Top 10 Actors Who Inspired the Look of a Disney Prince
#10: Val Kilmer & Arnold Schwarzenegger
Prince Adam / The Beast
“Beauty and the Beast” fans have long debated who they love more, the prince in his Beast or his human form. It is a running gag among Disney aficionados that Belle was rather disappointed when the towering Beast she fell in love with turned into a rather delicate young man. One thing’s for certain, though. Adam is undeniably quite dashing. Although unconfirmed, Val Kilmer’s features are said to have been an inspiration. We can see it: look at his gorgeous auburn mane and eyes! It’s also easy to see how the Prince’s angular facial structure could have been taken from Schwarzenegger’s sharp jawline. Their muscular builds probably lent themselves to the design too.
#9: Keanu Reeves & Clint Eastwood
Li Shang
The leading man of “Mulan” made us swoon when we were young, and continues to do so today. According to Disney Prince Wiki, the Chinese warrior, with his glowing skin and sleek black hair, was designed on the basis of several Asian men … and Dirty Harry. Most evidently, you can see glimpses of Keanu Reeves in him, who has Chinese ancestry. At the same time, Eastwood’s killer smile is easily recognizable in the General. Hong Kong-American action star Bruce Lee and “Superman” actor Dean Cain, who has Japanese roots, were apparently referred to as well.
#8: Louis Hightower
Prince Florian
The OG Disney Prince, often called Florian, only has a couple of scenes in 1937’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. Even so, he was a cultural reset, to say the least. To animate the studio’s first-ever true-to-life man, Milt Kahl had a reliable live reference model in Louis Hightower. The actor’s movements and expressions had the perfect balance of elegance and command, making him ideal for the role. Hightower’s dancing background worked in the animators’ favor, and he ultimately worked to bring us the charismatic, albeit elusive, Prince.
#7: Ed Kemmer
Prince Phillip
Aurora from “Sleeping Beauty” was the first Disney Princess to have a Prince with a widely known name. He’s also a more active participant in the story, which is no small feat. Given how important such a development was, his moniker was apparently inspired by real-life royalty, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. However, when it came to his enchanting good looks, Disney animators looked elsewhere. More specifically, they turned to “Space Patrol” star Ed Kemmer. The actor joined Helene Stanley as a performance model for the character, and it sure has us wishing they made a live-action starring the two. Clearly, their chemistry translated onto animation too.
#6: Gene Kelly & Jeffrey Stone
Prince Charming
One of the greatest actors in Hollywood history, Gene Kelly, inspiring the most iconic Disney Prince — Charming — comes as no surprise. The timeless heartthrob bears close resemblance to the love of Cinderella’s life, but the actor himself wasn’t feeling it. In an interview from the late ‘80s, he said he would much rather Fred Astaire play the prince with the smooth ballroom moves. Nevertheless, it was actually Jeffrey Stone who ended up modeling as Prince Charming alongside Helene Stanley’s Cinderella. In the later years of his life, Stone even authored an autobiography, titled “Whatever Happened To Prince Charming?”
#5: Joshua Finkel
Prince Eric
It isn’t surprising that the man who turned Ariel’s head would be a looker in real life. Prince Eric was modeled after actor Joshua Finkel, whose leading lady was inspired by the beautiful Sherri Stoner. Finkel imbued the Prince with his endearing pleasantness, in addition to, of course, his suave appearance. Thanks in part to his unforgettable performance as Eric, “The Little Mermaid” became a classic. He also had a shining career on Broadway, and even dabbled in directing and coaching. However, the Disney gig remains his favorite.
#4: Bruno Campos
Prince Naveen
He may be the prince of Maldonia by name, but to us, he’s the king of hearts. Disney animator Randy Haycock played around with several early drawings based on Tinseltown cuties like a young version of Cary Grant and a fresh-faced Brad Pitt. Even artist J. C. Leyendecker informed some design choices. However, the truest inspiration was right in front of their eyes — in the recording booth, in fact. The Prince Naveen we see on our screens was apparently sketched from his voice actor Bruno Campos’ brooding allure. Although Maldonia is said to be located in Eurasia, Campos’ Brazilian origin gives Naveen similar traits.
#3: Mel Gibson
John Smith
This one might make or break your perception of “Pocahontas” forever. The ever-controversial “Mad Max” star not only voiced John Smith, but was apparently also a visual reference for the character. Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones also reportedly contributed to his persona. Other actors who were sought out to bring the explorer to life were Butch Hartman and Rob Duncan. However, the very first iterations were actually based on notorious womanizer Errol Flynn. To this day, some fans still prefer the early drafts of the design, wondering what it would have been like to see that version realized.
#2: Johnny Depp, Hugh Jackman, Brad Pitt, David Beckham, & Gene Kelly
Flynn Rider
Disney’s walking green flag, Rapunzel’s ride or die, Eugene Fitzherbert, was born from an extensive process of research. “Tangled” directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard called it the ‘hot man meeting’. The lineup included Depp, Jackman, Pitt, Beckham and Kelly. Women attending the very serious gathering got to choose the fairest of them all, with Rider being an amalgamation of their favorite traits in men. That said, the preliminary sketches by Jin Kim were reportedly largely based on the “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor, where Rider had long, luscious locks.
#1: Tom Cruise
Aladdin
If you’ve ever watched “Aladdin” and thought to yourself, young Tom Cruise would be perfect in the live-action, you’re not alone. The “Top Gun” actor was the final blueprint for the smugly mischievous thief-turned-prince. Although Michael J. Fox was animator Glen Keane’s first pick, president Jeffrey Katzenberg wasn’t on board. Instead, it was ultimately Cruise’s quote unquote ‘impish look’ that sealed the deal. Reportedly directed to mirror the kind of electric dynamic you’d see between Cruise and Julia Roberts, Keane pursued the new version of Aladdin with conviction and made magic happen. Everyone, say thank you!
Which Disney Prince was your romantic awakening? Let us know in the comments!
