# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/61 "2009-07-21T19:46:12Z")
[Bill Evans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Evans) - jazz pianist [Bill Evans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Evans_(saxophonist)) - jazz saxophonist [Bill Evans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusef_Lateef) - jazz flautist, far better known as Yusef Abdul Lateef. > [@](#): > > In 1949, Lateef was invited by Dizzy Gillespie to tour with his world-renowned orchestra. At this time, Lateef was still known by the name William Evans, thereby making him one of three well-known jazz musicians (besides the pianist and the tenor saxophonist) bearing this name. Notably, all three played with Miles Davis during their careers. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/62 "2009-07-21T19:53:42Z")
Charles Bronson, Actor. Charles Bronson, current Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. wiki sez he is also an infamous British criminal (a guy with that name, that is. Wouldn’t want to run afoul of British libel laws :)) ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/63 "2009-07-21T20:43:31Z")
One I feel the need to specify in the Death Pool every year–William Perry, the former Bears football player, versus William Perry, the former Secretary of Defense. ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/64 "2009-07-22T01:11:42Z")
George Michael-singer from Wham! George Michael-Sports themed tv show ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/65 "2009-07-22T01:45:59Z")
James Bond, real ornithologist James Bond, fictional spy (although I think Fleming might have named the latter with the former in mind) ---
**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 22, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/66 "2009-07-22T01:49:32Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > One I feel the need to specify in the Death Pool every year–William Perry, the former Bears football player, versus William Perry, the former Secretary of Defense. Based on how ill the former has been in the past year, I fear he might be a bigger factor in the Dead Pool, despite being much younger. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/67 "2009-07-22T02:24:39Z")
John Madden – [Football coach and commentator](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Madden_(American_football)) or [film director](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Madden_(director)) Bill Russell – [basketball legend](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Russell) or [baseball player](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Russell_(baseball)) George Burns – [adopted name of comedian](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Burns) or [given name of baseball player](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Burns_(first_baseman)) Scott Thompson – [Kid in the Hall](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Thompson) or [red-haired prop comic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrot_Top) Tom Watson – [golfer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Watson_(golfer)), [recipient of first phone call](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_A._Watson), or [IBM president](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Watson) William Cosby – [royal governor of New York](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cosby) or [comedian and Doctor of Education](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Cosby) ---
**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:** [July 22, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/68 "2009-07-22T02:31:06Z")
[Clarence Brown](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0113284/) – film director of the 30s and 40s [Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_%22Gatemouth%22_Brown) – blues musician [Bobby Jones](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jonesbo03.shtml) – NY Mets pitcher [Bobby Jones](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jonesbo04.shtml) – NY Mets pitcher [Bob Miller](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/millebo04.shtml) – NY Mets pitcher [Bob Miller](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/millebo03.shtml) – NY Mets pitcher Both the Joneses and the Millers were teammates on the Mets for a season. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/69 "2009-07-22T02:53:00Z")
There was an actor by the name of Henry Morgan, and a comedian/actor named Henry Morgan. One of them changed his name to Harry Morgan (later of Dragnet and M_A_S\*H) and the other went on to game show glory with shows like I’ve Got a Secret. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/70 "2009-07-22T03:41:04Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > There was an actor by the name of Henry Morgan, and a comedian/actor named Henry Morgan. One of them changed his name to Harry Morgan (later of Dragnet and M_A_S\*H) and the other went on to game show glory with shows like I’ve Got a Secret. Even more well known is the pirate/privateer. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/71 "2009-07-22T03:51:36Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > [Jesse James](http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WWjamesJ.htm), bank robber. > [Jesse James](http://www.fatbackmedia.com/nsfw/2007/04/27/sandra-bullocks-stalker-tried-to-kill-jesse-james/), car and bike guy. > [Jessie James](http://hoodgrownonline.com/jessie-james-mercury-records-island-def-jam-group.html), “newly minted pop diva.” > Barefoot Babe [noparse][Jesse James](http://www.feetlibrary.com/2007/01/29/jessie-james/)[/noparse] Back in Texas, there used to be a state treasurer named Jesse James, and he always won reelection. Who _wouldn’t_ vote for Jesse James for treasurer? But then, as I recall, it was discovered at one point that he had changed his name to that to make it stand out for voters. William H. Macy says he began using his name like that so as not to be confused with Bill Macy. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/72 "2009-07-22T03:59:19Z")
Most of my favorites have been mentioned already > [@](#): > > Winston Churchill, 1871-1947, American novelist. > Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, British prime minister. What’s interesting is that stateman Churchill wrote to novelist Churchill before the former became famous, simply because they shared the same name. But now hardlay anyone remembers the novelist. Many that do (like me) only know of him vecause of the name. I was surprisede, the first time I visited Hollywood, to se a star for **Harrison Ford**. This was before he made _Raiders of the Lost Ark_, and I didn’t think he’d been famous long enough to rate a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It turns out that there was _another_ Harrison Ford, who was also an action star in the movies, back in the silent days. What are the odds? It’s a pretty weird name. > **[Harrison Ford (silent film actor)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Ford_(silent_film_actor))** > > Harrison Ford (March 16, 1884 – December 2, 1957) was an early 20th-century American actor. He was a leading Broadway theater performer and a star of the silent film era. > Ford was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Anna and Walter. He began his acting career on the stage, and made his Broadway debut in 1904 in Richard Harding Davis's Ranson's Folly. He went on to appear in productions of William C. deMille's Strongheart; Glorious Betsy by Rida Johnson Young (the production lasted only 24 ... Now they both have stars on the Walk. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/73 "2009-07-22T04:06:17Z")
I personally have known an American public-health researcher working in Thailand named Stephen King. He may not be famous, but he has been published. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/74 "2009-07-22T04:38:53Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > And [Dave Stewart](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Stewart_(baseball)) on the mound. Bah, beaten to the punch. Of course, there is always [Michael Douglas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_douglas) and [Michael Douglas (Keaton)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Keaton) ---
**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:** [July 22, 2009, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/75 "2009-07-22T05:41:12Z")
I was just reminded of another one. David Bowie’s real name is David Hayward-Jones. He performed for a time as Davie Jones (and briefly, as Davy Jones). He changed it so as not to be confused with Davy Jones of the Monkees. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/76 "2009-07-22T06:54:28Z")
> [@Crawlspace](#): > > Of course, there is always [Michael Douglas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_douglas) and [Michael Douglas (Keaton)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Keaton) Pssst, post #10. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/77 "2009-07-22T06:56:01Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I was just reminded of another one By post #10, I assume. Speaking of film directors, I guess Chris Columbus does not go by “Christopher” becasue he got tired of explaining that he didn’t discover America. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2009, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/78 "2009-07-22T09:01:54Z")
> [@AppallingGael](#): > > By post #10, I assume. D’oh! :smack: No, actually I didn’t see that. Or I wouldn’t have mentioned it. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Klutz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captain_klutz/32/4993_2.png) [@Captain\_Klutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Klutz)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/79 "2009-07-22T09:33:36Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > Although John Smith, Captain of the Titanic may have had only 15 minutes of fame somehow I think he’s more well known. The Titanic captain was [Edward John Smith](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Smith). ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Klutz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captain_klutz/32/4993_2.png) [@Captain\_Klutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Klutz)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/80 "2009-07-22T09:40:40Z")
Anne Hathaway, actress Anne Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare Jane Seymour, actress Jane Seymour, wife of King Henry VIII [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717.md?page=5)