AI videos are taking the internet by storm, and Sora 2, OpenAI’s next-generation video creation tool, has made it easier than ever to bring your ideas to life. One common question I hear from creators is: which celebrities and public figures can actually be used legally in Sora 2 videos?
Thanks to strict copyright protections, living celebrities without explicit consent are off-limits. However, there is still a wide range of figures you can feature, including historical icons, deceased celebrities, public domain characters, and Cameos from Sora users.
In this post, I’ll share my tested list and tips for creating professional-quality AI videos with these figures.
Sora 2’s capabilities are undeniable. However, accessing it currently still requires an invite code. No need to worry if you don’t have one—Global GPT has already integrated Sora 2, allowing you to use it freely without an invite. Plus, it comes with fewer content restrictions and no watermark hassles.
Cameos (Sora Users Allowing Their Likeness)
Sora 2 supports Cameos from real users who opt-in to allow their likeness to appear.
Examples include:
Sam Altman, Jake Paul, Mark Cuban, Shaq, Amouranth (more to come)
Tip: Always check permissions before using someone else’s Cameo. My tests show these provide the most realistic and expressive results for collaborations.
Actors
You can safely feature iconic actors from film history who have passed away or are in public domain. Using these actors in Sora 2 videos allows for creative storytelling without copyright issues.
Verified actors include:
Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, Grace Kelly, Bruce Lee, Charlie Chaplin, Robin Williams, Paul Walker, Heath Ledger, Patrick Swayze, Betty White, Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant, John Wayne, Rock Hudson, Ingrid Bergman, Christopher Reeve
Tip: I tested prompts like “Create a black-and-white scene with Charlie Chaplin performing a slapstick routine” and got highly realistic animations ready for TikTok and Instagram.
Musicians
Sora 2 also supports historical and deceased musicians. These figures are perfect for music video remixes or animated performances.
Verified musicians include:
Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Elvis Presley, Prince, Tupac Shakur, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Amy Winehouse, Marvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra, John Lennon, George Harrison, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Bing Crosby
Tip: Adding style cues like “1970s stage outfit” or “rock concert background” enhances realism and audience engagement.
Comedians
Comedy icons from history can add humor to your Sora 2 videos without copyright issues.
Verified comedians include:
Robin Williams, Chris Farley, George Carlin, Mitch Hedberg, Richard Pryor, John Candy, Gilda Radner, Andy Kaufman, Sam Kinison, Rodney Dangerfield, Lucille Ball, Joan Rivers, Bernie Mac, John Belushi, Phil Hartman, Charlie Chaplin, Don Rickles, Moms Mabley, Harold Ramis, Patrice O’Neal
Tip: Use prompt details to guide gestures or comedic expressions. For example, “Charlie Chaplin tipping his hat in a silent comedy scene” works perfectly.
Athletes
Historical and deceased athletes can be featured in dynamic sports videos.
Verified athletes include:
Kobe Bryant, Muhammad Ali, Diego Maradona, Babe Ruth, Wilt Chamberlain, Lou Gehrig, Jim Thorpe, Reggie White, Walter Payton, Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb, Payne Stewart, Ayrton Senna, Jackie Robinson, Dražen Petrović, Pat Tillman, Roberto Clemente, Len Bias, Manute Bol
Tip: Combine realistic sports environments with AI-generated movements for action-packed clips.
Religious Figures
Sora 2 allows depictions of religious and historical figures. These can be used in educational or inspirational content.
Verified religious figures include:
Jesus, Buddha, Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Billy Graham, Confucius, Martin Luther, Rumi, St. Augustine, Joan of Arc, Moses, Laozi, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, Teresa of Ávila, Ramakrishna, Søren Kierkegaard, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, John Wesley
Artists & Writers
Creative figures from history can be used for artistic, educational, or storytelling videos.
Verified artists & writers include:
Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, William Shakespeare, Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, Bob Ross, Salvador Dalí, Georgia O’Keeffe, Edgar Allan Poe, Ernest Hemingway, Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, Langston Hughes, Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Oscar Wilde, Andy Warhol, Claude Monet
Tip: Using detailed prompts like “paint a surrealist scene in the style of Salvador Dalí” produces vibrant results.
Political Leaders & Scientists
Historical leaders and scientists are fully available for AI-generated educational or historical content.
Verified leaders & scientists include:
Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, George Washington, Winston Churchill, Cleopatra, Martin Luther King Jr., Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Benjamin Franklin, Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Isaac Newton, Alexander Hamilton, Queen Elizabeth I, Thomas Jefferson, Galileo Galilei, Ada Lovelace, Margaret Thatcher, Charles Darwin
Fictional Characters
Public domain fictional characters provide unlimited creative freedom for storytelling or parody.
Verified fictional characters include:
Peter Pan, Dracula, Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood, Hercules, Medusa, King Arthur, The Wicked Witch, Cinderella, Snow White, The Big Bad Wolf, Pinocchio, The Little Mermaid, Santa Claus, Paul Bunyan, Zeus, Joan of Arc, Thor
Tip: Combine movement, voice, and scene prompts to animate these characters for short-form video platforms.
Conclusion
Using celebrities, historical figures, and public domain characters in Sora 2 is fully possible when following copyright rules. My hands-on testing shows that combining detailed prompts, correct lighting, and movement cues yields professional-quality AI videos. Use Cameos for modern figures or stick to historical/deceased icons to maximize creative freedom while staying compliant.
