7 Classic Disney Characters You Had No Idea Were Modelled On Real People

6. Peter Pan Is Bobby Driscoll

The Character: Previously I busted the myth that Tinkerbell was modelled on Marilyn Monroe, but today we're looking at that film's eponymous star. The novel Peter Pan was incredibly influential, creating the name Wendy and adding countless words into the English language (doghouse is a particularly interesting one). Peter Pan was another film Disney had longed to make and when at long last he did, his Peter became the definite version, dominating designs of the character to this day.

The Real Person: Bobby Driscoll was the child star. Contracted to Disney, he stared in many successful live action features, most notably 1950's Treasure Island. His embodiment of boyish nature was a perfect fit for the ever young Pan. Rather sadly, Driscoll died young so his reputation stayed sadly as young as Peter's. Now in this case the real person did provide the basis for the animation as well, but the reason for that is tied directly into the reason for him being the design.