Not Just Michael Keaton, These 15 Celebrities Including Tom Cruise and Natalie Portman Also Ditched Their Birth Names For Hollywood Fame

Actor Michael Keaton has a diverse filmography to boast of. From superhero movies to comedies to dramas, he has dipped his toes in all different pools and come out successful. But did you know that Michael Keaton is not his real name? The actor was born as Michael Douglas, but since another actor by the same name was already in the Screen Actors Guild, Keaton had to change his to become a part of it.

There was no fanfare in choosing his stage name. The actor looked at a phone directory and chose his stage name at random. But now, after decades in the industry, it seems like he wants to go back to his roots and adopt his real name alongside his stage name. But it’s not like Michael Keaton is the first person to forego his real name and adopt another for the stage. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stars from Hollywood who adopted a stage name to get an entry into the fold.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV. He shortened his first name and began his middle name as his last at the advice of his agent. Good thing too,, there is not going to be a Tom Cruise IV for sure.

Vin Diesel

Born Mark Sinclair, the action star changed his name to Vin Diesel, as his real name did not sound tough enough for a guy who liked to play macho roles. He shortened his mother’s maiden name, Vincent, to get Vin, and added Diesel to it coz his friends used to say he was full of energy.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman was born as Neta-Lee Hershlag. She later morphed her own name from Neta-Lee to Natalie after she began her acting career at an early age. Portman was her paternal grandmother’s maiden name, and the actress adopted that for her stage name.

Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx was born Eric Marlon Bishop but changed his name during his initial days in the industry when he was still doing stand-up. As revealed by him once, the ratio of male to female stand-up artists was pretty high, so he rarely got gigs. To change that, he adopted a gender-ambiguous name that led to him getting more spots in events.

Marilyn Monroe

The name on Marilyn Monroe‘s birth certificate was Norma Jeane Mortenson, but she was baptized as Norma Jeane Baker. A 20th Century Fox executive gave her the name Marilyn because she reminded him of actress Marilyn Miller, and she picked Monroe as that was her mother’s maiden name. She began using the name publicly in 1946 and changed it legally a decade later.

Other Celebrities Who Use Their Stage Name Instead of The Real One

It might come as a surprise, but many actors we know and adore were not born with the same name that we know them as. Joaquin Phoenix & Jennifer Aniston both changed their last names. In both cases, their parents themselves changed their last names – It went from Joaquin Button to Joaquin Phoenix, and Jennifer Linn Anastassakis became Jennifer Aniston.

Actor Charlie Sheen adopted his father’s stage name – Martin Sheen – and changed his name to Charlie Sheen from Carlos Irwin Estevez. Actress Demi Moore was born Demetria Gene Guynes and shortened her first name to Demi. Moore came after she married singer Freddy Moore and adopted his last name.

Bruno Mars was born Peter Gene Hernandez, but his father used to call him Bruno since he was 2 years old. When he joined the industry, he initially wanted to go by just ‘Bruno,’ but later added Mars as he felt it gave his name a larger-than-life feeling. Miley Cyrus changed her name from Destiny Hope to Miley Ray, as in her childhood she used to be called Smiley.

Jon Bon Jovi was born John Francis Bongiovi Jr. When they were looking for a name for their band, a friend suggested Bon Jovi, which they said sounded similar to Van Halen. And the musician, going along with the band’s name, changed his to Jon Bon Jovi. Katy Perry, on the other hand, was born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson and initially thought of going by Katy Hudson. Given there was already an actress by the name of Kate Hudson, she thought it would be too confusing and adopted her mother’s maiden name, Perry.

Meg Ryan had a pretty lengthy name, being born as Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra. To keep it simple, she became Meg from Margaret and adopted her grandmother’s maiden name, Ryan, after joining the SAG. Audrey Hepburn, on the other hand, was born Edda van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston. To give it a bit of Hollywood flair, she changed her name from Edda to Audrey and picked one out of her three last names.