# A List of Middle-initialed Entertainers
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [March 19, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383 "2013-03-19T18:40:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/1 "2013-03-19T18:40:50Z")
Doug E. Fresh
Al B. Sure
Sophie B. Hawkins
k. d. lang
…?
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### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/2 "2013-03-19T18:53:32Z")
David O. Selznick
George C. Scott
P. T. Barnum
Michael J. Fox
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### Author:  [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/3 "2013-03-19T19:03:18Z")
Yngwie Malmsteen’s early albums had him billed as Yngwie J. Malmsteen. Flo & Eddie remarked at the time that this was to distinguish him from all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the music business.
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### Author:  [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/4 "2013-03-19T19:07:08Z")
John C. Reilly
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### Author:  [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/5 "2013-03-19T19:15:04Z")
William H. Macy
David O. Russell
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### Author:  [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/6 "2013-03-19T19:15:41Z")
Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith
Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos
Movie gangster Edward G. Robinson
William H. Macy
Soul singer Mary J. Blige
Actor Lee J. Cobb
Samuel L. Jackson
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### Author:  [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/7 "2013-03-19T19:18:16Z")
“Stand By Me” singer **Ben E. King**
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/8 "2013-03-19T19:18:36Z")
Joe E. Brown.
William H. Macy is only H because of Bill Macy. Hollywood.
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### Author:  [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/9 "2013-03-19T19:51:17Z")
> [@NitroPress](#):
>
> William H. Macy is only H because of Bill Macy. Hollywood.
This is the case with most actors or guild professionals that use full middle names or initials (I think Michael J. Fox uses the J for this reason).
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### Author:  [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/10 "2013-03-19T19:58:06Z")
[Relevant, but badly synced, comedy routine. (Video/audio/profanity)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y38Os1AF6pI&feature=player_detailpage#t=202s)
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### Author:  [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/11 "2013-03-19T20:10:32Z")
Jeannie C. Riley (“Harper Valley PTA”)
C. W. McCall (“Convoy”)
[B. S. Pully](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B.S._Pully) (Big Jule in _Guys and Dolls)_
Gary U. S. Bonds (“Quarter to Three”)
B. B. King
Billy J. Kramer (and the Dakotas)
D. J. Bonebrake (drummer for X)
J. J. Cale (“After Midnight”)
Wendy O. Williams (Plasmatics)
Uh… Chuck E. Cheese?
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/12 "2013-03-19T20:17:19Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#):
>
> This is the case with most actors or guild professionals that use full middle names or initials (I think Michael J. Fox uses the J for this reason).
Instead of his real middle initial, A.
But yep. When all the good names are taken, you have to add detritus, kind of like public system email names.
(I’d have to use an initial, as my base name is taken by a very minor and not terribly flattering actor…)
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/13 "2013-03-19T20:20:37Z")
> [@NitroPress](#):
>
> Instead of his real middle initial, A.
Which, I remember once reading, he opted against, because “Michael A. Fox” could be parsed as “Michael, a fox.” 😉
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### Author:  [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/14 "2013-03-19T20:25:18Z")
Thought of a few more post-edit window:
A. P. Carter, patriarch of the Carter Family.
[GG Allin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GG_Allin), spectacularly transgressive shock-rocker. (OK, they’re not actually initials, and of course it wasn’t his real name… he was born Jesus Christ Allin.)
[P. P. Arnold](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._P._Arnold), 60s soul singer
[Lacy J. Dalton](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacy_J._Dalton), C&W singer-songwriter
[Ernie K-Doe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie_K-Doe)? (Yeah, I know, not really… nor LL Cool J, or ZZ Top…)
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/15 "2013-03-19T20:26:35Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> Which, I remember once reading, he opted against, because “Michael A. Fox” could be parsed as “Michael, a fox.” 😉
Right. He couldn’t use his real middle initial because it sounded fake. :smack:
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### Author:  [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/16 "2013-03-19T20:27:43Z")
W. C. Fields.
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### Author:  [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/17 "2013-03-19T20:39:50Z")
Craig T. Nelson
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### Author:  [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/18 "2013-03-19T20:41:10Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> Which, I remember once reading, he opted against, because “Michael A. Fox” could be parsed as “Michael, a fox.” 😉
Vivica A. Fox:D
> [@Bob Ducca](#):
>
> This is the case with most actors or guild professionals that use full middle names or initials (I think Michael J. Fox uses the J for this reason).
Vanessa L. Williams AKA the REAL Vanessa Williams.
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### Author:  [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/19 "2013-03-19T21:12:51Z")
K.K. Downing, guitarist of Judas Priest
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### Author:  [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-of-middle-initialed-entertainers/653383/20 "2013-03-19T21:16:47Z")
Steven J. Cannell
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