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FYI Dept: The real names of celebrities

Posted on 06/05/2007 6:22:46 AM PDT by yankeedame

The real names of celebrities in the public eye

Stage Names

The real names of famous celebrities - their pseudonyms uncovered.

There are many reasons for choosing a stage name instead of using your birth name. Often names are changed because they don't have the right sound or they are thought to be too plain and ordinary. Sometimes people wish to conceal their family origins. Another reason for changing a name, particularly in the acting profession, is that many acting organisations specifically prevent more then one member having the same name. For example David Walliams of Little Britain fame changed his name from Williams because of an existing member of Equity Acting Association

Celebrity Stage Name Real Name
50 Cent Curtis Jackson
Adam Ant Stuart Leslie Goddard
Adam Faith Terence Nelhams
Alice Cooper Vincent Damon Furnier
Anna Nicole Smith Vickie Lynn Hogan
Axl Rose William Bailey
Barbara Windsor Barbara-Ann Deeks
Barry Manilow Barry Alan Pinkus
Benny Hill Alfred Hawthorne Hill
Bez Mark Berry
Big Daddy Shirley Crabtree
Bill Wyman William Perks
Billy Idol William Broad
Billy Ocean Leslie Sabastian Charles
Bing Crosby Harry Lillis Crosby
Bob Dylan Robert Allen Zimmerman
Bono Paul Hewson
Boy George George O Dowd
Brigette Bardot Camille Javal
Buddy Holly Charles Hardin Holley
Carmen Electra Tara Patrick
Charlie Sheen Carlos Irwin Estevez
Charlton Heston John Charles Carter
Cher Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPiere
Cheryl Baker Rita Crudgington
Chris De Burgh Christopher Davidson
Cilla Black Priscilla White
Cliff Richard Harry Webb
Crystal Gayle Brenda Gail Webb
David Bowie David Robert Jones
David Copperfield David Kotkin
David Essex David Albert Cook
David Jason David John White
David Tennant David McDonald
David Walliams David Williams
Demi Moore Demetria Gene Guynes
Diana Ross Diane Earle
Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong
DJ Jazzy Jeff Jeffrey Townes
Elle Macpherson Eleanor Gow
Elton John Reginald Dwight
Elvis Costello Declan Mcmanus
Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III
Englebert Humperdinck Arnold George Dorsey
(Gerry Dorsey was an earlier stage name)
Eric Clapton Eric Clapp
Frank Skinner Chris Collins
Freddie Mercury Farrokh Bulsara
Freddie Starr Freddie Powell
Gary Glitter Paul Gadd
Gary Numan Gary Webb
Gene Wilder Jerome Silberman
George Michael Georgios Panaylotou
George Orwell Eric Blair
Gloria Estefan Gloria Fajardo
Goldie Clifford Price
Harry Houdini Erich Weiss
Hulk Hogan Terry Bollea
Janet Street Porter Janet Bull
Jennifer Aniston Jennifer Anastassakis
Joe Strummer John Graham Mellor
John Cleese John Cheese
John Wayne Marion Morrison
Jordan Katie Price
Kenny Everett Maurice Cole
Lulu Marie Lawrie
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone
Marilyn Manson Brian Warner
Marilyn Monroe Norma Baker
Meatloaf Marvin Aday
Meg Ryan Margaret Hyra
Mel Gibson Columcille Gibson
Michael Barrymore Michael Parker
Michael Caine Maurice Micklewhite
Michael Crawford Michael Dumble-Smith
Moby Richard Melville Hall
Mos Def Dante Terrell Smith
Natalie Portman Natalie Hershlag
Neil Diamond Noah Kaminsky
Nicolas Cage Nicolas Coppola
Nina Ricci Maria Nielli
Nina Simone Eunice Wayman
Omar Sharif Michael Shalhoub
Ozzy Osbourne John Osbourne
Paul McCartney James Paul McCartney
Pink Alecia Moore
Prince Prince Nelson
Ralph Lauren Ralph Lipschitz
Ricky Martin Enrique Morales
Ringo Starr Richard Starkey
Robert Palmer Alan Batley
Russ Abbot Russell Roberts
Seal Sealhenry Samuel
Shakin Stevens Michael Barratt
Snoop Doggy Dogg Calvin Broadus
Spike Milligan Terence Alan Milligan
Stevie Wonder born Steveland Judkins
changed to Steveland Morris
Stewart Granger James Lablanche Stewart
Sting Gordon Sumner
Suggs Graham Mc Pherson
The Edge David Evans
Tiger Woods Eldrick Woods
Tina Turner Anna Bullock
Tom Cruise Thomas Cruise Mapother IV
Twiggy Lesley Hornby
Vanilla Ice Robert Van Winkle
Vic Reeves Jim Moir
Vin Diesel Mark Vincent
Whoopi Goldberg Caryn Johnson
Woody Allen Allen Konigsberg

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To: GreenLanternCorps

Actually, little known fact: “Love” is actually her stage name, in reference to her feelings towards me.

:-P


21 posted on 06/05/2007 9:06:51 AM PDT by pcottraux (Fred Thompson pronounces it "P. Coe-troe"...in 2008.)
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To: yankeedame
Vanilla Ice = Robert Van Winkle

Now people are going to stalk the guy! sheesh! :o)

22 posted on 06/05/2007 9:21:58 AM PDT by IllumiNaughtyByNature (I buy gas for my SUV with the Carbon Offsets I sell on Ebay!)
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To: yankeedame
Vanilla Ice = Robert Van Winkle

Funniest skit ever...

Vanilla Ice

23 posted on 06/05/2007 9:24:18 AM PDT by IllumiNaughtyByNature (I buy gas for my SUV with the Carbon Offsets I sell on Ebay!)
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To: JamesP81

I knew a lot of these. David Bowie had to change from his given David Jones to avoid confusion with one of the Monkees.
A soul singer, Barrence Whitfield, had to change his name
from his given monikker of...Barry White...similar reason.

Didn’t know about Manilow (my sister’s a huge fan). Pinkus?

Some “name droppers”:
Tom Cruise= Thomas Cruise Mapother
Ann Margret (Olson)
George Ivan “Van” Morrison

baseball division:
Anthony Nomar Garciaparra (goes by middle name, which is
his dad’s first name spelled backwards)

William Roger Clemens
Christopher Trotman “Trot” Nixon


24 posted on 06/05/2007 9:26:34 AM PDT by raccoonradio
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To: raccoonradio

another name dropper:
Willard Mitt Romney


25 posted on 06/05/2007 9:27:29 AM PDT by raccoonradio
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To: raccoonradio

Larry King = Larry Ziger
Jerry Williams (talk radio legend) = Gerald Jacoby
Jimmy Severino = Jay Severin
if not mentioned above, Chevy Chase’s real first name
is Cornelius

in the world of punk
Johnny Rotten = John Lydon
Jello Biafra = Eric Boucher
Sid Vicious = Simon John Ritchie, later Simon John Beverley


26 posted on 06/05/2007 9:33:14 AM PDT by raccoonradio
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To: pcottraux

In your dreams pal...

Besides, I’ve already worked out a plan to meet, woo, and marry her. Unfortunately my wife objected, so that went no where. ;-)


27 posted on 06/05/2007 9:42:46 AM PDT by GreenLanternCorps (Past the schoolhouse / Take it slow / Let the little / Shavers grow / BURMA-SHAVE)
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To: jaydubya2
Snope is no better than Wikipedia for veracity. Both are run by partisan leftists who bend the truth as is suits their politics.
28 posted on 06/05/2007 10:13:05 AM PDT by weegee (Libs want us to learn to live with terrorism, but if a gun is used they want to rewrite the Const.)
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To: pcottraux
There are rules I must follow...


29 posted on 06/05/2007 10:19:16 AM PDT by GreenLanternCorps (Past the schoolhouse / Take it slow / Let the little / Shavers grow / BURMA-SHAVE)
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To: GreenLanternCorps
Unfortunately my wife objected, so that went no where. ;-)

Ha! The upper hand is mine!

30 posted on 06/05/2007 10:22:11 AM PDT by pcottraux (Fred Thompson pronounces it "P. Coe-troe"...in 2008.)
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To: pcottraux

“Ha! The upper hand is mine!”

So that’ll be your photo under the headline “STALKER ARRESTED”?


31 posted on 06/05/2007 10:27:40 AM PDT by GreenLanternCorps (Past the schoolhouse / Take it slow / Let the little / Shavers grow / BURMA-SHAVE)
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To: GreenLanternCorps

No, it’ll be her photo.

I’ll finally have had enough of her calling me all the time. Sheesh. Doesn’t she know how busy I am?

I would join you in the photo-posting thing, but I’m at work right now, and don’t want to risk my boss barging into my cubicle and finding me looking at pictures of JLH. That would just be weird.


32 posted on 06/05/2007 10:31:38 AM PDT by pcottraux (Fred Thompson pronounces it "P. Coe-troe"...in 2008.)
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To: pcottraux

LOL!!!


33 posted on 06/05/2007 10:32:47 AM PDT by GreenLanternCorps (Past the schoolhouse / Take it slow / Let the little / Shavers grow / BURMA-SHAVE)
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To: yankeedame; All

I am a performer myself, with some professional credits and aspirations of a career one day, and have tossed around the idea of a professional name for some time.

“Paul Klenk” is not exactly a singer name. It would be fine if I limited my career to acting and comedy, but singers can’t have a name like Klenk. Just doesn’t work in the business.

For a while I used my grandmother’s maiden name, Strandberg. When I explored standup comedy, for a very short while, I used the the Robert Rittenhouse. Robert is my middle name and I liked the name Rittenhouse from a character in Marx Brothers’ Animal Crackers.

Well, finally, I’ve settled on my last name — if ever I do use one seriously. The name is Easterday.

Mrs. Easterday was my Kindergarten teacher, and I was in love with her. So I sort of feel like it’s family name, in a way.

Plus, it’s very musical, and it reflects my faith in Jesus Christ. Easterday comes from the German Ostertag.

Eric/Erik, Jonathan, Jon, Andrew, Jan (Scandinavian), Paulie (nah) are some of the first names I’ve considered.

Your thoughts, friends, are welcome.

Silly


34 posted on 06/05/2007 10:33:14 AM PDT by Silly (http://www.paulklenk.us)
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To: pcottraux
I’ll finally have had enough of her calling me all the time. Sheesh. Doesn’t she know how busy I am?

You hate to get the restraining order, but some women just don't know when it's over.

35 posted on 06/05/2007 10:37:28 AM PDT by Oberon (What does it take to make government shrink?)
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To: madison10

I have no idea! I got it from a search and found it on some websites. They didn’t say.


36 posted on 06/05/2007 11:34:29 AM PDT by Shimmer128 (Life isn't fair, but it's still good.)
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To: Silly

Hey there Silly,

If you ever come to Frederick, Maryland, the fine folks at Easterday Well Drilling will pump out your septic tank for a very reasonable fee!

Cheers!


37 posted on 06/05/2007 4:08:16 PM PDT by mrs. a (It's a short life but a merry one...)
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