Eight ideas for Milwaukee’s inevitable lookalike contest

You’ve most likely seen them across social media. It started with a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest in New York City, and copycats started popping up everywhere – Paul Mescal in Dublin, Jeremy Allen White in Chicago, Harry Styles in London, and so many more. Milwaukee is long overdue for one of these contests – and here are eight local figures who could fit the bill.

Bob Uecker

The Milwaukee Brewers’ announcer of over 50 years, lovingly known as “Mr. Baseball,” Bob Uecker would be an inspired choice for a lookalike contest. As the longtime voice of the Brewers, Uecker is something of a legendary figure in Milwaukee – a good-spirited lookalike contest would be a great way to give him his flowers.

David Gruber

“One call, that’s all!” Milwaukee’s favorite personal injury attorney, David Gruber, is another viable option for a lookalike contest. Easily spotted on local billboards, in a seemingly endless slew of commercials, and sitting courtside at Bucks games, Gruber himself would absolutely get in on the fun and upstage his own lookalikes. 

The Fonz

Henry Winkler’s character of Arthur Fonzarelli from the legendary sitcom “Happy Days” has already been immortalized by a bronze statue on Milwaukee’s Riverwalk, but it’s certainly entertaining to imagine a gaggle of young men with leather jackets and oiled-back hair in 2024. 

Gene Wilder

If you weren’t already aware, the late Gene Wilder was born and raised in Milwaukee – he would go on to play his crowning role as Willy Wonka in 1971’s “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” Naturally, this could double as a Willy Wonka lookalike contest, but we can’t forget the legendary Milwaukeean who first portrayed him on the silver screen.

Laverne and/or Shirley

The iconic characters played by Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams in a spin-off of “Happy Days” would make a great lookalike contest for duos. Unfortunately the “Shotz Brewery” that both characters worked at has never actually been a real place in Milwaukee, but you can still spot many iconic Cream City locations in the show – including the steps of city hall in the intro sequence. Although the show’s setting moved to California in later seasons, it’ll always be remembered for its humble beginnings in Milwaukee.

Liberace

The legendary pianist was born and raised in West Milwaukee, and would definitely make for a dazzling lookalike contest – known for his flamboyant and ornate outfits, it would be difficult to recreate his signature look, but it would almost certainly bring out the most fashionable individuals of Milwaukee.

The Milverine

If you don’t know who the Milverine is, you have some catching up to do. Real name John Hamann, the Milverine has been taking multi-hour speed walks around Milwaukee since at least the early 2000s, often shirtless. He has become somewhat of a local folk hero, and has since been the star of a Vice documentary and modeled for Milwaukee clothing brand Unfinished Legacy. A Milverine lookalike contest would be a huge moment for the city, and if we’re lucky, he might just show up.

Willem Dafoe

Although the prolific actor had only a brief stint in Milwaukee, we still decided to include him here – born and raised in Appleton, Dafoe studied drama at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee but dropped out after three semesters. He would go on to join the now-defunct Theatre X troupe before leaving to pursue his career in New York, but he continues to pay tribute to his time in Milwaukee. He returned to UWM in 2022 to address the graduating class, receiving an honorary doctorate in the process. Perhaps one of the city’s most famed alumni, he’d be a great pick for a lookalike contest.