We had the good fortune of connecting with Dot Findlater and the Mirror Images team. Dot and team share their story with us below:

Established in 1996, Mirror Images. came about through its founder, Dot Findlater, realizing a dire lack of quality look Alikes within the entertainment industry (a realization that the demand was continuing to increase). As a result, she set out to establish the most highly regarded agency of its kind.

“Perhaps because of mass media, the perception of Look Alikes has changed. If they’re good, they form a connection with the audience.”
— Findlater

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

Mirror Images is a highly successful Look Alike agency with locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas. The company is headed by CEO and founder, Dot Findlater, and boasts over 1,500 Look Alike actors across the United States and abroad.

In 1996, Findlater discovered a dire lack of quality Look Alikes within the entertainment industry and created Mirror Images to fulfill that need. “It’s as if people completely absorb themselves in the Look Alikes’ illusion and feel as if they were interacting with the real celebrity,” she says. With this in mind, Findlater set out to create an agency of accomplished actors that would become well known for raising standards within the industry, who were not only authentic in their appearance but also professional in their performance. Her recipe paid off. Over time, she built a reputation for discovering savvy entertainers who could deliver convincing representations of their legitimate counterparts, much to the delight of her clients.

As the recent pandemic made many traditional, in-person events impossible, Findlater also found ways to shift the business into the virtual space. Today, Mirror Images actors appear in Zoom meetings for summits, sales events, and remote team activities. They provide M.C. talent at virtual conferences. They even record personalized video greetings to enchant and amuse recipients. Findlater continues to grow and change as the industry evolves, creating new and exciting experiences for her clients, worldwide.

Vision & Mission
As the top Look Alike agency, Mirror Images continues to pride itself on presenting its clients in the most professional light possible. “Sadly, Look Alikes, the vast majority of which are trained professional actors and actresses, do not receive the treatment they deserve, Findlater comments. “Mirror Images is out to change that and set a new industry standard. In a profession that is clearly maturing and gradually winning the status it deserves, clients need protection.”

Supplying professional actors and actresses to many facets of the entertainment business, the company’s clients appear in an abundance of commercials across the world, advertising well-known consumer brands, both on camera and behind the microphone. In film, clients appear as doubles, in flashback scenes depicting well-known Hollywood stars, and as key characters in television political satire programming, biographies, and comedy sketches. Many leading corporations also hire Mirror Image talent for corporate events, nationally and international where Look Alikes Tribute artists often perform live on stage.

Findlater has high standards for each of her entertainers. Beyond being a Look Alike, each entertainer is required to “be a performer, adopt the appropriate persona, impersonate, ad-lib, and present themselves as professional, consummate actors.”

Not only has Mirror Images raised the bar for its actors, Findlater continues to work to raise the level of respect for Look Alikes within the industry, as a whole.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Places in LA to take a best friend, there are several places everyone should go when first visiting Hollywood. The famous Mann’s Chinese Theatre a great historical building with some of Hollywood great recorded in stone well their hands and feet. Greystone mansion in Beverly Hills is a well kept secret once a private home with a dark secret, now a location spot for filming such as The Social Network and Xmen. The grounds are quite lovely for an afternoon stroll as you find out the history of this estate. Then of course on to Canters Deli on Fairfax Ave where the menu goes on forever, not to mention it has a bar adjacent you can enjoy an afternoon cocktail in the Kibitz Room, which features live music by rock bands. Down Town is a must to take one the the tours showing the old music halls/silent pictures of bygone years, the architecture is amazing some fully intact others you have to look past the market stalls set up within the building. Eating down town has lots of options from The Nickel Diner is found on an old stretch of Main Street in Downtown Los Angeles, in a space dating to the 1940s to the Original Pantry Café. cash-only diner has served loyal customers on the corner of Figueroa and James M Wood Boulevard since 1924. Then a quick hop on Angel Flight Railway (check if running) located on Bunker Hill short but sweet ride. Lots of fun and interesting historical things to do in LA to keep you guests amused for days…..

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I first got involved in this industry over 23 years ago I was approached by then author Bea Fogelman, she asked to interview me sharing my insights on this very niche industry as an agent. Of course I was flattered and fortunate enough to be quoted in two of her books “Copy Cats” & “Who’s Not Who” We shared our experiences discussing the in’s and out’s of this business. Our time chatting was priceless. She is certainly missed in our community.

Website: https://mirrorimages.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorimages.co/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirrorimagesco/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mirrorimagesco

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lookalikesforhire

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8y-w_OT44pb2fvS7LARpNA?view_as=subscriber

Image Credits
Eric Finch – Snoop Dogg Look Alike Michaela Weeks – Britney Spears Look Alike Jesse Ali – Jason Mamoa Look Alike Ben Cornish – Leonardo DiCaprio Look Alike Peter Lillyman – Justin Timberlake Look Alike Caroline Hodge – Oprah Winfrey Look Alike Connie Pena – Jay Lo Look Alike Bernetta Williams – Whoopie Goldberg

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.