Non-fictional character

A nonfictional character (sometimes called a historical character) is a character in a narrative that was a real-life figure whether played by an actor or used as an actual "historical figure" in a literary work. One example in film is Jamie Foxx's portrayal of Ray Charles in the film "Ray". Another would be Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of Johnny Cash in the film "Walk the Line".

Sometimes, the setting and events are real, but the character is fictional (such as "Johnny Tremain"), which included real life groups such as the Sons of Liberty, and real figures such as Paul Revere. In others, such as the best selling 1632 series there is a mix of both, fictional characters mixing it up in Central Europe with various historical figures in the era of the Thirty Years' War.

Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" contains only nonfictional characters. Since it is a nonfiction document, all the characters existed in real life.

The opposite of a nonfictional character is a fictional character.

ee also

*Historical fiction
*Roman à clef