Celebrity doubles demand increases worldwide Part I

Chris America by Guy Guido

What do major corporations do when their budget won’t allow for a major celebrity? They hire a celebrity double of course. Celebrity doubles , look a likes , or tribute artists as they prefer to be called are in high demand. For years they have been featured as replacement for the real stars in al most every form of entertainment. Doubles who are often look alike and sound alike are being used in movies, television,voiceovers,print ads,live stage shows and more.

Florida Producer Jackie Thompson had this to say, "As companies look for innovative ways to stimulate consumer traffic, they are turning to unique advertising ideas such as hiring Celebrity Tribute Artists to appear at promotional events."

A few years back even reality TV got on the look-a- like band wagon by using Celebrity Tribute artists on ABC’s “Next best thing”. The show featured some of the cream of the crop in tribute artists across the United States, with the winner receiving a cash prize one year contract in Vegas. Whatever the outcome of the show, most artists agree the best thing about that show was that is raised public awareness about their art form.

One finalist featured was Madonna tribute artist Chris America of Washington DC. She is one of the most highly requested Madonna tribute acts in the world. America has had her share of turning heads over the years since she looks like Madonna with, or without the makeup. Her look is so striking that Esquire magazine chose her for a cover photo on their magazine. Some time after the shoot America had the chance to meet an associate of Madonna’s who told her “Madonna ocassionally autographs items for him, and when he took it to her he did not realize it was me until she told him, but she signed it anyway.”

Here is a fan tribute to Chris America as Madonna

Photo mixups are a common occurance for many celebrity doubles. The famous celebrity blogger Perez Hilton actually put Lynsey Norstrom's photo on his site as Jessica Simpson . Apparently he didn’t see the small print that said Lynsey Nordstrom.

Michelle Marshall former deputy Sheriff turned Tribute artist, doubles for many famous stars. Marshall is also an actress/ comedian and has been in numerous movies. Recently Marshall landed a voice over role in 2008 movie "The Love Guru" As Oprah Winfrey's voice double.

Marshall: “ I was thrilled when I got the call from Actor/Director Mike Myers and Paramount Pictures.” “The voice over was done at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank Calf where I also met Paramount Producers. Other films Marshall has appeared in are "Oceans 13", "HBO Series Entourage", "21", "Lucky You","My Blue Berry Nights" and more.

Michelle as Oprah for commercial

Marshall: “ I've worked on set with A-list celebrities, on the set of Oceans 13 I worked with the late Bernie Mac he was so funny.”

Michelle has also worked in the past with SNL actor Kevin Nealon, as an Oprah Look-alike.In 2008 Marshall was asked by Oprah Winfrey Show to appear as Tina Turner impersonator in honor of the real Tina Turner who was announcing her coming out tour 2008. The show was filmed at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. She has alos appeared on been on the Dr. Phil show and The View as stand-in actress for Sherry Sheppard. Marshall opened the Miss America Pageant pre show in Las Vegas with Tina Turner
Tribute performance. Michelle appeared on ABC TV reality show "Next Best Thing" as Oprah Winfrey look-alike in 2007.

With all this success you’d think she has always had the midas touch but Marshall will tell you she has had some struggles to get where she is. Her biggest came before she was asked to be on the Oprah show. She was attending the Reel Awards in Las Vegas and decided to leave make a costume change and freshen up. While she was gone the real Oprah Winfrey and best friend Gayle King had stopped by the event to surprise all the look a-likes and tribute artists. Michelle was devastated to hear she had missed Winfrey while she was gone. Winfrey’s associates contacted Winfrey but due to prior engagement she coud not come back to the hotel. Instead her best friend King came to meet with Michelle and take photos. King told Marshall that Oprah might want her to come to the studio and do a taping. And of course that is exactly what happened

Michelle as Tina Turner
 

U.K based Sven -Goran Eriksson double Derek Williams has often been mistaken for the real thing. Williams has been used as a virtually indistinguishable lookalike/soundalike for Sven-Goran Eriksson by his own past employers (The England Football Association) at international soccer matches and 100's of other prestige live venues. He has also been featured in numerous magazines,commercials and has a role in the film “Goal 3”.

Williams : “I insist that I am NEVER billed as "the real thing" but most of my clients bill me and introduce me as "an internationally recognized sport celebrity that needs no introduction" or similar.”
“As I say in my advertising: "Seeing IS believing!".

Orlando based Nicole Kidman look a like and Agency owner Kimberly Jones has often been the cause of quite a stir.

Jones: I worked as a Lookalike several years ago in Los Angeles on a German television project. The idea of the show, was "A day in the life of a Nicole Kidman Lookalike". The producers hired a limo and film crew and we set out and about around the tourist spots of L.A. When I got out of my limo (film and sound crew on tow), at the Chinese Theater, the hundreds of tourists went nuts. I couldn't even speak, so many people were clammouring for my attention, and to take pictures with me. I actually felt panicked as a mob began to form and after about ten minutes of this chaos, the producer swept me back in the limo and we drove off. They got the shots for their show and I did my "job".


 

Sean Connery Impersonator John Allen of South Florida is on top of the doubles “A list”. His work has been featured in film,TV, commercials, print ad’s and on stage. The actor is also an Associate Producer of “Bamboo Shark” a film which used over 55 professional impersonators in it along with Oscar winning actor Mickey Rooney. Allen was once booked along side his famous counter part Sean Connery for an 8 million dollar German production of a Tea commercial. Another memorable job was when he was booked to fly to New Zealand on a private jumbo jet as Connery for a Korean Samsung commercial.

Allen “ We filmed it in the Bahamas' near where Sean lives.”

Allen: “When I met Sean Connery he Said " John you look wonderful today" I reply " Thank you Sir that's because I look like you”

Allen: “I Presently do appearances for Sean Connery that he did in the past, and now does not want to do due to his retirement. His lawyers from Los Angeles call and hire me for these appearances. Recently I appeared at Casa Loma in for the world fraud conference the FBI ,CIA and Royal Mounted Police along with members of the world Banking fraud divisions. In Sept I will be leading a parade of bag pipers in my kilt in Greenwich Conneticut, celebrating Scotland. A parade that Sean Connery has lead in the past.”

Actress and writer Deborah Smith Ford often gets mistaken for Carrie Anne Moss star of the Matrix series. She has parlayed her amazing likeness into a flourishing career .

Ford: Once A photograher saw Ford from a few feet away and mistook her for Carrie-Anne), Moss. Apparently Moss attended a wedding, at“Keanu Reeves, (Neo in the MATRIX film) mothers home before, so he had seen her in person.

Another time I was strolling among the crowd in the center of the Walk of Fame and heard a man call out. I was in the middle of a crowd, so I did not know the yelling was for me. Also, the voice was calling “Carrie-Anne!” I was in mid-turn, a man grabbed me, and hugged me, and when he pulled away and looked dead center at my face, he said “Oh, I thought you were Carrie-Anne Moss. You sure look like her.” The man turned out to be actor Lorenzo Lamas. We walked together back to his table where his fans were waiting. We chatted a bit, and when I walked away I said to myself “Deb, maybe you really do look like “her.” “I have been “Trinity” ever since.

Due to the resemblance I have even gotten film roles, a television commercial and was on ABC’s The Next Best Thing - those are other stories. As one character, in one film, my name was Trinity, and in another, Carrie. That works for me. As long as I am honest with people, and tell them I am a lookalike, that is all I can do. In the meantime I am going to enjoy it while I can, and hope others do as well.

Sharon Holmes of California is a successful professional woman turned Martha Stewart double. Since her beginning Holmes career has really taken off and she has been featured along side Martha on TV and on the celebrity double Family Feud show as well as numerous private events.

Holmes:
“I first met Martha in NYC on her TV stage kitchen, when I won her search for her best look-alike. Attached is a picture of me with Martha in her studio kitchen. Martha had a listing on her website "Calling all Martha Stewart Look-a- likes". For years I had been mistaken for her, especially in airports, as I traveled a lot for business. But also, I am from Connecticut, so when I was back east visiting family, I would always get those double take looks from people nearly everywhere I went.”

“Martha asked people to send her stories of when people thought they were her along with pictures. I sent 6 pictures and 6 of my favorite stories. I also sent the attached magazine cover of "Martha Stewart Living", along with casual pictures of me looking like her at the bottom. At the time these pictures of me were taken, I barely knew who Martha was. The picture with Dr. Mary was taken in Kona Hawaii, without make-up and hair as straight as it can be in that humid weather. The other picture was taken at a wedding. The resemblance is pretty amazing considering there was no effort to look like Martha.I was told that Martha picked me herself...as her best look-alike "out of hundreds if not thousands". Her producer said "all the professionals sent in pictures, as well as every mother who thought their daughter looked like Martha".
“

"I recently saw Martha in Glendale, CA at her book signing. When I got in front of her I said; "Welcome to California Martha"! At first she looked puzzled, then I said "Remember me, I was your look-alike you brought to NY?" She smiled and greeted me warmly and introduced me to her staff. I asked her if she would sign the copy of our picture together, since some people think it is a "Photo Shop picture". She was very gracious, as she was signing it, she looked at the picture of the two of us and said; "Yes, you do look like me...but you are prettier!" I thanked her for the compliment but told her no one ever paid me to be a model, and I always take it as a compliment when people think I am you.”
 

Too bad Toni Braxton has not come forward to help her double Tribute artist Trina Johnson Finn who has been jailed since March 1,2009 in Suriname.

Tonight we recieved this update on Trina's case:

HUSBAND RAYMOND FINN:

"According to the attorneys today, Trina's case will still be heard on May 26th despite Ventura's confession on May 15th.  Apparently, the Prosecutor no longer has the authority to release her as it is the Judge's decision now.  So, under Suriname law, she not only has to go to trial and appear in front of the Judge but she will have had to sit in prison almost two more weeks AFTER the confession of Ventura, to even have an opportunity to plead her case and argue for her release.  I find it hard to imagine anyone having the ability to make this story up...so once again, we wait."

Please go to Freetrina.com if you want to suppport her release.

ALSO Stay tuned for Part II     "Rock and pop Doubles"

Comments welcome !