Celebrity Real Names
Our list of celebrity real names will reveal the true identities (their birth names) and help you to answer or create questions, such as ‘Which illusionist was born ‘Erich Weiss’ ?
Celebrities change their names for a number of reasons, whether to conceal family origins, not wanting to sound too plain, but quite often, especially in the acting profession, a member of the Equity Acting Association has the same name, which is not allowed in the profession.
Celebrity Stage Name (A) / Celebrity Real Names
A. J. McLean / Alexander James McLean
Abigail Van Buren / Pauline Phillips
Agatha Christie / Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller
Ahmad Rashad / Bobby Moore
Al Pacino / Alfredo James Pacino
Alan Alda / Alphonse D'Abruzzo
Albert Brooks / Albert Einstein
Alice Cooper / Vincent Damon Furnier
Alicia Keys / Alicia Augello-Cook
Al Jolson / Asa Yoelson
Andie MacDowell / Rosalie Anderson MacDowell
Andre the Giant / Andre Roussinoff
Andy Garcia / Andres Arturo Garcia-Menendez
Andy Richter / Paul Andrew Richter
Andy Warhol / Andrew Warhola
Ann Landers / Esther Pauline Lederer
Ann Sothern / Harriet Lake
Ann-Margret / Ann-Margret Olsson
Anne Bancroft / Anne Italiano
Anne Rice / Howard Allen O'Brien
Anthony Franciosa / Anthony Papaleo
Artie Shaw / Arthur Arshowsky
Ashton Kutcher / Christopher Ashton Kutcher
Audrey Hepburn / Audrey Hepburn-Ruston
August Wilson / Frederick August Kittel
Celebrity Stage Name (B) / Celebrity Real Names
Barbara Eden / Barbara Huffman
Barbara Hershey / Barbara Herzstine
Barbra Streisand / Barbara Streisand
Barry Gibb / Douglas Gibb
Beatrice Arthur / Bernice Frankel
Beau Bridges / Lloyd Vernet-Bridges III
Beck / Beck Hansen
Bela Lugosi / Bela Ferenc Blasko
Ben Kingsley / Krishna Ban
Bernadette Peters / Bernadette Lazzara
Bernie Mac / Bernard Jeffery McCullough
Bert Convy / Bernard Patrick Convy
Bert Lahr / Irving Lahrheim
Beverly Sills / Belle "Bubbles" Silverman
Billie Holiday / Eleanora Fagan
Billy Idol / William Broad
Bing Crosby / Harry Lillis Crosby
Bjork / Bjork Gudmundsdottir
Blondie / Deborah Harry
Bo Derek / Mary Cathleen Collins
Bob Costas / Robert Quinlan Costas
Bob Dylan / Robert Zimmerman
Bob Hope / Leslie Townes Hope
Bonnie Bedelia / Bonnie Culkin
Bono / Paul Hewson
Boris Karloff / William Henry Pratt
Bow Wow / Shad Moss
Boy George / George Alan O'Dowd
Brad Pitt / William Bradley Pitt
Brandy / Brandy Norwood
Brooke Shields / Christa Brooke Shields
Bruce Lee / Lee Yuen Kam
Bruce Willis / Walter Bruce Willis
Buddy Ebsen / Christian Ebsen, Jr.
Buddy Hackett / Leonard Hacker
Buffy Sainte-Marie / Beverly Sainte-Marie
Busta Rhymes / Trevor Smith
Butch Cassidy / Robert LeRoy Parker
Celebrity Stage Name (C) / Celebrity Real Names
Calamity Jane / Martha Jane Burke
Calvin Klein / Richard Klein
Camryn Manheim / Debra Manheim
Carlton Fredericks / Harold Casper Frederick Kaplan
Carmen Electra / Tara Leigh Patrick
Cary Grant / Archibald Leach
Chad Everett / Raymond Lee Cramton
Chaka Khan / Yvette Stevens
Charles Branson / Charles Buchinsky
Charles Grodin / Charles Grodinsky
Charlie Sheen / Carlos Irwin Estevez
Charo / Maria Rosaria Pilar Martinez
Cheryl Ladd / Cheryl Stoppelmoor
Cher / Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPierre
Chevy Chase / Cornelius Crane Chase
Chico Marx / Leonard Marx
Christian Slater / Christian Hawkins
Christopher Pike / Kevin McFadden
Christopher Walken / Ronald Walken
Chubby Checker / Ernest Evans
Chuck Norris / Carlos Ray Norris
Chyna / Joanie Laurer
Connie Francis / Concetta Franconero
Connie Stevens / Concetta Anne Ingolia
Courtney Love / Love Michelle Harrison
Crazy Horse / Tashunca-Uitco
Crystal Gayle / Brenda Gail Webb Gatzimos
Cy Young / Denton True Young
Celebrity Stage Name (D) / Celebrity Real Names
D'Angelo / Michael D'Angelo Archer
D. L. Hughley / Darryl Lynn Hughley
Dale Evans / Francis Octavia Smith
Dame Margot Fonteyn / Margaret Hookham
Danielle Steel / Danielle Schuelein-Steel
Danny DeVito / Daniel Michaeli
Danny Kaye / David Kaminsky
Danny Thomas / Amos Jacobs
David Bowie / David Hayward-Jones
David Copperfield / David Kotkin
Dawn Joyce / Elaine Vincent
Dean Martin / Dino Crocetti
Debbie Reynolds / Mary Frances Reynolds
Debra Winger / Mary Debra Winger
Delia Reese / Delloreese Patricia Early
Demi Moore / Demetria Gene Guynes
Diahann Carroll / Carol Diahann Johnson
Diana Ross / Diane Ernestine Ross
Diane Keaton / Diane Hall
Dinah Shore / Frances "Fanny" Rose Shore
Don Ameche / Dominic Felix Amici
Don Johnson / Donald Wayne
Donlmus / John Donald Imus, Jr.
Donna Karan / Donna Faske
Donna Reed / Donna Belle Mullenger
Donna Summer / LaDonna Gaines
Doris Day / Doris Kappelhoff
Douglas Fairbanks / Julius Ullman
Dr. Seuss / Theodore Seuss Geisel
Dyan Cannon / Samile Diane Friesen
Celebrity Stage Name (E-F) / Celebrity Real Names
Ed Asner / Yitzak Edward Asner
Ed Wynn / Isaiah Edwin Leopold
Eddie Albert / Edward Albert Heimberger
Edward G. Robinson / Emanuel Goldenberg
Elke Sommer / Elke Schletz
Elle Macpherson / Eleanor Gow
Ellen Burstyn / Edna Rae Gillooly
Elton John / Reginald Kenneth Dwight
Elvira / Cassandra Peterson
Elvis Costello / Declan Patrick McManus
Eminem / Marshall Mathers III
Engelbert Humperdinck / Arnold Dorsey
Eric Clapton / Eric Clapp
Ethel Merman / Ethel Zimmermann
Farrah Fawcett / Mary Farrah Fawcett
Faye Dunaway / Dorothy Faye Dunaway
Flip Wilson / Clerow Wilson
Fred Astaire / Frederick Austerlitz
Fredric March / Frederick Bickel
Celebrity Stage Name (G-H) / Celebrity Real Names
Garth Brooks / Troyal Garth Brooks
Gary Hart / Gary Hartpence
Gene Hinney / James Joseph Tlinney
Gene Wilder / Jerome Silberman
George Burns / Nathan Birnbaum
George Michael / Georgios Panayiotou
George Orwell / Eric Arthur Blair
Gerald Ford / Leslie Lynch King, Jr.
Geri Halliwell / Geraldine Estolle Halliwell
Ginger Rogers / Virginia McMath
Glenn Ford / Gwllyn Samuel Newton Ford
Goldberg / Bill Goldberg
Gore Vidal / Eugene Luther Vidal
Gregory Peck / Eldred Gregory Peck
Greta Garbo / Greta Gustafson
Groucho Marx / Julius Henry Marx
Gypsy Rose Lee / Louise Hovick
Hal Linden / Hal Lipshitz
Halston / Roy Halston Frowick
Hammer / Stanley Kirk Hacker Burrell
Harold Robbins / Francis Kane
Harpo Marx / Arthur Marx
Harry Houdini / Erich Weiss
Heath Ledger / Heathcliff Andrew Ledger
Helen Hayes / Helen Brown
Howard Cosell / Howard William Cohen
Huey Lewis / Hugh Cregg
Hugh O'Brian / Hugh J. Krampe
Hulk Hogan / Terry Bodello
Celebrity Stage Name (I-J) / Celebrity Real Names
Ice Cube / O'Shea Jackson
Ingmar Bergman / Ernst Ingmar Bergman
Ione Skye / Ione Skye Leitch
Irving Berlin / Israel Baline
Isak Dinesen / Baroness Karen Blixen
J. K. Rowling / Joanne Kathleen Rowling
J. R. R. Tolkien / John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
J. Chasez / Joshua Scott Chasez
Jack Benny / Joseph Kubelsky
Jack Lord / J. J. Ryan
Jack Palance / Walter Jack Palanuik
James Garner / James Baumgarner
Jamie Foxx / Eric Bishop
Jane Alexander / Jane Quigley
Jane Pauley / Margaret Jane Pauley
Jane Seymour / Joyce Frankenberg
Jane Wyman / Sarah Jane Fulks
Jason Alexander / Jay Scott Greenspan
Jay Leno / James Leno
Jay Mohr / Jon Ferguson Mohr
Jayne Mansfield / Vera Jane Palmer
Jean Stapleton / Jeanne Murray
Jenna Elfman / Jenna Butala
Jeri Ryan / Jeri Lynn Zimmerman
Jerry Lewis / Joseph Levitch
Jet Li / Li Lianjie
Jewel / Jewel Kilcher
Joan Crawford / Lucille Le Sueur
Joaquin Phoenix / Joaquin Raphael Bottom
Jodie Foster / Alicia Christian Foster
Joel Grey / Joel Katz
Joey Bishop Joseph Abraham Gottlieb
John Barrymore / John Blythe
John Denver / Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr.
John Forsythe / John Freund
John Saxon / Carmen Orrico
John Wayne / Marion Michael Morrison
John le Carre / John Moore Carnwell
Johnny Appleseed / John Chapman
Johnny Cash / J. R. Cash
Johnny Knoxville / Phillip John Clapp
Jon Bon Jovi / John Francis Bongiovi
Jon Stewart / Jon Stuart Liebowitz
Jonathan Taylor / Thomas Jonathan Weiss
Joni Mitchell / Roberta Joan Anderson Mitchell
Jude Law / David Jude Law
Judge Reinhold / Edward Ernest Reinhold, Jr.
Judith Krantz / Judith Tarcher
Judith Sheindlin / Judy Blum
Judy Garland / Frances Gumm
Julianne Moore / Julie Anne Smith
Julie Andrews / Julia Vernon
Celebrity Stage Name (K-L) / Celebrity Real Names
K. D. Lang / Katherine Dawn Lang
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar / Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr.
Karl Maiden / Mladen Sekulovich
Kate Capshaw / Kathleen Sue Nail
Kathie Lee / Gifford Kathie Epstein
Kid Rock / Robert James Ritchie
Kim Novak / Marilyn Pauline Novak
Kirk Douglas / Issur Danielovitch Demsky
Kreskin / George Joseph Kresge Jr.
Larry King / Larry Zeiger
Lauren Bacall / Betty Joan Perske
Lauren Hutton / Mary Laurence Hutton
Laurence Harvey / Lavrushka Skikne
Lee Grant / Lyova Haskell Rosenthal
Lee J. Cobb / Leo Jacob
Lee Majors / Harvey Lee Yeary II
Lee Remick / Ann Remick
Leelee Sobieski / Liliane Gloria Elsveta Sobieski
Leo Sayer / Gerald Sayer
Leon Trotsky / Lev Davydovich Bronstein
Lewis Carroll / Charles Lutwidge Dodgeson
Liberace / Wladziu Valentino Liberace
Lily Tomlin / Mary Jean Tomlin
Loretta Lynn / Loretta Webb
Loretta Young / Gretchen Young
Louis Jourdan / Louis Gendre
Celebrity Stage Name (M) / Celebrity Real Names
Macy Gray / Natalie Mclntyre
Madonna / Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone
Magic Johnson / Earvin Johnson
Malcolm X / Malcolm Little
Mama Cass Elliot / Ellen Naomi Cohen
Marg Helgenberger / Mary Margaret Helgenberger
Margaux Hemingway / Margot Hemmingway
Maria Callas / Maria Anna Sophia Kalogeropoulos
Marie Osmond / Olive Marie Osmond
Marilyn Manson / Brian Hugh Warner
Marilyn Monroe / Norma Baker
Mark Twain / Samuel Clemens
Marlene Dietrich / Maria von Losch
Martin Sheen / Ramon G. Estevez
Mary Beth / Hurt Mary Supinger
Master P / Percy Miller
Mata Hari / Margareth Geertruide Zelle
Max Brand / Gerald Kenneth Tierney
Max von Sydow / Carl Adolph von Sydow
Maya Angelou / Marguerite Annie Johnson
Meat Loaf / Marvin Lee Aday
Meg Ryan / Margaret Hyra
Mel Brooks / Melvin Kaminsky
Meryl Streep / Mary Louise Streep
Mia Farrow / Maria de Lourdes Villiers Farrow
Michael Bolton / Michael Bolotin
Michael Caine / Maurice Joseph Micklewhite
Michael Crichton / John Michael Crichton
Michael Fox / Michael Andrew Fox
Michael Keaton / Michael Douglas
Michael Landon / Eugene Michael Orowitz
Mickey Rooney / Joe Yule, Jr.
Mickey Spillane / Frank Morrison
Mike Douglas / Michael Delaney Dowd, Jr.
Mike Nichols / Michael Igor Peschkowsky
Mike Wallace / Myron Wallace
Milton Berle / Milton Berlinger
Minnie Pearl / Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon
Missy Elliott / Melissa Elliott
Morgan Fairchild / Patsy Ann McClenny
Mr. T / Lawrence Tureaud
Muddy Waters / McKinley Morganfield
Muhammad Ali / Cassius Marcellus Clay
Myrna Loy / Myrna Williams
Celebrity Stage Name (N) / Celebrity Real Names
Nancy Reagan / Anne Frances Robbins
Nancy Walker / Ann Myrtle Swoyer
Nastassia Kinski / Nastassja Naksynznki
Natalie Wood / Natasha Gurdin
Nathan Lane / Joseph Lane
Nathaniel West / Nathaniel Wallenstein
Neil Simon / Marvin Neil Simon
Nicolas Cage / Nicholas Coppola
Celebrity Stage Name (O-P) / Celebrity Real Names
Omar Sharif / Michael Shalhouz
Ozzy Osbourne / John Michael Osbourne
Pat Benetar / Patricia Andrejewski
Pat Boone / Charles Eugene Boone
Pat Morita / Noriyuki Morita
Patsy Cline / Virginia Patterson Hensley
Patty Duke / Anna Marie Duke
Paul McCartney / James Paul McCartney
Paula Prentiss / Paula Ragusa
Pearl Buck / Pearl Comfort Sydenstricker
Pee Wee Herman / Paul Rubenfeld
Peggy Lee / Norma Egstrom
Pele / Edson Arantes do Nascimento
Penny Marshall / Carole Penny Marshall
Perry Como / Pierino Como
Peter Graves / Peter Arness
Peter Lorre / Laszlo Loewenstein
Peter O'Toole / Seamus OToole
Phoebe Snow / Phoebe Loeb
Phyllis Diller / Phyllis Driver
Piper Laurie / Rosetta Jacobs
Portia de Rossi / Amanda Rogers
Prince / Prince Rogers Nelson
Priscilla Presley / Pricilla Wagner Beaulieu
Celebrity Stage Name (Q-R) / Celebrity Real Names
R. L. Stine / Robert Lawrence Stine
Ralph Lauren / Ralph Lifshitz
Randy Newman / Randall Stuart Newman
Randy Travis / Randy Traywick
Raquel Welch / Raquel Tejada
Ray Charles / Ray Charles Robinson
Redd Foxx / John Elroy Sanford
Reese Witherspoon / Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon
Rex Harrison / Reginald Cary
Richard Burton / Richard Jenkins
Ricky Martin / Enrique Jose Martin Morales
Ricky Nelson / Eric Hilliard Nelson
Ringo Starr / Richard Starkey
Rip Taylor / Charles Elmer, Jr.
Rip Torn / Elmore Rual Torn, Jr.
Rita Moreno / Rosita Dolores Alverio
Robbie Benson / Robert Segal
Robert Blake / Michael James Vijencio Gubitosi
Robert Guillaume / Robert Williams
Robert Redford / Charles Robert Redford
Robert Stack / Robert Modini
Robert Taylor / Spangler Brugh
Rock Hudson / Roy Scherer Jr.
Rodney Dangerfield / Jacob Cohen
Roy Rogers / Leonard Slye
Rudy Vallee / Hubert Prior Vallee
Celebrity Stage Name (S) / Celebrity Real Names
Sally Field / Sally Mahoney
Sandra Dee / Alexandra Zuck
Satchel Paige / Leroy Robert Paige
Sean Young / Mary Sean Young
Shaggy / Orville Richard Burrell
Shakira / Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
Shania Twain / Eileen Regina Twain
Shari Lewis / Shari Hurwitz
Sheena Easton / Sheena Shirley Orr
Shelley Winters / Shirley Schrift
Shirley MacLaine / Shirley Beaty
Sigourney Weaver / Susan Weaver
Sinbad / David Adkins
Sisqo / Mark Andrews
Sissy Spacek / Mary Elizabeth Spacek
Sitting Bull / Tatanka Iyotake
Sly Stone / Sylvester Stone
Snoop Dogg / Calvin Cordozar Broadus
Sonny Bono / Salvatore Bono
Sophia Loren / Sophia Villani Scicolone
Soupy Sales / Milton Supman
Spike Lee / Shelton Jackson Lee
Stan Laurel / Arthur Stanley Jefferson Laurel
Stephanie Powers / Stefania Federkiewicz
Steve Lawrence / Sidney Leibowitz
Steve McQueen / Terence Stephen McQueen
Steven Tyler / Steven Tallarico
Stevie Nicks / Stephanie Nicks
Stevie Wonder / Steveland Morris Hardaway
Sting / Gordon Matthew Sumner
Stockard Channing / Susan Antonia Williams Stockard
Sundance Kid / Harry Longbaugh
Susan Dey / Susan Smith
Susan Saint James / Susan Miller
Susan Sarandon / Susan Tomalin
Suzanne Somers / Suzanne Mahoney
Suze Orman / Suzie Orman
Sylvester Stallone / Michael Sylvester Stallone
Celebrity Stage Name (T) / Celebrity Real Names
Talia Shire / Talia Coppola
Tammy Wynette / Wynette Pugh
Tea Leoni / Elizabeth Tea Pantaleoni
Ted Knight / Tadeus Wladyslaw Konopka
Ted Turner / Robert Edward III
Thandie Newton / Thandiwe Newton
The Edge / David Evans
The Rock / Dwayne Douglas Johnson
Theresa Russell / Theresa Paup
Tiger Woods / Eldrick Woods
Tim Allen / Tim Allen Dick
Tina Turner / Anna Mae Bullock
Tiny Tim / Herbert Buckingham Khaury
Tom Cruise / Thomas Cruise Mapother IV
Tom Jones / Thomas Jones Woodward
Tom Seaver / George Thomas Seaver
Toni Morrison / Chloe Anthony Wofford
Tony Bennett / Anthony Dominick Benedetto
Tony Curtis / Bernard Schwartz
Tony Orlando / Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis
Tony Randall / Leonard Rosenberg
Tori Amos / Myra Ellen Amos
Truman Capote / Truman Steckfus Pearsons
Twiggy / Lesley Hornby
Celebrity Stage Name (U-V) / Celebrity Real Names
Vanilla Ice / Robert Van Winkle
Vic Reeves / Jim Moir
Vin Diesel / Mark Vincent
Celebrity Stage Name (W-Z) / Celebrity Real Names
Whoopi Goldberg / Caryn Johnson
Woody Allen / Allen Konigsberg
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