Writing.Com General Discussion

Using real people and names is fine, so long as you do not defame them or put them in situations they would not be happy with.

However, using contemporary people immediately dates your work, and until those people have become historical figures themselves, the work ceases to be relevant for a long period of time. As background (like saying who the president of the US is) gives your work a time and date, but using them as characters can be seen as dating it, as can be seen with the comics with Superman interacting with Obama now feeling quaint.