Titanic Characters
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While Jack and Rose were fictional characters in Titanic, the film also featured numerous real individuals. Here’s a closer look at these 17 historical figures from the Titanic disaster.
Margaret Brown
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Margaret Brown: In the film Titanic, Kathy Bates portrayed Margaret Brown, also known as the Unsinkable Molly Brown. Her nickname stemmed from her insistence that the crew return to save more passengers while aboard a lifeboat. The actual events of whether the lifeboat did return are debated, but Brown’s courageous tale became legendary, inspiring a musical titled The Unsinkable Molly Brown that premiered in 1960.
Captain Edward Smith
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Captain Edward Smith: Bernard Hill, known for his role as Théoden in The Lord of the Rings, portrayed Edward James Smith, the captain of the Titanic who tragically perished when the ship sank. He left behind his wife and their daughter as his legacy.
J. Bruce Ismay
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J. Bruce Ismay: Portrayed by Jonathan Hyde, Joseph Bruce Ismay served as the chairman and managing director of the White Star Line. Ismay managed to survive the Titanic disaster and was called to testify before the U.S. Senate regarding the tragic event. Following the sinking, Ismay faced severe backlash from the media for prioritizing his own survival over that of women and children who were still on the ship.
John Jacob Astor
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John Jacob Astor: Eric Braeden portrayed John Jacob Astor IV, the wealthiest passenger aboard the Titanic and one of the wealthiest individuals globally during the ship’s sinking. Astor’s body was eventually found, and his identity was confirmed through the initials stitched into his jacket.
Madeleine Force
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Madeleine Force: Charlotte Chatton portrayed Madeleine Force, the second wife of John Jacob Astor IV. In the film, she was depicted as pregnant during the Titanic journey, returning to America with her husband to ensure the baby’s birth in the U.S. Madeleine survived the ship’s sinking and welcomed her child into the world four months after the tragic event.
Cosmo Duff-Gordon
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Cosmo Duff-Gordon: Martin Jarvis portrayed Cosmo Duff-Gordon, an Olympic silver medalist in fencing who managed to survive the Titanic disaster. Similar to Bruce Ismay, Duff-Gordon faced scrutiny for his actions during the evacuation, as he appeared to disregard the protocol of prioritizing women and children. He passed away in 1931 at the age of 68.
Lady Duff-Gordon
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Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon: Rosalind Ayres, who is married to Martin Jarvis in real life, portrayed Lady Duff-Gordon, the wife of Cosmo Duff-Gordon. As mentioned in Titanic, Lady Duff-Gordon was known as a fashion designer, with a specialization in lingerie. However, her expertise extended beyond lingerie design, as she also contributed fashion articles to publications such as Harper’s Bazaar and Good Housekeeping.
Benjamin Guggenheim
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Benjamin Guggenheim: In the film Titanic, Michael Ensign portrayed Benjamin Guggenheim, a prosperous American entrepreneur who traveled on the ship with his mistress, Léontine Aubart. Tragically, he perished in the sinking alongside his valet, Victor Giglio. Benjamin Guggenheim’s sibling, Solomon Guggenheim, is the namesake of the renowned Guggenheim Museum in New York City.
Noël Leslie
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Noël Leslie, Countess of Rothes: Despite having a limited presence in the film, Rochelle Rose portrayed the Countess of Rothes, a true heroine of the Titanic tragedy. She played a crucial role in guiding her lifeboat to safety away from the sinking vessel and towards the rescue ship. The Countess of Rothes was also referenced in the television series Downton Abbey, where the Crawley family mentioned seeing her shortly before the Titanic disaster. This connection was significant as it was revealed that Matthew only inherited due to the passing of another Crawley relative aboard the Titanic.
Thomas Andrews
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Thomas Andrews: Victor Garber portrayed Thomas Andrews, the chief shipbuilder responsible for constructing the Titanic. In the film, Andrews is shown distributing life jackets and assisting numerous individuals in reaching safety during the tragic event. Unfortunately, he perished in the ship’s sinking, leaving behind his wife and their daughter as survivors.
William Murdoch
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William Murdoch: Ewan Stewart portrayed William Murdoch, the first officer aboard the Titanic. In the film, Murdoch is depicted as taking his own life after the ship collides with the iceberg, although there is uncertainty surrounding whether the real Murdoch actually did so. Following the premiere of Titanic, Murdoch’s family requested an apology from James Cameron and 20th Century Fox for the portrayal of their family member.
Frederick Fleet
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Frederick Fleet: Scott Anderson portrayed Frederick Fleet, the lookout who first spotted the iceberg that the Titanic struck. In the film, Fleet is shown accurately shouting, “Iceberg, right ahead!” upon seeing the danger. Despite surviving the ship’s sinking, Fleet went on to serve in both World War I and World War II. Tragically, he took his own life in 1965.
Jack Phillips
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Jack Phillips: In the movie, Gregory Cooke played the role of John “Jack” Phillips, the chief wireless operator on the Titanic. Phillips was responsible for sending out the distress signal once the ship collided with the iceberg. Tragically, he perished in the sinking of the ship.
Harold Bride
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Harold Bride: Craig Kelly portrayed Harold Bride, the second wireless operator on the Titanic. Despite the ship’s sinking, Bride managed to survive and later provided testimony during the Senate inquiry regarding the tragic event.
Charles Lightoller
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Charles Lightoller: Jonathan Phillips portrayed Charles Lightoller, who held the position of second officer on the Titanic. Lightoller managed to survive the shipwreck and went on to remain employed by the White Star Line. He later played a role in World War I and during World War II, he utilized his private yacht to aid in the evacuation of Dunkirk. The character arc of Mark Rylance in the 2017 film Dunkirk closely reflects Lightoller’s real-life experiences.
Henry Wilde
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Henry Wilde: Mark Lindsay Chapman portrayed Henry Wilde, who held the position of chief officer on the Titanic. Prior to his role on the Titanic, Wilde had served on various White Star Line ships, gradually advancing to his position on the ill-fated vessel. Tragically, Wilde perished during the sinking of the Titanic.
Ida and Isidor Straus
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Ida and Isidor Straus: Lew Palter portrayed Isidor Straus, who was the co-owner of Macy’s department store. In 1871, he married his wife Ida, played by Elsa Raven. It is said that Ida declined to board a lifeboat upon learning that her husband was unable to do so, and tragically, they both perished in the sinking of the Titanic.
