History Main / CelebrityResemblance

In a brilliant bit of RefugeInAudacity, UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein would invoke this to anyone who approached him in the street, asking him to explain his theories. He would reply "Pardon me, sorry! Always I am mistaken for Professor Einstein." More likely this was probably just a joke, since Einstein had a thick German accent the moment he spoke it would be obvious he was the genuine article. But, even within his lifetime his name had become synonymous with the word "genius". People not familiar with the history of physics both in Einstein's time and today think that he must have been especially intelligent in order to discover general and special relativity. In reality, all the groundwork had been laid for him by other scientists: and he made the discovery-as opposed to someone else-more because he had a lot of time to think about it than because he was especially smart. Basically, even within Einstin's lifetime who people thought he was bore very little resemblance to who he actually was.

* In ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean'', in a scene removed from the anime, Jolyne says that the guard that watched her masturbate looked like Creator/TomCruise.

* Adrien English, the bookseller/author in the series of gay mysteries by Josh Lanyon, is dogged by an occasionally remarked-upon close resemblance to Creator/MontgomeryClift. His attitude toward this is generally wry bemusement, once responding to one such observation by asking, "Before or after the accident?"

* In Russian war drama ''Eugene, Little Eugene and Katyusha'' Colonel Karavayev is played by famous Soviet actor and singer Mark Bernes. At one point, main character tells that girls like Colonel Karavayev, because he look like Mark Bernes.

* ''Literature/{{Siren}}'': In ''Undercurrent'', Vanessa's mom shows her an old video and asks her if she recognizes anyone in it. Vanessa thinks one man is Creator/GeorgeClooney. He's actually her dad.

* In ''Series/{{Castle}}'', the title character, played by Creator/NathanFillion, is jokingly called Creator/JasonBateman. This is a reference to a few real-life incidents where Fillion was mistaken for Bateman.

* {{Parodied}} in ''Film/KangarooJack'' -- according to Charlie, his BFF Louis claims to resemble Creator/DenzelWashington. (He totally doesn't.)

* Similarly, on ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', in the first season, Creator/JPManoux plays a character whom the gang mistakenly believes to be Music/{{Moby}}. It takes a while for them to realize that it's not him, then they start calling him "Not Moby" (which is the name they use for him in the credits).

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXrZGvH76CA Another case in]] ''Series/TheTonightShowStarringJimmyFallon'' had Creator/JessicaChastain recalling that when she was starting her acting career she got recognized as an actress and was ecstatic, until the mentions of ''Film/TheVillage'' made her go along and pretend she was Creator/BryceDallasHoward. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipObSiFHpyY And it would not the be the first time either were confused for each other.]]

Is also one of the laziest 'jokes' it is possible to make in cinema.

*** In real life, Jim Rash has quite the uncanny resemblance to J.P. Manoux. [[http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m45m58L08R1qcev3ao1_500.jpg Guess who got hired to play the "doppledeaner?"]]

* Similarly, on ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', in the first season, J.P. Manoux plays a character whom the gang mistakenly believes to be Music/{{Moby}}. It takes a while for them to realize that it's not him, then they start calling him "Not Moby" (which is the name they use for him in the credits).