Sherlock Holmes
While Sherlock Holmes is a massively popular character in literature, movies, and TV shows, despite what many people think, he was never actually a real person. His creator, Arthur Conan Doyle did base the character off of real-life surgeon Joseph Bell, who was known for drawing broad conclusions through very small details, a trait that he shares with Holmes.
Zorro
Just like Sherlock Holmes, the beloved character Zorro is such a big part of people’s lives that many believe he was actually a real person. The fictional character is often portrayed as a charming vigilante who protects the common folk and indigenous people of California against cruel tyrants. Some believe he was based on Joaquin Murrieta, referred to as the Robin Hood of the West.