# Obscure but interesting celebrity trivia. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2015, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392 "2015-06-01T22:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/121 "2015-06-06T01:27:42Z")
> [@bbonden](#): > > Here is one that should be widely known, but for some reason is not: > > Diane Keaton’s real name is Annie Hall. Diane Hall ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/122 "2015-06-06T02:22:06Z")
But she sometimes goes by the nickname Annie. ---
**Author:** ![Chicago\_Faucet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chicago_faucet/32/13910_2.png) [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/123 "2015-06-06T04:19:18Z")
The word “Ewok” is not mentioned in any Star Wars film. Fred “Mister” Rogers was a serious influence and help in getting George Romero started in films. Tom Cruise’s real name is Thomas Cruise Mapother IV. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/124 "2015-06-06T05:37:09Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Rose Wilder Lane probably rewrote the Little House on the Prairie books to conform more to her tastes. She did not start any political party. She is considered to be one of the three most important American women to advocate libertarianism, so she’s approximately one of the dozen most important Americans in creating the modern-day American notion of libertarianism. While she was not directly involved, I would say she is significantly indirectly responsible for the development of the LP and the first electoral vote cast for a female candidate in the US, since she left her estate to Roger MacBride and considered him her “political disciple.” ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/125 "2015-06-06T07:32:20Z")
True, but she died three years before the party was organized. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/126 "2015-06-06T07:36:55Z")
I went to a talk yesterday by John Urschel of the Baltimore Ravens NFL team that was given to a local group of mathematicians. He has a master’s degree in math and has one paper published. He may get his Ph.D. in math at some point. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2015, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/127 "2015-06-06T08:02:33Z")
> [@Chicago\_Faucet](#): > > The word “Ewok” is not mentioned in any Star Wars film. It’s really more meaningful to say that the name ‘Ewok’ is never said in Return of the Jedi, as the Ewoks don’t appear in the other 5 films (except maybe a cameo in Phantom Menace? I can’t remember), so it’s not surprising that the name is never mentioned in them - especially in the two films before their creation. I’m also pretty sure it’s said in the two TV movies set on Endor. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/128 "2015-06-06T11:12:31Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Michael J. Fox’s middle name is Andrew. He added the middle initial “J” (which doesn’t stand for anything) to distinguish himself from another actor named Michael Fox when he joined the screen actor’s guild. Apparently, he didn’t like Michael A. Fox. According to [Cracked.com](http://Cracked.com) [their are crazy coincidences between him and the original actor Michael Fox\*!\*](http://www.cracked.com/article_18613_6-insane-true-stories-behind-stage-names-celebrities.html) (scroll down to number #5) ---
**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:** [June 6, 2015, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/129 "2015-06-06T12:13:13Z")
The little girl from _Escape from Witch Mountain_ is Paris Hilton’s aunt. NBA star Kevin Love is Beach Boy Mike Love’s nephew, and therefore also related to the Wiksons of that group. ESPN’s Rachel Nichols is film director Mike Nichols’ daughter-in-law. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/130 "2015-06-06T13:16:59Z")
Actor Richard Gere and author Jonathan Kellerman are highly-respected guitar collectors. When Gere sold off most of his a few years ago, it was a very big deal. Martin bought one - one of the first rosewood Martin-labeled dreadnoughts ever made - and features it in their museum. Kellerman published a gorgeous coffee table book of his collection. Actor Steven Seagal is a huge collector, too, but not so widely respected. 😉 He has some interesting stuff - e.g., Albert King’s Lucy Flying V - but is apparently appalling to deal with. Who knew? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/131 "2015-06-06T16:19:17Z")
As a teenager, Bill Clinton met JFK in the Whitehouse ---
**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:** [June 6, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/132 "2015-06-06T16:47:06Z")
The 2007 movie _Sleuth_ is a remake of a 1972 original, itself based on a play. It’s odd for two reasons. Michael Caine plays the role of Andrew; he played Milo in the original. Jude Law plays Milo in the remake; he was also in another remake playing a role originally played by Caine, 2004’s _Alfie_. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/133 "2015-06-06T16:56:05Z")
> [@bbonden](#): > > Here is one that should be widely known, but for some reason is not: > > Diane Keaton’s real name is Annie Hall. > [@hajario](#): > > Diane Hall Her childhood nickname was Annie, from Diane. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/134 "2015-06-06T17:38:44Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Her childhood nickname was Annie, from Diane. It never occurred to me that Annie would be a nickname from Diane but it makes perfect sense. I would have guessed that an Annie would be Anne or Annabelle. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/135 "2015-06-06T17:45:12Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Was that project running near Narvik, in Norway, in early 1945? Or was she the result of a hook-up between a young local girl and and a soldier far from home? I rather suspect the latter. That depends on who is telling the tale. Synni Lyngstad, Frida’s mother, died very young and Frida was raised by her maternal grandmother, who felt that she was a product of the Nazi’s approving of rape to make “Aryan babies.” Even if it was an official policy in Norway, her genetic father was a Nazi, and would know of the project. According to Daddy (who came out of the woodwork after Frida was rich and famous) it was a true love match, and he left Norway for Germany now knowing that Lyngstad was pregnant. Frida’s mother and aunt tell a different story, and after meeting her father a few times, Frida cut off all contact with him. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/136 "2015-06-06T19:12:06Z")
Tupac Shakur (though his birth name was Lesane Parish Crooks) was once a dancer for [Digital Underground](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj9_yW8tZxs), a 90’s hip hop/rap group that recorded “The Humpty Dance.” His stepaunt, Assata Shakur, was involved in a shootout with police in 1973, which resulted in one dead police officer and one “grievously injured.” Shakur was associated with the Black Panthers and the Black Liberation Army at this time, and while she was travelling with members of those organizations when the shootout occurred, maintains that she wasn’t really involved in the altercation. She was indicted for several felonies related to the shootout, resulting in three acquittals and three dismissals. In 1977, she was convicted in the murder of the officer killed during the shootout. She escaped from prison in 1979, and fled to Cuba in 1985, where she was given political asylum. Rapper/actor Common wrote a song about Shakur called [“A Song for Assata,”](http://genius.com/Common-a-song-for-assata-lyrics) which caused quite a bit of controversy when Common was invited to a poetry slam at the White House. Many conservatives felt that someone who wrote a song “celebrating” a cop-killer was the wrong sort of person to have at the White House. Bill O’Reilly famously lambasted Obama for this (among other conservatives), and had [Jon Stewart](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO_om3iK9kE) on O’Reilly’s show to discuss the issue. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/137 "2015-06-06T20:51:31Z")
Tupac Shakur went to Baltimore School for the Arts where his best friend was Jada Pinkett, who grew up to marry the Fresh Prince. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/138 "2015-06-06T21:10:41Z")
Many of you are probably familiar with Caitlyn Jenner but did you know she actually started life as a man? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/139 "2015-06-06T22:19:56Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > Many of you are probably familiar with Caitlyn Jenner but did you know she actually started life as a man? How exceptionally funny. I laughed and laughed :rolleyes:. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392/140 "2015-06-06T23:43:05Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > While she was not directly involved, I would say she is significantly indirectly responsible for the development of the LP And lovers of music are forever in her debt. Those 45s were just so short! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-but-interesting-celebrity-trivia/721392.md?page=8)