Man Who Inspired Steven Spielberg Film ‘The Terminal’ Dead

The man whose weird life impressed the Steven Spielberg movie “The Terminal” has died.

Iranian-born Mehran Karimi Nasseri reportedly died Saturday after struggling a coronary heart assault in Terminal 2F at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Nasseria had lived within the airport for 18 years — from 1988 to 2006 — after shedding his journey paperwork whereas making an attempt to fly to England. As a end result, he was barred from taking a flight and getting into France, leaving him in authorized limbo on the airport. Later on, he apparently lived there by alternative.

Nasseria — performed by Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks within the 2004 movie — was seen as an “iconic character” at Charles deGaulle.

An airport official stated workers taken care of Nasseria “as much as possible during many years, even if we would have preferred him to find a real shelter.” Nasseria at all times lived in public areas on the airport and was free to maneuver about.

He slept on a plastic bench and showered in workers amenities. He spent his days people-watching, writing in his diary and studying magazines and newspapers.

In the movie, Hanks’ character, Victor Navorski, units up a makeshift residence at New York’s JFK Airport after he is unable to return to his fictional nation, Krakozhia, following an assault. He’s additionally barred from getting into the U.S. since his passport is now not legitimate as a result of his nation’s new authorities is taken into account illegitimate. Like Nasseria, everybody within the airport falls in love with Norvorski, together with a stewardess performed by Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Nasseria was born round 1945 in Iran, making him roughly 76 when he died.