48 Characters Found in Pop Culture That Are Based on Real People

Love them or hate them, clowns are a huge part of American pop culture. Not everyone is a fan of clowns, but Matt Groening had fond childhood memories that later influenced his famous animated show The Simpsons. Krusty the Clown, the cynical clown of Simpsons fame, is more than just a satirical take on creepy clowns.

When creating Krusty the Clown, Groening drew inspiration from his fond memories of a certain clown named Rusty Nails. As he was known outside of costume, James Allen was a popular clown performer who was televised in the Portland area when Groening was a kid. Unlike Krusty, though, Rusty Nails was a beloved, upstanding member of the Portland community.