{{Short description|Art form or criminal act}} {{About||the album|Impersonator (album)}} {{Criminal law}} [[File:Joe Wiegand TR WhiteHouse 2008.jpg|thumb|Theodore Roosevelt impersonator Joe Wiegand performs 27 October 2008 in the East Room of the White House, during a celebration of Roosevelt's 150th birthday.]] An '''impersonator''' is someone who imitates or copies the behavior or actions of another.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/impersonator |title=Impersonator |publisher=The Free Dictionary |access-date=2010-01-03}}</ref> There are many reasons for impersonating someone:
*Living history: After close study of some historical figure, a performer may dress and speak "as" that person for an audience. Such historical interpretation may be a scripted dramatic performance like ''Mark Twain Tonight!'' or an unscripted interaction while staying in character.<ref name="LARB">{{cite web |title=Town of the Living Dead |url=https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/town-of-the-living-dead/ |publisher=LA Review of Books |access-date=17 December 2023 |date=15 October 2013 |quote=He is a Ralph Waldo Emerson reenactor. This man gets paid to dress like, act like, and speak like Ralph Waldo Emerson. He’s 63 years old and wears a black frock coat...'I use the term ‘historic interpreter’ or ‘living historian.’ But when people say ‘impersonator,’ that doesn’t bother me.'}}</ref> [[File:Elvis tribute artist Dean Howe.jpg|thumb|upright|Dean Howe impersonating Elvis Presley]] *Entertainment: An "impressionist" impersonates well-known figures in order to entertain an audience. Especially popular objects of impersonation are Elvis Presley (''see Elvis impersonator''), Michael Jackson (''see Michael Jackson impersonator'') and Madonna (see ''Madonna impersonator''). Other uses of impersonation for entertainment include male drag queens (previously called "female impersonators", although this terminology is now considered outdated.) *Crime: As part of a criminal act such as identity theft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Identity fraud and identity theft |url=https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/a-z-of-fraud/identity-fraud-and-identity-theft |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Action Fraud |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Chris |title=Identity theft is on pace to set a new record in 2025 |url=https://fortune.com/2025/07/16/identity-theft-record-pace-2025/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref> This is usually where the criminal is trying to assume the identity of another, in order to commit fraud, such as accessing confidential information, or to gain property not belonging to them. Also known as social engineering and impostors. *Decoys, used as a form of protection for political and military figures.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chavez |first=Elias |title=7 global leaders who used body doubles to avoid dangerous, or uncomfortable, situations |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/global-figures-political-decoys-body-doubles-2023-10 |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> This involves an impersonator who is employed (or forced) to perform during public appearances, to mislead observers. *To create a romantic connection with someone, for example catfishing.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-20 |title=Catfishing: How I hunted down the gang impersonating me online |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-67158022 |access-date=2025-07-21 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Celebrity== [[Image:Michael Jackson impersonator for Thriller 25th anniversary.jpg|thumb|A Michael Jackson impersonator for the 25th anniversary of the album ''Thriller'' at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival with performers from Step It Up and Dance.]] [[File:Patrick Knight as Boy George.jpg|thumb|upright|Patrick Knight as Boy George]] [[File:George-Michael-Impersonator.jpg|thumb|An impersonator of George Michael]]
'''Celebrity impersonators''' look similar to celebrities and dress in such a way as to imitate them. Impersonators are known as sound-alikes, look-alikes, impressionists, imitators and tribute artists.
Some interest in celebrity impersonators, may arise from the consumer desire to see a celebrity who has died. The dead celebrity market was estimated to generate $2.25 billion globally, with celebrity impersonators used in live entertainment shows and advertising.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=D'Rozario |first=Denver |last2=YANG |first2=GUANG |date=2019-12-01 |title=The History and Evolution of the Market for ‘Delebs’ (Dead Celebrities) |url=https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/amj/vol8/iss1/8 |journal=Atlantic Marketing Journal |volume=8 |issue=1 |issn=2165-3887}}</ref>
One of the most prominent examples of this phenomenon is the case of Elvis Presley. Edward Moss has appeared in movies and sitcoms, impersonating Michael Jackson.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002195262_jacko03.html |work=The Seattle Times |first=Bob |last=Baker |title=King of Pop impersonator star of E! trial re-enactment |date=3 March 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709140821/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002195262_jacko03.html |archive-date=9 July 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=John |first1=Alex |title=Damn Salvatore Rule |url=https://businesstimenow.com/damn-salvatore-rule-34/ |access-date=13 August 2021}}</ref>
There are other motivations for celebrity impersonation, Tom Jones has attracted his share of impersonators from different places around the world. From the United States, to South East Asia, to the UK, there are performers who either sound like him or imitate his act.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-12 |title=Column: Golden Knights give Vegas a real sense of community |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/hockey/la-sp-kings-golden-knights-elliott-20180411-story.html |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>''Billboard'', 9 May 1998 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=UQ0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Tom+Jones%22Steve+McCoy%22&pg=PA60 Page 60 Newsmakers, '''Now The Real Thing.''']</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MICHAEL |first=STUART |title=Warren makes time for grandson |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2007/07/07/warren-makes-time-for-grandson |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=The Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-19 |title=Stars shine for Sam Sorono at hospice fundraiser - VIDEO - The Star |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/lifestyle/features/stars-shine-for-sam-sorono-at-hospice-fundraiser-video-1-856654 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419183831/https://www.thestar.co.uk/lifestyle/features/stars-shine-for-sam-sorono-at-hospice-fundraiser-video-1-856654 |archive-date=2018-04-19 }}</ref>
A 2010 research study explored how celebrity impersonation performance acts are understood by audiences, within an interactional frame, where the performer and audience collaborate by recognising the 'game' of pretending to be a celebrity. It proposed that this type of impersonation goes beyond imitation and is in fact a complex interaction, where the real and artificial coexist comfortably.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ferris |first=Kerry O. |date=2010-01-01 |title=Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing, Baby: Framing Celebrity Impersonator Performances |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/10462930903367249 |journal=Text and Performance Quarterly |volume=30 |issue=1 |pages=60–80 |doi=10.1080/10462930903367249 |issn=1046-2937|url-access=subscription }}</ref> ==Criminal== A person who impersonates a designated officer in the United Kingdom faces a prison term not to exceed 51 weeks in England, one year in Scotland, or 6 months in Northern Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web |others=Expert Participation |title=Crime and Courts Act 2013 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/22/schedule/5/part/7/crossheading/impersonation-of-designated-officer-etc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210070124/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/22/schedule/5/part/7/crossheading/impersonation-of-designated-officer-etc |archive-date=2025-02-10 |access-date=2025-07-19 |website=www.legislation.gov.uk |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
In the United States, it is an offence to impersonate a federal officer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-19 |title=Justice Manual {{!}} 1470. False Personation -- Elements Of The Offenses {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/archives/jm/criminal-resource-manual-1470-false-personation-elements-offenses |access-date=2025-07-19 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref> In 2025, there were a number of arrests, due to civilians impersonating immigration officials,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Olivares |first=José |date=2025-06-28 |title=US sees spate of arrests of civilians impersonating Ice officers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/28/civilians-impersonating-ice-officers |access-date=2025-07-20 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> whilst the FBI began to probe an effort to access the personal phone of Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff, that had involved impersonation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-30 |title=FBI to probe effort to impersonate top Trump advisor |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8jgwdg3g9wo |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In a Colorado case, an immigrant was charged with "criminal impersonation" for using another person's Social Security number when signing up for a job,<ref>{{Cite web |title=People v. Gutierrez |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/colorado/supreme-court/2009/09sa69.html |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Justia Law |language=en}}</ref> some courts have ruled that supplying this wrong information may not be criminal.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 28, 2010 |url=http://www.upi.com/Using-false-SS-number-not-impersonation/80121288317800/ |title=Using false S.S. number not impersonation |publisher=UPI}}</ref> The ruling hinges on whether there was harm to the other person.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-11-30 |title=Courts: Using another's SSN not a crime |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/technolog/courts-using-anothers-ssn-not-crime-6C10406382 |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>
Often, criminal impersonation involves someone impersonating a victim for financial gain. In Australia, a woman in Melbourne used three victims identities to file ten fraudulent business activity statements and registered as a tax agent, in order to commit criminal offences.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 May 2025 |title=Government fraudster sentenced to jail |url=https://www.ato.gov.au/media-centre/government-fraudster-sentenced-to-jail |access-date=21 July 2025 |website=Australian Taxation Office}}</ref>
==Online== The internet has resulted in new forms of impersonators emerging online. This can involve acts such as the impersonation of someone else's identity, across a variety of platforms, such as social media.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marr |first=Bernard |title=The Dark Side Of Technology: Navigating The Threat Of Digital Impersonation |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/04/07/the-dark-side-of-technology-navigating-the-threat-of-digital-impersonation/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
Within online dating, the phenomenon of catfishing has arisen, where individuals impersonate the identity of someone else, whilst forming romantic relationships. Motivations for this can include to check on partner fidelity, for monetary gain or simply out of curiosity.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Simmons |first1=Mariah |last2=Lee |first2=Joon Suk |date=2020 |editor-last=Meiselwitz |editor-first=Gabriele |title=Social Computing and Social Media. Design, Ethics, User Behavior, and Social Network Analysis |chapter=Catfishing: A Look into Online Dating and Impersonation |series=Lecture Notes in Computer Science |volume=12194 |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-49570-1_24 |language=en |location=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |pages=349–358 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-49570-1_24 |isbn=978-3-030-49570-1|chapter-url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Online impersonation can be used as a cyberbullying tactic, that in some instances creates a permanent and accessible record that anyone can view. This can have a significant impact, such as hindering employment prospects.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anti-Bullying Pro |url=https://www.antibullyingpro.com/support-and-advice-articles/cyberbullying-behaviour-and-catfishing-how-can-we-recognise-if-someone-is-fake-online |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=www.antibullyingpro.com}}</ref>
Online impersonation has led to debates around whether identity verification should be a requirement on some online platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Booth |first=Callum |date=2024-06-07 |title=Mandatory ID for social media would solve some problems — but create a lot more |url=https://thenextweb.com/news/mandatory-id-social-media-problems |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=TNW {{!}} Data-Security |language=en}}</ref> Some jurisdictions are attempting to introduce new laws to help combat this problem, for example in Nepal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Liang |first=Lu-Hai |date=2025-02-26 |title=Social media use requires ID verification in Nepal and Vietnam {{!}} Biometric Update |url=https://www.biometricupdate.com/202502/social-media-use-requires-id-verification-in-nepal-and-vietnam |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=www.biometricupdate.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Deepfake== {{main|Deepfake}} thumb|Manipulated content: Is it real or fake? Audio deepfakes have been used as part of social engineering scams, fooling people into thinking they are receiving instructions from a trusted individual.<ref name="Statt-2019">{{cite news |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=5 Sep 2019 |title=Thieves are now using AI deepfakes to trick companies into sending them money |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/5/20851248/deepfakes-ai-fake-audio-phone-calls-thieves-trick-companies-stealing-money |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915151504/https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/5/20851248/deepfakes-ai-fake-audio-phone-calls-thieves-trick-companies-stealing-money |archive-date=15 September 2019 |access-date=13 Sep 2019}}</ref>
In 2019, a UK based energy firm's CEO was scammed over the phone when he was ordered to transfer €220,000 into a Hungarian bank account by an individual who used audio deepfake technology to impersonate the voice of the firm's holding company's chief executive.<ref name="Damiani-2019">{{Cite web |last=Damiani |first=Jesse |title=A Voice Deepfake Was Used To Scam A CEO Out Of $243,000 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessedamiani/2019/09/03/a-voice-deepfake-was-used-to-scam-a-ceo-out-of-243000/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914192455/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessedamiani/2019/09/03/a-voice-deepfake-was-used-to-scam-a-ceo-out-of-243000/ |archive-date=14 September 2019 |access-date=2019-11-09 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
The combination advances in deepfake technology, which can clone an individual's voice from a recording of a few seconds to a minute, and new text generation tools, has enabled automated impersonation scams that can target victims using a convincing digital clone of someone known to the person.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schwartz |first1=Christopher |last2=Wright |first2=Matthew |date=17 March 2023 |title=Voice deepfakes are calling – here's what they are and how to avoid getting scammed |url=https://theconversation.com/voice-deepfakes-are-calling-heres-what-they-are-and-how-to-avoid-getting-scammed-201449 |website=The Conversation}}</ref>
Celebrity impersonation has been conducted using deepfake technology, for different purposes. For entertainment purposes, deepfake celebrity impersonation has been used.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Heritage |first=Stuart |date=2023-01-09 |title=Behind the scenes of TV’s first deep fake comedy: ‘None of it is illegal. Everything is silly’ |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jan/09/deep-fake-neighbour-wars-interview-itvx-comedy |access-date=2025-07-20 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> A number of cases were reported that involved scam victims believing they were communicating with celebrities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BÎZGĂ |first=Alina |title=Jennifer Aniston Deepfake Romance Scam: Victim Fooled by AI Impersonation |url=https://www.bitdefender.com/en-gb/blog/hotforsecurity/jennifer-aniston-deepfake-romance-scam-victim-fooled-by-ai-impersonation |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Hot for Security |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gold |first=Hadas |date=2025-03-08 |title=Celebrity AI deepfakes are flooding the internet. Hollywood is pushing Congress to fight back {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/08/tech/hollywood-celebrity-deepfakes-congress-law |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-07-10 |title=Keanu Reeves deepfake scam highlights rise in AI celebrity impersonation fraud |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2555150/keanu-reeves-deepfake-scam-highlights-rise-in-ai-celebrity-impersonation-fraud |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
== See also == * Fake memoir * Impressionist * Look-alike * Personation * Police impersonation * Shi (personator), in the Chinese ancestor ritual: a figure impersonating ancestors * Soundboard, victim soundboard * Tribute act * Wannabe * Identity fraud * Identity theft
==References== {{Commons category|Impersonators}} {{Reflist}}
{{Comedy footer|state=collapsed}} {{Types of crime}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Acting Category:Deception Category:Impostors Category:Crimes Category:Comedy genres Category:Impressionists (entertainers)