I think I may finally be able to enter into the Guiness World Book of Records. The record I have set just recently is the fact that I look like 45,120 other people.
I wish there was an explanation, but so far, I haven't heard one. Why does everyone think I look like someone else? Not that it's a bad thing. I'm not sure if it's good, bad or vote none of the above. But it is amazing I could look like so many different people.
For instance, one of my college professors told the whole class on the first day I looked like his friend Butch. So for the rest of the semester, I had to repeat to classmates that Ben was my name, even though the teacher kept calling me Butch. Lately I've been compared to people anywhere from 18 to 31. I guess this beats being a 2-year-old, when I had longer hair, and everyone thought I was a girl.
Maybe people think I'm really a doppelganger. According to Dictionary.com, that is "a spiritual or ghostly double or counterpart; esp., an apparitional double of a living person." But wait a minute: Can ghosts type? Does this disqualify me from other records I'm currently trying to outdo, like making the world's largest waffle?
It is common for people to see similar characteristics and traits in people they know. ESPN has an entire section devoted to it called Here's Looking at You. You can even submit your own look-a-likes to be featured in another segment. Fortunately, I didn't make that list, and neither did Butch.
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Here's me.
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Here's River.
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What might be the most remarkable thing is I've never seen any of the people to whom I've been compared. And I wasn't wearing two eyepatches either. No one ever seems to have pictures of these mysterious "other" people. A friend did tell me once I looked like River Phoenix. I'm assuming it was in his earlier years, considering he's dead now. I did find a few photos that I do see a little resemblance. But when he was younger, there's not much of a comparison. I probably outweighed him by a good 50 pounds.
Little did I know that the market for looking like a celebrity is huge. With a few simple searches I found numerous impersonators, some of whom did look almost identical to an alien version of that celebrity. From Sean Connery Lookalike, Nick Richmond to Stacy as Britney, there are more impersonators of celebrities than actual celebrities. I'm expecting the day to come when celebrities are impersonating impersonators, and if that happens, I'll never get to eat my waffle.
I decided to post my photo as River Phoenix at Am I a Lookalike. Check it out if you get a chance and vote. Better yet, send in your photo and who you look like.
So now the real question remains: Do I look like someone you know? I'd like to get the total up to 50,000 just so Guiness doesn't think it's a fluke. E-mail me at
if you know someone I look like.
I'm thinking about joining the International Guild of Celebrity Impersonators if this all works out. There appears to be plenty of work out there, whether it be with the Entertainment UK in Surrey, England, or Splitting Images in London. It may not be worth it just to go to Europe to be a River Phoenix impersonator. Then again, I could work on yet another record. Do they allow 2-story waffle irons on airplanes?
Comments14
Re: Say, you look familar
I think you look more like James Franco than River Phoenix to me.
Re: Say, you look familar
I was just surfing the internet because people are always telling me that I look familiar to them and it seems to be happening more and more. And actually, I don't think I resemble anyone famous. As a matter of fact, I think my look is unique and don't look like many others that I have come across. Was just curious to see what this phenomena means. And no, you don't look familiar to me!
Re: Say, you look familar
You know its weird cause people tell me all the time that I look familiar--I mean like in line at Starbucks--while I'm eating dinner at a restaurant etc... and yes its always some movie star or some friend they think they have --but they can't really figure it out--they just think that they know me or something or that I must look like someone they know--Really I'm beginning to think that I haunt people's dreams. It starts to get creepy--does this happen to other people? Cause you're the only one I've ever heard talk about it! -how I even found your email--article --is beyond me.
Re: Say, you look familar
You look remarkably like a guy coincidentally named Ben in the drawing class I taught last semester. (sorry I don't have a picture of him). And I know how you feel! Though not to your extent, I get the same thing. Every time I leave the house, I'm compared to pretty much any celebrity with long blonde hair that you can think of, or else the 'where do I know you from?' line.
River's lookalike
Hello! My name is Tunde and my husband looks like River Phoenix. He is 33 years old so if River were here he would looked like as my husband.
River's lookalike
Hi! You can see my husband here: www.myspace.com/riverphoenixlookalike
Re: Say, you look familar
Like Donna, I was googling around to see why it is that I can't enter a room of strangers without someone telling me I look familiar. I'm never mistaken for a celebrity, mind you. Usually someone from a conference, a grocery clerk or kid's substitute teacher. Sigh.
PS. I finished A Thousand Splendid Suns. A great story about friendship and real heroism.
Re: Say, you look familar
Yup! I get it too! ALL the time! "You look familiear!" Then I tell whoever said it to me, Ya, I used to be in commercials! Then they say, "OH Really!???" Then I say "No, not really" Then they're really confused and a little peeved. Hey just trying to get a laugh. And yes, you look familiar to me too, I'm just not sure who - have YOU ever been in commercials?
River Not So Look Alike
No offense -- You look more like that creepy Hungarian guy who goes all over the internet claiming to look like River... lol
You definitely are not the first guy who wants to look like River - you have to check out these multiple examples. My favorite is the last one...
http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/7/4/128911706932834860…
http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2009/1/8/12875960470…
http://totallylookslike.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/129195601722370900…
http://totallylookslike.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/129128462866645511…
http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2010/11/26/386afd03-1f51-47…
http://totallylookslike.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/129209367926661982…
http://totallylookslike.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/129189461805929150…
http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2009/5/14/1288683825…
Er, what?
Hi Pescado,
What a strange comment ... did you actually read my article? I never said I looked like River Phoenix. Someone else said that about me. This article is about the fact that people say I look like someone familiar.
A better question for you: How do you stumble on a 9-year-old article that mentions someone looking like River Phoenix?
I have the same story
I'm curious if you've learned anything since 2002. This has happened to me throughout my life and now it started up again. Shoot me an email if you get this...
Thanks
I really enjoyed the article and am so glad to have stumbled upon it. I will say your features look similar and pretty "average" (whatever that is these days)...and I'm sorry to report that I do not know anyone who "looks" like you. Much appreciated for the read :)
YOU LOOK NOTHING LIKE GORGEOUS RIVER
YOU LOOK NOTHING LIKE GORGEOUS RIVER
Thankfully
I realize I don't look like River Phoenix ... the guy has been dead for quite some time.