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

Dan Harmon, the creator of the hit sitcom Community and animated series Rick and Morty, has pulled a lot of his inspiration directly from life experience. The whole concept of Community is based on his own experience attending Glendale Community College. One character, in particular, was pulled directly from Harmon’s life and put on screen.

Community’s lovable weirdo Abed is based directly on Harmon’s old community college buddy, also named Abed. Harmon even tried to get real-life Abed Gheith to play this specially-written role. In the end, actor Danni Pudi got the part, which was a great casting decision, but that would have been hilarious if Abed ended up playing himself.