Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Timothée Chalamet surprises fans at NYC look-alike contest, winner crowned
By
Scott Lynch
and
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 27, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Scott Lynch/Gothamist
By
Scott Lynch
and
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 27, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Timothée Chalamet fans got more than they bargained for at a look-alike competition for the actor in Washington Square Park on Sunday: Chalamet himself showed up and stole the show.
The A-list actor, known for starring roles in “Dune,” “Wonka” and “Call Me By Your Name,” arrived with a bodyguard close behind as he made his way through a crowd of surprised fans.
Dozens of floppy-haired, high-cheeked Chalamet look-alikes turned out in Washington Square Park on Sunday afternoon to compete in the contest, which had gone viral in September after fliers for the event were posted across Manhattan and shared on social media.
A crowd of doppelgängers prepare for their chance at the crown.
Scott Lynch/Gothamist
Chalamet fan Skylar Moody followed the online buzz and said she had to check it out herself.
“He just has this charm to him that I feel like everyone falls in love with. He's a very iconic fashion icon and I look up to him in so many ways,” she said. “Maybe I’ll find a couple of lookalikes that are single and available.”
The contest drew hundreds of spectators to the arch in the park, where NYPD officers and Parks Department personnel shut it down before it could begin, arresting one person and fining the organizer, YouTuber Anthony Po, $500. In response, Po led a march of spectators and contestants to Mercer Playground, where the contest resumed.
Washington Square Park before Parks and NYPD shut down the contest.
Scott Lynch/Gothamist
Vincent Panetta traveled from Vermont to participate, armed with a peach, ready to recreate his favorite scene from “Call Me By Your Name,” where Chalamet’s character interacts intimately with the fruit.
“People tell me I look like Timothée Chalamet. People also tell me I look like Bob Dylan and he’s playing Bob Dylan in a new upcoming movie, so I threw my hat in the ring, so to say,” he said.
Chalamet fans take to the streets.
Scott Lynch/Gothamist
The top prize went to 21-year-old Miles Mitchell of Staten Island, who dressed as Willy Wonka in a purple coat and brown top hat. He won the crowd’s favor and was crowned champion after receiving the loudest reaction from the audience.
When asked what would make the world a better place, Mitchell used his platform to share a simple message: “Free Palestine.”
Contestants at Mercer Playground.
Scott Lynch/Gothamist
Mitchell received a $50 prize, presented in the form of a comically large dummy check, along with bragging rights.
At Washington Square Park, where hundreds of spectators remained, Chalamet made a surprise appearance — his hair noticeably floppier and cheekbones sharper than the rest.
Tagged
new york city
movies
Scott Lynch
Photojournalist, food writer, preschool receptionist. Love NYC.
Read more
Catalina Gonella
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
A new film focuses on the strange career of a location scout in New York City.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Sep 26, 2026
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
See the entire lineup for the weekend when the city opens its doors.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
See the entire lineup for the weekend when the city opens its doors.
By
Hannah Frishberg
A massive MTA archive ended up in a Virginia warehouse. A Brooklyn man brought it home.
By
Hannah Frishberg
How a Harry Styles pop-up in the East Village led to a nearby bookstore owner's arrest
By
Sonia Rao
NYC’s creative workers are increasingly self-employed, report says
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .