Actors Who Performed Under Pseudonyms

Hollywood has a long history of performers adopting stage names to enhance their marketability or protect their personal privacy. Many famous actors choose pseudonyms to avoid confusion with existing performers or to distance themselves from well known families. These professional identities often become so iconic that audiences are unaware of the star’s actual birth name. The following list highlights prominent figures in the entertainment industry who have navigated their successful careers under adopted monikers.

Nicolas Cage

Born as Nicolas Kim Coppola this actor changed his name early in his career to distance himself from his famous uncle Francis Ford Coppola. He drew inspiration from the comic book character Luke Cage to create a professional identity that would stand on its own merit. This name change helped him land roles in ‘Moonstruck’ and ‘Leaving Las Vegas’ while avoiding constant comparisons to his directorial family members. He has since become one of the most prolific and recognizable figures in the industry under this adopted moniker.

Marilyn Monroe

Norma Jeane Mortenson began her career as a model before transforming into the legendary blonde bombshell known to the world today. Ben Lyon an executive at 20th Century Fox suggested the name Marilyn because she reminded him of the star Marilyn Miller. She chose Monroe because it was a name from her mother’s family history which completed the classic Hollywood persona. This change accompanied her rise in films like ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ and ‘The Seven Year Itch’ where she became a global cultural icon.

Whoopi Goldberg

Caryn Elaine Johnson adopted her stage name based on a joke about her tendency to experience flatulence during performances. Her mother suggested that she use a more traditional sounding surname like Goldberg to be taken more seriously in the entertainment industry. This unique combination of a comedic nickname and a classic surname became her official professional title before she starred in ‘The Color Purple’ and ‘Sister Act’ programs. She eventually earned the rare EGOT status including an Oscar for her role in ‘Ghost’ under this identity.

Jamie Foxx

Eric Marlon Bishop started his career as a stand up comedian and noticed that female performers were often called to the stage first. He chose the gender neutral name Jamie to increase his chances of getting stage time at comedy clubs. He selected the surname Foxx as a tribute to the legendary comedian Redd Foxx who starred in ‘Sanford and Son’ during the 1970s. This strategic move led to his breakout role on the sketch show ‘In Living Color’ and an Academy Award for ‘Ray’ years later.

Michael Caine

Maurice Joseph Micklewhite changed his name because there was already another actor with his birth name registered in the industry. He chose his pseudonym after seeing a poster for the film ‘The Caine Mutiny’ while standing in a phone booth. The actor legally changed his name to Michael Caine in 2016 to simplify airport security procedures after years of using his birth name on official documents. He achieved international stardom in ‘Alfie’ and ‘The Italian Job’ while maintaining this screen identity for over six decades.

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Kathleen Ruston was born in Belgium and lived through the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. Her father began using the surname Hepburn Ruston after mistakenly believing he was descended from an English aristocrat named James Hepburn. She shortened this to Audrey Hepburn when she started her acting and modeling career in London during the late 1940s. This name became synonymous with elegance and grace following her breakout performance in ‘Roman Holiday’ and later ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ on the big screen.

Natalie Portman

Neta Lee Hershlag was born in Jerusalem and moved to the United States when she was a young child. She adopted her grandmother’s maiden name as her professional pseudonym to protect her family’s privacy when she secured her first major role. This decision coincided with her debut in the film ‘Leon The Professional’ which launched her into the international spotlight at a young age. She has since used this name while winning an Academy Award for ‘Black Swan’ and starring in the ‘Star Wars’ prequel trilogy.

Jackie Chan

Chan Kong sang received his famous nickname while working as a construction worker in Canberra Australia. A fellow worker named Jack took him under his wing and people began calling the future star Little Jack which eventually became Jackie. He had previously used various stage names including Chen Yuen Lung while working as a stuntman in early Hong Kong cinema. He fully embraced the name Jackie Chan as he transitioned into international stardom with ‘Rumble in the Bronx’ and the ‘Rush Hour’ film series.

Vin Diesel

Mark Sinclair worked as a bouncer at several New York City nightclubs before becoming a major Hollywood action star. He created the name Vin by shortening his mother’s married name of Vincent to sound tougher and more professional. His friends gave him the nickname Diesel because they said he was always full of energy and never seemed to run out of fuel. He used this stage name when he wrote and directed his first short film ‘Multi Facial’ before achieving fame in ‘The Fast and the Furious’ franchise.

Charlie Sheen

Carlos Irwin Estévez followed in the footsteps of his father by adopting a stage name that sounded more English for the American market. He took the surname Sheen from his father Martin and chose the first name Charlie as a derivative of his birth name Carlos. This change allowed him to establish himself in the 1980s with leading roles in ‘Platoon’ and ‘Wall Street’ which defined his early career. Despite the pseudonym he has occasionally used his birth name in the credits of films like ‘Machete Kills’ to honor his heritage.

Martin Sheen

Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez moved to New York to pursue acting and found that casting directors were often biased against his Hispanic name. He adopted the surname Sheen to honor the Catholic archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and chose Martin from a casting director friend. He never legally changed his name and remains Ramón Estévez on all official government documents and his driver’s license. Under this stage name he delivered legendary performances in ‘Apocalypse Now’ and the television series ‘The West Wing’ over his long career.

Ben Kingsley

Krishna Pandit Bhanji changed his name shortly after joining the Royal Shakespeare Company to avoid any potential prejudice from casting agents. He chose the name Ben as a tribute to his grandfather and the surname Kingsley because it sounded strong and successful. The actor has stated that he feared a foreign sounding name would hamper his chances of getting leading roles in British theater and film. This transformation preceded his Academy Award winning performance in ‘Gandhi’ and his role as a villain in ‘Iron Man 3’ for modern audiences.

Helen Mirren

Ilyena Lydia Vasilievna Mironov was born to a Russian father and an English mother in London. Her father legally changed the family surname to Mirren in the 1950s to help the family blend in more easily with British society. She began her professional acting career using the shortened name and became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her career spans decades with iconic roles in ‘The Queen’ and the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise where she is credited as Helen Mirren.

Michael Keaton

Michael John Douglas needed to change his name because the Screen Actors Guild already had members named Michael Douglas and Mike Douglas. He chose the surname Keaton by looking through a list of names and liking the sound of it rather than as a tribute to other actors. He has maintained this professional identity throughout his successful career in films such as ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘Batman’ while keeping his legal name private. Recently he has expressed a desire to be credited as Michael Keaton Douglas to acknowledge his true heritage in future projects.

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Rafael Bottom spent his early childhood traveling with his family as part of a religious group before they settled in the United States. His parents changed the family surname to Phoenix to symbolize a new beginning and a rebirth after leaving their past life behind. Joaquin also used the name Leaf Phoenix for several years during his time as a child actor in ‘SpaceCamp’ and other early roles. He eventually returned to his birth name of Joaquin while keeping the symbolic surname Phoenix for his adult career in ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Joker’ films.

Olivia Wilde

Olivia Jane Cockburn decided to adopt a stage name during her high school years as a tribute to the famous Irish writer Oscar Wilde. She came from a family of prominent journalists and writers and wanted to maintain a connection to the literary world while forging her own path. This change occurred before she began her professional career in television shows like ‘The O.C.’ and ‘House’ where she gained widespread recognition. She has continued to use this name as she transitioned into directing with the film ‘Booksmart’ and ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ in recent years.

Julianne Moore

Julie Anne Smith discovered that there were already many actresses with her birth name when she attempted to join the Screen Actors Guild. She decided to combine her first name with her middle name to create the unique professional moniker Julianne. She took her father’s middle name Moore as her new surname to satisfy the requirements of the union while honoring her family. This name became her permanent identity in Hollywood as she earned critical acclaim in ‘Boogie Nights’ and ‘Still Alice’ throughout the decades.

Sigourney Weaver

Susan Alexandra Weaver chose her professional name at the age of fourteen after reading the novel ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald. She took the name Sigourney from a minor character mentioned in the book because she felt that Susan was too short for her tall frame. This distinctive name helped her stand out in the competitive world of acting before she landed her breakout role as Ripley in ‘Alien’ during the late 1970s. She has since become a legendary figure in science fiction and drama while consistently using this literary inspired pseudonym.

Woody Allen

Allan Stewart Konigsberg began his career as a comedy writer and stand up performer in New York City. He adopted the name Woody Allen when he was seventeen years old to protect his privacy while submitting jokes to various newspaper columns. The name stuck as he transitioned from writing gags to performing his own material and eventually directing landmark films like ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘Manhattan’ for global audiences. He has operated under this pseudonym for the entirety of his long and influential career in the entertainment industry.

Christopher Walken

Ronald Walken was a child actor who performed under his birth name for many years in various television and theater productions. He changed his name to Christopher in 1964 after a friend and fellow performer suggested that it suited his personality and appearance much better. He officially adopted the new name just before his career began to take off with roles in ‘The Deer Hunter’ and ‘The Dead Zone’ during the 1970s and 1980s. The name Christopher Walken has since become synonymous with his unique delivery and intense screen presence in Hollywood.

Judy Garland

Frances Ethel Gumm began performing as part of the Gumm Sisters before a theater producer suggested the group change their name to something more appealing. She chose the surname Garland and later took the first name Judy from a popular song of the era titled Judy. This transformation occurred shortly before she signed with MGM and became a child star in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ as Dorothy Gale. Her professional name remains one of the most famous in cinema history despite the tragic difficulties she faced throughout her life and career.

Rock Hudson

Roy Harold Scherer Jr. was given his stage name by his first agent Henry Willson who was famous for creating masculine sounding names for his clients. The name was a combination of the Rock of Gibraltar and the Hudson River to project an image of strength and stability to moviegoers. This branding helped him become one of the most popular leading men of the 1950s and 1960s in films like ‘Giant’ and ‘Pillow Talk’ opposite Doris Day. He lived his entire public life under this pseudonym while keeping his personal life and true identity largely hidden from the press.

Kirk Douglas

Issur Danielovitch was the son of Russian Jewish immigrants and wanted a name that would be easier for American audiences to pronounce and remember. He chose the name Kirk because it sounded rugged and Douglas because it was a traditional and respectable surname. This change helped him secure roles in the theater and later in major films like ‘Spartacus’ and ‘Paths of Glory’ where he became a legendary star. He remained Kirk Douglas for the rest of his life and his children also used the surname for their own successful careers.

Cary Grant

Archibald Leach was an English actor who moved to the United States and performed in vaudeville before signing a contract with Paramount Pictures. The studio insisted that he change his name to something more sophisticated and suggested several options including Cary Grant. He initially disliked the name but eventually agreed to use it as he rose to fame in classic films like ‘North by Northwest’ and ‘The Philadelphia Story’ for various directors. He famously remarked that he pretended to be Cary Grant for so long that he eventually became that person in his public life.

John Wayne

Marion Robert Morrison was a football player turned prop man who was given his stage name by director Raoul Walsh and studio executive Winfield Sheehan. They chose the name John Wayne because it sounded like a strong American pioneer and suited the western roles he began to play. He had no say in the choice of his new name but embraced it as he became the face of the American Western in ‘Stagecoach’ and ‘The Searchers’ for many years. He is still remembered today as the Duke and remains an iconic figure of 20th century cinema under this pseudonym.

Gene Wilder

Jerome Silberman adopted his stage name at the age of twenty six because he could not envision a marquee with his birth name on it. He took the name Gene from the character Eugene Gant in ‘Look Homeward, Angel’ and the surname Wilder from the playwright Thornton Wilder. This identity accompanied his rise to fame in comedic masterpieces such as ‘The Producers’ and ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’ throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He remained Gene Wilder until his death and is celebrated for his unique comedic timing and gentle screen presence.

Tom Cruise

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV decided to use his middle name as his surname to simplify his professional identity when he started acting. He dropped the Mapother and the numeral to create a punchier name that would be easier for fans and industry professionals to remember. This change coincided with his early roles in ‘Taps’ and ‘The Outsiders’ before he became a global superstar in ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Mission Impossible’ films. He is now one of the highest paid and most recognizable actors in the world using this shortened version of his birth name.

Brie Larson

Brianne Sidonie Desaulniers chose her stage name because her French surname was difficult for people in the American entertainment industry to pronounce correctly. She took the surname Larson from her great grandmother and also from an American Girl doll named Kirsten Larson that she owned as a child. This change helped her feel more comfortable in auditions and eventually led to her breakout performance in ‘Short Term 12’ and her Oscar win for ‘Room’ later. She continues to use this name while starring as Captain Marvel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.

Diane Keaton

Diane Hall was forced to change her surname because there was already an actress named Diane Hall registered with the Screen Actors Guild. She chose her mother’s maiden name Keaton to satisfy the union requirements while keeping her given first name for her career. This professional name became famous through her collaborations with Woody Allen in ‘Annie Hall’ and her role in ‘The Godfather’ trilogy. She has enjoyed a long and distinguished career under this name and has become a style icon and respected director in her own right.

Meg Ryan

Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra shortened her name and changed her surname when she joined the Screen Actors Guild to make it more commercial. She took the name Ryan from her grandmother’s maiden name to create a simple and memorable professional identity for her acting work. This change preceded her rise to fame as the queen of romantic comedies in films like ‘When Harry Met Sally’ and ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ during the 1980s and 1990s. She has maintained this pseudonym throughout her entire career in the film industry as an actress and filmmaker.

Winona Ryder

Winona Laura Horowitz was given her stage name during a phone call with her father when he was listening to an album by Mitch Ryder. She decided to use the surname Ryder professionally because it sounded cool and fit the image she wanted to project as a young actress. This decision occurred just as she was being cast in her first film ‘Lucas’ which launched her successful career in the late 1980s. She went on to star in iconic movies like ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘Edward Scissorhands’ and later the hit series ‘Stranger Things’ under this name.

Portia de Rossi

Amanda Lee Rogers legally changed her name at the age of fifteen because she wanted to reinvent herself and create a more exotic identity. She chose the name Portia from a character in the William Shakespeare play ‘The Merchant of Venice’ and added the Italian sounding surname de Rossi. This transformation occurred before she began her professional acting career in Australia and later moved to the United States for television work. She gained international fame in ‘Ally McBeal’ and ‘Arrested Development’ using this carefully crafted pseudonym that she eventually made legal.

Spike Lee

Shelton Jackson Lee was given the nickname Spike by his mother because he was a tough and difficult baby who never seemed to stop crying. He embraced this nickname as he grew up and eventually used it as his professional name when he began directing and acting in his own films. His career took off with ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ and ‘Do the Right Thing’ where he established himself as a prominent voice in American independent cinema. He is now widely known as Spike Lee and rarely uses his birth name in any public or professional capacity.

Ashton Kutcher

Christopher Ashton Kutcher decided to use his middle name professionally when he started his career as a model and actor in the late 1990s. He felt that Ashton was a more distinctive and modern sounding name than Christopher for the roles he was pursuing at the time. This choice helped him land his breakout role as Michael Kelso on ‘That 70s Show’ which made him a household name among younger audiences. He has continued to use Ashton Kutcher for his work in films like ‘The Butterfly Effect’ and his various business and venture capital endeavors.

Demi Moore

Demetria Gene Guynes used her first husband’s surname Moore even after their marriage ended to maintain consistency in her professional acting career. She shortened her given name Demetria to Demi to create a more accessible and catchy stage name for Hollywood auditions and credits. This name became synonymous with her status as a leading lady in ‘Ghost’ and ‘G.I. Jane’ during the peak of her fame in the 1990s. She has remained Demi Moore throughout her subsequent marriages and her long career as a prominent figure in the entertainment world.

Emma Stone

Emily Jean Stone had to change her name because the Screen Actors Guild already had an actress named Emily Stone on their professional roster. She initially tried the name Riley Stone but eventually settled on Emma because it was a nickname her mother had given her as a child. This name change occurred before she rose to prominence in comedies like ‘Superbad’ and her Academy Award winning role in ‘La La Land’ later on. She has frequently discussed the necessity of the change in interviews while noting that friends and family still call her Emily in private.

Jonah Hill

Jonah Hill Feldstein decided to drop his surname for his professional life to create a shorter and more impactful name for his acting credits. He chose to use his first and middle names Jonah Hill which became his official identity as he started appearing in Judd Apatow comedies. This decision helped him establish a unique brand as he transitioned from comedic roles in ‘Superbad’ to dramatic performances in ‘Moneyball’ and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ movies. His sister Beanie Feldstein chose to keep the family surname for her own successful acting career in theater and film.

Lady Gaga

Stefani Germanotta created her stage name after a music producer compared her vocal style to the Queen song ‘Radio Ga Ga’ during a recording session. She began using the name Lady Gaga in the New York City club scene before transitioning into acting with roles in ‘American Horror Story’ and ‘A Star Is Born’ for global audiences. The name became a central part of her artistic persona and helped her achieve massive success as both a singer and a critically acclaimed actress. She is now credited as Lady Gaga in all of her film and television projects despite her well known birth name.

Kit Harington

Christopher Catesby Harington did not realize his actual name was Christopher until he was eleven years old because his family always called him Kit. He decided to use the nickname as his professional name when he began acting in theater and eventually landed the role of Jon Snow. This choice made him instantly recognizable to fans of ‘Game of Thrones’ and helped him build a career in action films and historical dramas. He has maintained the name Kit Harington for all of his screen credits including his entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in recent years.

Blake Lively

Blake Ellender Brown adopted her mother’s maiden name Lively as her professional surname when she decided to follow her family into the acting business. Her father Ernie Brown also took the surname Lively when he married her mother and used it for his own career as an actor and director. This name change helped the family maintain a consistent professional brand within the industry across multiple generations of performers. She became a major star under this name in the television series ‘Gossip Girl’ and films like ‘The Age of Adaline’ over the last two decades.

Tell us which of these actor name changes surprised you the most by sharing your thoughts in the comments.