Forrest Gump Impersonator Spreads Cheer As He Runs Across California
A Forrest Gump impersonator has been spotted running across several California neighborhoods in the last couple weeks. The unidentified man is gaining notoriety just in time for Halloween.
The impersonator didn’t miss a detail in his replica outfit, fitted with a red Bubba Gump hat, yellow shirt, red shorts, white running shoes, and a massive fake beard. The only thing missing from the triumphant costume is a loyal band of running followers.
So far, the mystery man’s appearance has been documented 10 times since October 19, mostly in the California neighborhood of Riverside. The Forrest Gump impersonator is stopping for pictures with community members and was even chased for fun by the local police station.
The Riverside PD posted a photo on Sunday of two officers pretending to chase Forrest on the side of the road. They joked they got into a foot pursuit with the runner, which Forrest managed to escape. The ended their post with a quintessential Forrest Gump line, “That’s about all we gotta say ’bout that!”
Local news station ABC7 spotted the Forrest look-a-like yesterday and did a short interview with the man. The impersonator wouldn’t identify himself as anyone other than Forrest Gump and stated it didn’t matter who he really was.
Forrest Gump impersonator spotted running around Riverside for weeks https://t.co/ScqgIUfJS4 pic.twitter.com/JlUn4mPhqS
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) October 31, 2017
The impersonator said it was something that just “took off and made the community happy.” He expressed it was something that could make people smile amid all the terrible things happening in the world today.
Some of the citizens who posed with Forrest compared the imposter to an Easter egg that all the locals have been trying to find since they found out about his existence. It seems Forrest has become the Where’s Waldo of Riverside.
https://www.facebook.com/RiversidePD/posts/10156450394061037
As the Forrest Gump impersonator continues to run across California neighborhoods, it’s likely copycats will begin their own journeys in different states across the country. The original impersonator shows no sign of stopping, and it’s unclear if he will ever reveal his true identity.
Forrest Gump was released in 1992 and earned Tom Hanks an Academy Award for his lead role. The movie is considered one of the greatest films of all time, with a No. 12 spot on IMDB’s Top Rated Movies list, and number 71 on AFI’s 100 Greatest American Movies of All Time list.
[Featured Image by Paramount Pictures]
