# Identical names of famous people **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2009, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717 "2009-07-21T04:02:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/21 "2009-07-21T13:25:47Z")
Not exactly the same, but in life they were known just by the single name of Byron. When the last Mad Max movie, Beyond Thunder-dome ended, it was dedicated to Byron. > **[Lord Byron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gordon_Byron,_6th_Baron_Byron)** > > George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron FRS (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824) was an English romantic poet and peer. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, and has been regarded as among the greatest of English poets. Among his best-known works are the lengthy narratives Don Juan and Childe Harold's Pilgrimage; many of his shorter lyrics in Hebrew Melodies also became popular. > Lord Byron was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, later travelling extensively across Europe t... How appropriate and really poetic and Romantic, as I thought the very end of the movie was; for Lord Byron, the British poet, politician and hero of Greece was one of the leading figures of Romanticism. > **[Romanticism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanticism)** > > Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) is an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. In most parts of Europe, it was at its peak from approximately 1800 to 1850. Romanticism was characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as glorification of the past and nature, preferring the medieval to the classical. Romanticism was partly a reaction to the Industrial Revolution, and the prevailing i Th... And Mad Max is IMO a Byronic hero. > **[Byronic hero](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byronic_hero)** > > The Byronic hero is a variant of the Romantic hero as a type of character, named after the English Romantic poet Lord Byron. Both Byron's own persona as well as characters from his writings are considered to provide defining features to the character type. > The Byronic hero first reached a very wide public in Byron's semi-autobiographical epic narrative poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (1812–1818). Historian and critic Lord Macaulay described the character as "a man proud, moody, cynical, with de... Imagine then my confusion/disappointment when I eventually learned that it was in reality deservedly dedicated to Byron Kennedy: > **[Mad Max Trilogy Cast & Crew - Byron Kennedy (Producer)](https://www.madmaxmovies.com/cast-and-crew/mad-max-movies/Byron-Kennedy/index.html)** > > Mad Max - Mad Max Interceptor, Cars Movies and more The producer of the first 2 Mad Max movies that tragically died before the last one was made. Knowing history can indeed change how one sees movies. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/22 "2009-07-21T13:31:22Z")
Wiki lists all [these](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_smith) John Smiths, but other than the Jamestown guy, none of them strike me as really all that famous. If I had to vote for #2, I would pick the poet John Berryman (nee Smith), which makes me think that the name may be a severe hindrance to wide fame. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/23 "2009-07-21T13:32:23Z")
I think this will do better in Cafe Society, so I’ll move it thither. twickster, MPSIMS mod ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/24 "2009-07-21T13:35:09Z")
[Michael Collins](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Collins_(astronaut))the astronaut and Michael Collins the [freedom fighter and politician](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Collins_(Irish_leader)). ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/25 "2009-07-21T13:57:56Z")
Robert T. Jones, Famous Amateur Golfer Robert T. Jones, Famous Golf Course Architect Robert T. Jones Jr, Famous Golf Course Architect, but I assume you don’t want namesakes since we have had two sets of presidents with basically the same name. several other Robert Jones Lots of Larry Browns, Basketball Coach, several NFL players, MLB player, hockey player Jim Thorpe Olympic Athlete from early 20th century, Professional Golfer from late 20th Century and early 21st Century ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/26 "2009-07-21T14:03:23Z")
How about: - [Davy Jones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Jones_(actor)) of the Monkees - [Davy Jones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Jones_(racing_driver)) the race car driver - [Davy Jones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Jones_(baseball)) the baseball player - [David “Davey” Jones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Jones_(jazz_musician)) the jazz musician And [David Bowie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie). Oh, right - he was born David Hayward-Jones (and went by “Davy Jones” and “Davie Jones” in early performances), but then took on the last name of “Bowie” because this dude from the Monkees was popular first. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/27 "2009-07-21T14:03:36Z")
[Tom Jones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Jones_(singer)) the singer (whose real name is Thomas Jones Woodward) and [Tom Jones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Jones_(writer)) the musical theater lyricist. There are [others](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_jones) as well, including the title character of the Henry Fielding novel. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/28 "2009-07-21T14:22:16Z")
John Paul Jones, US naval hero during the American Revolution John Paul Jones, bassist from Led Zeppelin ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/29 "2009-07-21T14:26:48Z")
Albert Einstein, the scientist, and Albert Einstein, the comedian who changed his last name to [“Brooks”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Brooks). ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/30 "2009-07-21T14:32:09Z")
> [@AppallingGael](#): > > Wiki lists all [these](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_smith) John Smiths, but other than the Jamestown guy, none of them strike me as really all that famous. If I had to vote for #2, I would pick the poet John Berryman (nee Smith), which makes me think that the name may be a severe hindrance to wide fame. Although John Smith, Captain of the Titanic may have had only 15 minutes of fame somehow I think he’s more well known. Dave Thomas, comedian Dave Thomas. founder of Wendys wasn’t there another semi-famous Dave Thomas as well? John L. Sullivan, Boxer John L. Sullivan, labor leader Jon Stewart, Green Lantern Jon Stewart, host of Daily Show 🙂 ---
**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:** [July 21, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/31 "2009-07-21T14:32:19Z")
John Edwards - former N.C. senator who ran for president. John Edwards - (Supposed) psychic and host of “Crossing Over.” ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/32 "2009-07-21T14:46:07Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > John L. Sullivan, labor leader Do you mean John L. Lewis? I can’t find anything about a big labor leader named John L. Sullivan. There was, though, a Naval Secretary under Truman (no relation to the Fighting Sullivans), and a John Florence Sullivan became a famous radio personality named Fred Allen. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/33 "2009-07-21T14:55:23Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > I’ve always wanted to see an album by Dave Stewart. Featuring [Dave Stewart](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_A._Stewart) on Guitar, [Dave Stewart](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Stewart_(musician)) on Keyboards, and [Dave Stewart](http://www.rajaz.co.uk/Main_html_pages/Heroes/Dave_Stewart.htm) on drums. And [Dave Stewart](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Stewart_(baseball)) on the mound. Another one: [John Anderson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_B._Anderson) (former US Senator and independent Presidential candidate), [John Anderson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Anderson_(American_football)) (former Green Bay Packer linebacker), and [Jon Anderson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Anderson), singer from Yes (different spelling, though Jon’s birth name was John, and he changed the spelling later). Also, [this page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Anderson) lists a metric crapload of other John Andersons. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Waldo\_Jeffers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e99b99/32.png) [@Waldo\_Jeffers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waldo_Jeffers)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/34 "2009-07-21T14:55:47Z")
My favorite one of these is the Brett Butler. There’s the female Brett Butler from Grace Under Fire, the baseball player, and the voice actor from Sealab 2021. Apparently there’s a fourth (wikipedia), who’s a racecar driver. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/35 "2009-07-21T15:04:10Z")
Derek Bell, late harpist for The Chieftains Derek Bell, baseball player Derek Bell, English race car driver ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/36 "2009-07-21T15:07:52Z")
> [@Nicolas\_Bourbaki](#): > > [Paul Simon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Simon_(disambiguation)) was the first that came to mind for me. Back in the mid-80s, there was another Paul Simon on TV a lot. He was a real estate infomercial pioneer. His shtick was “equity sharing” or “equity participation,” which I think “worked” by having tenants in rental property take a piece of equity. Don’t recall the exact details, since I didn’t shell $195 to purchase the kit. I’d be curious to know whatever happened to him. I did read an arcticle @1990 that indicated that every one of the real estate infomercialeers of that era had since gone bankrupt. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/37 "2009-07-21T15:15:54Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > Dave Thomas, comedian > Dave Thomas. founder of Wendys > wasn’t there another semi-famous Dave Thomas as well? David Thomas, lead singer of Pere Ubu ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/38 "2009-07-21T15:43:49Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Thomas Harris, author of the Hannibal Lechter books. > Thomas A. Harris, author of “I’m Okay, You’re Okay.” Those two should write a book together. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/39 "2009-07-21T15:53:03Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > Those two should write a book together. Which would have to be entitled, “I’m OK, You’re Delicious.” ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Bongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a9adbd/32.png) [@Winston\_Bongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Bongo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/40 "2009-07-21T15:57:42Z")
Dr. Spock and Mr. Spock? :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717.md?page=3)