10 Outrageous Movie Characters You Won't Believe Exist In Real Life

9. Andy Dufresne - The Shawshank Redemption

The trial of Andy Dufresne, Tim Robbin's character in The Shawshank Redemption, bares a remarkable resemblance to Samuel Sheppard, a doctor who - in 1954 - was put in jail for murdering his wife, only to be released a decade later. The story of Andy Dufresne is heart-breaking and tragic, and to think that same situation could happen in real life is nothing short of chilling. Throughout the film (which was nominated for 7 Oscars the year it came out), Andy is beaten, cheated, cut down, and crushed at almost every opportunity. The film, based off the Stephen King novella, "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption," is a truly original piece of work.... but maybe Mr. King heard about the unjust trial of Dr. Sheppard one day and was inspired by the tale. Or maybe his subconscious picked it up and it came out organically in his story, which ended up on the big screen. Regardless, the resemblance between the real-life case and the movie is one that sticks with you, even if you've never been to prison.