<P> In 2008, Forrest Gump was named the 20th greatest movie character of all time by Empire magazine . In the film, Forrest is portrayed essentially as a heroic character who faces a variety of setbacks and misfortunes yet maintains a compassionate and forward - looking attitude . He tries to help every person whom he meets, despite his strong naivety . </P> <P> Forrest was born near the small town of Greenbow, Alabama, on June 6, 1944 . His father was absent during his life, and his mother said he was "on vacation". His mother named Forrest after their ancestor Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Scotch - Irish American and a noted Confederate general in the American Civil War and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan . She intended his name to be a reminder that "sometimes we all do things that, well, just don't make no sense". </P> <P> Forrest was born with strong legs but a crooked spine . He was forced to wear leg braces which made walking difficult and running near impossible . He also had a relatively low I.Q. of 75, which nearly prevented him from being accepted into public school . (His mother managed to get the principal to reconsider by letting him have intercourse with her .) Despite his physical and mental challenges, Forrest's mother told him not to let anyone tell him he was different, telling him "stupid is as stupid does". </P> <P> Forrest and his mother lived in a large house just outside the town of Greenbow . They made money by renting out rooms to travelers . One of their guests was a young Elvis Presley . Forrest liked dancing to Elvis' music and his leg braces gave him a unique dancing style that would inspire Elvis's "hip dancing", for his song "Hound Dog". </P>

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