that way contradictions can be introduced.)
* In Creator/TerryPratchett's ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''
** ''Literature/TheLastHero'', the heroes' motivation is that their attack on the gods will be ''remembered''; they even drag along a minstrel to be sure of it. [[spoiler:And in the end, the minstrel gets them to save the gods by pointing out if they destroy the gods -- and the world -- no-one will be around to remember. And then he recounts the story in heavy metal.]]
** [[PosthumousCharacter Dave Likely]] is known throughout the city in ''Literature/UnseenAcademicals''. [[spoiler:Though at the end, the Game disowns fame for how you play]].
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'':
** In ''Literature/DeadBeat'', Luccio gives this as a reason [[spoiler:to insist on Harry's becoming a warden]]; he's fought more evils than many wizards much older than him, and it's known. In later books, Harry notes that he thinks of it as part ShroudedInMyth because he remembers how close some of the things were. He doesn't seem to realise that ''only just'' raising a zombie Tyrannosaurus Rex is still a nigh-on Godly feat.
** Harry is also TheDreaded to various supernatural baddies. At one point a Red Court Vampire [[spoiler: who also happens to be one of the Court's most deadly and skilled assassins]] turns and runs screaming at the sight of Harry.
*** Harry manages to go from a relative unknown in the first book to being recognized on sight by more and more people after only a few books. It helps that there's generally a gap of about 6 months to a year between each book, which is plenty of time for word to spread. And with the series on 16 books and counting, the gaps between books really start adding up.
* The ''Literature/{{Earthsea}}'' book ''A Wizard of Earthsea'' is explicitly described as being about Ged when he was young and not famed in-story; in it, a friend declares he will make a song so his deeds will be remembered, but either he didn't or the song was lost. However, by ''The Farthest Shore'', Ged is indeed famed.
* In Creator/WenSpencer's ''Literature/EndlessBlue'', Hardin tells Mikhail that immortality is when people know your name millennia after your death. [[spoiler:Mikhail later threatens to eradicate all record of him if he does something.]]
* Creator/DavidGemmell's heroes usually become famous when songs are written about their deeds. Druss, Waylander, the Earl of Bronze and the Thirteen are remembered long after they are dead. Ulric's big regret about Druss's death is that he will be cast as the villain of the stories that will be written about the siege. He did not know that his champion put poison on his sword and would have never allowed it but history will not remember it that way.
* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/TheGoldenOecumene The Golden Age]]'', ''The Phoenix Exultant'', and ''The Golden Transcendence'', "Deeds of renown without peer" are Phaethon's great desire and ArcWords.
* ''Literature/TheGoldenHamsterSaga'': Freddy Auratus, the world's only literate hamster, keeps the fact that he can read and write a secret during the first few books. But by the end of ''Freddy to the Rescue'', so many people know Freddy's secret that he and his owner Mr. John decide that it would be safest to go public, so that if anyone [[TheyWouldCutYouUp tries to hurt Freddy]], they'll have his fans to contend with. Freddy [[DirectLineToTheAuthor publishes his books]] and becomes an internationally famous author.
* [[DeathSeeker Gotrek]] brings [[BadassBookworm Felix]] along in [[Literature/GotrekAndFelix the stories that bear their names]] so that his final end might be memorialized in song.
** Felix frequently [[LampshadeHanging wonders]] how, exactly, he is supposed to survive something that can kill [[{{Determinator}} Gotrek]], the [[OneManArmy nastiest dwarf]] alive.
** As of ''Manslayer'', we know that Felix's brother Otto has been publishing the journals he sent home for safekeeping (to act as notes for the eventual epic). And they have proven to be popular if taken for fiction in some quarters, and disliked by those "slandered" by their portrayal.
* Discussed in ''Literature/TheHammer2022''. Due to fighting along so many heroes in his previous life, Tiny remembers the names of all of the important fighters in the efforts to repel the Demon Lord's armies. So Asgard takes notice when Tiny is ignorant of the names of numerous high-level knights living in the present, as this means that these knights were somehow killed before Tiny got to meet or hear of them. This includes one of Asgard's best men, Jenas Freewell, a sixth-level knight and the grandmaster of the Blue Wings Order. With this knowledge in mind, Asgard begins investigating the circumstances that could lead to Jenas' death and the assassination of the Aslan Empire's royal family.
* Professor [=McGonagall=] rightly predicted that Literature/HarryPotter would "be famous. I wouldn't be surprised if today was named Harry Potter Day. There won't be a child in our world who doesn't know his name." Fulfilled (beyond RealLife) at the end of the saga, since ''Literature/TheTalesOfBeedleTheBard'' talks about "the seven volumes on the life of Literature/HarryPotter", hinting that they may have been published for real in the book's universe.
%%* Virtually all of Creator/SimonRGreen's heroes become this.
* Creator/MercedesLackey's ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' novel ''By the Sword'' starts with the teen protagonist Kerowyn going on a rescue mission alone to save her brother's fiancée. By mid-book "Kerowyn's Ride" has become a popular song. Three-quarters of the way through everyone she meets seems to know it... and half of them cannot sing.
** Kero gets off lucky compared to Kethry (her grandmother) and Tarma (her teacher). In the Oath books they had to deal with several, many of which were composed and consciously embellished (motivated by mere money? nonsense!) by one particularly irritating minstrel with a fixation on the latter.
** Vanyel Ashkevron of the ''Literature/LastHeraldMageTrilogy'', thanks to his [[LongHairedPrettyBoy beauty]], outrageously strong Mage-Gift, and quite a few [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome offscreen moments of awesome]], is extremely famous by the second book and finds it tremendously disheartening as even Heralds tend to react to him with a combination of fear and awe. It's yet worse in the third book, as his competence and remoteness on top of everything make him seem barely human. Hundreds of years later, he's still famous.
* In Creator/RickRiordan's ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'' novel ''The Mark of Athena'', Annabeth is surprised to find, among tapestries depicting other famous events, the time she and Percy were kissing under a river.
* Katniss, Peeta and any other tribute [[spoiler:who won their Game and thus survived]] due to the very nature of "''Literature/TheHungerGames''". Just like with reality show contestants in real life...
* In Creator/JRRTolkien's ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', they hear the tales of Beren and Lúthien at Rivendell. Frodo and Sam discuss, on the way, whether they would get such a story, and they are deeply moved when they are rescued from Mount Doom and actually get to hear "Nine-fingered Frodo and the Ring of Doom".
* In the ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'' there is Kallor, who, way, way back was the High King of [[spoiler: Jacuruku]] and his actions made him infamous enough to lure three gods to curse him. He is widely known as "The High King".
* In ''Literature/TheOrphansTales'' Zmeya's tragic story is so popular people go mad from love for her, or like [[spoiler: Oubliette]] try to follow her to the land of death.
* Creator/IsaacAsimov and Creator/RobertSilverberg's ''Literature/ThePositronicMan'': Chapter one establishes that Andrew [[InMediasRes will have become]] famous for what he is by the end of the story. By the time chapter one happens, Andrew has already been acclaimed as the Sesquicentennial Robot. He seems to regret that his fame doesn't come from ''who'' he is, just ''what'' he is.
-->He was more than a little famous. He had never asked for his fame, of course- that was not his style- but fame, or at any rate notoriety, had come to him all the same. Because of what he had achieved: because of what he was. Not who, but what.
* In ''Literature/ThePrincessSeries'', the stories of the main characters (Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella) are as well known in their world as they are in ours. Played with as the versions of the story that are most well known are the LighterAndSofter Disney versions while what really happened is closer to the DarkerAndEdgier Grimm Brothers versions.
* ''Literature/QuantumGravity'': [[OurElvesAreDifferent Zal]] is a [[ElvishPresley rock star]]. He's also known for trying to bring together the elves and the demons, but for those who know it's more Infamous In Story.
* In ''Literature/RachelGriffin'', Sigfried Smith is a celebrity at the age of fourteen for having killed a dragon. He also saved Roanoke Campus from a flying, flaming skunk.
* In Creator/RobinHobb's ''Literature/RealmOfTheElderlings'' second book, ''Royal assassin'', After a [[DreamSpying Skill-induced vision]], [=FitzChivalry Farseer=] tells the captain of the battleship he's in to set course to a [[LastStand nearby watchtower]], where he foresaw an attack of the [[HornyVikings Red ships raiders]]. He [[TheBerserker leads the charge]] [[ConvenientlyTimedAttackFromBehind in the back of the unexpecting Outislanders]], then kills the last of them in a duel, leading to the capture of the raider's ship and freeing the besieged watchtower, thus scoring the first true win over the Red Ship Raiders after years of conflict. Minstrels sings about this feat the very same night, where he is celebrated as [[BigDamnHeroes the saviour of Antler island]].
** WanderingMinstrel Starling Birdsong seeks to become this, as a famed minstrel has better chances of becoming a permanent court-bard.
** Queen-in-Waiting Ketricken. Not because she is the future queen, but because [[LadyOfWar she fend off a group of]] [[TechnicallyLivingZombie Forged ones]] [[LadyOfWar by herself ]] while being lost in the woods, came back to the castle covered in their blood, and [[MercyKill lead a hunt to put her zombified subjects to rest]] [[DueToTheDead and return them to their families]] the very next day. Cue the creation of the [[PraetorianGuard Queen's guard]], composed of a number of the king's guard soldiers who decide that she needs her own guard, and the song "The vixen queen's hunt".
** In the ''Fitz and the Fool'' trilogy, [[spoiler: the SecretIdentityIdentity Fitz kept most of his life to escape trouble comes to an abrupt end]] when Starling sings to the royal court about the true fate of [[spoiler: the heir of Chivalry Farseer. She sings the life of deeds of a [[HeroicBastard bastard]] to a kingdom that [[HeroWithBadPublicity wanted him dead]], how [[TheGreatestStoryNeverTold he saved it from the shadows a couple of times]], sacrificing [[SelfImposedExile his life]], [[CelibateHero his love]] and [[BreakTheCutie his health]] for its sake. She then [[TheUnmasking reveals that sir Tom Badgerlock is]] the [[FakingHisDeath long thought executed]] Fitz-Chivalry Farseer ; instead of the pitchforks and hatred he was expecting, he is welcomed by the nobility as a hero and welcomed in the royal family as a prince.]]
* David Charleston of ''Literature/TheReckonersTrilogy'' achieves this after the first book due to his pivotal role in the assassination of a notorious superhuman tyrant. The [[CapeBusters Reckoners]] as an organization seem to have some in-universe notoriety independently of David, although most individual members are anonymous.
* ''Literature/ReignOfTheSevenSpellblades'': After being at the forefront of several noteworthy campus incidents in the first two years of the series, [[TrueCompanions the Sword Roses]] and [[AntiHero Oliver Horn]] and [[TheLancer Nanao Hibiya]] especially start to become minor celebrities in the student body, with audience members in the [[TournamentArc third-year combat leagues]] even heard cheering for Oliver specifically (a switch from him being OvershadowedByAwesome in the earlier books). It has its downsides, though: in volume 6, they begin to get targeted for harassment by incumbent StudentCouncilPresident Alvin Godfrey's political opponents [[ProxyWar in attempts to embarrass him by proxy]].
* After Arrow-Odd of ''Literature/TheSagaOfArrowOdd'' has returned from his very first raiding expedition that took him to Bjarmaland, almost everyone to whom he introduces himself asks in response, "Are you the Odd that went to Bjarmaland?"
* Because NewsTravelsFast in ''Literature/ShadowOfTheConqueror,'' Daylen quickly acquires a reputation as a hero, which [[ThinkNothingOfIt he tries to avoid]] because of [[BeAllMySinsRemembered his past]]. Ahrek also briefly wonders if Lyrah has some sort of special reputation, after seeing Daylen [[INeverToldYouMyName recognize her on sight]], but she denies it, saying that she isn't more famous than any other individual Archknight.
* ''{{Literature/Sharpe}}'': Sharpe and Harper go undercover to investigate corruption in their regiment by enlisting as rankers, and are regaled by the recruiting sergeant with stories about how every enlisted man in the South Essex can be a successful badass like his best friends Major Richard Sharpe and RSM Patrick Harper, whom he taught everything they know...
* [[SapientShip Helva]], ''Literature/TheShipWho Sang'' earns that moniker early because of her BeautifulSingingVoice. In the first few years of her career, her [[HandyHelper brawn]] gets into fights for her sake when other people ridicule her for it and it becomes a small thing, a curiosity. Her extremely eventful first decade in service, in which she uses quick thinking and those same musical and [[VoiceChangeling voice-imitating]] skills to get herself through some very difficult situations, leads to greater fame as she pays off an IndenturedServitude that takes other brainships decades or centuries. She doesn't appear herself in the other books, but now and then is mentioned with respect.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'':
** "The Rains of Castamere" is an in-universe song about Tywin Lannister taking down the Reynes of Castamere, a rebellious noble house. It shows Tywin's reputation as TheDreaded.
** Donal Noye: "A one-armed smith killed the king of giants? There will be songs written about this!"
** Jamie "The Kingslayer" Lannister is (in)famous throughout Westeros for killing Aerys [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "The Mad King"]] Targaryen, for being incredibly good-looking, and for being the best swordsman in the kingdom. He finds it rather annoying.
* In ''Literature/SagaOfTheForgottenWarrior'' by Creator/LarryCorreia, the hero is known as "Black Hearted Ashok" after twenty years service to the Protectors. [[DeTerminator He's earned it.]]
* In ''Literature/SpheresOfInfluence'': Ariane proves to be this after her actions in ''Grand Central Arena'', when she meets her first fan in the Arena, asking for her autograph.
* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'':
** The PowerTrio and some of their companions become famed throughout the Galaxy Far Far Away, leading to this trope being referenced frequently after the Battle of Yavin, and especially after the Battle of Endor. Luke and Leia reach the apex of society as Jedi grand master and New Republic Chief of State, respectively, while Han Solo has to deal with being famous, but not quite ''as'' famous, as the other two and generally resentful of all the attention when he'd happily be jetting around the galaxy in the ''Falcon'' instead of attending state functions. Lando parlays his connections and reputation into a series of business ventures which any plot that involves him inevitably destroys. And Wedge, though a background character, has the distinction of being the only person in the galaxy to destroy ''two'' Death Stars, with all the hero worship and friction inherent for a guy who just wants to fly a starfighter and shoot bad guys.
** ''Literature/TheHandOfThrawn'': Luke has an attempt to infiltrate a SpacePirate base go awry. He turns out the lights with the Force to give himself an opening, then ignites his lightsaber in the darkness. One of the pirates immediately yells, [[OhCrap "It's Skywalker!"]]
** ''Literature/LukeSkywalkerAndTheShadowsOfMindor'' has several references to pulpy, facts-optional dramas created around Luke Skywalker, one of which is plot-important. Luke does not appreciate these and the impressions that they give about him.
** ''Literature/XWingSeries'':
*** Played for laughs in ''The Bacta War''. Mirax Terrik takes advantage of her father, Booster Terrik's, fame as a smuggler on several occasions to force merchants to either play fair with the Rogues or to even get them a discount. Then Corran tries to pull it ''himself'' when a buyer tries to outbid them while out shopping for parts with Mirax... only for him to bust out laughing, forcing Mirax to sheepishly interject inform Corran that the man they're bidding against ''is'' her father.
*** In ''Starfighters of Adumar'', Wedge Antilles and Red Flight are sent to Adumar purely because they're famous pilots.
* The Outcasts of ''{{Literature/Tasakeru}}'' will be "whispered of as legends" in the future, [[spoiler:up to 150 years or more after the events of the story]].
* ''Literature/ThursdayNext'': In ''The Eyre Affair'', this is Achron's motive.
* According to the beginning of ''Literature/TwilightSparkleAndTheCrystalHeartSpell'', Twilight has become famous around Equestria.
* Arthur Schoenberg from ''Literature/VampireAcademy'', "one of the greatest Strigoi killers in living guardian history". He appears only briefly as a corpse, but he is the most famous guardian to appear in-universe. His exploits are covered in schoolbooks at the Academy.
* In ''Literature/TheVazulaChronicles'', Merletta is the first mermaid from the poor UnderwaterCity of Tilssted to become a trainee at the Center of Culture in generations. In ''A Kingdom Discovered'', she finds out that she's a local hero in Tilssted. Whenever she swims through that city or the kelp farms where many Tilssted residents work, merpeople are delighted to recognize her.
* ''Literature/VillainsByNecessity'': Mizzamir, the last of the Six Heroes, is world famous for their feat defeating the Dark King over a hundred years ago and sealing out all evil. It turns out that Sir Pryse is still alive though, and he's recognized on sight as well.
* ''Literature/TheWarGods'': Much to his embarrassment, Prince Bahzell has his own ballad (''The Lay of Bahzell Bloody-Hand'') constantly added to by his "bard" friend Brandark. Unfortunately for Bahzell, Brandark set it to the tune of a popular drinking song, and NewsTravelsFast.
* ''Franchise/Warhammer40000ExpandedUniverse'':
** In the ''Literature/BloodAngels'' novel ''Red Fury'', Rafen looks at the carvings about the tomb, recounting the deeds of a Blood Angel who had actually entombed Sanguinius's body; it inspires him to carry on. Later, Turkio considers how he, a mere line-brother, will not be remembered in stories, but still carries on.
** Creator/SandyMitchell's Literature/CiaphasCain[[note]]HERO OF THE IMPERIUM![[/note]] finds his story being told (inaccurately) all over the place.
** In Henry Zhou's ''The Emperor's Mercy'', Imperial Guardsmen are surrounded by Chaos forces and [[LastStand are fighting on]], despite dying of hunger and disease. Roth tells Celemine that they had no choice but to stay with them. The commander hears and instantly wants to fight a last charge: they can get them to their ship and [[YouShallNotPass hold off the enemy]] -- and that way, they can be remembered. (They are. In fact, their eighteen minutes defense of the ship is immortalized in a mural ''on Terra''.)
** In the ''Literature/GauntsGhosts'' story "In Remembrance", after taking Thuro out on a patrol rather farther than they should have, the Ghosts make much of his recognizing an ambush and fixing a flamer on the field. Thuro then goes on to commemorate them in a statue; the story is framed as an interview about that, his most famous work.
** In the ''Literature/HorusHeresy'' books, the Legions are accompanied by remembrancers to ensure this. [[spoiler:Well, until Horus massacres them.]]
** In the ''Literature/SpaceWolf'' novel ''Wolf's Honour'', the skald, Morgrim, attends all that happens to recount it in song. When Mikal realizes he overheard him [[ConverseWithTheUnconscious talking to his unconscious superior]], he angrily demands to know how Morgrim will tell it; Morgrim declares that he will say that a hero paid his respect to his lord before battle, and Mikal refuses to believe it, thinking Morgrim will remember him as a failure. Morgrim assures him that his lord had felt the same way on many an occasion.
* Firestar in ''Literature/WarriorCats''. Even before he became a Clan leader, he was well-known among the Clans for his heroic, if sometimes mouse-brained, deeds. After becoming [=ThunderClan=]'s leader, he is regarded as one of the greatest cats the forest has ever seen, and even after [[spoiler:his death]] all five Clans tell stories about him. In ''Shattered Sky'', [[spoiler:[=SkyClan=]]] trusts Twigpaw immediately once she tells them that she was from the Clan that Firestar had led before she was born.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* Played with in ''Series/AgentCarter'' -- Agent Carter's name is well-known amongst Americans due to her involvement in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'', but her exploits are not. Instead, she's portrayed in radio dramas exclusively as Captain America's frequently-captured DamselInDistress.
* ''Series/TheArk2023'':
** Angus is well-known (albeit not entirely taken seriously by everyone at first) for being a 4-H kid who grew lots of crops in the Mojave Desert.
** William Trust's experiments have all of humanity watching his actions with anticipation and/or distrust.
* ''Series/{{Astrid}}'': When Astrid attends police academy in season 3, she has initially a [[TroubledBackstoryFlashback traumatic flashback]] to her last, disastrous time attending public school. Once the other police cadets realize who she is, however, they turn out to be admirers of her previous casework with the judicial police, and [[WhatTheHellHero one even criticizes the instructor for putting her on the spot and causing her to have an autistic burnout]].
* ''Series/Babylon5'': Before taking command of B5, John Sheridan is already famed not only as the only Earthforce commander to destroy a Minbari capital ship (and live to tell the tale) during the Earth/Minbari war, but the only Earthforce commander to survive an engagement with the Minbari ''period''. The Minbari see him as their RedBaron, "Starkiller", for the exact same reasons.
** Sheridan -- and those around him -- become so famous that they're still talked about a thousand years in the future. [[spoiler: And even a million years in the future, they're still remembered.]]
* As shown in semi-fictional form in ''Series/BandOfBrothers'', Ronald Speirs used his reputation as a cold-blooded killer to his advantage. This was explicitly pointed out by Speirs to Lipton. In both the show and in real life, no-one is quite sure if he really was that much a stone-cold killer. On the other hand, given the stuff he is actually known to have done (being his run straight through a German-occupied village... and then ''back'') his rep really didn't need extra padding.
* ''Series/BeingHumanUK'': Mitchell is something of a legend among vampires, even getting his own creepy FanBoy stalker. They tell stories about his murders, particularly Herrick. [[DeconstructedTrope He is none too pleased about it though, complaining that his actions can be seen as an inspiration to other vampires.]]
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': Buffy is described by Dracula as "world-famous".
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Doctor erratically, since they tend to hop around space and time and are not actually ''universally'' known, but it happens on many occasions.
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E9ForestOfTheDead "Forest of the Dead"]]: The Tenth Doctor is trying to rescue some humans who are stuck in a library being claimed by a colony of aliens. They don't care about the humans and are going to kill them just to get them out of the way. The Doctor tells them "I'm the Doctor, and you're in the biggest library in the Universe. Look me up." They back off immediately.
** This trope backfires SPECTACULARLY on the Doctor during Series 5 and 6. As a result of throwing his weight around, the Doctor has become Famed In Story as a TechnicalPacifist OneManArmy who survived the Time War by [[OmnicidalManiac wiping out his own people along with the other guys]] and generally seems to like playing God with the universe while [[CloudCuckoolander being somewhat/completely bonkers]] -- and the bad guys respond by not waiting around for the Doctor to "fall from the sky and tear down [their] world" and taking the fight to him instead, putting the Doctor's closest friends (and sometimes the whole rest of the universe) in the crosshairs as well. In the end, [[spoiler:the Doctor has to fake his own death and go back to being anonymous in order to continue operating]].
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS37E5TheTsurangaConundrum "The Tsuranga Conundrum"]]: General Cicero is a decorated war hero famous enough to have an entry in the Book of Celebrants. In turn, she's heard of the Doctor, who apparently rates an entire ''volume'' of the book.
* Moya's crew in ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' has built up quite a few impressive exploits as a result of being chased all over the galaxy by bad guys. As a result, word has gotten around, though the stories are a bit... exaggerated, in some respects.
** First, in "Suns and Lovers":
--->'''Borlik:''' You know, I heard he destroyed a Peacekeeper Gammak Base, murdered an entire Nebari battalion, even laid waste to a Shadow Depository. The guy was a devil: he raped and pillaged, he popped eyeballs--\\
'''Crichton''': Whoa-whoa! Where do they get these stories? Let's set the facts straight. First off, there was no raping, very little pillaging, and Frau Blucher popped all the eyeballs.
** And again in "Scratch and Sniff":
--->'''Raxil:''' Two guns? I mean... I thought you were the Great Crichton & D'Argo! I mean... you blew up a shadow depository! I thought you'd bring pelshfer charges! And a plasma bomb! And a really big gunship! BUT NO! YOU BRING NOTHING! YOU BRING TWO LITTLE WEAPONS THAT WOULDN'T KILL A NIKNIK!\\
'''D'Argo:''' ''(hesitantly)'' You... have heard of us?\\
'''Raxil:''' Yeah. I've heard stories. But obviously, they aren't worth a bucket of dren!
*** Though considering that this is part of an [[UnreliableNarrator outlandish tale]] Crichton is telling Pilot, it's hard to say if the exchange actually happened.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Tywin Lannister's destruction of House Reyne inspired the song "The Rains of Castamere", which serves as the Lannister theme.
** Lord Eddard Stark is renowned across Westeros as one of the leaders of Robert's Rebellion who deposed a psychotic King.
** King Aegon I Targaryen is remembered in a positive light as founder of the realm by many, his conquest ended the independence of the Seven Kingdoms and while many of the previous kings were downgraded to Lords Paramount, others were elevated. In the books, the first Baratheon was a general in Aegon's army and possibly his half-brother. Dorne resisted the Targaryen conquest with guerrilla warfare and only joined the realm peacefully two centuries later with its autonomy mostly intact (hence why the nobles of House Martell, Dorne's paramount house, are princes and princesses). The Lannisters surrendered after being defeated, the Tyrells were raised to lordship over the lands of the extinguished House Gardener, the Tullys were raised to lordship over the Riverlands after the fall of House Hoare and its patriarch, King Harren (as in the guy who built Harrenhal), while the Starks and Arryns surrendered peacefully with favorable terms. The greatest losers still standing after the war were the Ironborn, TheRemnant of Harren's shattered kingdom from which the Greyjoys emerged.
** Invoked by Kovarro. He returns to Daenerys' ''khalasar'' saying that Qarth is ready to welcome "the Mother of Dragons," the first time that the title had been used in the show. When they get to the gates, the Thirteen show the greatest interest in Daenerys because of her dragons, not because of her bloodline. Kovarro is, in effect, a very skilled PR agent.
** Jeor Mormont of the Night's Watch was a renowned warrior in life, and is a well-remembered figure after his death.
* ''Series/GreysAnatomy''
** Bailey is perhaps the first example, as the new intern's fearsome "Nazi" teacher.
** George's open-heart surgery in the elevator was sufficiently amazing that Jackson is impressed to learn who did it six seasons later.
--->'''Jackson''': George was the heart-in-the-elevator guy? I heard about that. Sounded badass.
** April's refusal to lose Owen's trauma certification becomes legend.
** The plane crash survivors become known as the Seattle Grace Five after surviving four days in the wilderness after a major crash.
--->'''Meredith''': You know, they call us the Seattle Grace Five. There were six of us that went up and only five of us came back. And now there are only three of us alive.
** Arizona, to the point of ShroudedInMyth, acquires a reputation for ''being unkillable''.
--->'''Stephanie''': You are kind of a legend with the interns and residents. You're one of the Seattle Grace Five.
--->'''Arizona''': I survived a plane crash, big deal
--->'''Stephanie''': And a car crash. And a shooting. You might be immortal. You mastered one of the most exclusive specialties basically overnight, and then you took Herman's job and her eyesight....You have screwed dozens of interns, and you got them all fired. You speak really fast, like superhuman fast. You have a weird name...They say you have two legs, and you are only pretending that one is amputated. For the parking space.[[note]]Actually, Arizona had sex with one intern, and Amelia took Dr. Herman's eyesight saving her life. It is also interesting to note that her encounter with the gunman was the ''only'' time a doctor met him and no one got shot.[[/note]]
* On ''Series/{{Heroes}}'', when Hiro [[ButNowIMustGo has to leave Yaeko and return to the present]], she promises to tell people everywhere of his brave acts as Kensei so that the little boy Hiro will have lots of fantastic bedtime stories.
* In ''Series/{{Highlander}}: The Series'', Duncan [=MacLeod=] is a legend in his home village of Glen Finnan. "He came back from the grave, took up his father's sword and slew the Viking". Duncan has to do it all over again, though, because when he killed Kanwulf the first time, he was a newborn immortal and didn't know he had to take his opponent's head.
** Naturally, there are a ton of stories floating around about Methos, which enables the fake Methos in "The Messenger" to do his thing.
* In ''Series/{{House}}'' the title character is considered a pariah in the medical community due to his disdain for medical ethics and procedures and for being extremely arrogant. However, on the flipside, he's also a world-famous doctor -- he's the doctor others send their patients to when they're stumped for a conclusive diagnosis. In spite of his maverick behavior and reputation, he's constantly getting resumes from med students hoping to be one of his fellows. In Season 4, he had a '''hundred''' applicants when he needed a new team. However having House on your resume is considered something of a double-edged sword by prospective employers -- the trick is to work for House long enough to acquire a professional knowledge of diagnosis without picking up his bad habits which most employers, unlike Cuddy, will not tolerate -- Foreman found this out the hard way when he pulled ''one'' House-like stunt at another hospital was terminated in spite of him being right and was forced to come back to Princeton when no other hospital would touch him since that one incident gave him the reputation of being "House-lite".
* On ''Series/MatchGame'', Richard Dawson would usually quip that his 1974 reboot of the old panel show ''Masquerade Party'' was the most popular show in Guam.
* Jack Killian from ''Series/MidnightCaller'' is well-known enough, at least in the Bay Area, that most of the people he meets have heard of him. When he's chosen to select the winning numbers in the lottery, the host even refers to him as a "celebrity number-puller."
* ''Series/Numb3rs'': Charlie is this already by the time of the beginning of the series, well known for his genius and publishing several papers before he was 18. In an early season 1 episode, an investigator for the TSA actually recognizes and fanboys a little over meeting him. As the series progresses, he and Don become well-known among the FBI and other federal agencies for their unorthodox methods; a couple episodes had agents specifically requests Don's team to utilize their skills and Charlie's talents.
* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'': John Reese, aka [[PersonWithTheClothing The Man in the Suit]], very quickly earns a reputation for himself among the people of New York City upon taking up his role as a VigilanteMan. By the end of the first season alone he's already earned himself his own dedicated FBI task force specifically tasked with taking him down.
* By the end of the series, ''Series/StargateSG1'' has made the entirety of Earth's forces both famed and feared throughout the Milky Way Galaxy.
** A few specific examples:
*** In "The Warrior", a newly-introduced Jaffa greets SG-1 with "I honor he who would kill his god. And to his brethren of the Tau'ri: slayers of Ra, Hathor, Setesh, Heru'ur, Sokar, Cronus, and Apophis."
*** Though their reputation is somewhat exaggerated in that case. It was ''Apophis'' who did away with Heru-ur, the Tok'ra who got rid of Sokar, and the Replicators who ultimately crippled Apophis' ship to the point of smashing into that planet (though it was the infamous RememberWhenYouBlewUpASun moment in the ''previous'' episode that got SG-1 and Apophis out in Replicator territory in the first place, so they had a hand, in a roundabout way.)
*** The Goa'uld Nerus arranges to end up at Stargate Command under the pretense of helping them defeat the Ori ([[spoiler:he's actually TheMole]]). His introductory scene finds him extremely disappointed at the personnel changes in SG-1 as he was really looking forward to meeting O'Neill and Colonel Carter.
*** When SG-1 gets captured in "Off the Grid", the bad guy (a small-time player in the Lucian Alliance) knows exactly who they are.
** Same thing happens in ''Series/StargateAtlantis''. Word spreads pretty quickly around the Pegasus Galaxy about the people living in Atlantis and battling the Wraith (and later, the Replicators).
*** Of course, word also spreads about how many of these crises they were responsible for in the ''first'' place. They are the kings of NiceJobBreakingItHero, to the point that the Pegasus Galaxy would be a ''lot'' safer if the Atlantis crew had never shown up.
* ''Franchise/StarTrek'''s Klingons love immortalizing their great heroes in song; for example, Kahless. Klingons being [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Klingons]], they tend to shout "This day will be remembered in song!" at the drop of a hat. One gets the impression that they probably say it after a particularly good meal.
** The crew of ''Voyager'' gains quite the reputation in the Delta Quadrant. Admittedly, it's not all roses; one planet had a museum exhibit in which the ''Voyager'' crew were a bunch of sadistic Nazis.
** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Sisko, being a key commander in the war (and long before that an anticipated one), gets some of this, and is explicitly described as a public figure by his journalist son. His psycho-graphic profile becomes required reading among the Vorta. Later a Romulan senator meets Sisko and after listing off some of his accomplishments, vaguely insinuates he's unimpressed.
** Picard seems to be seen as somewhat of a hero on Earth for saving them from the Borg.
** After his house is dishonored, most Klingons Worf meets know exactly who he is. The show tends to give the impression that every Klingon knows who every other Klingon is, or at least knows their House's reputation.
** After Worf defeats several Jem'Hadar soldiers in hand-to-hand combat (despite suffering worse and worse injuries with each bout), General Martok offers to seek out a prominent Klingon bard and have him compose a song about Worf's deeds. He also offers to have the song include Doctor Bashir, "the healer who bound the warrior's wounds so he could fight again!"
** Archer and to a lesser extent his senior crew probably also qualify, as they seemed to get some public attention after starting their historic mission, and later prevented the destruction of the Earth.
* ''Series/{{Suits}}'' has a subversion. An opposing lawyer fully expects Harvey to know him by reputation even though he usually practices in another city. However, Harvey never actually heard of him. Turns out the guy is so good that none of Harvey's lawyer friends and colleagues are willing to talk about the brutal trouncing he gave them in the courtroom.
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
** Dean Winchester apparently has something of a MemeticBadass status among evil creatures.
--->'''Cain''': Dean Winchester is asking for help? That's not the man I read about on demon bathroom walls.
** His brother Sam is such a legend in the supernatural world that Death, who is typically indifferent towards everything, considers it an ''honour'' to [[spoiler:reap his soul.]]
** Played with with Castiel. Every angel in Heaven seems to know who he is, but they tend to mostly remember the ''bad'' parts of his legacy. Even those who sympathize with him, like Samandriel, tend to just say things like "he was always trying to do the right thing" rather than thinking of him as an actual hero.
** In Season 12, it's shown that most of the hunter community knows of the Winchesters. Unlike in Season 5, where they were hated after unintentionally freeing the Devil, the Winchesters have become hunter idols, with their stories being shared like campfire legends. One of the hunters actually gushes like a fanboy, unable to believe he actually got to meet THE Sam Winchester.
** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Colt Samuel Colt]] is this among modern hunters.
* ''Series/TeenWolf'': Nearly every supernatural or hunter who enters Beacon Hills knows of Scott [=McCall=]. Justified in-universe because he's an extremely rare True Alpha, meaning he was a beta who became an Alpha through the sheer strength of his character rather than gaining it through the death or murder of another Alpha.
* ''Series/Titans2018'': At the start of the series, the Justice League have been operating for decades and their members (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, etc.) are famous throughout the world -- Superman apparently is so popular that people made shirts of him. Dick also used to lead another group of Titans five years ago which while not as famous as the Justice League still have people who remember their heroics back in the day.
* ''Series/VeronicaMars'' ultimately becomes this to her own utter shock at graduation as her name is received with a round of very loud applause from her peers and the crowd. This is lampshaded by the principal who asks her, "Did you expect a different response?" Fixing everyone's problems tends to get you recognition.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Manhwa]]
* ''Manhwa/{{Yureka}}'': Who in all of [[FictionalVideoGame Lost Saga]] ''hasn't'' heard of Team Triple Threat and the other heroes of the Demon War? Not to mention, oh, ''all master level players''. [[spoiler: ([[PlayerKilling Or so they think.]])]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Poetry]]
* Creator/WilliamShakespeare warns about this in "Sonnet 25":
-->''The painful warrior famoused for fight,\\
After a thousand victories once foiled,\\
Is from the book of honour razed quite,\\
And all the rest forgot for which he toiled:''
* Creator/AlfredLordTennyson's "TheChargeOfTheLightBrigade":
-->"When can their glory fade?\\
O the wild charge they made!"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:TabletopGames]]
* In ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' Aleksandr Kerensky is well revered by everyone in the Inner Sphere, and the Clans view him as a MessianicArchetype. Jerome Blake is also revered as this by [=ComStar=] and the Word of Blake. By the Dark Age, Victor Steiner-Davion has reached this status as the man who defeated the Clans while Devlin Stone became known as the man who destroyed the Word of Blake, ended the Jihad, and founded the Republic of the Sphere.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]
* In ''Theatre/ThePiratesOfPenzance'', the offer of the GoYeHeroesGoAndDie song:
-->''Go, ye heroes, go to glory —\\
Though ye die in combat gory,\\
Ye shall live in song and story! ''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Afterimage}}'': The Hermit is known in tales as a talentless man who became a great adventurer. Though his story was believed as merely a fairy tale, an adventurer named Karsa wants to find the Hermit's relic to prove that [[AllMythsAreTrue the myths are true]].
* ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'': As is the case with Terry, [[HeirToTheDojo Ryo Sakazaki]] and [[SharpDressedMan Robert Garcia]] are also renowned for their fighting ability and their achievements.
** According to canon, Ryo became the champion of the first official ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters King of Fighters]]'' tournament by defeating Geese. Which took place over a decade before Geese's fated match with Terry. Because of his prowess, he has earned the title "Mouteki no Ryu" ([[MeaningfulName "The Invincible Dragon"]]) and has gone on to become a legend.
** Robert is credited for defeating [[TheDragon Mr. Big]], who's known to be one of the most feared and powerful crimelords in South Town, to help save Ryo's sister, [[LoveInterest Yuri.]] In addition, he's recognized as Ryo's equal in prowess and stature and is famed as the first known foreign practitioner of Kyokugenryu Karate, and as the first foreigner to ever master the discipline. Robert has also been acknowledged as a "natural genius" [[DefeatMeansRespect by friend and foe alike]], which has earned him the title of "Saikyo no Tora" -- [[MeaningfulName "The Mightiest Tiger".]]
* In ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'', bards will sing about your exploits ''to you'', and if you are [[KarmaMeter notorious]], wanted posters with your name and (obscured) face start appearing, while town yellers will start denouncing you. During multiplayer, you can sometimes hear the town yellers mentioning your single-player character.
** During the last Lair of Romulus in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'' (Basilica di San Pietro), while you're trailing the target cardinal, a group of other cardinals can be overheard discussing you:
-->'''Cardinal #1:''' His name is Ezio Auditore.
-->'''Cardinal #2:''' Who?
-->'''Cardinal #1:''' The Assassin. Killed the Banker. They say he walks the halls of ''il Vaticano'' ("the Vatican"), with no one able to stop him.
** By [[WesternAnimation/AssassinsCreedEmbers 1524]], legends about Ezio's skills have spread as far as China.
* In some of the ''VideoGame/{{Avernum}}'' games your characters' fame plays a role in how well you're treated. After the first game, you sometimes hear mentions of the "Great Heroes" of the previous game.
* Averted in ''VideoGame/BrutalLegend''. [[spoiler: In the end, protagonist Eddie Riggs doesn't get fame, glory or even credit for the things he did. He wouldn't have it any other way.]]
** But it's also played totally straight with [[spoiler:his father]].
* In ''VideoGame/DawnOfTheDragons'', by the time of the sixth quest zone (which takes place several months from the beginning), people start talking about the dragon-rider as if he/she is a hero on par with the mythic figures from the age of legends. By the ninth quest zone, the dragons are referring to him/her with curses and have made killing the dragon-rider their top priority. The dragon-rider can't escape this trope even after being teleported to the other side of the continent. He/she almost immediately becomes TheChosenOne destined to free a SlaveRace.
* In ''VideoGame/DeadRising3'', stand-outs of Frank West and Chuck Greene from the previous games can be seen in Los Perdido's museum exhibit on the history of zombies. The fourth game also reveals that the new Willamette mall has attractions based around famous "victims" of the first outbreak like Brad Garrison and Jessie [=McCarney=].
* In the first installment of ''VideoGame/DetectivesUnited'', two of the three newly-acquainted detectives are indicated to be this. [[VideoGame/HauntedHotel James Blackthorne]] says that Agent Brown is reputed as the oldest and most famous of the VideoGame/MysteryTrackers; later, when they meet [[VideoGame/GrimTales Anna]], Brown refers to her as being "the famous Anna Gray."
* ''Franchise/DragonAge'':
** Practically every Grey Warden who has killed an Archdemon, ending a Blight in the process, throughout the history of Thedas. For one example, the Grey Warden Garahel, who ends the Fourth Blight, is still considered a renowned great hero 400 years after his death - despite the fact that he is an elf, whose people suffer from the effects of FantasticRacism.
** Even before killing the current Archdemon (and thus winning the game), the PlayerCharacter of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' becomes this in the course of their adventures. By the time of the expansion ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening'', which takes place six months after the end of ''Origins'', the Warden's fame has become so extensive that, when confronted with the realization of just who has come to deal with them, one potential adversary ''throws himself off a cliff'' rather than face the Warden.
** This is one of the defining features of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. Since it takes place over several years, [[PlayerCharacter Hawke]]'s exploits are talked about quite frequently. Their fame - or infamy, [[MetaphoricallyTrue depending how you see it]] - carries over into the next game as well.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
** Throughout each game, your character naturally becomes more famous as you progress through the main quest; in most games this also includes [[SidequestSidestory faction questlines]] as well. By the end, many [=NPCs=] will respond to you with the awe a world-saving hero deserves. ([[DudeWheresMyRespect But not always]]...)
** This trope and ArtificialStupidity combine hilariously in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]''. You can sneak up on bandits and literally hear them singing your praises, which doesn't stop them from trying to kill you the moment they spot you.
* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'': Get enough status with the NCR, and they'll laud your awesomeness whenever you show up. Many other factions do the same. Quite a few other people recognize your sheer badassery; after freeing Raoul (requiring you to cut a swath through a dozen supermutants) he says "When a supermutant tells you to do something, you do it. Well, maybe ''you'' don't..."
** The Vault Dweller from ''VideoGame/Fallout1'' is not only the creator of the entire tribe of Arroyo in the sequel, and thus obviously important to them, but they're hailed as a hero in NCR as well due to saving them from raiders back when they were still the humble town of Shady Sands (even if they don't even remember what gender the Vault Dweller was.)
* In ''VideoGame/FarCryPrimal'', the player character Takkar because well-known throughout Oros and the surrounding area. Wenja you've never met will greet you by name, excited to meet you after having heard of your past successes. When you play the mini-bosses and big bosses, they don't know you by name but they've heard of the famous Wenja Beast Master.
* ''VideoGame/FatalFury'': [[{{Eagleland}} Terry]] [[GratuitousEnglish Bogard]] became famous, after defeating Geese Howard at the conclusion of the original game. Afterward, his fame continued to spread by facing-off against subsequently tougher opponents, like [[NobleDemon Wolfgang]] [[BloodKnight Krauser]], and Kain, which has made him a LivingLegend. Terry is even referred to as both [[RedBaron "The Legendary Lone Wolf"]] and [[BloodKnight "The Hungry Wolf, Bogard".]]
* Most of the characters in ''VideoGame/GodOfWarPS4'' don't recognize Kratos on sight, but they know of the Bloody Ghost of Sparta. When they make the connection, they're either fearfully in awe or eager to make their own name by trying to take down the infamous god of war.
* In ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'', many if not most members of LaResistance know of you and your exploits.
** Especially the Vortigaunts, who consider Gordon Freeman to be their own personal Moses and call him "the Free Man."
* Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 is this in ''Franchise/{{Halo}}''. Many of his fellow soldiers are well aware of his abilities, senior officers are willing to take risks based on his assessment, and he does get remembered as the saviour of humanity in the ads leading up to ''VideoGame/Halo3''. Even the Covenant are also aware of him, as "the demon" that destroyed one of their holy relics.
** In ''VideoGame/Halo4'', this gets bumped up even more: the Master Chief is a freaking legend, to the point that a superior officer who ''disagrees'' with him and [[spoiler: orders his arrest for disobeying a direct order and committing an act of mutiny and desertion, all legally justified, is later removed by Command]]. Plus everyone in the ''Infinity'' chooses to help Master Chief rather than follow said captain's orders.
** In ''VideoGame/Halo5Guardians'', Buck points out to Locke that if they succeed in arresting John and the rest of Blue Team -- again, for legitimate reasons because Blue Team has disobeyed orders and gone AWOL -- Fireteam Osiris is going to be hated by everyone in the UNSC, including the other Spartans.
* In ''VideoGame/HotlineMiami2WrongNumber'', it is shown that Jacket (the protagonist of the first game) and his criminal trial have a full audience, there is a feature-length movie being produced that chronicles the events of the previous game, and he even has a misguided "fan-club" of sorts who were inspired by his work and who travel Miami slaughtering gang members in an attempt to be like him.
* ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKain'':
** Vorador is this in ''Blood Omen'', for successfully slaughtering six members of the Circle of Nine five hundred years prior to the events of the game, as is Malek, the Sarafan warrior-priest who was unable to protect the Circle and was cursed with having his soul trapped inside his armor for eternity. A depiction of their famous battle is even present as a stained-glass artwork in Avernus Cathedral.
** Kain himself becomes this by the time of ''Soul Reaver''.
-->''"The clans tell tales of him, but few know the truth -- he was mortal once, as were we all."''
* Link in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', in contrast to other Links in ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' who are obscure both during and after the events of those games. A century before the main plot, he became famous across Hyrule as the Hylian Champion upon obtaining the [[OnlyTheChosenMayWield Master Sword]]. When he emerges from the [[HealingVat Shrine of Resurrection]] a century later AfterTheEnd, he's still famous as the man who fell in battle against the forces of Calamity Ganon, with some characters figuring out who he is based on him carrying the Sheikah Slate and the Master Sword. This gets taken even further in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'', with many characters recognizing him on sight as the Hero of Hyrule and treating him accordingly.
* ''VideoGame/LittleWheel'': After the protagonist restores power to the rest of the robots, they celebrate it as a hero. {{The end}}ing screen has them joyously crowding around the waving robot and a statue of its likeness that holds a lightning-shaped arrow to symbolise its role at restoring power to the world.
* If [[PlayerCharacter Shepard]] had chosen to save the council in ''Franchise/MassEffect'', there will be an advertisement for a movie of his/her heroics in the Battle of the Citadel in the sequel.
** Though this is also subverted, as some of Shepard's greatest achievements, [[spoiler: namely his/her victory over the Collectors and [[EldritchAbomination Reapers]]]] in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' [[TheGreatestStoryNeverTold is unknown to everyone]], though Shepard is still well known and respected/feared by everyone anyway, as they are still acknowledged as an enormously huge badass.
** By the time ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' comes around, Shepard's reputation is so great that his/her commanding officers willingly stand aside and allow him/her to make the decisions in the greatest war humanity has ever been involved in. They outright state that Shepard is the only hope the galaxy has. [[spoiler:The epilogue reveals that Shepard is still remembered and greatly revered untold thousands of years into the future]].
* ''VideoGame/MaxBlasterAndDorisDeLightningAgainstTheParrotCreaturesOfVenus'': Max is so famous across the galaxy his licensed action figures are localized on different planets. Doris (despite being just as, if not more competent and cool) isn't. The Xavians take her to be Max's sidekick.
* In the ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' series, Zero is well-known as a Maverick Hunter even a hundred years after he went missing and the reactions of who he meets differ depend on which side of the war they're on, with the Resistance and Ciel viewing him as their resurrected savior, and Neo Arcadia viewing him as a FallenHero who now works for terrorists.
* A codec conversation with Kevin in ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' R04 reveals that Sundowner used to have quite the reputation in his pre-cyborg soldier days.
* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}''. Many characters know of Samus Aran's exploits. In ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption Prime 3]]'', many Federation soldiers are starstruck when you talk to them. Her achievements are so legendary that [[ShroudedInMyth a good number of people in the Federation don't think she actually exists and instead is just propaganda]]. And that's not even getting into the Space Pirates' [[TheDreaded immense fear of her]].
* In ''VideoGame/MonsterRacers'', as you progress through the tournaments and the various areas, your player character slowly becomes famous. Many of the generic {{Non Player Character}}s you meet in later levels already recognize you, and many are excited to race against you. Eventually, the two snooty fangirls for [[MrFanservice Santos and Reinhart]] even switch over to becoming fans of ''you,'' and act as if they were really rooting for ''you'' all along.
* ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' was a global superpower, with many of its agents publicly known and idolized. Much of that fame turned to infamy after Overwatch was forced to shut down after several scandals and the destruction of their headquarters.
** Hana "D.va" Song was a professional gamer and livestreamer before she was recruited into M.E.K.A. to protect South Korea. The program made her and the rest of the team into celebrities and propaganda to keep spirits up.
** Lúcio is a musician who became a freedom fighter against the Vishkar Corporation, driving them out of his hometown. The act brought him into the public eye, and now he tours the world playing his music.
* ''VideoGame/Persona5'': Unlike previous ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' heroes, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts become famed all across Japan for their heists, even if their true identities remain unknown to most people. [[spoiler:During the field trip to Hawaii, they find out that even the Americans have heard of them.]]
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' are the first games in the franchise to avert DudeWheresMyRespect after you defeat Team Flare and become champion of the Kalos region. Instead of a private ceremony with the regional professor and the (former) champion like in previous games, Professor Sycamore throws you a parade in the heart of Lumiose City, where you're awarded the ''Legion d'honneur''.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' ends with a big party because you are [[spoiler:Alola's first Champion ever, one that [[OlympusMons Tapu Koko]] deems worthy of you]].
** ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' plays up the Gym Challenge to be a big sporting event, so it's a big deal to see the player character in the middle of a stadium taking the greatest trainers in all of Galar. By the end, many [=NPCs=] recognize the player as a big celebrity, with them asking for autographs and handshakes.
* ''VideoGame/ProfessorLayton'''s title character, even though he is ''[[OverlyLongGag no]]'' detective.
* Several characters in ''VideoGame/RakenzarnTales'' are as famous as they are in the real world.
** Heroes like Goku, Mario and Sonic are widely respected and admired.
** Autolycus still retains his title as the "king of thieves" and is considered the greatest thief in Rakenzarn.
* In Amuro's storyline in ''VideoGame/ShinGihrensGreed'', unlike in canon the ''White Base'' successfully arrives at the Earth Federation HQ at Jaburo without incident. Amuro is then informed that while the Federation military is grateful for his efforts, he's also a civilian who learned military secrets during wartime, and he would need to be imprisoned. In lieu of that, the officer telling him this asks if he'd be willing to [[TradingStripesForBars enlist instead, since then he'd be a soldier fighting to protect military secrets instead]]. If he accepts, he's assigned to the Federation stronghold of Madras (and assigned a Ground Combat Gundam with the actual Gundam kept at Jaburo). Upon arrival, Madras' commander notes that stories of how he'd shot down 2 Zakus in his first ever sortie had reached them, and hopes the stories are true. As more and more Zeon strongholds fall, Federation Supreme Commander General Revil will eventually contact Amuro directly, explaining he's heard of Amuro's team's exploits and asking him to participate in operations like Operation Odessa. Participating in such operations causes Revil to mention that there are rumours that his team is made up of Newtypes, and that despite the small size of the team they're considered incredibly effective.
* This is true of [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]] in most incarnations where he can talk to people, but especially so in the [[VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG R]][[VideoGame/PaperMario P]][[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi G]]s.
* Garret of ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'' doesn't often get recognized on sight (he's a thief after all if he's doing his job properly, people won't know what he looks like), but his name certainly becomes more and more well known as the series goes on. By the second game, he's on the City Watch's most wanted list, and by the third, he is ShroudedInMyth and considered able to steal just about anything, from anyone.
* In the early acts of ''VideoGame/TitanQuest'', various storytellers and poets will tell you stories from Greek, Egyptian and Chinese mythology. By the time you get to Act V, they're telling stories about you.
* In ''VideoGame/TwistedWonderland'', [[WesternAnimation/AliceInWonderland the Queen of Hearts]], [[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994 Scar]], [[WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989 Ursula]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}} Jafar]], [[WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs Queen Grimhilde]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}} Hades]], and [[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty Maleficent]] are known as 'The Great Seven'; they are the founders of Night Raven College, and are held in high esteem by the students and faculty of the school. They provide the background story for each of the school's dorms, and anyone who fits a certain quality of theirs gets sorted into their respective dorm.
* All of Squad 7 become this at the end of ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles'', thanks to Irene Koller [[spoiler: (aka Irene Ellet)]]'s book "On The Gallian Front" chronicling their exploits during the second Europan War. [[spoiler: Isara]] also becomes this posthumously, not only [[spoiler: having a type of smoke round that she created named after her, but the biplane that she started is eventually named after her when the R&D department finish it in her stead, and Welkin and Alicia's child is named after her.]]
* The player character in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' have been steadily gaining fame throughout the expansions. From their adventures in ''Burning Crusade'', fighting the Scourge in ''Wrath Of the Lich King'' and facing Deathwing in ''Cataclysm''. By ''Warlords Of Draenor'' the Alliance/Horde give them command of their own fortress and garrison. With them being considered one of the most powerful people in the world in ''Legion'', and recognized as one of if not the best member of their class(in story) in the world. Becoming leader of their own order.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* ''Franchise/AceAttorney'':
** By the time of the sequel trilogy, Phoenix has become well known as the "Turnabout Terror" and a symbol of resistance against judicial corruption... and if not that, he's 'that lawyer who cross-examined a parrot once'.
** Solomon Starbuck has an in-universe movie, ''The Miracle of HAT-1'', made about the time he was able to bring the HAT-1 mission back safely despite it having been bombed.
* Abraham Van Helsing in ''VisualNovel/CodeRealize'' is widely known as the hero of the Vampire War, knighted to the Most Excellent Order by Queen Victoria and nicknamed the "human weapon" for his combat prowess. Lupin and Frankenstein also have some measure of repute before the story begins, Lupin as a GentlemanThief and Victor as a former Royal Alchemist and currently wanted terrorist, but ''everybody'' has heard of Van Helsing. Reactions to him tend to vary from respectful awe to pants-wetting terror depending on how likely it seems that he's going to start shooting at the person in question.
* After the events of ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc,'' Makoto Naegi and his fellow survivors of [[DeadlyGame The Killing School Life]] become famous among the population left after The Tragedy. Makoto even earns the title of Ultimate Hope, though [[HumbleHero he doesn't think much of his deeds.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* By Season 11 of ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'', the Blood Gulch Crew's exploits have become well-known enough for a band of rebels to look up to them for inspiration and leadership.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfSueAndKathryn'', the titular heroines are renowned for heroic deeds such as stopping an army of elves and were-elephants. [[HeroicComedicSociopath At least, to those who haven't gotten to know them yet.]]
%%* In ''Webcomic/BlueYonder'', Jared, Blue Yonder, is well known enough [[http://www.blueyondercomic.net/comics/1080254/blue-yonder-prologue-page-14/ to be recognized after his rescue]].
* In the beginning of ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'': Dan was already a retired adventurer of some renown, equal parts for his own exploits and for being the son of Edward T'Fona, an even-more famous adventurer. We find out much later that he's even more famous among the 'Cubi clans [[spoiler: because of his mother and grandmother, both infamous and powerful succubi.]]
* The dragon general Lady Red from ''Webcomic/DraconiaChronicles'' is famed enough to inspire {{Squee}} among non-fire dragons. She even [[AscendedFanboy accidentally hand-picked]] [[ImYourBiggestFan her biggest fan]] completely at random by using the "point-and-draft" method of conscription.
%%* ''Webcomic/TheDreamlandChronicles'': [[http://www.thedreamlandchronicles.com/the-dreamland-chronicles/chapter-04/page-252/ Paddington]]
* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'':
** Tedd appears to be this, at least amongst the magical community. Jerry could identify him just from Susan's brief explanation. Jerry claims it's because of his father [[OccultDetective Edward Verres]], but only after a significant pause. [[spoiler:It's heavily implied that he's actually famous because of his MissingMom, not his father]].
** Justin became at least mildly famous after a video of him fighting a monster made of fire went viral. It frequently comes up and people knowing him from the video has been a plot point several times.
%%* Bait that Webcomic/EvilDiva [[http://www.evildivacomics.com/?p=801 holds out to her mother]]
%%* In ''Webcomic/ExterminatusNow'', [[http://exterminatusnow.co.uk/2011-12-20/comic/the-bookend-of-unimaginable-power/a-grim-dawn/ a battle to be recounted in epics through the ages -- or maybe a limerick.]]
%%* In ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'', [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff600/fv00593.htm Sam's criminal tendencies conflict with a desire for this.]]
* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'':
** Bill and Barry Heterodyne were revered across Europa as the greatest heroes of their generation. There are plenty of books and plays about their adventures, many greatly exaggerated. The novelization ''Literature/AgathaHAndTheVoiceOfTheCastle'' notes that these stories started being published shortly after they disappeared.
** Post-timeskip Bill's daughter Agatha has [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200622 her own greatly exaggerated plays]], performed by the same Heterodyne troupe she once hid among, ironically.
%%* ''Webcomic/NoRestForTheWicked'':
%%** [[http://www.forthewicked.net/archive/01-13.html How November heard of Perrault]]
%%** [[http://www.forthewicked.net/archive/04i-01.html The Boy even sings]] of Prince Ricardo.
%%* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', Julio Scoundrél, right down to doing {{Celebrity Endorsement}}s for healing potions.
%%** [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0763.html It's also what Elan's father desires above all.]]
* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'': Kaff Tagon tends to do the job in front of him while trying to collect the payment he feels is his due. But then his father finds out he has a reputation as [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2013-01-06 "a killer of Battleplates".]] Later in the story, he's become famous enough that intelligence agencies are a little embarrassed to admit they mostly get their information on him [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2017-06-08 off social media fan pages.]]
%%* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'', [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=1790 Slick argues this is reward enough]] for becoming TheMuse.
* ''Webcomic/SleeplessDomain'': {{Magical girl}}s are essentially celebrities within the City, adored and idolized by the populace. However, some are more popular than others, with the most popular ones (such as Heartful Punch and Team Alchemical) receiving merchandise made of them, sponsorship deals, interviews, and significant media exposure.
* Quant, a Ranker from ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'', who only appeared in person in one story arc where he revealed himself as rather buffoonish and a manchild, must be one of the most popular characters in the Tower since his face is on nearly everything from public service announcement posters over chocolate bars to strength measuring devices.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* This is invoked by ''Roleplay/OpenBlue''. Adding "Extra Information", rumors surrounding your character, is part of the character profile template.
* Maxwell Falconi of ''Podcast/RedPandaAdventures'' has a great deal of fame both in his superhero identity of the Stranger, and his civilian identity of stage magician the Great Falconi. The Stranger was one of the world's first mystery men, and his catchphrase is remembered even by younger folks like Kit long after his retirement. The Great Falconi, meanwhile, was an internationally famous stage magician in his day and characters as far removed from one another as resident MadScientist Dr. Chronopolis and the newspaper's editor, Pearly, were big fans.
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Pyrrha Nikos is world-renowned as a combat prodigy and unbeatable tournament athlete (she's even on cereal boxes!). Deconstructed though: all that fame from such a young age has resulted in some serious LonelyAtTheTop issues, even getting into BrokenAce territory. One of the initial reasons she fell for Jaune is that he ''hadn't'' heard of her, and so treated her like anyone else.
* In ''Roleplay/ThereIsNoGATEWeDidNotFightThere'', stories of the deeds and accomplishments of the Rhavenfell family and their allies are slowly spreading outside the West. Within Rhavenfell proper, there isn't a single person who hasn't felt awe towards the ruling family (including Kytheus himself) for their accomplishments.
* [[PlayingWithTropes Played with]] in ''Podcast/WelcomeToNightVale'', as far as [[LoveInterest Carlos the Scientist]] is concerned. Every time Cecil mentions him, he always describes Carlos as being magnificently handsome, talks about his perfect hair, and at one point tries to hold a ceremony naming him as Night Vale's most important citizen. Due to the paranormal nature of the show, it's not clear if this is some [[{{Glamour}} mysterious effect]] Carlos is having on everyone, if Cecil and the population of Night Vale just [[LoonyFan develop unnatural obsessions with random individuals]], or if Carlos is just really that good looking. It's implied that the townsfolk are at least as enamored with Carlos' hair as Cecil, driving Barber Telly out of town for cutting it. Old Woman Josie has also described Carlos as "perfect", adding that he "smells like lavender chewing gum".
* Over the course of ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', the Undersiders and Travelers become national news for [[spoiler:having taken over Brockton Bay]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Many of the characters are famous in-universe. Aang, as the avatar, is the most obvious. His fame is a mixed blessing; people either greatly respect him or want to kill him. All members of the Fire Nation royalty are famous: Zuko for being the disgraced prince, and Iroh for being [[RetiredBadass The Dragon of the West]].
** By ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra, everyone'' from the original series is quite famous, though of course, Aang gets the biggest spotlight. Changing the Fire Nation from TheEmpire and a global, destructive threat to being a country peacefully working with the other nations is basically considered to be the work of the partnership of Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko. As for the current generation, Asami's goes from being the daughter of a captain of industry to ''being'' a captain of industry, Mako and Bolin were well-known athletes from the start (and as of Season 3, Bolin is famous as the world's first movie star), and as the son of Aang and head of the family that is currently all that remains of the Air Nomad civilization and Airbending itself [[spoiler:(until Season 3)]], Master Tenzin is an important figure indeed. And Korra? Well, people either greatly respect her or want to kill her. (Comes with the territory, and we're ''not'' just talking about villains. For Aang, it's the actions of past Avatars, or for disappearing for a hundred years. For Korra, it's mostly the aftermath of Season 2, though there are ''also'' those who think Korra should solve ''everything'' and blame her for everything down to the last pothole in the street.)
* ''Franchise/Ben10'': Ben Tennyson is this to the alien underground in ''[[WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce Alien Force]]'', then his alien forms' secret identity gets exposed to the human world as well in ''[[WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien Ultimate Alien]]''. By the time of ''[[WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse Omniverse]]'', there is a chapter and a half of required study about him at the Plumber Academy.
* Ben Tennyson's identity as a superhero is revealed in the first episode of ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'' by an investigating fanboy and he has mixed feelings about it: on the one hand, he's the idol of millions of young people and kids, but on the other hand he's hounded by a TV pundit who tries to convince everyone he's a threat (even though the guy's pretty ineffectual and has to resort to a KillerRobot like most of Ben's foes). Eventually, the adoration wears thin as he can't even enjoy a smoothie break with his team without being mobbed by fans, and the strain it puts on his relationship with his girlfriend. However, it also comes in handy: authorities cooperate with him instead of getting in his way, and there's an instance or two of minor hoods standing down the moment they see the Omnitrix emblem.
* WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom, of said show, becomes famous. His powers become well-known in the Ghost Zone, and despite initial skepticism, in the human world as well. Earlier in the show, he is more infamous, believed to be evil, although by the end of the show he is hailed as a defender of the world.
* ''WesternAnimation/DastardlyAndMuttleyInTheirFlyingMachines'': In "Pest Pilots," an aeroplane builder asks Dastardly if he and his men can fly a plane. Dastardly replies "Why, of course! We're the famous Vulture Squadron!"
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Dinotrux}}'' has the main character, a friendly [[TheDreaded T-Trux]] named Ty who works together with a small group of friends to build and help others. His exploits get him increasing amounts of notoriety over the course of the series. By Season 2, the locals know him and stop running from him on sight. By Season 3, outsiders have heard of the T-Trux that helps others but some think its just a fairy tale. By Season 4, a group of refugee Dinotrux knows Ty Rux by name and [[AllLovingHero seek him out knowing that he will help them]].
* On a ''WesternAnimation/DocMcStuffins'' {{crossover}} installment with the cast of ''Franchise/WinnieThePooh'', Doc thinks Pooh looks familiar upon seeing him floating in the air on balloons and recognizes him immediately when he says that he's Pooh.
* Luna of ''WesternAnimation/LetsGoLuna'' is famed less for any tales about her and more for her extreme kindness and outgoing attitude, with many passersby treating her like a celebrity of sorts. Given she's the moon, this is obviously a joke on the fact that at least 99% of humanity would know what the moon is in real life.
* Bat-Bat and the Cow exchange this in the Bakshi ''WesternAnimation/MightyMouse'' episode "Night of the Bat-Bat":
-->'''Cow:''' Well! If it isn't the famous Bat-Bat!\\
'''Bat-Bat:''' Yes, and if it isn't the famous Cow!\\
'''Cow:''' I see you brought the famous Big Wonder with you!
** The edited punchline which would be used in the series finale "Mighty's Tone Poem" had Bat-Bat reply "Yes, and I see you brought the famous Merv Griffin!" followed by a shot of a cartoon Merv Griffin at an interview desk.
* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', the main six characters and Spike develop into this, with it being mostly a gradual process throughout the series. While there are still some hiccups, by around the two-thirds mark of the series, all seven of them are famous for having saved the country and the world multiple times, as well as for being close personal friends and confidants of the princesses. Some are also famous for their individual achievements as well; Rarity owns a hugely successful chain of fashion boutiques, Rainbow Dash is a Wonderbolt, and Twilight is one of the rulers of the country and the highest authority on friendship.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks'':
** According to Ensign Boimler in "Envoys", K'orin is one of the most decorated, battle-hardened Klingon warriors in history, and a Klingon woman who sells gagh considers it a great privilege to personally serve him a meal.
** Sometime in the future, [[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Chief O'Brien]] will be regarded as the greatest hero in Starfleet history.
[[/folder]]

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