Popeye's enemy Bluto was based on a character that Tyrone Power sr played called Red Flack in the 1930s Western The Big Trail.
Popeye first appeared in a cartoon called 'Popeye the Sailor Man' which despite its title was actually a Betty Boop cartoon. Betty was based on singer Helen Kane and one of the ladies who voiced her was Bonnie Poe who also voiced Olive Oyl, another actress who lent Betty her voice was Mae Qestel who also voiced Betty in Who framed Roger Rabbit ' and she also portrayed Aunt Bethany in the 1989 film
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation' which was also her final role.