Erich Stoltenberg (My BDM|) was a product of characters in movies, tv shows and books including Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, The Americans, Covert Affairs and Gideon's Spies: A history of the Mossad. His story though (The Gambler), is completely a product of my imagination.
Chester Nolan, my merc is an extreme version Chester Bennington (both are musicians and have insane tattoos). I say extreme because this character is also an ex-Navy, ex-adult film star (yes, really, though a very minor star) and a cardamine addict.