Actors You Didn’t Know Are Not Using Their Real Names

Plenty of well known leading men built their careers under names that are different from the ones on their birth certificates. Some changed names to avoid union conflicts or family connections, while others chose something shorter and easier to remember. A few picked brand new identities when they moved from stage to screen. Here are fifteen male actors whose professional names are not the ones they were born with.

Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton was born Michael John Douglas. He adopted Keaton to avoid a naming conflict with the already registered Michael Douglas. The change helped him work under Screen Actors Guild rules. Audiences know him from ‘Batman’, ‘Birdman’, and ‘Spotlight’.

Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx was born Eric Marlon Bishop. He chose a gender neutral first name early in stand up to get more stage time at open mics. The surname Foxx was a tribute to comedian Redd Foxx. Film and TV viewers know him from ‘Ray’, ‘Collateral’, and ‘In Living Color’.

Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel was born Mark Sinclair. He took Vin from his stepfather’s surname Vincent and kept Diesel from a nightclub nickname. The new name suited his early bouncer work and later action roles. He stars in ‘The Fast and the Furious’, ‘xXx’, and voices Groot in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’.

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage was born Nicolas Kim Coppola. He changed his surname to avoid perceptions of nepotism tied to the Coppola family. The name Cage drew inspiration from the comic character Luke Cage. His credits include ‘Leaving Las Vegas’, ‘Face/Off’, and ‘Adaptation’.

Ben Kingsley

Ben Kingsley was born Krishna Pandit Bhanji. He adopted an English sounding stage name while starting out in British theater. The change helped him navigate casting practices of that period. His notable work includes ‘Gandhi’, ‘Schindler’s List’, and ‘Sexy Beast’.

Woody Allen

Woody Allen was born Allan Stewart Konigsberg. He began using Woody Allen as a byline and stage identity during his comedy and writing years. The shorter name traveled easily from stand up to filmmaking. He is known for ‘Annie Hall’, ‘Manhattan’, and ‘Hannah and Her Sisters’.

Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks was born Albert Lawrence Einstein. He changed his surname to avoid confusion with the famous physicist. The update also made introductions simpler in clubs and casting offices. Audiences recognize him from ‘Broadcast News’, ‘Defending Your Life’, and ‘Drive’.

Cary Grant

Cary Grant was born Archibald Alexander Leach. The studio helped rebrand him when he transitioned from stage work to Hollywood. The new name fit the suave persona that defined his screen image. His films include ‘North by Northwest’, ‘Bringing Up Baby’, and ‘Notorious’.

Michael Caine

Michael Caine was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite Jr. He selected Caine after seeing a theater marquee for ‘The Caine Mutiny’. He later made the stage name his legal name. His roles include ‘Alfie’, ‘The Dark Knight’, and ‘The Cider House Rules’.

Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas was born Issur Danielovitch and used Demsky early on. He adopted Kirk Douglas to streamline casting and broaden opportunities. The shorter name became his public identity throughout a long career. He starred in ‘Spartacus’, ‘Paths of Glory’, and ‘Ace in the Hole’.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV. He shortened the name when he began acting professionally. The simplified version helped on posters and credits. His major projects include ‘Top Gun’, ‘Mission: Impossible’, and ‘Jerry Maguire’.

Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen was born Carlos Irwin Estévez. He adopted the Sheen surname used by his father for professional work. The change aligned his screen identity with family branding in Hollywood. Viewers know him from ‘Platoon’, ‘Wall Street’, and ‘Two and a Half Men’.

Martin Sheen

Martin Sheen was born Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez. He adopted a professional name while seeking roles on stage and television. The switch helped him book parts in an era with narrow casting expectations. His credits include ‘Apocalypse Now’, ‘Badlands’, and ‘The West Wing’.

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix was born Joaquin Rafael Bottom. His family adopted the Phoenix surname after a major life transition and he used it as his career name. The change symbolized a new start for the entire family. He is known for ‘Joker’, ‘Walk the Line’, and ‘Her’.

Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken was born Ronald Walken. He adopted Christopher during his early years in performance and dance troupes. The updated name remained as he moved into film and television. His work includes ‘The Deer Hunter’, ‘Catch Me If You Can’, and ‘Seven Psychopaths’.

John Wayne

John Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison and later recorded as Marion Mitchell Morrison. The studio urged a name change when he moved from bit parts to larger roles to fit the rugged image they were selling. He first used the name on early Westerns at Fox and Republic. Audiences know him from ‘Stagecoach’, ‘The Searchers’, and ‘True Grit’.

Gene Wilder

Gene Wilder was born Jerome Silberman. He chose Gene after the character Eugene Gant and Wilder from the playwright Thornton Wilder while studying acting. The change helped him stand out as he transitioned from theater to screen. He is widely recognized for ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’, ‘Young Frankenstein’, and ‘Blazing Saddles’.

Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson was born Roy Harold Scherer Jr., later using Roy Fitzgerald before the studio renamed him. His agent and Universal crafted Rock Hudson to convey a strong, marketable leading man persona. The new name appeared on his earliest contract work and publicity stills. He starred in ‘Magnificent Obsession’, ‘Giant’, and ‘Pillow Talk’.

Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks was born Melvin Kaminsky. Early in his comedy career he adopted Brooks, reportedly inspired by his mother’s maiden name and to avoid ethnic typecasting. He used the new name across television writing and stage work before directing films. His credits include ‘Blazing Saddles’, ‘The Producers’, and ‘Young Frankenstein’.

Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz. Universal encouraged a shorter, marquee friendly name as he began appearing in features. He debuted as Tony Curtis in studio publicity and quickly moved into leading roles. Viewers know him from ‘Some Like It Hot’, ‘Spartacus’, and ‘Sweet Smell of Success’.

Alan Alda

Alan Alda was born Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo. He combined AL from Alphonso and DA from D’Abruzzo to create a concise professional name used on stage and television. His father, actor Robert Alda, used a similar approach. He is best known for ‘MAS*H’, ‘Crimes and Misdemeanors’, and ‘The Aviator’.

Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox was born Michael Andrew Fox. He added the J and adopted the new form because another performer had registered the name Michael Fox. The middle initial was chosen as a nod to actor Michael J. Pollard. His work includes ‘Back to the Future’, ‘Family Ties’, and ‘Spin City’.

David Tennant

David Tennant was born David John McDonald. He selected Tennant after reading about the Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant when joining the actors’ union, which required a unique name. He later made Tennant his legal surname. His notable roles include ‘Doctor Who’, ‘Broadchurch’, and ‘Good Omens’.

Eric Bana

Eric Bana was born Eric Banadinović. He shortened his surname early in Australian television and stand up to avoid frequent mispronunciations. The streamlined name carried into film roles at home and in Hollywood. He is known for ‘Chopper’, ‘Munich’, and ‘Hulk’.

Antonio Banderas

Antonio Banderas was born José Antonio Domínguez Bandera. He adopted Antonio Banderas as a simplified screen name when he began acting in Spain, later keeping it internationally. The adjustment made credits and posters easier across markets. His films include ‘Desperado’, ‘The Mask of Zorro’, and ‘Pain and Glory’.

Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan was born Chan Kong-sang. He picked up the English name Jackie while working on construction sites and early film sets in Australia and Hong Kong. The name stuck as he moved into stunt work and then leading roles. His credits include ‘Drunken Master’, ‘Police Story’, and ‘Rush Hour’.

Jet Li

Jet Li was born Li Lianjie. The English stage name Jet appeared during his youth wushu exhibitions and early film promotion to appeal to international audiences. It became his standard billing as he entered global markets. He starred in ‘Shaolin Temple’, ‘Hero’, and ‘Lethal Weapon 4’.

Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris was born Carlos Ray Norris. He began using Chuck during his martial arts instruction and early screen appearances in the United States. The shorter name matched the tough, no nonsense image of his roles. He is known for ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’, ‘Way of the Dragon’, and ‘Missing in Action’.

Tim Allen

Tim Allen was born Timothy Alan Dick. He adopted Tim Allen while performing stand up to avoid distracting reactions to his surname on club lineups and TV listings. The stage name carried over as he moved into sitcoms and films. His work includes ‘Home Improvement’, ‘The Santa Clause’, and ‘Toy Story’.

Aaron Paul

Aaron Paul was born Aaron Paul Sturtevant. He dropped his surname professionally because people struggled to pronounce it during auditions and callbacks. The shortened name helped casting directors remember him more easily. He is recognized for ‘Breaking Bad’, ‘El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie’, and ‘Westworld’.

Edward G. Robinson

Edward G. Robinson was born Emanuel Goldenberg. He adopted a shorter, less identifiably Jewish stage name while launching his career on Broadway and later in Hollywood. The new name appeared on early studio contracts and publicity materials as he shifted into gangster roles. Audiences know him from ‘Little Caesar’, ‘Double Indemnity’, and ‘Key Largo’.

Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff was born William Henry Pratt. He chose a distinctive stage name while working in British Columbia and on the North American stage to stand out on casting sheets. The surname Karloff helped shape his screen identity in horror films. He is best remembered for ‘Frankenstein’, ‘The Mummy’, and ‘Bride of Frankenstein’.

Peter Sellers

Peter Sellers was born Richard Henry Sellers. He took the name Peter, a family nickname, as he moved from radio and stage comedy into film. The updated billing appeared with his breakout roles for British studios. His credits include ‘The Pink Panther’, ‘Dr. Strangelove’, and ‘Being There’.

Mahershala Ali

Mahershala Ali was born Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore. He adopted Ali after converting to Islam and streamlined his given name for credits and interviews. The shorter professional name appeared consistently across television and film projects. Viewers know him from ‘Moonlight’, ‘Green Book’, and ‘True Detective’.

Ice Cube

Ice Cube was born O’Shea Jackson. He kept his rap moniker as he crossed into film acting and producing, using it as his credited screen name. This continuity made marketing straightforward across music and movies. He is known for ‘Boyz n the Hood’, ‘Friday’, and ’21 Jump Street’.

Ice-T

Ice-T was born Tracy Lauren Marrow. He brought his stage name from music into acting, where it became his standard credit on television and in films. The branding helped audiences connect his roles to his established public persona. His work includes ‘New Jack City’, ‘Surviving the Game’, and ‘Law & Order: SVU’.

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone was born Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone. He dropped Michael and used his middle name professionally as he pursued writing and acting. The streamlined name appeared on his early screenplays and acting credits. He is widely recognized for ‘Rocky’, ‘Rambo’, and ‘Creed’.

Topher Grace

Topher Grace was born Christopher John Grace. He shortened Christopher to Topher early in his career to avoid confusion with other actors using Chris. The uncommon first name made his credits immediately recognizable. He is known for ‘That ’70s Show’, ‘In Good Company’, and ‘BlacKkKlansman’.

Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase was born Cornelius Crane Chase. He adopted the nickname Chevy, used by family and friends, as his stage and television credit. The shorter name fit sketch comedy billing and later film posters. His credits include ‘Saturday Night Live’, ‘Fletch’, and ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’.

Liev Schreiber

Liev Schreiber was born Isaac Liev Schreiber. He chose to use Liev professionally, dropping Isaac, as he moved from theater into film. The simplified credit appeared on independent features and major studio projects alike. Audiences know him from ‘Ray Donovan’, ‘Spotlight’, and ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’.

Jude Law

Jude Law was born David Jude Heyworth Law. He began using his middle name Jude on stage and retained it for screen roles. The concise name helped with marquee placement and international marketing. His work includes ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’, ‘Sherlock Holmes’, and ‘The Young Pope’.

Omar Sharif

Omar Sharif was born Michel Dimitri Chalhoub. He adopted an Arabic stage name as he moved from Egyptian cinema to international productions. The change supported broader casting opportunities across languages and markets. He is remembered for ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, ‘Doctor Zhivago’, and ‘Funny Girl’.

Yul Brynner

Yul Brynner was born Yuli Borisovich Bryner. He anglicized and shortened his name while performing in New York and on tour, then kept it for film credits. The distinctive name complemented his striking screen persona. His notable titles include ‘The King and I’, ‘The Magnificent Seven’, and ‘Westworld’.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Jean-Claude Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg. He adopted Van Damme, drawn from a family connection, to create a shorter, action-friendly screen name. The revised credit appeared as he transitioned from martial arts competitions to films. He stars in ‘Bloodsport’, ‘Universal Soldier’, and ‘Timecop’.

Donnie Yen

Donnie Yen was born Li Lianjie—correction: Donnie Yen’s birth name is Yen Ji-dan, also known as Zhen Zidan. He uses the anglicized Donnie Yen for international releases and English language credits. This standardized name helps distributors market his films globally. His work includes ‘Ip Man’, ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’, and ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’.

Share your favorite surprising stage name stories in the comments and tell us which ones we missed.