# The "celebrities without their trademarks" thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2015, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839 "2015-02-28T06:46:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/1 "2015-02-28T06:46:05Z")
While looking up Elvis Costello songs on YouTube, I noticed this stunner: not because of the strong lyrics or way too 80s production, but [he’s not wearing glasses!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8du0vsLKOTk) My reaction was “why didn’t he get contacts or Lasix years ago, he’s actually pretty handsome without the glasses”? What celebrities have you seen without their most distinct feature, and what was your reaction? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/2 "2015-02-28T08:01:06Z")
I can’t find them now, but I once saw some photos of Jack Black, at an awards show, from sometime in the early 2000s. There seems to have been a brief pocket of time when he was _thin_. And it was the wrong kind of thin. Like Christian Bale in **The Machinist**. Okay, not that extreme, but the same sunken eyes, hollow face effect. Scary. He must have done one of those Jessica Simpson diets. Luckily (for him), when you stop doing those, the weight goes back on just as fast as it dropped off. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2015, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/3 "2015-02-28T09:15:40Z")
“Weird Al” looked vastly different when he got rid of the glasses and mustache. What about a young, clean-shaven [Zach Galifinakis](http://starcasm.net/archives/272574)? ---
**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:** [February 28, 2015, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/4 "2015-02-28T09:23:58Z")
Pictures of young Groucho Marx without his grease paint moustache make it pretty clear why he grew a real one in later years…he’s actually kinda cute, but totally non-Groucho-ey. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/5 "2015-02-28T12:13:37Z")
Tom Selleck without his mustache looks weird, until you try really hard to stop picturing him _with_ the mustache, and then realize _yeah, he’s blandly nice-looking._ And then, five seconds later, it’s all _no, that doesn’t work if you actually know what’s missing._ ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/6 "2015-02-28T13:24:15Z")
[Young Woody Allen without glasses.](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iLoifdrzsFc/TrE4rAmt16I/AAAAAAAACco/jBElc8MTL-Q/s1600/tumblr_lm353sm56D1qabm7io1_500.jpg) [Bob Dylan in high school, trying to control his hair.](http://www.mohumanities.org/images/E-News/April05/GraduationPic.jpg) [The Beatles in their Elvis phase.](https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4054/4269177807_9ac322460b.jpg) ---
**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:** [February 28, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/7 "2015-02-28T14:21:54Z")
A young [Frank Zappa](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/42/3f/97/423f973ebe0a19a08fae97e51dd9f64a.jpg) without the iconic imperial. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/8 "2015-02-28T14:30:59Z")
[Laura Prepon](http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Laura+Prepon+2011+Entertainment+Weekly+Women+jvXepN3uM4sl.jpg) and [Lindsey Lohan](http://photos.posh24.com/p/1484217/z/lindsay_lohan/lindsay_lohan_blonde_hair_stud.jpg) are less appealing as blondes. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/9 "2015-02-28T14:37:13Z")
[Roy Orbison without his sunglasses.](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/BebyFoDv5WE/hqdefault.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/10 "2015-02-28T15:27:03Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > Pictures of young Groucho Marx without his grease paint moustache make it pretty clear why he grew a real one in later years…he’s actually kinda cute, but totally non-Groucho-ey. His son Arthur said the moustache in vaudeville was at first pasted on with glue, switching to greasepaint because of time and smell the glue required. He didn’t grow one because he liked the anonymity. He would take the family to a restaurant and use some other name such as Jackson. He grew one after he went to the premiere of one of his movies after WWII. People were asking Bob Hope and Al Jolson for autographs but not Groucho whose film they just saw. All the talk about anonymity and avoiding the star life couldn’t completely hide the fact Groucho wanted some affection. Somewhere I have an Ian Hunter/Mott the Hoople lp that has Hunter without his sunglasses. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/11 "2015-02-28T16:23:31Z")
Kiss comes to mind. Paul Stanley ditched the makeup and later played the [Phantom](https://www.google.com/search?q=paul+stanley+phantom&biw=1067&bih=690&tbm=isch&imgil=3sz9jlwf4hKcTM%253A%253By-UZgOTAl_6gWM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fkissasylum.com%25252Fphantom%25252Freview.shtml&source=iu&pf=m&fir=3sz9jlwf4hKcTM%253A%252Cy-UZgOTAl_6gWM%252C_&usg=__DvW7i-WIqJIe-ilepxVFeNPlwuI%3D&ved=0CCkQyjc&ei=JuvxVJD5KOK1sASVqIKYDg#imgdii=_&imgrc=3sz9jlwf4hKcTM%253A%3By-UZgOTAl_6gWM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fkissasylum.com%252Fphantom%252FPaul2.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fkissasylum.com%252Fphantom%252Freview.shtml%3B359%3B500) Seeing Hugh Laurie clean shaven and hearing his British accent always makes me pause. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/12 "2015-02-28T17:06:41Z")
[Young Sam Elliot](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e0/33/0d/e0330dc88353ee308801115d7f33cfee.jpg), without his mustache. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/13 "2015-02-28T17:11:57Z")
Kevin Smith no beard. > **[Kevin Smith -- No. Really. That's Him (PHOTO)](https://www.tmz.com/2014/10/28/kevin-smith-shaved-beard-photo/)** > > Go ahead. Keep rubbing your eyes ... that is actually "Clerks" director Kevin Smith after shaving off his trademark beard. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/14 "2015-02-28T17:19:46Z")
John Denver without his glasses? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/15 "2015-02-28T17:28:59Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > While looking up Elvis Costello songs on YouTube, I noticed this stunner: not because of the strong lyrics or way too 80s production, but > [he’s not wearing glasses!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8du0vsLKOTk) Actually, in that video he reminds me a bit of Tina Fey without _her_ glasses. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/16 "2015-02-28T17:45:22Z")
Drew Carey, no glasses in the Marines. [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Drew_Carey-Marines.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Drew_Carey-Marines.jpg) It’s my understanding that he had his vision corrected a few years ago but there was such a backlash against his new look that he now wears clear lenses on stage. No one recognized him without the trademark. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/17 "2015-02-28T17:49:04Z")
Charlie Chaplin no moustache. [![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9FchStMuV8Q/UEluo-PY9HI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/6ItSBZGMR64/s1600/charlie3.jpg) ](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9FchStMuV8Q/UEluo-PY9HI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/6ItSBZGMR64/s1600/charlie3.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/18 "2015-02-28T17:53:42Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > [Laura Prepon](http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Laura+Prepon+2011+Entertainment+Weekly+Women+jvXepN3uM4sl.jpg) and [Lindsey Lohan](http://photos.posh24.com/p/1484217/z/lindsay_lohan/lindsay_lohan_blonde_hair_stud.jpg) are less appealing as blondes. Laura Prepon is a brunette. The red is fake too. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/19 "2015-02-28T17:57:43Z")
Pro wrestlers tend to change their look a few times over the course of a career, which can get to be pretty jarring when you look back at their earlier stuff and they look wildly different. A few examples; [CM Punk with long blond hair and only a couple tattoos.](http://www.angelfire.com/il/daveprazak/gbm/Locker_room_34a.JPG) [Daniel Bryan, clean-shaven, bald, and with an eyepatch.](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qcVL3DJ6GVs/hqdefault.jpg) [Kurt Angle with a full head of hair.](http://www.wrestlenewz.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/kurt12.jpg) ---
**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:** [February 28, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839/20 "2015-02-28T20:51:36Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Actually, in that video he reminds me a bit of Tina Fey without _her_ glasses. With some Christian Bale and the kid that played Reese in _Malcolm in the Middle_ thrown in. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrities-without-their-trademarks-thread/713839.md?page=2)