1 / 14
'Titanic' stands as one of the most successful films ever made, yet the true story behind this blockbuster often slips from memory. "Molly Brown", portrayed by Kathy Bates in the movie (pictured right), was not just a fictional character; she indeed survived the actual Titanic disaster.
2 / 14
Margaret "Molly Brown", a women's rights advocate, lived in Colorado with her husband James and their two kids. James struck gold, making them wealthy. Margaret helped start Colorado's first juvenile court and fought for women's rights.During her 'Titanic' voyage, away from her husband, she rushed back from Europe for her sick grandson. She survived the disaster and tried, like in the movie, to help those in the water but wasn't allowed. After the Titanic, she acted in Paris and New York. Margaret Brown died at 65 from a brain tumor on October 26, 1932. Her legacy as an activist and her courage on the Titanic live on.
3 / 14
In the movie 'Titanic,' Eric Braeden played the rich guy "John Jacob Astor IV". Here's a picture of what he actually looked like in real life.
4 / 14
John Jacob Astor IV, a prosperous American businessman and the founder of the Waldorf-Astoria brand, focused on building hotels. He embarked on the Titanic with his pregnant second wife. While his wife survived, John Jacob Astor IV tragically lost his life. His remains were identified on April 22.
5 / 14
Remember that part in 'Titanic' where Jack tells stories to the rich folks? Well, some of those characters were real! Let's check out who they really were...
6 / 14
One of the guests at the table in 'Titanic' was Benjamin Guggenheim, who in real life was one of the wealthiest men in the USA back then. His fortune came from smelting and mining. On the ship, he was accompanied by his French mistress and a butler. While his mistress got on a lifeboat, Guggenheim and his butler supposedly dressed in their finest clothes and told an officer, "We are dressed in our best and prepared to go down as gentlemen." That quote made it into the blockbuster. Sadly, Guggenheim's body was never recovered.
7 / 14
Remember the guy in 'Titanic' who's the ship's engineer and doesn't want to leave? That's Thomas Andrews. Just like in the movie, he helped the captain and stayed on the ship until the end. They never found his body.
8 / 14
J. Bruce Ismay also existed in real life. He was the director of the White Star Line and survived, as in the movie, because he got on one of the last lifeboats. He was later labeled a coward by the public and his image was severely tarnished. On October 17, 1937, after a long illness, he died of a blood clot in his brain.
9 / 14
The captain and crew of the 'Titanic' were also inspired by real people. Here are some of them ...
10 / 14
Just like in the movie, the Titanic's captain, Edward John Smith, stayed with the ship until it sank. There's still debate about where he was during the sinking. In the film, he's shown on the flooded bridge. They never found his body, and he had a wife and child.
The film 'Titanic' premiered in cinemas in 1997 and remains a cult classic today. The tragic tale of the ship, which struck an iceberg on its first voyage and sank, continues to captivate people worldwide..
Did you know that some of the people who appear in 'Titanic' actually existed in real life? We introduce them to you here.