Side-By-Side Pics Of 'Titanic' Characters Versus Their Real-Life Counterparts
James Cameron's Titanic singlehandedly brought the 1912 sinking back into the limelight. But while the award-winning epic wowed audiences with its action and touching love story, you may not have known that some of the folks on screen were based on actual people. And these real-life counterparts of Titanic characters — from Margaret "Molly" Brown to Rose DeWitt Bukater — had stories far more incredible than one movie could hope to share.
1. Wallace Henry Hartley
Remember the musician who kept on playing his violin even as the ship sank? He actually did this during the real-life disaster. His name was Wallace Henry Hartley, and his music was meant to stop passengers from panicking as they boarded the lifeboats. Sadly, Hartley died on the deck of the Titanic, but some of the survivors of the disaster later shared his story.
2. Isidor Straus
Isidor Straus helped found Macy's and was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for a spell. And while he was offered a chance to escape, he claimed that he wouldn't take up a place on a lifeboat until all of the women and children were safe. He remained on board with his wife, Ida, as the Titanic sank, perishing below deck.
3. Ida Straus
Like her husband, Ida Straus was from Germany. They had seven children and were madly in love, according to their relatives. And even when Ida was offered a spot on a lifeboat, she remained on the ship because she didn’t want to leave Isidor. Together, their fate was sealed.
4. Henry Wilde
Serving as the Titanic's chief officer, Henry Wilde was part of the ship's navigation team. And, sadly, he was another member of the crew who died on board while trying to manage the disastrous situation. Before joining the Titanic's team, he had worked on a few different vessels in the White Star Line company's fleet.
