Impersonator

For the Majical Cloudz album, see Impersonator (album).

Impersonators of Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump (Howard X and Dennis Alan) during the 2018 North Korea–United States summit in Singapore

An impersonator of George Michael

Theodore Roosevelt impersonator Joe Wiegand performs October 27, 2008 in the East Room of the White House, during a celebration of Roosevelt's 150th birthday.

An impersonator is someone who imitates or copies the behavior or actions of another.^[1] There are many reasons for impersonating someone:

• Entertainment: An entertainer impersonates a celebrity, generally for entertainment, and makes fun of their personal lives, recent scandals and known behavior patterns. Especially popular objects of impersonation are Elvis (see Elvis impersonator), Michael Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, and Lenin. Entertainers who impersonate multiple celebrities as part of their act, can be sorted into impressionists and celebrity impersonators.


• Crime: As part of a criminal act such as identity theft. This is usually where the criminal is trying to assume the identity of another, in order to commit fraud, such as accessing confidential information, or to gain property not belonging to them. Also known as social engineering and impostors.


• 
  Decoys, used as a form of protection for political and military figures. This involves an impersonator who is employed (or forced) to perform during public appearances, to mislead observers.


• Sowing discord, causing people to fight, or dislike each other for social, business or political gain.


• Companionship: a rental family service provides actors portraying friends or family for platonic purposes.

Contents

• 
  1 Celebrity impersonators
  
  
  
  • 
    1.1 Notable impersonators
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  2 Criminal impersonation
  


• 
  3 See also
  


• 
  4 References
  

Celebrity impersonators

A Michael Jackson impersonator for the 25th anniversary of the album Thriller at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival with performers from Step It Up and Dance.

A Madonna wannabe, an impersonator of Madonna's 1980s looks and fashion style.

Celebrity impersonators are entertainers who look similar to celebrities and dress in such a way as to imitate them. Impersonators are known as look-alikes, impressionists, imitators tribute artists and wannabees. The interest may have originated with the need or desire to see a celebrity who has died.^{[citation needed]} One of the most prominent examples of this phenomenon is the case of Elvis Presley. There are claimed to be more Elvis impersonators and tribute artists in the world than for any other celebrity.^{[citation needed]}

Edward Moss has appeared in movies and sitcoms, impersonating Michael Jackson.^[2]

Tom Jones has attracted his share of impersonators from different places around the world. From the United States, to South East Asia, to the UK, there are performers who either sound like him or imitate his act.^[3][4][5][6]

Notable impersonators

• Shafaat Ali


• Moin Akhter


• 
  Joe Alaskey has impersonated Jackie Gleason and Mel Blanc
  


• 
  Alec Baldwin impersonates Donald Trump
  


• Rory Bremner


• Steve Bridges


• 
  Reggie Brown impersonates Barack Obama
  


• Frank Caliendo


• Jim Carrey


• Dana Carvey


• Marc Dreier


• 
  Jimmy Fallon (does regular impersonations, but better known for impersonating famous singers)


• Will Ferrell


• Tina Fey


• David Frye


• 
  Mikheil Gelovani portrayed Joseph Stalin at least a dozen times in film in their lifetimes


• 
  Frank Gorshin -- several actors, best known for Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster
  


• Sunil Grover


• Darrell Hammond


• 
  Hal Holbrook has portrayed Mark Twain
  


• Jay Jason


• 
  Clay Jenkinson portrays Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis, Theodore Roosevelt and Robert Oppenheimer and others


• 
  Val Kilmer has portrayed Mark Twain
  


• 
  Jan Leighton, famous for his impersonations of historical figures


• 
  Rich Little, called "The Man of a Thousand Voices"


• Vaughn Meader


• El Moreno Michael


• Jim Meskimen


• 
  Mike Randall has portrayed Mark Twain and Charles Dickens
  


• Tim Russell


• Sour Shoes


• Stevie Riks


• Kevin Spacey


• Aries Spears


• Larry Storch


• 
  Joe Wiegand portrays 26th US President, Theodore Roosevelt
  


• 
  Emlyn Williams impersonated Charles Dickens
  


• Robin Williams


• Jay Pharoah


• Ross Marquand

Criminal impersonation

Although in a recent case, an immigrant was charged with "criminal impersonation" for using another person's social security number when signing up for a job, some courts have ruled that this is not an actual crime. The ruling hinges on whether there was harm to the other person.^[7]

See also

• Impressionist


• Look-alike


• Personation


• Police impersonation


• 
  Shi (personator), in the Chinese ancestor ritual: a figure impersonating ancestors


• 
  Soundboard, victim soundboard
  


• Tribute act


• Wannabe


• Identity fraud


• Identity theft

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Impersonators.

1. 
   ^ "Impersonator". The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 2010-01-03..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
   


2. 
   ^ Baker, Bob (March 3, 2005). "King of Pop impersonator star of E! trial re-enactment". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on July 9, 2009.
   


3. 
   ^ Los Angeles Times, Apr 11, 2018 - Golden Knights give Vegas a real sense of community
   


4. 
   ^ Billboard, May 9, 1998 - Page 60 Newsmakers, Now The Real Thing.
   


5. 
   ^ The Star, Saturday, 7 Jul 2007 - Warren makes time for grandson by Stuart Michael
   


6. 
   ^ Sheffield Star, Wednesday 28 April 2010 - Stars shine for Sam Sorono at hospice fundraiser - VIDEO
   


7. 
   ^ "Using false S.S. number not impersonation". UPI. October 28, 2010.
   

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