24 Celebrities You had No Idea Had Face Names

What’s in a name? Are you named after a relative or perhaps your mother’s favorite literary character? Does your name represent a family legacy or your heritage? 

Whatever your name means, most of us, at one point or another, have wished that we could change our names. Michael wants to be Joseph and Julia wants to be Miranda – isn’t that how the story goes?

When it comes to celebrities, however, it turns out that everything is actually in a name. Selecting the perfect stage name could be a make or break affair as it’s a way to build a new identity among audiences. Celebrities treat their stage names like brand recognition as their audiences and fans will see and recognize their names scrolling on the silver screen or shining brightly on the marquee.

Yet, celebrities are often just like the rest of us in that they’re given pretty normal names. How could their parents possibly know they were destined for the spotlights of Hollywood? Because of this, celebrities often face the dilemma of picking out the perfect stage name while remaining true to their heritage and who they are.

From simple surname switches to mispronounced blunders, we found 24 celebrities who you had no idea were actually using fake names throughout their careers. Will you be shocked to learn the real name behind the celeb? Let’s take a look!

#24 – Kirk Douglas (Issur Danielovitch)

Kirk Douglas (Issur Danielovitch)

Despite an impoverished childhood with the odds stacked against him and his six sisters, Kirk Douglas followed his dreams straight to Hollywood to become a star. Landing his first film role in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers in 1946, Douglas quickly became a box-office star with a career spanning 60 years and over 90 films including Spartacus, Paths of Glory, The Bad and the Beautiful and many, many more.

Long before Hollywood, however, Kirk Douglas was someone entirely different – in name, that is. The son of Jewish immigrants from present-day Belarus, Douglas was born in Amsterdam, New York in 1916 as Issur Danielovitch. As the family adopted a new surname – Demsky – to mark their fresh start in the United States, the young Douglas grew up as Izzy Demsky until he legally changed his name to Kirk Douglas before joining the Navy during World War II. And, as the saying goes, “The rest is history!”

#23 – Alan Alda (Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo)
First working as an improv comedy actor in the 1950s, Alan Alda made his way to Broadway where his stellar performance in the 1966 musical The Apple Tree earned him a Tony Award nomination. Making his Hollywood acting debut shortly after, Alda appeared in smaller films until he was cast in the role of a lifetime as Hawkeye Pierce in the television series M*A*S*H from 1972 to 1983. A perfect fit for the character, Alda won five Emmy Awards and became the first person to ever win an Emmy for acting, writing and directing the same series.

Alan Alda (Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo)

The award-winning actor’s real name, however, probably wouldn’t fit on even the biggest trophy or marquee in Hollywood. Born to Italian-Irish parents as Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo in New York in 1936, Alda spent much of his childhood moving throughout the United States to follow his father’s career as a burlesque performer. For performance reasons, Alda’s father – Alphonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto D’Abruzzo – shortened his name to “Alda” by blending the first two letters of Alphonso and D’Abruzzo, a real Italian portmanteau!

#22 – Albert Brooks (Albert Lawrence Einstein) From first appearing on variety and talk shows throughout the late 1960s to his filmmaking debut in the 1970s, comedian Albert Brooks has had widespread success throughout his career. Known for his egotistical, nervous and narcissistic on-stage wit, Brooks has proven himself as quite the savvy writer, director and voice actor with films such as Finding Nemo, The Simpsons, Modern Romance, Lost in America and Defending Your Life.

Alan Alda (Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo)

But, could you ever guess Brooks’ real name and why he felt the need to change it? Hailing from Beverly Hills, Brooks was born in 1947 as Albert Lawrence Einstein. Yes, even his name is comical! With his father, Harry, working as a radio comedian, it’s no surprise that he wanted a good laugh at the expense of his son not to mention to carry on a legacy of brilliance. As the young Einstein became the butt of many jokes growing up, he dropped out of college and legally changed his last name to Brooks. Carrying his funny name into his stand-up routine, Brooks jokes that even “the real Albert Einstein changed his name to sound more intelligent.”

#21 – Natalie Portman (Neta-Lee Hershlag) Cast as Padme Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy when she was just 18 years old, Natalie Portman has achieved incredible success as an actress, producer and director (and she’s only 34 years old!). Since her Star Wars debut in 1999, Portman has earned critical acclaim for her award-winning performances in films such as V for Vendetta, The Other Boleyn Girl, Thor and Black Swan, which earned Portman her first Academy Award.

 Natalie Portman (Neta-Lee Hershlag)

Destined for greatness even at an early age, Portman was born in Jerusalem with the Hebrew name, Neta-Lee Hershlag. Studying dancing and acting as a child, the young Neta-Lee was 12 years old when she was cast in her first film, Leon: The Professional, leading her to adopt a stage name to protect her family’s privacy. Changing her first name to its American counterpart, she adopted her grandmother’s maiden name of “Portman” and thus, a star was born.

#20 – Gene Simmons (Chaim Weitz) Better recognized as “The Demon,” Gene Simmons is a legendary rock and roller who is known for his incredible talent and showmanship in one of the hottest rock bands in the world, KISS. The co-founder, bass player and co-lead singer of the band, Simmons and his bandmates have sold out venues around the world thanks to hits like “Rock And Roll All Nite”, “Detroit Rock City” and even ballads like “Beth.”

 Gene Simmons (Chaim Weitz)

The second celebrity on our list from Israel, Simmons was actually born with the Hebrew name, Chaim Witz, in 1949. At just eight years old, Simmons moved to New York City with his mother where she changed her son’s name to Gene Klein to sound more American. Spending his childhood learning English and practicing guitar, Gene met Paul Stanley and joined his first band, Wicked Lester. Shortly after, the duo quit the band and started their own, the legendary KISS, in 1973 as Gene changed his last name once and for all to Simmons.

#19 – Jon Stewart (Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz) First launching his career in stand-up comedy, Jon Stewart took his sense of humor to television in 1991 as host of Short Attention Span Theater on Comedy Central. With obvious talent, MTV gave Stewart his own show, The Jon Stewart Show, and the opportunity to host You Wrote It, You Watch It. In 1999, Stewart returned to Comedy Central where he hosted The Daily Show until 2015, winning 22 Primetime Emmy Awards in the process.

Jon Stewart (Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz)

Hailing from New York City, Stewart was born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz in 1962 as the second of four sons to Marian, a teacher, and Donald, a college physics professor. After his parents divorced when he was 11 years old, his complicated relationship with his father led him to drop his last name completely. Going by Jon Stuart, he eventually changed the spelling to resemble more of a surname, making it legal in 2001. In regard to his name change and troubled relationship with his father, Stewart said he would’ve adopted his mother’s maiden name but felt it would’ve been “just too big a f*** you to [his] dad.”

#18 – Joaquin Phoenix (Joaquin Rafael Bottom) Raised in a famous family in front of a movie camera, it’s no surprise that Joaquin Phoenix is a bit of an enigmatic figure in Hollywood. Starting his career in television with his brother, River, and sister, Summer, he landed his first major role as a child actor in the 1989 film Parenthood. From there, he was cast in larger roles where he was awarded for his stellar performance in films such as Gladiator, Walk the Line and The Master.

Joaquin Phoenix (Joaquin Rafael Bottom) 

The third of five children, all of whom worked in Hollywood, Phoenix was born Joaquin Rafael Bottom in Puerto Rico in 1974. Throughout the 1970s, the family traveled throughout South America following a religious cult known as the Children of God. By 1978, Joaquin’s parents left the cult and returned to the United States where they changed their last name to Phoenix, symbolic of a new beginning. As the young Joaquin made his acting debut, he began calling himself “Leaf” so that he could have a name like his siblings – River, Rain and Summer – and continued to do so until he was 15 years old, at which time he changed it back to Joaquin.

#17 – Eric Bana (Eric Banadinovic) Shockingly enough, Eric Bana actually launched his career as a comedian in the 1990s on the series Full Frontal before he was cast in more serious roles. A native of Australia, Bana spent a decade rising to fame in Australian television and film until he stole the Hollywood spotlight with his epic performance in Black Hawk Down. From there, he was cast as Hulk/Bruce Banner in Marvel Comics’ Hulk and has since appeared in films including Troy, Munich and Lone Survivor.

Eric Bana (Eric Banadinovic) 

Born in Melbourne, Victoria in 1968, Bana was originally named Eric Banadinovic as his father, Ivan, was Croatian and his mother, Eleanor, was German. The second of two sons, Bana was often taunted as a child for his heritage but, despite this, managed to take great pride in his European origins. That’s why, as he launched his career as a comedian in the early 1990s, he chose not to cut ties with his family name, but instead, decided to simply shorten it.

#16 – Diane Keaton (Diane Hall) Launching her career on Broadway in the late 1960s, Diane Keaton is one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood. Making her film debut in Woody Allen’s Play It Again, Sam, Keaton’s career got off to a great start with a Tony Award nomination. With obvious on screen talent, Keaton was then cast opposite Al Pacino in The Godfather. From there, her career blossomed with award-winning performances in Sleeper, Annie Hall, Father of the Bride, The First Wives Club and The Family Stone.

Born as Diane Hall, Keaton only changed her name because of a conflict with someone registered by the same name with the Screen Actors Guild (not the last time that we’ll see this on the list). Adopting her mother’s maiden name to distinguish herself from the other Diane, Keaton’s name change might have more to it than just that.

Diane Keaton (Diane Hall)

Nicknamed “Annie” throughout her childhood, her early relationship with Woody Allen inspired the 1977 film Annie Hall in what many consider to be Keaton’s best performance. Despite winning an Academy Award for the film, Keaton worked to avoid being typecast as Annie in future roles, proving a name change obviously didn’t hurt.

#15 – Louis C.K. (Louis Szekely) From an unknown comedian opening for Jerry Seinfeld to selling out Madison Square Garden three times in a single tour, Louis C.K. was just another dark and self-deprecating stand-up comedian until he put pen to paper. Writing for comedians like David Letterman, Conan O’Brien and Chris Rock throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Louis quickly proved his talent and landed his first HBO sitcom, Lucky Louie, in 2006.

Louis C.K. (Louis Szekely)

Since then, he has achieved great success on the stand-up circuit and now has his own Emmy Award-winning show on FX.

Phonetically speaking, Louis C.K. never actually had to change his name since his given name, Louis Szekely, is pronounced the exact same way. Born in 1967 in Washington, D.C., Louis is of Hungarian heritage and spent his early childhood in Mexico until his family returned to the United States. After his parents divorced in 1977, Louis was inspired by his mother’s “bad television” because he knew that he could do better. Pursuing a career on stage, Louis quickly realized that his last name was far from memorable or easy to spell, which led him to do the world a huge favor by abbreviating it! And for that, we thank you!

#14 – Michael Caine (Maurice Joseph Micklewhite) One of the most well-known and highly sought after actors over the past 50 years, Michael Caine has appeared in over 120 films throughout his stellar career. First making his debut in the 1960s with British films like Zulu, Alfie and The Italian Job, his award-winning performances include films such as Sleuth, Educating Rita, Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules.

Michael Caine (Maurice Joseph Micklewhite)

Named after his father, Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, Caine was born in Surrey in 1933 to a fish market porter and a cook. By the age of 20, he was looking for work when he responded to an advertisement for an acting role. Knowing that he needed a shorter name for the stage, he changed his name to Michael Scott (yes, just like the character from The Office). As his career blossomed, Cain’s agent suggested he find a more memorable name as Caine reportedly looked up and saw a marquee advertising the 1954 film The Caine Mutiny. How’s that for fate?

#13 – Michael Keaton (Michael John Douglas) What’s the 1980s in Hollywood without the quirky and lovable Michael Keaton? First rising to fame for his comedic roles in films like Night Shift, Mr. Mom and Beetlejuice, Keaton became an A-lister in 1989 for his breakout performance as Bruce Wayne in Tim Burton’s Batman. Since then, he has appeared in numerous films and has recently earned critical praise for his award-winning performance in the 2014 film Birdman.

Michael Keaton (Michael John Douglas)

Another Michael (and another Keaton, for that matter), there’s definitely a logjam of names already claimed in Hollywood. Born as Michael John Douglas in 1951, Keaton obviously couldn’t keep his birth name if he wanted a fair chance at a career in Hollywood. After an unsuccessful attempt at comedy, Keaton made his way from television into film but knew that a name change was inevitable to avoid confusion with the already famous Michael Douglas. While many believe Keaton had an affinity for Diane Keaton, others report that his name selection was based off of the comedian Buster Keaton. Whatever the reason, it obviously fits!

#12 – Woody Allen (Allan Stewart Konigsberg) Recognized by Comedy Central as the fourth greatest stand-up comedian of all time, Woody Allen’s career spans 50 years with 24 Academy Award nominations and four wins. First working as a comedy writer in the 1950s, Allen started publishing his own material before launching his career as a stand-up comedian. From there, he took an interest in filmmaking, which would forever change his career with legendary hit films like Annie Hall, Manhattan, Stardust Memories, Match Point and The Purple Rose of Cairo.

Woody Allen (Allan Stewart Konigsberg) 

With one of the coolest names on our list (it doesn’t get much better than Heywood!), Allen was born as Allan Stewart Konigsberg in 1935 to Jewish parents. With an unhappy childhood and a strained relationship with his stern mother, Allen spent much of his early life more interested in baseball and magic tricks than anything else. By the age of 17, he was already writing comics and selling them to the newspaper when he decided to legally change his name to Heywood Allen. Soon after, Allen gave himself the nickname, “Woody”, a moniker that would last forever.

#11 – Winona Ryder (Winona Laura Horowitz) Recognized as one of the most iconic actresses of the 1990s, Winona Ryder made her first major film debut as a teenager in Tim Burton’s 1988 film Beetlejuice. Earning praise for her performance, the sky was the limit as Ryder proved her talent in a variety of award-winning roles in films such as Edward Scissorhands, The Age of Innocence, Girl Interrupted, Star Trek and Black Swan.

Winona Ryder (Winona Laura Horowitz) 

Hailing from Minnesota, Ryder was born Winona Laura Horowitz and was raised in a primarily Jewish family that had previously emigrated from Romania and Russia with the surname, Tomchin. Once in the United States, the family was given the name Horowitz and settled in Minnesota, naming their only daughter after a nearby city. Ryder later adopted a new surname taken from Mitch Ryder, her father’s favorite soul and rock singer.

#10 – Miley Cyrus (Destiny Hope Cyrus) Whether your love her or hate her, it’s undeniable that Miley Cyrus is one of the most polarizing singers in the music industry today. First becoming famous as a tween icon on the Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana, Cyrus proved she was more than just an actress when she showed her chops on the show. Today, with numerous number one records and an Artist of the Year award from MTV, Cyrus is still surprising fans with hits like “Party in the U.S.A.” and “Wrecking Ball.”

Miley Cyrus (Destiny Hope Cyrus)

Born as Destiny Hope Cyrus, Miley’s parents were pretty confident that their baby girl would achieve great success in her life and set out to choose a fitting name. As a child, Cyrus was so giggly that her father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, gave her the nickname “Smiley”, which was later shortened to “Miley.” In 2008, Cyrus legally changed her name to Miley Ray Cyrus in honor of her nickname and her grandfather, Ronald Ray, with whom she remained close until his death in 2006.

#9 – Olivia Wilde (Olivia Jane Cockburn) With many minor roles throughout her early career, it wasn’t until Olivia Wilde was cast as Remy Hadley on the Fox series House that she became a household name. Spending five years with Hugh Laurie and the House cast, Wilde left the series to pursue a career in film and quickly landed roles in Tron: Legacy, Her, Drinking Buddies and Rush. Apart from her stunning beauty and exoticism, Wilde is also known as PETA’s Sexiest Vegetarian.

Olivia Wilde (Olivia Jane Cockburn) 

Born into a family of Irish journalists, Wilde grew up in New York City as Olivia Jane Cockburn. With so many potential jokes with a name like Cockburn, Olivia knew she would ultimately have to choose another stage name to be taken seriously in Hollywood. Thanks to her literary background and widespread appreciation, Olivia decided to honor other writers with her own pen name and chose the last name of Irish author Oscar Wilde. Seems perfectly fitting, don’t you agree?

#8 – Michael J. Fox (Michael Andrew Fox) First debuting in film and television in the 1970s, Michael J. Fox won the hearts of audiences in 1982 as everyone’s favorite big brother, Alex P. Keaton, on the NBC series Family Ties. Winning three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for his role on the series, Fox was then cast as Marty McFly in the iconic Back to the Future trilogy. In yet another move, Fox joined ABC’s Spin City from 1996 to 2001 earning even more recognition for his stellar talent.

Michael J. Fox (Michael Andrew Fox)

Hailing from Canada, Fox was born Michael Andrew Fox and was perfectly content with his name until his career in Hollywood demanded a change. Credited in his early work as “Michael Fox,” it wasn’t until he went to register with the Screen Actors Guild that he discovered a Michael Fox already existed. Planning to go by Michael A. Fox, he worried that people might think he was paying homage to his Canadian roots (eh?) and instead adopted the J as his middle initial as a tribute to fellow actor, Michael J. Pollard.

#7 – Tina Fey (Elizabeth Stamatina Fey) One of America’s favorite comedians, Tina Fey launched her career as an improv actor who luckily landed a spot on Saturday Night Live as a writer in 1998. A perfect fit on the show, Fey stayed with SNL until 2006 when she left to create a spinoff based on her SNL experiences in the Emmy award-winning television series 30 Rock. With her mind and energy on overdrive, Fey has worked nonstop on writing and starring in hits such as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Mean Girls, and Baby Mama.

Tina Fey (Elizabeth Stamatina Fey)

Everything about Tina is funny – don’t believe it, just ask her! Born as Elizabeth Stamatina Fey in Pennsylvania in 1970, she is a self-proclaimed super-nerd who says that her childhood and teenage years were hard enough for a gawky girl with a scar and a mother who had an affinity for perming her hair. Add in a name like Stamatina and there’s no surprise that this SNL starlet decided to make her mark in Hollywood as Tina rather than anything else.

#6 – Katy Perry (Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson) The highest earning singer in the world today, Katy Perry is a global sensation whose humble beginnings must seem like a lifetime ago after she made it big with her 2008 hit “I Kissed a Girl.” Since then, Perry has set record after record and earned numerous awards including four Guinness World Records, five American Music Awards and 14 People’s Choice Awards for hits like “California Gurls”, “Teenage Dream”, “Roar” and “Firework.”

aty Perry (Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson)

Born to Pentecostal pastors in Santa Barbara, California, Perry used her birth name – Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson – when she launched her career as a gospel singer. Releasing her first album in 2001, Perry experienced a string of bad luck as her album sold only 200 copies just as her label shut down. Moving to Los Angeles to work for Glen Ballard, she adopted her mother’s maiden name – Perry – and began performing as Katheryn Perry to avoid confusion with her previous work. Shortening her name once again, Katy Perry was well on her way to stardom as a real California girl!

#5 – Tim Allen (Timothy Allen Dick) “What’s it need? More power!” Yet another comedian on our list, Tim Allen got his first big taste of success in the early 1990s when he was cast in the lead role on the ABC hit series Home Improvement. As the star of the most watched show on television, Allen became a household name known for his macho wit, constant need for “more power” and Mr. Fix-It mentality. Ending the series in 1999, he then went on to star in The Santa Clause, Toy Story, Galaxy Quest and Wild Hogs.

Tim Allen (Timothy Allen Dick) 

The third of five sons, Allen was born in Denver, Colorado in 1953 as Timothy Allen Dick. Between a house full of brothers and a class full of bullies, the young Allen developed a thick skin and learned to use his sense of humor and dry wit to his benefit. Well on his way to a career in comedy, Allen knew that a name like Timothy Dick wouldn’t fare well for any shock comic and ultimately chose the safer route by becoming the beloved and funny, Tim Allen we know today.

#4 – Julianne Moore (Julie Anne Smith)

Barely looking a day over 40, the 54-year-old Julianne Moore actually got her start in the 1980s as a soap opera star on As the World Turns, which earned her a Daytime Emmy Award. Making her film debut in 1990 in Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, Moore received critical praise for her award-winning performances in films such as Boogie Nights, The End of the Affair, Far from Heaven and The Hours.

Like so many other actors on our list, Julianne Moore was a bit too late when it came time to register her name with the Screen Actors Guild. Born as Julie Anne Smith, the young Hollywood star discovered that there was already someone registered as both Julie Anne Smith and Julie Smith. Hating the idea of changing her name or offending her family, Moore decided to honor them by combing her first and middle names and taking her father’s middle name – Moore – as her new surname. Now that’s a wonderful and thoughtful compromise!

#3 – Nicki Minaj (Onika Tanya Maraj) A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Nicki Minaj launched herself into stardom after she released three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009. Signing her first contract with Young Money Entertainment in 2009 and releasing her first album, Pink, in 2010, Minaj became a hit making machine who was named as the first female to have seven different songs in the Top 100 charts at the same time!

Julianne Moore (Julie Anne Smith)

Born as Onika Tanya Maraj in 1982, Minaj’s real name and stage name are very similar, making it seem like a tribute to her heritage. After first signing to Dirty Money Entertainment in 2007, she adopted the stage name of Nicki Maraj only to later shorten it to Minaj. Minaj later said, “My real name is Maraj. Fendi [from Dirty Money Entertainment] flipped it when he met me because I had such a nasty flow!” Whatever that means (and for whatever reason), we’re sure there’s more to it than that.

#2 – Emma Stone (Emily Jean Stone) Making her first Hollywood debut in the 2007 comedy Superbad, Emma Stone became an overnight sensation and was soon cast as the lead in the 2010 comedy hit Easy A. Since then, Stone has proven her dynamic talent in a variety of roles in films like Woody Allen’s Magic in the Moonlight, Birdman and Crazy, Stupid, Love.

Perhaps one of the least drastic name changes on our list, Stone was actually born as Emily Jean Stone in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1988. Known by her family and friends as Emily Jean, Stone went to register with the Screen Actors Guild only to discover that the name was already taken. First choosing to go by Corey Stone, it wasn’t until after she appeared on an episode of Malcolm in the Middle that she decided to change her stage name to Emma, a nickname that her mother had given her as a child.

#1 – Audrey Hepburn (Audrey Kathleen Ruston) One of the most iconic women in the history of both film and fashion, Audrey Hepburn was at the peak of her career during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Truly a legend, Hepburn was one of the most sought after leading ladies thanks to her award-winning performances in films such as Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Charade and Breakfast At Tiffany’s.

Born in Belgium in 1929, Hepburn was originally named Audrey Kathleen Ruston. Her father, Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston, was an honorary British consul in the Dutch East Indies who, at one point, married a Dutch heiress. Changing his name to something more “aristocratic” to reflect his believed kinship to James Hepburn, Ruston decided to hyphenate his surname as Hepburn-Ruston. After working as a model, Audrey ultimately decided to drop Ruston from her name completely, taking on a name that may have never actually been a family tie. Source: Online