# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/101 "2009-07-25T00:36:48Z")
There’s a classic thread here about someone learning the difference between Jerry Lewis and Jerry Lee Lewis, but I couldn’t find it. ☹ ---
**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 25, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/102 "2009-07-25T00:45:19Z")
I was made aware of another such name this week. I was discussing things with a Red Cross nurse this week, and she said that she liked **Bernard Shaw**. I told her I did, too. She seemed very surprised. It turns out that I was thinking of **George Bernard Shaw** , the famous plarwright, responsible for **saint Joan** , **Pygmalion** , and others too numerous to mention. (He didn’t like the “George” part, although he often initialed things “GBS”. Th Penguin editions leave the “George” out of his name on the covers). But it turns out that she meant a black motivational speaker, who hasdreadlocks. I’ve never heard of him – unless it’s ex-CNN anchor **Bernard Shaw** with a different hairstyle. (A quick search of the internet shows that he is available as a speaker, but his photo has no dreadlocks. And it’s not his style). so there’s another threefer for you. ---
**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 25, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/103 "2009-07-25T00:48:48Z")
> [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](#): > > Jim Morrison, singer (The Doors) > James Morrison, singer (“You give me something”). And then there’s the Jim Morrison who played Bill Buchanan on _24_. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/104 "2009-07-25T01:25:33Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > There’s also John Garfield the president and [John Garfield](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002092/) the actor. The US president was James A. Garfield, but he was only prez briefly, so understandable error. > [@JKellyMap](#): > > James Bond, real ornithologist > James Bond, fictional spy There are others. I think one used to be a recurring guest on the _NewsHour_, but I forget for whom he worked. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/105 "2009-07-25T03:10:54Z")
Al Kooper writes that people mistook him for Alice Cooper. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/106 "2009-07-25T04:16:13Z")
Back during the Beijing Olympics, there were a bunch of news articles about **Michael Phelps’** father having divorced from his wife and not attending the Games. The father’s first name? Fred. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/107 "2009-07-25T14:08:10Z")
Robin Williams, actor and comedian. Robbie Williams,singer. ---
**Author:** ![mikeargo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@mikeargo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikeargo)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/108 "2009-07-25T14:29:11Z")
Robert Parker, author of the “Spenser” mystery novels Robert Parker, noted wine expert ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/109 "2009-07-25T16:40:02Z")
[Robert Palmer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Palmer_(writer)), music writer. [Robert Palmer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Palmer_(singer)), writer of music. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/110 "2009-07-25T17:22:38Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > [Robert Palmer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Palmer_(writer)), music writer. > > [Robert Palmer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Palmer_(singer)), writer of music. Similarly, [Paul Williams](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Williams_(Crawdaddy!_creator)), music writer, and [Paul Williams](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Williams_(songwriter)), writer of music …plus the one from the [Temptations](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Williams_(The_Temptations)), the [British prog-rock singer](http://paulwilliams-uk.com/discography2.html), and the [boxer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Williams_(boxer)). ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/111 "2009-07-25T18:14:43Z")
From 1985 to 1990 there were two important Roger Craigs in pro sports in San Francisco. One was [manager of the Giants](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Craig_(baseball)), and the other was [the star running back for the 49ers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Craig_(American_football)). ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/112 "2009-07-25T18:20:19Z")
There are two musical John Williams - one is the [composer/conductor who wrote a lot of movie scores and led the Boston Pops](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Williams), and the other is a [classical guitarist](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Williams_(guitarist)) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/113 "2009-07-25T20:33:02Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > [Quote=Exapno Mapcase] > > Robert Palmer, music writer. > > Robert Palmer, writer of music. Similarly, Paul Williams, music writer, and Paul Williams, writer of music [/quote] I bet if we search we can find a pair named Robert Paul and Palmer Williams. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/114 "2009-07-25T21:19:02Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > 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. Not to mention that guy with the locker. ---
**Author:** ![pojimba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@pojimba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pojimba)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/115 "2009-07-25T21:58:03Z")
There was also a Jim Morrison who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 80’s, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/116 "2009-07-25T22:10:07Z")
Tony Martin, British rock/metal vocalist (ex-Black Sabbath) Tony Martin, German cyclist, competing in the Tour de France 2009 ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/117 "2009-07-25T22:19:15Z")
> [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](#): > > Tony Martin, British rock/metal vocalist (ex-Black Sabbath) > Tony Martin, German cyclist, competing in the Tour de France 2009 Also [Tony Martin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Martin_(farmer)), farmer and vigilante, much admired by the British gutter press. Ted Heath, bandleader Ted Heath, prime minister ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/118 "2009-07-25T22:25:29Z")
Luke Kelly, American football player Luke Kelly, Irish soccer player Luke Kelly, Irish singer, most powerful male voice in folk music; made gingervitis sexy.😉 ---
**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 26, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/119 "2009-07-26T02:06:48Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > The US president was James A. Garfield, but he was only prez briefly, so understandable error. D’oh! :smack: Maybe I was thinking of Garfield the cat? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717/120 "2009-07-26T02:16:24Z")
> [@AppallingGael](#): > > I assume he means [this guy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali_of_Egypt). And of course, Muhammed Ali the boxer changed his name to Muhammed Ali, so one assumes he probably knew about the ruler of Egypt. His birth name was Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., who was named after his father, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr., who was himself named after the “Lion of White Hall”, the American abolitionist, ambassador, and founder of the Republican party, Cassius Marcellus Clay. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-names-of-famous-people/503717.md?page=7)