# Characters In Films/Television That Use All Or Parts Of Their Real Names **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 4, 2009, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269 "2009-05-04T09:58:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/21 "2009-05-04T15:31:41Z")
Stephen Colbert plays a character named Stephen Colbert on _The Colbert Report_ ---
**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:** [May 4, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/22 "2009-05-04T16:00:59Z")
Brent Butt is Brent Leroy on Corner Gas. Sort of an odd one, as the character was NOT named for the actress, it just ended up that she was cast - Andrea Parker as Miss Parker on The Pretender. (Although on preview, I see Chuck beat me to her. Don’t know how I missed that on reading the thread. Heh.) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/23 "2009-05-04T16:03:40Z")
Jim Belushi in **According to Jim**. Audie Murphy in **To Hell and Back**. Arlo Guthrie and William “Officer Obie” Obanhein in **Alice’s Restaurant** ---
**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:** [May 4, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/24 "2009-05-04T16:13:27Z")
More stand up guys: George Lopez as George Lopez, Ray Romano as Ray Barone, and Bernie Mac as Bernie McCullough ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/25 "2009-05-04T16:21:32Z")
Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrence in The Shining. The character was already named, but the Jackness was nice. _ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY_ MiM ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/26 "2009-05-04T17:07:35Z")
John Malkovich as John Malkovich in “Being John Malkovich.” ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/27 "2009-05-04T17:17:48Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > Evidently this was an (-amazing?) coincidence as they had the character name picked out already and Harrelson then got the part. > > Odd to have a Woody pop up like that out of the blue. I’d always wondered that actually. In some cases, like John, it’s not so weird. But a Woody playing a Woody is definitely a huge coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/28 "2009-05-04T17:50:03Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > Evidently this was an (-amazing?) coincidence as they had the character name picked out already and Harrelson then got the part. > > Odd to have a Woody pop up like that out of the blue. > > or pun number 2: > > Evidently the producers didn’t have it hard to get their Woody.🙂 Similarly, when the producers of Night Court were auditioning actors for the lead part of Judge Stone, they had already named him Harry before Harry Anderson tried out for the part. They also had established Harry Stone as a Mel Torme fan. Coincidentally, Harry Anderson is also a big Mel Torme fan. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/29 "2009-05-04T17:51:52Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > John Malkovich as John Malkovich in “Being John Malkovich.” Mentioned in the O.P. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/30 "2009-05-04T19:17:12Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Harry Anderson was Harry the Hat in a recurring Cheers bit role, and Harry Stone on Night Court. > > Woody Harrelson was Woody Boyd on Cheers. Actually, Harry Anderson was Harry the Hat before he got on Cheers. Do not play a game of chance with him either. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/31 "2009-05-04T19:46:53Z")
George Burns & Gracie Allen on **the Burns & Allen Show**. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/32 "2009-05-04T19:50:14Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Tim Allen played Tim Taylor on Home Improvement. I think this is some kind of rule for stand-up comedians who get their own show. Yeah. They’re usually not actors and maybe the networks want to make sure viewers know who the comedian is. Ray Romano as Ray Barone is another example. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/33 "2009-05-04T20:47:40Z")
Jonah, Jay, Martin, and Jason in _Knocked Up_ were played by Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel, Martin Starr, and Jason Segel- all old Rogen/Apatow people from _F&G_ and _Undeclared_. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/34 "2009-05-04T20:54:38Z")
Not sure if it counts, but Redd Foxx of _Sanford & Son_ was born John Elroy Sanford. He took the name of Fred G. Sanford to honor his later brother of that name. (In his brother’s name, the G stood for Glenn in case you’re interested.) I watched a movie called [Murder in Mississippi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_in_Mississippi)about the “Mississippi Burning” murders ([Chaney, Goodman, Schwermer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_civil_rights_worker_murders)). A reporter was played by a then unknown Greg Kinnear and I was surprised to hear the fictitious 1960s reporter say “this has been Greg Kinnear for [whatever the station]”. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/35 "2009-05-04T21:01:48Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Yeah. They’re usually not actors and maybe the networks want to make sure viewers know who the comedian is. Ray Romano as Ray Barone is another example. Something like that happend when My Big Fat Greek Wedding became My Big Fat Greek Life. Toula became Nia in an attempt to establish name recognition with Nia Vardalos. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/36 "2009-05-04T21:23:17Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > I’d always wondered that actually. In some cases, like John, it’s not so weird. What about if your character is named John [37 times](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000078/) (accounting for 20% of your films over a 45 year period)? ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/37 "2009-05-05T00:02:05Z")
> [@Made\_in\_Macau](#): > > Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrence in The Shining. The character was already named, but the Jackness was nice. > _ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOYALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY_ > > MiM He was also Jack Napier in Batman. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/38 "2009-05-05T01:11:46Z")
On **The Games** , an Australian mockumentary series set during the organizing of the Sydney Olympics, the three main characters played by John Clarke, Bryan Dawe, and Gina Riley were named, respectively, John Clarke, Bryan Dawe, and Gina Riley. Several guest stars used their real names, too. Sam Neill was in an episode, but I don’t recall if his name was ever mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/39 "2009-05-05T01:24:00Z")
Joel Hodgson played Joel Robinson on MST3K, and they didn’t even bother with a fake last name with his replacement Mike Nelson. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269/40 "2009-05-05T02:08:57Z")
Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy used their real names as their characters’ names in nearly all their films. IIRC, this is because in their early days in the silents, they had seen studios take a character away from the actor who had originated it and give it to another player. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-in-films-television-that-use-all-or-parts-of-their-real-names/495269.md?page=3)