why do actors change their names?

Question

ive noticed that many famous actors use stage names rather than their names given to them at birth. why is this? is it better chances in the actor world or what? some actors change thier last names but keep their first. but others like carmen electra, real name tara leigh something, changes the entire name? why?

also, do they legally change it? if so, why would they go through this?

Answer 1

Easier to remember and the name should go with the type they are trying to sell.
#1 get your attention....

Answer 2

Most actors want to register with screen actors guild. No two actors registered can have the same name, spelled the same way. Some opt to just change the spelling (Ex changing Jenny Smith to Jennie Smyth), but most, planning on becoming incredibly famous change their name entirely, so as not to be confused with someone with a similar name.

Many actors also change their name to maintain privacy for their family members and themselves, as court papers would still be in their birth name. Others just want something that sounds familiar, and recognizable. Most do not legally change their name, it is about the same as when a writer creates something under a pen name, merely a formality.

Answer 3

#1,to make it easier for the public to remember,as u can see,the entertainment business is so fickle and people can easily forget them.
#2,because the stage name has more star power and sounds nicer,more classy and dramatic.
#3,to have some sort of privacy because people normally remember their stage names.
#4, maybe actors change their last names but not the 1st because they want to retain some part of their identity,or bcoz they want to hide their family name,or simply becoz they like their 1st name very much.It could also be becoz someone has the same name. The reasons vary.

If stars change it legally, it is to prevent other people from using the same name in the future(I guess).something like a copyright.

Answer 4

Along with having a not-so-attractive name, many actors are forced to change their names by the Union. There can only be one "John Smith" in the Union, no matter how many "John Smith"s apply. So if a name is already taken, many actors will have to come up with a different one.

Answer 5

Well it can be because their name isn't suitable for the image they want to project, think John Wayne who was Marion Morrison but more commonly nowadays it's because you can't have two actors of the same name registered with Equity. Therefore if somebody got there before you you need to change to something else, add in a middle initial etc to make it unique. David Bowie changed his so he wouldn't be confused with the guy from the Monkees. David Tennant's real name is David McDonald who is a star of musicals. David Tennant took the name Tennant because he is a huge Pet Shop Boys fan.

Answer 6

Because their chosen acting names have star quality... like you mentioned Carmen Electra... Tara Leigh sounds more like an athlete than an actress. Authors do that too.

Answer 7

Years ago it was decided by the studios. Lucille Fay LeSueur became Joan Crawford. Often it was done to hide ethnicity. Today it's often done because someone else might have the same name as another star. Michael J. Fox's real name is Michael A. Fox but a Michael A. Fox was already registered.

Answer 8

Which would you rather hear:
Bernard Schwartz or Tony Curtis,
Archibald Leech or Cary Grant,
Norma Jean Baker or Marilyn Monroe?
Some were Anglicised, such as Antonio Benedito to Tony Bennett.

Answer 9

Some are born with names that are not commercial and change them because of that.

Also when they join the screen actors gild they have to have a name no one else has.

there are two vivica fox's so one of them added an A to her middle name.

Answer 10

They change there names primarily for privacy. Others do it just for the cool factor. Some change it legally, most do not.