Inspired by the Singing Billies thread, let’s do the opposite, singers and actors with unique first names (to their profession, that is). It has to be their real, legal name.
I have to name my 2nd musical goddess (first is Kate Bush, who is only unique musically and vocally):
Happy Rhodes
By “to their profession” I mean…I know there’s a Happy Rockefeller, wife of the former guv of New York, but she wasn’t a professional musician. By real and legal, I mean…I know there’s a country-western singer in Canada named “Happy Rhodes” but it’s just a nickname (his real name is Jack Chapelle and he owns happyrhodes.com, but doesn’t use it). Happy was born Kimberly Tyler Rhodes but was called Happy from the day she was born. That would still qualify as a nickname and not qualify, except that she had her name legally changed when she was 16.
Dot Allison was born Dorothy Elliot Allison, so she doesn’t qualify.
I was trying to think of some in acting, but was thwarted. Piper Laurie’s real name is Rosetta Jacobs. (Btw, I’ve always loved the name Piper Laurie)
Ok, found a couple:
Pier Angeli was born Anna Maria Pierangeli which while not her first name, I’m going to let qualify, since she was born with the name. How many other actresses took their last name as a first name?
Tyne Daly was born Ellen Tyne Daly and I think that’s close enough.
Sheesh, already I’m relaxing my standards for what qualifies.
Other than Ms. Weaver, I’ve never even heard of a Sigourney. Could be I need to get out more.
Don’t know of another Aretha, but I know of some body parts pretty close to that.
Can’t wait for the barriers to come down and the otherwise sweet-sounding Syphilis (pronounced suh-FILL-iss) to gain favor.
Is there another Reese besides Witherspoon?
She’s been dead a while and I believe somebody has named a kid after her (the Willises maybe?) but Tallulah had that one all to herself for a long time.
Lyda Roberti
House Peters
Theda Bara
Ormer Locklear
Pola Negri
Alla Nazimova
Lilyan Tashman
Vilma Banky
Lya de Putti
Snitz Edwards
Skeets Gallagher
Jetta Goudal
Not an actor per se, but how about former Olympic skier Picabo Street? IIRC, her parents let her name herself when she was failrly young, and it is her legal name.
Well…unique for a guy, at least. A quick IMDB search found at least 2 dozen actresses names Haley (although, the one that immediately came to mind was spelled Hayley (Mills)), although none of them (save Ms Mills) were nearly as successful as young Mr Osment.
Not really unique. There’s a Rivers Cuomo, who is the lead singer of Weezer. I know, one has an s and one doesn’t, but the general theme is close enough, right?