# Celebrities whose names confuse you **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 9, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638 "2016-02-09T19:00:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/1 "2016-02-09T19:00:09Z")
[Brie Larson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brie_Larson) is not [Alison Brie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Brie). And [Kristen Stewart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristen_Stewart) is not [Kristen Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristen_Johnston). And Cait Blanchett is not Kate Winslet, but in my mind I have no idea who is who. I have to Google search them to see which one was in Titanic. Obviously, I can tell them apart when I see them, but whenever I read one of their names, I usually think of the other. Who confuses you? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/2 "2016-02-09T19:20:25Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > [Brie Larson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brie_Larson) is not [Alison Brie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Brie). > > And [Kristen Stewart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristen_Stewart) is not [Kristen Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristen_Johnston). > > And Cait Blanchett is not Kate Winslet, but in my mind I have no idea who is who. I have to Google search them to see which one was in Titanic. > Obviously, I can tell them apart when I see them, but whenever I read one of their names, I usually think of the other. Who confuses you? Cats Blanchette is the beautiful one. Kate Winslet is the beautiful, HOT one. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/3 "2016-02-09T19:23:11Z")
J.K. Rowling, long-haired female British author. J.K. Simmons, balding male American actor. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/4 "2016-02-09T19:26:07Z")
[Keith David](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_David) isn’t [David Keith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Keith). [Rip Torn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_Torn) and [Rip Taylor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_Taylor) really need to switch surnames. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/5 "2016-02-09T19:26:19Z")
This one is really stupid but it messes with my head every time: Joel Osteen (televangelist) is not Haley Joel Osmet (Sixth Sense blondie kid) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/6 "2016-02-09T19:29:59Z")
Steve McQueen, the Caucasian actor, died in 1980. Steve McQueen, the black director, is very much alive. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/7 "2016-02-09T19:31:30Z")
John Hurt is not William Hurt, who in turn is not Bill Pullman ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/8 "2016-02-09T19:41:38Z")
I can’t believe that in a thread on this topic, Bill Pullman was mentioned with no corresponding mention of Bill Paxton. ! ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/9 "2016-02-09T19:43:43Z")
For some reason I always have trouble with three-named country musicians. Billy Ray Cyrus, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Billy Joe Shaver, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Billy Bob Thornton… wait, he’s not a country musician. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/10 "2016-02-09T19:44:10Z")
I can never picture who is being referred to when I hear the names [Kate Bosworth](http://media2.popsugar-assets.com/files/2012/09/38/4/498/4981324/0501349d380c8618_Kate-Bosworth-SKIIcrop.xxxlarge/i/Kate-Bosworth-New-Ambassador-SKII.jpg) and [Kate Beckinsale](http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTM3MzY2MDYwOF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODQ3MDA0Nw@@._V1_UX214_CR0,0,214,317_AL_.jpg). Ditto Olivias Munn and Wild. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/11 "2016-02-09T19:44:46Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Steve McQueen, the Caucasian actor, died in 1980. Steve McQueen, the black director, is very much alive. Oh, gods…that one confused the everloving me when I first heard of the director. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/12 "2016-02-09T19:47:47Z")
Emile Hirsch. Is it “em-ill-ee,” or “em-eel,” or “ee-mile” or “frank”? ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/13 "2016-02-09T20:01:09Z")
Holly Hunter and Helen Hunt. As an aside: For the life of me, I can’t tell [Jennifer Aniston](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Aniston) and [Helen Hunt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Hunt) apart. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/14 "2016-02-09T20:06:45Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Steve McQueen, the Caucasian actor, died in 1980. Steve McQueen, the black director, is very much alive. And don’t get started on Spike Jones > **[Spike Jones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Jones)** > > Lindley Armstrong "Spike" Jones (December 14, 1911 – May 1, 1965) was an American musician, bandleader and conductor specializing in spoof arrangements of popular songs and classical music. Ballads receiving the Jones treatment were punctuated with gunshots, whistles, cowbells, hiccups, burps, and outlandish and comedic vocals. Jones and his band recorded under the title Spike Jones and His City Slickers from the early 1940s to the mid-1950s, and they toured the United States and Canada as "Th Li... and Spike Jonze > **[Spike Jonze](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Jonze)** > > Adam Spiegel (born October 22, 1969), known professionally as Spike Jonze (/dʒoʊnz/), is an American filmmaker, actor, musician, and photographer. His work includes films, commercials, music videos, skateboard videos and television. > Jonze began his career as a teenager photographing BMX riders and skateboarders for Freestylin' Magazine and Transworld Skateboarding, and co-founding the youth culture magazine Dirt. Moving into filmmaking, he began shooting street skateboarding films, including ... ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/15 "2016-02-09T20:07:22Z")
Do politicians count? I get Rand Paul, Paul Ryan, and Ron Paul all confused. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/16 "2016-02-09T20:10:05Z")
And there’s no end of **Michael Jacksons** > **[Michael Jackson (disambiguation)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson_(disambiguation))** > > Michael Jackson (1958–2009) was an American singer, songwriter and dancer known as the "King of Pop". > Michael Jackson, Mike Jackson, or Mick Jackson may also refer to: There are even some not on this list that I’m aware of. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/17 "2016-02-09T20:13:54Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > and Spike Jonze …who is not Spike Lee. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/18 "2016-02-09T20:41:12Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I can’t believe that in a thread on this topic, Bill Pullman was mentioned with no corresponding mention of Bill Paxton. > > ! Also often confused are Dylan McDermott and Dermot Mulroney. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/19 "2016-02-09T20:48:46Z")
I’ll admit that for an embarrassingly long time I didn’t realize [Leslie Bibb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Bibb) and [Leslie Mann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Mann) were two separate people. I just sort of knew there was a good looking actress named Leslie Something who had long blonde hair and did a lot of comedies. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638/20 "2016-02-09T20:50:36Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Also often confused are Dylan McDermott and Dermot Mulroney. True enough. There was even an SNL fake ‘game show’ about those two being confusable. More confusables: I’ll nominate Amy Adams and Amy Ryan. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-whose-names-confuse-you/745638.md?page=2)