Was Cliff Booth Real?

But no: Tarantino's brand-new novelization makes very clear that the fight between the real Bruce Lee and the fictional Cliff Booth really did happen — at least in Tarantino's invented world. ... The scene in the movie begins with Bruce Lee, standing on a backlot, praising the fighting skills of Muhammad Ali.

Was Cliff Booth a real guy?

Cliff was based on legendary stuntman Hal Needham. Quentin Tarantino and Brad Pitt modeled Cliff after Tom Laughlin's portrayal of Billy Jack.

Is Rick Dalton based on a real person?

While plenty of real-life figures, including Sharon Tate, Roman Polanski, Steve McQueen, and Bruce Lee are portrayed in Once Upon a Time, Rick Dalton is a fictional creation. Still, some of the character is inspired by real-life stars of the 1950s and '60s.