Could 19 2024, Revealed 5:00 a.m. ET
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn was nominated for Greatest Actress 5 occasions on the Academy Awards.
Information shops shared conflicting details about Audrey Hepburn‘s delivery identify: some stated it was Audrey Kathleen Ruston, whereas others listed it as Edda Kathleen van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston.
However based on her son Sean Hepburn, his grandmother modified the Breakfast at Tiffany’s star’s surname to Edda van Heemstra throughout World Battle II to hide their household’s British heritage whereas residing within the Netherlands.
Earlier than her look in Roman Vacation, the studio reportedly requested Audrey if she needed to alter her final identify attributable to a possible battle. However she informed the corporate it could additionally need to take her first identify.
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Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck began performing in speaking movies within the Nineteen Twenties.
In line with stories, Barbara Stanwyck — born Ruby Catherine Stevens — began utilizing the identify after contemplating the suggestion of both the Ziegfield Follies producer or impresario David Belasco. She debuted utilizing the stage identify in her first credited movie, The Locked Door.
Cary Grant
Cary Grant was well-known for his roles in ‘To Catch a Thief’ and “North by Northwest.’
Born Archibald Alec Leach, Cary Grant began utilizing the stage identify earlier than showing in his first movie, This Is the Evening. The identify was reportedly impressed by Cary Lockwood, his character within the Broadway play Nikki.
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Dean Martin
Dean Martin’s demise was documented in a REELZ documentary.
Dean Martin grew to become a well-known singer, comic and actor earlier than his demise on Christmas Day in 1995. Nevertheless, some followers didn’t know he was born Dino Paul Crocetti and opted to go by his stage identify to create his public persona.
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Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds died in December 2016.
Born Mary Frances Reynolds, Debbie Reynolds charmed everybody along with her performing expertise many years earlier than her passing. In line with the Los Angeles Instances, Warner Bros. requested her to alter her identify as a result of it sounded “like old-timey.”
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Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire died of pneumonia on the age of 88 in 1987.
Fred Astaire didn’t use his actual identify, Frederick Austerlitz when he began his profession within the business. He and his older sister, Adele, began utilizing the final identify, with theories claiming they borrowed it from their kin in a former German Empire territory.
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Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers starred in ‘Shall We Dance’ and ‘The Homosexual Divorcee.’
Earlier than launching her profession in Hollywood, Ginger Rogers needed to create a stage identify and go away behind her delivery identify—Virginia Katherine McMath. She starred in over 73 movies earlier than she died in 1995.
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Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford used the moniker as an alternative of her actual identify, Lucille Fay LeSueur.
By way of {a magazine} competitors, Joan Crawford scored her stage identify after MGM executives stated her delivery identify “sounded an excessive amount of like a sewer.” As well as, she needed to cover her freckles and stop them from being seen on-screen.
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Joan Fontaine
Joan Fontaine was one of many kids of former actress Lilian Augusta and professor/lawyer Walter Augustus de Havilland.
Earlier than getting into Hollywood, Joan Fontaine‘s sister, Olivia de Havilland, already debuted as an actress. When she needed to pursue an performing profession by Warner Bros., their mom didn’t enable her to make use of her actual identify — Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland — since “two de Havillands on the marquee could be too many.”
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John Wayne
John Wayne was also referred to as ‘The Duke.’
John Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison, however he joined the checklist of stars who opted to make use of a stage identify as director Raoul Walsh, and the studio couldn’t envision his identify shining within the business.
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Marilyn Monroe
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Judy Garland
Judy Garland died of barbiturate overdose in 1969.
Frances Ethel Gumm selected a stage identify and began selling as Judy Garland. She and her sisters additionally renamed their group to the Garland sisters.
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Lauren Bacall
Lauren Bacall began her profession as a mannequin.
Lauren Bacall, born Betty Joan Perske, used the moniker primarily based on the altered model of her mother’s final identify, Bacal. Her first identify got here from Howard Hawks, a director who found her.
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Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe died on August 4, 1962.
Even Marilyn Monroe didn’t use her actual identify when she entered Hollywood. One among twentieth Century Studios executives, Ben Lyon, gave her the concept of adjusting her identify from Norma Jeane Mortenson to her stage identify.
She was later baptized Norma Jean Baker, based on Vogue.
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Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford had a five-decade profession in Hollywood.
Gladys Louis Smith selected to advertise utilizing the moniker Mary Pickford to have a reputation with extra star energy. She grew to become well-known for being America’s Sweetheart through the silent movie period.
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Merle Oberon
Merle Oberon was solid for a job in ‘The Personal Lifetime of Henry VIII.’
Born Estella Merle O’Brien Thompson, Merle Oberon determined to advertise utilizing the stage identify after director and producer Alexander Korda urged it. She additionally used “Queenie” as her nickname.
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Michael Caine
Michael Caine legally modified his identify in 2016 following a problem with airport safety, who acknowledged him by his stage identify.
The Caine Mutiny impressed Maurice Micklewhite to make use of the stage identify, Michael Caine. He initially needed to make use of the identify Michael Scott, however his agent informed him to alter it.
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Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney handed away in April 2014 on the age of 93.
Mickey Rooney obtained his stage identify primarily based on the function of Mickey McGuire, which he scored as a baby actor. When his contract ended, the actor — born Joseph Yuletide Jr. — additionally modified his skilled surname.
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Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth was one of the vital sought-after stars through the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Rita Hayworth used the moniker Margarita Cansino as an alternative of her actual identify. The change, which occurred upon signing a contract with Columbia Footage, helped her safe extra roles.
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Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno made her Broadway debut when she was 13.
Rita Moreno was born Rosa Dolores Alverío, however a casting agent knowledgeable her she would want to alter her identify earlier than beginning her contract with MGM.
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Rock Hudson
Rock Hudson died on October 2, 1985.
Rock Hudson, born Roy Harold Scherer Jr., used the stage identify primarily based on the suggestion of his agent, Henry Wilson. He additionally used his character’s pseudonym, Rex Stetson,