This month, John Lennon would have celebrated his 70th birthday. And even though it’s a momentous number, he’s still getting what he seems to get every year: another actor pretending to be him in a movie. This time it’s Kick-Ass’s Aaron Johnson in Nowhere Boy, Sam Taylor-Wood’s film about Lennon’s teen years leading up to the formation of the Beatles. But in the past he’s been played by a movie star, a TV star, a Monty Python sideman, assorted other Brits (one pulling double duty), and himself. Together, these flicks cover just about everything except Lennon’s potty-training years. Follow the slideshow to see his various onscreen incarnations and just how accurate they were.
Lennon As: Love-nik & cheeky tease.
Central Scene: In this cartoon Yellow Submarine spoof, John’s softy impulses help avert an unnecessary war with the Blue Meanies. And when the crisis has been dodged, John wraps it all up by emasculating Ringo, calling him the fourth-string groupie magnet.
Meet the Beatle: He comes off better than the actual Yellow Submarine’s John, as he’s funnier and naughtier, just like the real man. As for how it parallels the actual success rates of Lennon versus Ringo in groupie shagging, no Beatles bio has yet covered this area, and perhaps that’s for the best.
