They sing and dance and look like the stars they emulate. The successful “In Tribute” shows of Performing Celebrity Impersonators continue to attract audiences worldwide since the early 1980’s.

Few shows can sustain the lure of 25+ years of success and audience approval. As the curtain falls at the close of each show, the “stars” surround themselves with the men, women and children who many have never had the opportunity to see their favorite celebrities up close to touch them and others have never seen, or could afford the ticket prices to enjoy them on stage in concert.

Celebrity Impersonators are “actors” performing a unique role since they not only must act-like, sing-like, dance-like, move-like and talk-like the celebrity they emulate, they must also look like their character while in costume… and they must have the technical knowledge and experience of performing on stage. They have a responsibility to the artist they portray to be as perfect in their act as possible and, in doing so, honor them and their image.

The history of impersonations reaches back to the late-1800’s when Tony Pastor (1838-1908) produced the Variety Shows in New York when acts mimicked, in comedy, the famous and political figures of the times. Soon similar shows developed in Europe creating an interchange of American and British performers.

More than a century later the art of impersonation changed from the mocking comedy acts to the pure tribute roles that artists perform today. What is interesting, however, is that many of the shows featuring the performances of Celebrity Impersonators on worldwide stages today have the same structure of the early Variety Shows; that each performer appear only once in each show…and rarely for more than 15 minutes. Also, similarly, today’s impersonators are in flight from one city and country to perform worldwide.

Less than 10 years ago there were approximately 1,500 impersonators and look-alikes in this industry; today there are many tens of thousands of artists performing on showroom stages and those who are movie stand-ins, others who model in photo shoots for advertisements, who are filmed in commercials and are also found in catalogs for clothing, automobile sales and every kind of merchandising where the client is looking for a double-look of resemblance to sell their products.

The use of the Celebrity Impersonator has become Big Business, creating thousands of producers, agents, choreographers, makeup artists, costumers, wig makers, prosthetic designers, stage managers and crews and staffs for all …as well as webmasters, promoters, media and everyone else connected to the industry.

Celebrity Impersonators and Look-alikes have become well-paid “Stars.”

What do the real stars think about those who portray them? Most enjoy the tribute and are flattered to see themselves created on stage…many as they were in their prime. Perhaps they consider the shows as an advertisement to enhance the popularity of their own concerts since the real stars cannot be everywhere. Most appreciate watching the acts on stage and marvel at the accuracy of the performance.

Imitation is the purest form of immortality…anon. Immorality comes with a price… fees payable to the heirs of the deceased stars and attorneys who represent them and those who paid for a license to perform as the stars with no concern over the value of their performance.

The popularity of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Buddy Holly and others who are remembered by their generation and discovered and loved by generations who followed, continues being a flame that could possibly have diminished without the continuous impersonator’s re-creations of the once popular stars, keeping their memories alive. The Celebrity Impersonator, however, cannot expect to be more popular than the celebrity he/she emulates nor booked in the role of the character in the event the producer or client has no interest in the performer. If the celebrity, living or dead, is not popular, the artist/impersonator is out of business unless he/she develops another character.

While most of the impersonators on stage do enjoy their roles and work very hard to perfect their act, it is interesting that some feel less contented that they are unable to secure the prestige of their own stardom, performing as themselves, and do not recognize the value of the “actor” they have become as in this unique form of performing arts. Others are very proud of their achievements…especially those who have developed more than one character role, making more bookings available to them.

Not all Celebrity Impersonators have been able to continue the rigors and discipline of the hard work of maintaining their performances and a few have been known to be unable to set aside their own egos to accept direction and responsibility for the welfare of the show.

One major difficulty is age, a common factor in any form of performing arts, to play the part of the star as the star performed in his/her prime. For example: Marilyn Monroe passed away at the glamorous age of 36 and not many 50 year-olds can continue creating her image…where Elvis had many looks as he grew older and, unless you are an Elvis fan or an old movie buff, not many really remember what he looked like when he was in his prime and are willing to accept any resemblance of the “king” as long as he can pour himself into a jumpsuit.

Pertaining to living popular personalities, still in their prime, it is the responsibility of the impersonator, or the look-alike, to upgrade their look and act. With hairstyles, costumes, makeup and songs and dances in order to conform to the new Cher, for example, they continue to invest in their careers. © The Entertainment Network 2005

Bea Fogelman is the Director of the Entertainment Network and the Talent Referral Agent of that agency based in Las Vegas since 1996. She is also the Editor of the Network website and the writer of its monthly newsletters. A published author, Bea is considered an authority in the entertainment industry. www.Entertainment-Network.org