The Very Real Historical Figures The Gilded Age is Based On
The show’s characters are inspired by real people.
Few networks approach their projects as meticulously as HBO. Since its launch in 1972 as a private cable channel, several generations of viewers have regarded it as the home of premium television. Over the years, the network has given us hits such as Sex and the City, Game of Thrones, Veep, and Succession. It now has a new flagship series.
Premiering just a year ago, The Gilded Age was an instant success for HBO. This historical drama, set in the eponymous period of American history, delves into the lives of old and new money families in New York as they compete for prestige and control over the city's social scene. Impressively, the network not only created authentically-looking costumes for the show but also drew inspiration for some of the characters from actual people of the era.
Alva and William K. Vanderbilt
This nouveau-riche couple serves as the prototype for The Gilded Age's Russells. Born into a bankrupt old-money Southern family, Alva married William Vanderbilt from the astoundingly wealthy railroad investor family. The pair resided in New York, much like Bertha and George Russell do on the show. And just like their on-screen counterparts, the Vanderbilts struggled to gain the city's establishment's approval and respect, being considered too new money to enter high society.
Interestingly, Bertha's story echoes Alva's attempt to ingratiate herself with the upper echelons of New York's creme de la creme by hosting a lavish ball at the Vanderbilt mansion on Fifth Avenue. A well-executed PR campaign ensured the event generated enough buzz for the nouveau-riche couple to become the ultimate talk of the town and, eventually, a new addition to the establishment.
Clara Barton and Thomas Fortune
In addition to being based on real individuals, HBO's The Gilded Age also features a couple of historical figures. Thus, the founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton, and the publisher of The New York Globe, Thomas Fortune, make regular appearances on the show, portrayed by Linda Emond and Sullivan Jones, respectively.
And Thomas Barton has been promoted to the main cast for the upcoming second season of The Gilded Age. The highly anticipated premiere is scheduled for October 29th.