Top 10 FAMOUS People Who DIDN'T EXIST

[@nevercaughtslippin]

I thought for sure my Dad would be in here ? Heard about him all my life but never seen him. I'm convinced he doesn't actually exist.

[@Christinebanks11]

nevercaughtslippin that would make you a modern miracle

[@nuttyberries4694]

Well played, nevercaughtslippin, well played...

[@alphabetApperatus]

"10 out of 10!" -Boot Scootboogy "It's a hit!" -Imnaw Ta'Reeyal Crytik "...made me laugh..." -Some Guy on KZbin

[@ImGodTheMaryBanger]

Hahaha me too

[@tasha_111_]

Best comment ever. That is all.

[@dukeemzworth3005]

Now do a "Top 10 FAMOUS People Who SHOULDN'T EXIST"

[@MarieAntoinetteandherlittlesis]

Yup. I’m here for it.

[@hifijohn]

It would be bigger than just 10!

[@maaarrccoo]

can't believe Hannah Montana didn't make this list. Nonexistent with several Billboard #1 and multiplatinum albums

[@Silkendrum]

Except that Hannah Montana was simply the stage name of a real person. If you want to include her, you'd have to also include Lady Gaga, the stage persona of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. Same thing.

[@maaarrccoo]

Silkendrum Not really, Hannah Montana was a fictional character created by Disney. Miley wasn't even signed as an artist when the first Hannah Montana soundtrack was released; she released her debut under the name Miley Cyrus, which was actually her stage name given that her real name was Destiny Cyrus. Hannah Montana's music/likeness belongs to Disney. Lady Gaga is just a name Stefani made up to release her mainstream music under.

[@Silkendrum]

gray Ok, I see your point regarding Montana - but my point is that there was at least a physical human connected to the character, and any 11-year-old during her heyday could identify her. Most of the others on the video list never had ANY physical human body at all. I say "most", because I don't understand why Tony Clifton was on the list. There was a physical human connected, but we were simply never quite sure who it was under the makeup. For the rest, there was never any person - just the name and the myth.

[@maaarrccoo]

Silkendrum oh okay yeah that's true

[@Silkendrum]

Hey, TopTenz, one of these things is not like the others! Why is Tony Clifton on this list?

[@iilhares]

It's not complete without Leeroy Jenkins.

[@sjs9698]

Leeroy's real. though sure; that's just the name of the avatar...

[@Halpin2006]

Simon, have you ever heard the legend of Bob Cringley? Bob, or Robert, was a fictional employee that was created by a Silicon Valley business in the 1980s to be used as a scapegoat. When a bad business decision or outcome happened, the fault was always blamed on Robert's poor judgement. His use as a fictional whipping boy continued for many years, and some smaller technical firms often still employ Robert, merely as a name to blame their mistakes on. A poor employee, who in truth does not exist, except on their HR records.

[@12354havoc]

Halpin2006 That's genius!

[@TheFraggler]

Wow!! That's interesting and disturbing lol.

[@Craig_Spurlock]

Another use of the name Bob Cringley, was as a pseudonym by journalist Mark Stephens.

[@Omar-hx3vt]

the old dale snitterman

[@kelsey154]

In my 6th grade class we had a bob. He wasn’t real but we’d blame him (us students and the teacher) when something happened and no one did it. Like posters falling or books knocked down.

[@nbibby]

How great was Andy Kaufman, making a gag that transcended his death. Total awesomeness. I hope he's having a blast with Robin, Richard, Gene and all the other comic heros that aren't with us anymore.

[@poohbearsauntie]

Eddie Bibby ~ What A Perfectly Lovely Comment!! Thank You!!

[@pamcolding4279]

Phil too

[@craigjacobs5858]

Thank God I have true friends in my life like George Glass and Art Vandelay.

[@XoXoXo-wq4yg]

Oh Art Vandelay designed my house!!! He’s an amazing architect.

[@Ottamus_Prime]

Say Vandaley industries! Say Vandaley industries!!!

[@dorisfromage2349]

@@Ottamus_Prime And YOU want to be my latex salesman!

[@seanwilkinson8696]

And Maxwell Houser!

[@seanwilkinson8696]

And Maxwell Houser!

[@xh0rsex]

I was really expecting Betty Crocker to be on the list...

[@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music]

She was real.

[@xh0rsex]

no she wasn't - www.pbs.org/food/the-history-kitchen/who-was-betty-crocker

[@ThEjOkErIsWiLd00]

Duncan Hines was a real person however.

[@christianfreedom-seeker934]

Don't forget Colonel Sanders! He was invented by an ad agency and to this day KFC swears that he was real LOL!!!

[@dx1450]

Aunt Jemimah and Uncle Ben

[@BlackKnightsCommander]

0: A talented Kardashian.

[@reneenayfabnaynay5679]

Like Andrea pointed out, the Kardashians, especially Kim and her mom, are very talented in business! Oh, and I guess Kylie is coming up with a head for business too! What I find funny is that none of the KarJenners ever claimed they were great talents! Well, except maybe Kendal. She is a talented modal. I also find it strange that most people seem to be blind to these facts. They refuse to see what's right in front of them. All because they'd rather hate on them. Especially Kim! SMH.

[@hglundahl]

arf, arf, arf ...

[@eunicestone838]

Exactly! I can't stand them. They lead young girls to think they have to look like them. Take off all the paint and they are just plain pimple faced kids. So sad. And the lengths they go to.... Wow... I think they would sell their bodies and souls for game. Fame is a fickle mistress....

[@gimmesomedough4676]

An honest politician?

[@DayzieCat1]

I've never heard of any of these "famous" people.

[@LOTWStudios]

DayzieCat1 Haven't you heard of Alan Smithee or Prestor John?

[@DayzieCat1]

William Osborne I haven't, no.

[@ashton7754]

DayzieCat1 same

[@henryscafe8364]

before your time

[@LOTWStudios]

Henry Le Corno Well, I've heard of Prester John, and he's before my time. Lucky there are things called the internet and history books where you can find these things out!

[@elfmaiden]

Sherlock Holmes is probably one of the most famous!

[@scottydu81]

What a strange comment. At no point in history was Sherlock Holmes ever believed to be a real person.

[@brendandmcmunniii269]

@@scottydu81 although apparently people write to him at Baker Street

[@michelleresistance]

Some people wrote to his supposed address on Baker Street after the books were first published, asking for help.

[@brendandmcmunniii269]

@@michelleresistance iirc the Abbey National Building Society who's office block covers that address still get letters addressed to the sleuth ?

[@michelleresistance]

Brendan D McMunn III I think it’s Marks and Spencer who are there. I know Baker Street used to be a high end residential street but is now mostly businesses, but surely everyone knows by now Sherlock Holmes is fictional. I wonder if anyone gets a reply?

[@mrrothskin6165]

that's a relief, I thought you were gonna mention Santa clause!

[@crojonphoenix]

what do you mean... WHAT!?

[@johnathanclark79]

Santa Clause is based on a Orthodox bishop named Saint Nicholas (; 15 March 270 - 6 December) also called Nikolaos of Myra or Nicholas of Bari, was Bishop of Myra, in Asia Minor (modern-day Demre, Turkey). Patron saint of children and sailors.

[@thomasbealy533]

@@johnathanclark79 you can't fool me there aint no sanity clause.

[@ribbitgoesthedoglastnamehe4681]

Why would he mention Santa????

[@markhorton3994]

@Team Cap Claus is short for Niklaus. Santa Claus is the same name as Saint Niklaus.

[@dadoctah]

At one time (haven't rechecked recently), the IMDb article for Alan Smithee had a biography contributed by George Spelvin (a fictitious code name used since the days of silent films for an actor playing multiple--usually minor--characters in the same picture). The IMDb biography for George Spelvin, meanwhile, was supposedly written by Alan Smithee. No idea if the two ever worked on a movie together.

[@michelangelo5903]

fake people can become famous but none of us can lol

[@icecreamcowboyz9466]

Jeremy Priban i am

[@BatteryExhausted]

Hey, are you THE Michel Angelo? I have heard of you!

[@Trillock-hy1cf]

Stupid and awful reality TV shows are full of fake people who become famous, for being idiots. They do actually exist, but should not be called celebrities.

[@Skeptic78]

I don't want to be famous. Rich yes. Famous no.

[@victor9]

#1 my dad. Rumors says he was last seen going to the store to buy a pack of cigarettes

[@Perririri]

ree

[@ihadadogtwice27ordidi65]

Mine when out for milk...and im lactose intolerant

[@ColTaylorDyath]

Please retitle this - "Top 10 People You've Never Heard Of That Didn't Exist Anyway".

[@angrykermit3192]

Exactly. Or even better, retitle it - "You'll Never Get These 13 Minutes of Your Life Back"

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

@@angrykermit3192 >>> LMAO....

[@realreptillianjesus]

The only one O knew from here was Lonelygirl15

[@tollundman7524]

The only one l've heard of is Allan Smithee,saw it on the first episode of MacGyver.(that's a vote of confidence in the show.)

[@Hermititis]

I've heard of Pope Joan, Tony Clifton, Lonelygirl15 and Alan Smithee; though I have only herad of them as examples of people who didn't exist (never knew about any of them *before* they were revealed).

[@setmefreehoneybee]

isnt the whole idea of pierre bressau a piece of art on its own

[@westcoast2372]

The girl in the movie Hitch with will smith, her name is allergra cole

[@westcoast2372]

The actress Looks 100 percent identical to those pictures

[@SNixon14]

That's not Ali Larter in Hitch, it's Amber Valletta.

[@stevoridesagain]

The point is that the character in Hitch is based on (or at least is a reference to) the hoax in the 90's.

[@gator9339]

That's exactly what I was just thinking lol

[@MrGksarathy]

The Pierre Bressau story actually took a heartwarming turn, since the critics still stood by Peter's work.

[@BillJutz]

Alan Smithee is an anagram of 'The alias men'

[@AretaicGames]

Many decades ago, a student at the Georgia Institute of Technology created a phantom student - George P. Burdell - who received a degree in engineering before pursuing a varied career of honors and positions of distinction, including being listed in the Social Register for Atlanta.

[@nbee4981]

Pierre Bressau... back in the 1990s, the magazine "Discover" took a bunch of art from various animals, including an ape and an elephant, as I recall, to various art critics without telling them the provenance. They generally oooohed and ahhhhhed about it, and Discover used it to suggest that it showed that animals were capable of art, just as humans were. It never seemed to occur to them that it said more about the state of Modern Art than it did about the artistic talents of animals. :-/

[@stefanmuntean5289]

Exactly, anyway the dude that said only an ape could have done this is probably the most vindicated dude in the '90

[@polybius3765]

I remember years ago working for a game company and I had to do artwork for the new "Mavis Beacon" typing game. I wanted to learn more about her before completing the character art so I asked the producers. They told me she wasn't a real person, just a corporate invention played by various models. It was not surprising in any way but I still dramatically sobbed "It's a LIE!!!...it's all a lie!!!!" while smashing the back of my hands against the keyboard in confusion. "My powers?? They're all gone!!"

[@quandovoceleroscomentarios9622]

Sherlock Holmes should be num 1, TopTenz

[@filmuziekfan]

Cool potato I totally agree ♡

[@johnbgood52]

Yes, the character of Holmes was based on Dr. Joseph Bell, who was a dentist by trade and one of Doyle's instructors at medical school. The character of Watson was based on Doyle himself.

[@johnbgood52]

+Oscar Dighton Holmes is probably more famous than any actor who ever played him, but you're right, I don't think most people ever believed he was a real person.

[@silith7027]

@Cool potato I thought I would be the only one to which Sherlock Holmes was the first one, that came to mind when reading the title.

[@drzarkov39]

Santa Claus should be num 1.

[@WJSweeney]

Is Captain Tuttle from M*A*S*H* in this line up? LOL!

[@cauldronmoon]

Haha! Now a little something for Hot Lips Capt. Jonathan S. Tuttte. 6'3 hazel eyes Auburn hair. *sigh*😄

[@4Mr.Crowley2]

UM HELLO SHERLOCK HOLMES?!! Only the most famous person ever who never actually existed?! Do you know that Holmes STILL RECEIVES fan mail and letters and emails asking for his assistance in cases (sent to his Baker Street address, which is a museum)? (Yes, the requests are mostly tongue-in-cheek, but Sherlock Holmes is easily the most famous person who never existed).

[@4Mr.Crowley2]

Actually, David, if you bothered to read anything about the cult of Holmes, you would know that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle played with the idea that Holmes was "real," and that people have written and still write to Holmes at the Baker Street address (In fact the museum collects the writing they receive, and it is still substantial). There is quite a lot of academic work on the figure of Holmes as both fictional and "real." I think you are displaying profound ignorance.

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

People still write to Santa Claus .... but of course ... as we all know - Santa is real .... .

[@TheSnyderWeb]

I was confused as a child because there was a TV show called Shirley Holmes and the premise was that this girl who solved mysteries was the neice or granddaughter or something of Sherlock Holmes.

[@AmericanBaker]

Oh man. This is fantastic. It reminds of my college days when I worked at a bank answering phones. There was a name I was given that they used in negative letters if there was ever a problem, so no workers were personally threatened by crazy clients. I was told that if anyone ever called to talk to them to let them know that he was unavailable and to guide them toward the employee that worked on their case. Fake people are everywhere!

[@Gguy061]

Robin Hood King Arthur Santa Claus

[@fallsblack4097]

someone's getting coal in their stocking

[@horner385]

Greg Moberg For 1 sec I thought you said "King Arthas" lol

[@hockeyking30]

Greg Moberg but I'm real

[@dumbarsesoriginal]

Robin Hood probably did exist by historical record but was probably just a bandit, but like pirates, just became romanticised later on King Arthur possibly existed but was most likely just someone like King Offa or another early King in pre-England England Santa Claus was based on Saint Nick who did exist, but was made into a legend making him a fictional character who would appear on a list like this along with Eddard Stark and Darth Vader

[@Frst2nxt]

saint Nicholas lived. an Arthur that was likely killed before he succeeded his father lived. there is goid evidence for a Robin Hood in a world unlike the later Protestant tales

[@somebody3143]

This video is definitely one of the most hilarious ones that I have seen from this team of producers at TopTenz!

[@IRTheBorg]

Lonelygirl15 may have been a fabrication, but aren't most KZbinrs? :-) -Larry

[@MrSimondaniel3]

um no.

[@winstonsmith3696]

Especially Simon Whistler

[@staytrue4201]

I am a figment of my own imagination and astonished by the contents of my own mind

[@pvtrichter8816]

STALKER ALERT !!!

[@msmichellewinchester]

Since these famous people are actually not very famous, you could have put Jára Cimrman on the list. This dramatist, musician, composer, scientist, explorer, inventor, detective, writer, part-time teacher and full-time genius who lived at the turn of 19th and 20th century was voted the greatest Czech, beating Charles IV. or king Wenceslas who, unlike Cimrman, actually existed. Cimrman wrote several plays that are known by pretty much everyone in Czechia, are quoted all the time and are still played. Tickets to Cimrman's plays are sold out in a matter of seconds. He's actually engraved into our culture by now.

[@petersmythe6462]

#0. Moses. He's an influential figure for religions which include over 50% of the world population, and yet he didn't exist. Further still, the entire Exodus did not occur, since the Jews were never slaves in Egypt in the first place.

[@Annie261.]

Peter Smythe 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@historyshlibber7176]

Heard of David Manning, Pope Joan, Tony Clifton and Alan Smithee Interesting, I'd like to see more of these, perhaps a whole show on one person

[@ryandavid739]

Famous? I've never heard any of those names.

[@Magnet_Chaos]

Your ignorance doesn't make them any less famous though.

[@kenwarren9450]

What real college mandates that all its students are deeply familiar with quasi-famous pop culture hoaxes?

[@Zentz29]

SonicChaos15 Actually, it does. The less people who know about them the less famous they are. BA-ZING-GA

[@johnbgood52]

+SonicChaos15 The late Emily Remler was a talented jazz guitarist who was and is well known among fans of the genre. Had you heard of her before now? If so, congratulations. You probably have better taste in music than most people these days. If not, no matter. Your ignorance doesn't make her any less famous. Fame is relative. Many people, like Remler, are very well known within a certain group or subculture but virtually unknown outside of it. For another example, actress Debbie Rochon has a devoted following among indie horror fans, but how many people who don't watch that type of movie have heard of her? A few, certainly, but probably not that many. There are people whose fame transcends boundaries, to be sure, but to a large extent, who you know depends on what you're into. But no matter how famous someone might be, there will always be people who don't know them. That doesn't make those people any more ignorant than anyone else - and I hardly think it's fair to categorize someone as ignorant for never having heard of a "famous" person who never actually existed. Some people have better things to do with their time than spend it assimilating trivial pop culture.

[@vjsoeifi]

John Baker I feel like you put on a fedora just to write that comment.

[@johnathanclark79]

5. Max Headroom 4. Alf 3. Director Alan Smithee (oh you checked it) 2. Robin Hood 1. King Authur

[@bobbart4198]

... you mean ... there is no Alf ?

[@elultimo102]

@@bobbart4198 You mean my cat is safe???

[@bobbart4198]

@@elultimo102 Yes ... but be careful. Alf is a crafty little bugger !

[@interstellarlapisthecccp4946]

Amazing FAMOUS people... I've never heard of any of them

[@Damio22yt]

Me neither.

[@Diane0529]

Interstellar Lapis & the CCCP My thoughts exactly. Not one of their best videos

[@GKViddingHD]

how sad..

[@filmuziekfan]

so ignorant! Now u do!!

[@marving.5436]

because they don't exist that's why we didn't heard of them. #7 actually exists only that they used a different name for Ali Larter

[@MikeDial]

My high school had a fictional character named Harvey Keck. He was always being paged to the principal's office and once even received an award at a school ceremony. Needless to say, he wasn't there to accept the award.

[@tsw9824]

I called 867-5309 and, no Jenny

[@robinlilly761]

6 non-millennials got this joke...

[@Claytone-Records]

Come on, Tommy.

[@Gamble661]

Actually i think that was a real number at the time, it belonged to one of the band members.

[@diane9812]

In my area it is the number of a Pizza Hut :)

[@Doctors_TARDIS]

@@robinlilly761 Dude, Millenials are turning 40. We get that joke.

[@johnberry5275]

The flipside is that, when any of those Film Directors try to get paid, their check is made out to *Alan* *Smithee* .

[@GirGir183]

5:00 what kind of a left foot is THAT?

[@AndrewVelonis]

IKR

[@madinkan]

When you realize that a guy that doesn't exist have a more successful life than yours.

[@killaxero86]

I just found out recently that King Arthur wasn't real. All these years I assumed he was a real person.

[@RossMalagarie]

Was he based off a real person?

[@tommynorthwood]

Travis Lee Arthur and his crew came on a merchant ship from the Mediterranean about 60a.d. they said the original knights were middle eastern looking. Arthur married the pagan leader which had a thing for Lancelot. All was cool tho as it was a political marriage ending in our Christmas being on the winter solstice etc. Also Arthur and his men were of a new Judeo-Christian belief. Which was only popular for one generation.

[@Paultootall1971]

www.derwas-read.co.uk/welsh_king_arthur.htm

[@CavemanJesus4Life]

The Legend of Arthut spurs from the King the rules Britania after the Romans abandoned it. The Son of Markus Constantine was said to be the first king that ruled, and that the son or grandson was the supposed King of Legend. But since the Romans abandoned such a place, no record was left accounting of that king. Perhaps the Saxons burnt all the writings.

[@nuttyberries4694]

Arthur wasn't a King because I didn't vote for him.

[@Lawliet734]

The title is terribly misleading. Not one of those people is famous; in fact, they're extremely obscure. An honest title would be Top 10 Obscure People Who Didn't Exist, or Top 10 People Who Didn't Exist and of Whom You've Never Heard.

[@thelastmotel]

They may be obscure to you, but some of us have a wider ranger of knowledge and experience.

[@thomasbealy533]

@@thelastmotel true ive heard of alan smithee

[@howie9751]

I've heard of Pope Joan and Tony Clifton.

[@Cheepchipsable]

Depends where you live. Kaufman was big in the US, Smithee came out a while ago and the rest you probably had to be there at the time. I've only heard of 1 or 2, but I don't live in the US or Europe.

[@WeirdDarknessOfficial]

I narrate audiobooks and occasionally I don't want my name associated with the content... I might start using Alan Smithee for fun!

[@lkjonez13]

Marlar House How can I get into doing that?

[@WeirdDarknessOfficial]

NottaNear Nutter If you have the right equipment it's easy to get into - but it's NOT LUCRATIVE (just a warning)! If you're doing it for fun, that's great - but unless you land best-selling books on a regular basis, don't expect to quit your day job! LOL! I got my start (and still do most of my work) at ACX.com.

[@lkjonez13]

Marlar House thx m8

[@Alaurapeterson]

Marlar House .

[@happyhappyjoyjoy2154]

I for one wouldn't take work I wouldn't want my name on that's selling out

[@just_kos99]

There's also the TV screen writer "David Agnew." This is the pseudonym that the BBC would use sometimes. One example is the Classic Doctor Who story "City of Death," which was written by Douglas Adams and, I think, one of the show's producers. Even though Adams was the script editor at the time (during which he was also working on Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), they only put "David Agnew" for "Written By."

[@MrSniperfox29]

They'd use David Agnew if a script had multiple writers, usually caused by having multiple rewrites by different people.

[@bwines16]

We just gonna ignore Spinal Tap??

[@The_Other_Ghost]

Hopefully people don't believe they exist.

[@poohbearsauntie]

not BANGERTV ~ They Don’t..?!

[@troydutremble9938]

Now that was a funny movie

[@lancehayes1230]

Depends on how you define 'real' I guess. Here is their 2nd album from 1992 which isn't half bad, which is why I bought a copy 😺😺

[@teemusid]

@@The_Other_Ghost I saw them live and have the photos to prove it.

[@matteusconnollius1203]

Ura Hogg, Governor Hogg's daughter and the beautiful Ima Hogg's sister.

[@brianthomas2434]

The child is aware of course that while Ima Hogg was a real person, she was an only child.

[@TheLethargicSloth]

Chris Gaines.....Garth Brooks' attempt at pop music...supposed to be used in a film but the film was never actually made...a CD was released....and later when it was revealed to be from a Garth Brooks character for a movie, people thought he had lost his mind.

[@bwtv147]

Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update reported that Garth Brooks and first wife Sandy Mahl broke up because Brooks was angry that Mahl disrespected Brooks alter ego Chris Gaines and Mahl was angry that Chris Gaines was nailing Trisha Yearwood.

[@williampaz2092]

What about: 1) Sherlock Holmes? 2) Conan the Barbarian? 3) Dr Fu Manchu?

[@williambuck5617]

the chimp proves that modern abstract art requires no talent and is nothing more than giving a trophy for last place real artists spend hundreds of thousands of hours practicing and learning its sad when they are not the ones being praised and honored

[@Cheepchipsable]

No, an abstract artist may have the technical skills to draw lifelike images, but they don't see the world that way. I do agree much of it is shite though.

[@williambuck5617]

@@Cheepchipsable there is abstact like say picasso, but then there is just mud on a plate. and much of whats out there today is just mud.

[@depaola63]

Ya , " Tony Clifton " ..I am 55 now and remember it all ! Classic !!

[@johnstevenson9956]

Alan Smithee was the only one I knew about, and I smile every time I see the name on a movie.

[@johnnymatheis1018]

I'm so glad Tuttle isn't on the list. People were telling me that Hawkeye and Trapper John just made him up, but that guy was a true hero, and the best meatball surgeon in the war.

[@byronsigrano6849]

@ 02:17 - All works of art are produced by primates.

[@alicewilloughby4318]

Except the ones painted by cats!

[@lostmymarbles5850]

Lol

[@The_Other_Ghost]

Elephants...

[@madcow5359]

I I am so chuffed for Simon & Co for their continuing success. Your voice is calming whilst expressing sarcasm and wit. As only a Brit can do superbly!

[@frankalbe8996]

Not as important as some of the ones you mentioned is Eddie Bauer.

[@bobwms325]

Prester John is the only one I can recall ever hearing of by name. He's not at all obscure to anyone with more interest in history than pop culture.

[@fredericbard6523]

Very disappointed with your number 1 pick. How does J.C. not make it on this list!

[@bromponie7330]

'Cause it's a historical fact that he existed, as virtually all professional academic scholars would agree.

[@socrat33z]

You forgot Nicolas Bourbaki en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki

[@toddtourville984]

What about Betty Crocker?

[@MOPCLinguistica]

There is also Ned Ludd, "founder" of the Luddites, who never existed

[@johnalanelson]

I would have put Pandora Spocks on the list somewhere , she got more fan mail than most of the stars on *_Bewitched_* who really did exist!

[@barneynedward]

Doesn't that mean that Elizabeth Montgomery just got twice as much fan mail? Pandora Spock's was just Montgomery in a brunette wig

[@johnalanelson]

@@barneynedward It was sent to Pandora Spocks as if she was a real person because people didn't realize.

[@hifijohn]

When I was young I loved the show and really did believe that serena was a separate person(not elizabeth montgomery)I felt better when I found out many thought so too.

[@hifijohn]

In one episode of MASH hawkeye invents jonathan tuttle, that everyone falls for it blake even says he just breakfast with the man.

[@rachelgarber1423]

I was expecting King Arthur to appear, or was that too easy? 😀

[@billwoehl3051]

What about Max Headroom? More famous than all the others you mentioned.

[@satansfatdoge]

What about Uncle Sam?

[@tabularasa0606]

He did exist.

[@MorinehtarTheBlue]

Supposedly Sam Wilson. Whether that is true or not the Uncle Sam concept is a character that is the personification of the american government. This video is about celebrities created by perpetration of a hoax.

[@rebeccarivers4310]

He's buried in Troy, NY

[@HorrorMetalDnD]

The “Uncle Sam is Samuel Wilson” Myth needs to die right now. The myth is set during the War of 1812, but the first reference to an Uncle Sam in this context was in 1810, two years before the war started.

[@googlefan7409]

And John Smith

[@dub2536]

This is a great video. Hats off to you!

[@horner385]

All right Simon... it's not Mol-dou-va, no no say after me Mol-do-va, ok? Mol-do-va like Romania, it's not Ro-mai-nia, it's Ro-mâ-ni-a

[@alandimes579]

Check out (no pun intended) Jara Cimrman, a Czech genius invented by three writers. It's a tribute to the Czech sense of humour that Cimrman got the most votes in a contest to name the greatest Czech in 2005. He's got his own Wikipedia page.

[@radioactive9861]

I figured out the 'sidd' finch one as soon as they said he could throw 168 MPH!!!!!!!! HA!

[@rickhicks6820]

Knew of Sydd Finch, Alan Smithee and Tony Clifton. Thanks for the additional knowledge of fictional folk.

[@jacklast6506]

Calling it soccer and you're British 😂😂

[@michaelhellwinkle9999]

Jack Last soccer is a British word 😂 😂

[@jacklast6506]

+michael hellwinkle no it's not

[@michaelhellwinkle9999]

Jack Last just Google soccer dude, it's pretty obvious.

[@commandercorner5575]

Jack Last Actually the term "soccer" was a British colloquialism that got carried to America. So yes, it is.

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

Jack Last It most certainly is a British word. Look it up, it's a shortened version of associated football and Brits love adding -er to the end of words. You must not be British then, eh?

[@allanyoung6231]

The famous Australian Poet Ern Malley is worth a mention

[@SpandexMan01]

How often do the Thumbnails relate to the video.?

[@badbadfull]

James Spidey Esquivel Great question

[@badbadfull]

TopTenz Yes but I got confused because I didn't know that a girls name can be Ali

[@THESLICKNESSEDM]

badbadfull Alison Alissa Alisha

[@debbieprince572]

badbadfull - You've never heard of Ali McGraw, then? The woman's name, which can be the diminutive form of Alexandra, Allison or Alice, for example, is pronounced the same as the narrow passageway between buildings (alley). I have a niece named Ali, by the way.

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

So do I, short for Alektra.

[@frandsenphilip1]

I learned about the myth of Prester John in college - it was amazing.

[@CamdenBloke]

Definitely, Moses should be on this list.

[@SiameezyRPGer]

I know something famous that never existed. So it's not a famous person, but more a poetry book. Loads of Dean Koontz's older books contained excerpts in the beginning from "The Book of Counted Sorrows" and they were all really good. But in reality, there was no such book, Dean Koontz wrote the excerpts himself. And after being asked about it all the time, he finally compiled them all into a book and had a limited release for The Book of Counted Sorrows. He had temporarily sold them on his site. I unfortunately don't own a copy T_T I would love to though. I'm not a poetry fan normally but I love Dean Koontz's sense of humor and his Book of Counted Sorrows excerpts are really good.

[@alanbarnett718]

He borrowed (stole?) the idea from Richard Condon, who often put quotes from "The Keener's Manual" at the front of his books. Not that I blame him - I'm a Koontz fan too!

[@AFMMD-q8]

More proof of man's fallacy and the need of more Scientific facts logic and reason in classrooms.

[@Anamnesia]

I'm glad you included Alan Smithee! :)

[@hooverkinz]

If you're early is it true that toptenz will respond???

[@rikgales123]

no

[@ItzKlarion]

Niamh J no, and you are not early

[@matejpodlesnik6538]

Don't know about them..... but can I respond instead? ;)

[@ssunfish]

This episode was fun to watch! I didn't know aboit Prester John and Alan Smithee

[@MartyWoodcock]

Why isn't Anne Shirley on this list? She made it to Canada's top 100 most influential people, even though Lucy Maud Montgomery invented Anne, in the literary series "Anne of Green Gables".

[@Klee99zeno]

There was a completely fictional artist named Nat Tate invented a few years back. He supposedly was a revolutionary painter who did amazing work back in the fifties but destroyed 99% of it, and eventually killed himself by jumping off the Staten Island ferry. After hearing the name, several artists and critics claimed that they remembered the man, even there never was such a person. He was invented by writer William Boyd in a book that was published and promoted by none other than David Bowie. The name Nat Tate was actually a combined form of the two major galleries in London: the National Gallery and the Tate Modern Gallery.

[@alansmithee4150]

Hey!! I'm right *here*! I can hear you ya know 😒

[@elizabethshaw734]

I had a fiance who lived in New York City and was a television engineer. There were times when he was listed in the credits and he chose to be called Amos Annoni. I used to ask him why because if my name was in the credits on TV I wouldn't want to hide myself. I never did get a satisfactory answer.

[@akaakehna2047]

What about robin hood and king Arthur?

[@greasygranpapy7529]

Number 9 confirms what every normal person already knew about the "fine art" community...

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

I watch these at 1.5 speed.

[@hbrown6516]

I watch for the comments🤷‍♀️

[@brigand13]

One that fits with the list that you presented, but which was omitted is Donald Kaufman, Charlie Kaufman's fictitious brother who was credited as a co-writer of the screenplay for Adaptation and subsequently nominated for an Academy Award.

[@winters-ghost89]

I didn't know u had another channel I only found ur . today I found out series and I love it haha advertise more sir!! :)

[@TheAlystraStardust]

Oh pretty floating social network bubbles....

[@DragonFyre1984]

Fun fact there is a reference to Prestor John in the original Command and Conquer game.

[@TriggerHappy923]

Part of me hoped Amy Schumer would be on this list as a fake comedian.

[@MtlCstr]

Although she is a fake comedian, sadly Schumer does exist.

[@scegenius8751]

Incels

[@MtlCstr]

@@scegenius8751 Not sure what point you think you're making.

[@scegenius8751]

Pay attention u misogynistic 🐖

[@MtlCstr]

@@scegenius8751 Still not getting it. Maybe if you would use complete sentences.

[@solbilvao785]

What about Aimi Eguchi? She was fictional Japanese idol, a CGI composite of various features of seven real member of the group AKB48. They tricked fans into thinking she was a new member, because she appeared in a commercial and a magazine, but she was actually created for a promotion with a candy company.

[@jonsumner5899]

What about Betty Crocker? I still can't believer she wasn't real yet I heard there suppose was a real Duncan Henes

[@viddork]

Nobody can't believer there suppose was a real Duncan Henes. Not even Duncan Hines.

[@fvckgoogle7894]

This list will need to be updated in a few years when CGI makes practically every "actor" onscreen not actually exist other than as 1's and 0's.

[@UltimatePerfection]

Also where's King Arthur or Merlin?

[@dan5609]

no one ever said they actually existed they've always been known to be fictional characters. like Romulus and Remus raised by a wolf and building Rome. just a story to explain the origin of a famous empire.

[@StormAlterWorlds]

Eh, most people are aware that Arthurian legend is just that: legend.

[@OfficiallySanctionedKATG]

Besides which, merlin is proven to have existed although very different to the character portrayed in the story books, he was just as mystical.