# Actors Who Use Diminutives of Their Real Names **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 14, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881 "2003-06-14T18:59:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/1 "2003-06-14T18:59:35Z")
And I’m not talking about stuff like Bob for Robert, Dave for David, etc. I was recently scanning a biography of the late Bill Bixby, known at birth as Wilfred Bailey Bixby III. Now Bill is not normally used for Wilfred, but I see the connection. Lex Barker: Lex from Alexander. What others can you think of? But it must come from their real name. Nor am I looking for people who use half of their real names along with a nickname or stage name (like Leslie Hope became known as Bob Hope, Harry Crosby became Bing Crosby, David Jones became David Bowie), but rather like the examples I used. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/2 "2003-06-14T19:07:53Z")
I’ll add something. Name any celebrities (I shouldn’t have limited it to actors) who use their middle name as their professional name, such as Tim Allen Dick. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/3 "2003-06-14T19:10:40Z")
Tom Cruise Motphar IV ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/4 "2003-06-14T19:13:29Z")
Would Motphar be a cool Klingon name or what? “You will pay the price for dissing the great Commander Motphar, human!” Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/5 "2003-06-14T19:18:14Z")
Ving Rhames; real name: Irving. ---
**Author:** ![SnugTheJoiner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@SnugTheJoiner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnugTheJoiner)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/6 "2003-06-14T19:30:20Z")
Judi is not really an unusual nickname for Judith . . . but you’ve got to admit that “Dame Judi Dench” does sound a bit odd. (Speaking of titles, Michael Caine has never legally changed his name–so he was knighted Sir Maurice Micklewhite. But I digress) Taye Diggs: real name Scott Diggs. Called “Scotty” as a kid. Friends elaborated this into Scot-TAY!–and the “Taye” part stuck. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/7 "2003-06-14T19:38:03Z")
Theda Bara - her real name was Theodosia. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/8 "2003-06-14T20:02:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Annie-Xmas \* > \*\*Tom Cruise Motphar IV \*\* Should have been Thomas Cruise _Mapother_ IV. [Liam Neeson](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Neeson,+Liam) = William John Neeson. In fact there are plenty of Scottish and Irish names that are traditionally abbreviated to the last syllable or two rather than the first, so Alexander is often abbreviated to Sandy rather than Alex etc. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/9 "2003-06-14T20:46:11Z")
Not a shortened first name, but I do believe that Jennifer Aniston is actually Jennifer Anistonopolous. Guess she’s Greek, but she doesn’t look it. ---
**Author:** ![SnugTheJoiner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@SnugTheJoiner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnugTheJoiner)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/10 "2003-06-14T21:16:33Z")
Little Nemo et al– Theda Bara! Did you ever see her in A FOOL THERE WAS? She’s no raving beauty, and she’s no longer young, and she’s a chunky little thing . . . and YOU CANNOT TAKE YOUR EYES OFF HER. When I saw this film, I got a stiiffy. And I don’t even like girls. But I digress. . . It’s interesting to note that Miss Bara was, for all practical purposes, the first MANUFACTURED movie star made up of whole cloth. Theodosia Goodman was in fact a little Jewish girl from Cincinnati, the daughter of a tailor, but her studio would have you believe that she was the love child of a French artist and an Arabian princess, and that her stage name (no man living knew her real name!) was an anagram of “ARAB DEATH.” She gave interviews at her studio in an outlandish accent while stroking her pet python–and afterwards, when her work day was over, she changed clothes and turned back into Miss Goodman. She NEVER appeared as “Theda Bara” on the street. And when the “vamp” craze had run its course, she was perfectly happy to give up show biz, scrap the silly costumes, and have a long and happy life as a wife, homemaker, and volunteer advocate for women’s rights. Certain artifically-manufactured stars of our own time, whose tricks have run their course, might do well to take a page from Miss Bara’s book. (Are you reading this thread, Miss Ciccone?) ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/11 "2003-06-14T22:34:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jman \* > **Not a shortened first name, but I do believe that Jennifer Aniston is actually Jennifer Anistonopolous.** According to her [imdb.com](http://us.imdb.com/Bio?Aniston,%20Jennifer) entry: > [@](#): > > Original family name Anastassakis; changed when her family moved to the US from Greece. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/12 "2003-06-15T01:04:39Z")
> [@](#): > > Speaking of titles, Michael Caine has never legally changed his name–so he was knighted Sir Maurice Micklewhite. But I digress. Completely true, but my impression was that this was Caine’s choice. Topher Grace (_That 70s Show_)= Christopher Grace. Says he got sick of introducing himself as Christopher and having people call him Chris. “Hi Chris.” “-Topher.” Ricky Martin used to be Enrique José Martín Morales. I suppose somebody said the real name (or Enrique Morales or something) was ‘too Hispanic’ for a mass audience. Before anybody posts it, Walter Matthau did NOT shorten his last name from “Matuschanskayasky.” It was really - you ready for this? - Matthow. ---
**Author:** ![Skijumper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@Skijumper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skijumper)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/13 "2003-06-15T07:42:19Z")
**Fred Astaire** - Frederic Austerlitz Jr **Goldie Hawn** - Goldie Jean Studlendegehawn **Robert Conrad** - Konrad Robert Falkowski I had no idea that **Albert Brooks** ’ real name was Albert Einstein. Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon of **Blur** often went by their anagram nicknames ‘Dan Abnormal’ and ‘Morgan C. Hoax’ whenever they played on other bands’ albums. IIRC their other bandmates Alex James and Dave Rowntree appeared as ‘Lee Jaxsam’ and ‘Trevor Devane’. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/14 "2003-06-15T08:10:57Z")
The most famous is James Paul McCartney. He was in a couple flics. Ritchie Valens was Valenzuela. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/15 "2003-06-15T10:19:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by everton \* > \*\*[Liam Neeson](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Neeson,+Liam) = William John Neeson. In fact there are plenty of Scottish and Irish names that are traditionally abbreviated to the last syllable or two rather than the first, so Alexander is often abbreviated to Sandy rather than Alex etc. \*\* I would just like to point out here that “Liam” isn’t necessarily, or even usually, a diminutive. Most Liams in Ireland are just Liam. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/16 "2003-06-15T16:47:49Z")
Robert Cummings was so billed in dramas but used Bob for comedies. He’s the only actor I know of to use two different billings concurrently. In his very early career, Michael Douglas was billed as M.K. Dougles to avoid confusion with the television talk show host Mike Douglas. Like there was any mistaking his pedigree. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/17 "2003-06-15T18:24:57Z")
Nicholas Brendon, of Buffy fame, uses his middle name as his last (Schultz, incidentally) . Same for his twin brother, Kelly Donovan, who appeared in an episode of Buffy. Abraham Rubin Hercules Benrubi goes by Abe Ben Rubi and Ben Rubi. (what, you don’t recognize Jerry from ER’s real name? 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/18 "2003-06-15T21:54:47Z")
Interesting,neither Michael Douglas or Mike Douglas had the real last name of Douglas. Kirk Douglas changed his last name to Douglas from ?. Mike changed his original last name to Douglas. As an aside, David Bowie could not use Jones b/c of the Monkee Davy Jones. And Michael Keaton’s real name is Michael Douglas, but had to change his last name because there alreadywas a Michael Douglas actor. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/19 "2003-06-15T22:05:42Z")
Kirk Douglas was born Issur Danielovitch Demsky. Bowie changed his last name because he didn’t want to be confused with the Monkee, but he didn’t ‘have’ to do it. One of the more interesting family name things is the Sheen/Estevez story. Martin Sheen was born Ramon Estevez. His oldest son, Emilio, chose to use his dad’s original name, as did his second son, Ramon, and his daughter, Renee. But his youngest son, Carlos Irwin Estevez, liked the Sheen name better and changed his first name to Charlie. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881/20 "2003-06-15T22:47:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\*But his youngest son, Carlos Irwin Estevez, liked the Sheen name better and changed his first name to Charlie. \*\* I read the LA county sheriff report when Charlie was arrested for punching a woman. His name on the arrest report (so it must be his legal name) was Carlos Estevez. He obviously uses Charlie Sheen out of preference and not legality. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-use-diminutives-of-their-real-names/181881.md?page=2)