Many famous people become household names, but more than you think aren’t using the name they were given at birth. Here, we look at some famous people who have changed their names.
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise was originally Thomas Cruise Mapother IV. Early in his career, he changed his name for personal and professional reasons. Tom’s agency asked him to abbreviate his name. In addition, he wished to put his violent father far behind him.
Elton John
Reginald Kenneth Dwight is Elton John’s real name. In honour of his Bluesology bandmates, he renamed himself “John” after vocalist Long John Baldry and “Elton” after saxophone Elton Dean. In addition, he adopted Hercules as his middle name.
Michael Caine
Maurice Joseph Micklewhite was Michael Caine’s original name. He changed it because his original name was already being used by someone else. While talking with his agency over the phone about coming up with a new name, he noticed a movie theatre poster for “The Caine Mutiny”.
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was originally named Norma Jeane. Marilyn Monroe has become a Hollywood icon, and she began her career in entertainment in the late 1940s when she became a pin-up model. During this time, she began to pursue an acting career, and in 1946 she signed a six-month contract with 20th Century Fox.
Natalie Portman
Born in Jerusalem on June 9, 1981, Natalie Portman’s real name is Natalie Hershlag. Natalie decided to take on the stage ” Portman ” to forge her identity in the very competitive acting industry. She chose her grandmother’s maiden name to honour her family’s history.
Whoopi Goldberg
For reasons related to her personal and professional life, Whoopi Goldberg renamed herself from Caryn Elaine Johnson. She loved whoopee cushions and was frequently gassy, so she decided to go by the name Whoopi. To appeal to Hollywood and emphasise her Jewish background, she changed her last name to Goldberg. She believed her new name was catchier and more appropriate for her comedic career.
Kirk Douglas
Kirk thought his original name, Izzy Demsky, was “too unwieldy and too Semitic” for Hollywood at the time. Before joining the US Navy in World War II, he changed his name to Kirk Douglas.
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