I think it's always been that way. People have always emulated fictional characters, which are often based on real people. Then the people emulating the fictional characters in turn inspire new fictional characters, who are then emulated.I'm sure there were street hoods who emulated Edward G. Robinson and guys like that, and those same hoods grew up to be big-time gangsters. Who in turn would personally inspire characters in fiction.

For example, you had Crazy Joe Gallo imitating Tommy Udo, and then Gallo himself would be fictionalized as the Rosato brothers, Joey Zasa, and probably a lot of other characters. And I'm sure there's some crack dealer out there who saw Godfather 3 and decided that he wanted to be just like Joey Zasa.

Art and real life constantly reflect and influence one another.